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Advancing research to maximize the productivity, sustainability and competitiveness
of the American grape industries.
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Marsanne under hail-netting near Lubbock, TX
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GENETICS MAKES HEADLINES
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April, more than any other in my one-year tenure, saw the most promising advances in genetics, not just in the science itself, but in for support for further study and regulation (or not) of genetics methods to advance the industry.
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The
U.S. Department of Agriculture
announced on March 28 that it will not regulate genetically altered plants as long as they could have been developed through traditional breeding methods. In its
policy statement,
the agency affirmed that genome editing allows breeders to introduce new traits faster and more precisely.
(Transgenic or genetically modified crops-e.g., plants that contain artificially inserted genes from other species, aka GMOs-will still be regulated.) There is much more work to be done to enable best and highest use of CRISPR technology for grape, but the USDA's decision will help accelerate development of grape varieties that have resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to changing environmental conditions, and other desirable traits.
As always, though, how much progress and how soon it can be brought to bear is a question of funding.
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) this month announced his push to improve federal funding for the USDA-ARS Grape Genetics Research Unit (GGRU) in Geneva, NY, which is the agency's primary hub for genetics exploration for all grape sectors nationwide. "The outstanding ARS researchers at the unit are working diligently to revolutionize this industry," he said. "It is vital that the federal government invest in its own scientific
workforce and provide them with the necessary resources to keep pace with innovative, state-of-the-art technologies." Sen. Schumer's request specifically calls out the need for mobile and static data sensors and robotic tools for field-mounted vineyard equipment, which would allow scientists to collect real-time data on factors impacting crops like insects, water and disease.
But as outlined in
our outreach letter,
the GGRU and broader grape genetics program at ARS needs more than just equipment. NGRA is pushing for
appropriations of $10 million annually
for grape genetics research at ARS.
Currently, the GGRU has only three Ph.D.-level scientists-down from the original vision in 2004, which called for eight-and a budget of just $1.5 million, allocated for salaries, facilities and infrastructure, supplies and equipment. There is no funding with which to implement modern technologies for genetic improvement. Clearly, this strategic unit cannot achieve the kind of advances in genetics research the American grape industries need.
Let's keep the momentum going. Download, adapt and use our letter
to reach out to policymakers to help them understand the importance of genetic advancements to the future of our industry.
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HOUSE VERSION OF FARM BILL 2018 PASSED
On April 12,
House Agriculture Committee
Chair Michael Conaway introduced the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, a.k.a.
Farm Bill 2018.
Among the bill's
top 10 policy highlights
are restored funding for Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC), an expansion of crop insurance policies, increased funding for the Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative (OREI), and "key improvements to the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) and the Specialty Crop Block Grant program." On April 18, it
narrowly passed the House.
The bill preserves SCRI funding at $80 million, as it was in the 2014 bill. But it maintains the $25 million carve-out for citrus greening without replacing that funding for ongoing research in other areas, which was among the
recommendations of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
(SCFBA), of which NGRA is a member. Attend
SCFBA Day on Capitol Hill on May 9,
if possible, or use the
SCFBA's letter to lawmakers
help strengthen the Farm Bill and, in particular, its programs for research, pests and disease, mechanization and automation, and more.
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USDA-NIFA LEADERSHIP CHANGES
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Director Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy announced this month that his six-year term ends May 5.
On July 1, he takes the helm of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities as President and Chief Executive Officer, based in Seattle, Wa. There, he'll oversee 162 universities and colleges in the Pacific Northwest.
Dr. Ramaswamy will be succeeded by Dr. Thomas Shanower as Acting Director. "Dr. Shanower brings more than 20 years of experience in scientific research and management, and he will maintain a steady hand at the helm of NIFA," says Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Research, Education, Economics and Acting Chief Scientist Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young. Dr. Shanower comes to the
post from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), where most recently he served as the Associate Area Director for the Pacific West Area.
Read more about Dr. Shanower and the transition here.
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E. & J. GALLO WINERY RECEIVES VINITALY AWARD
NGRA founding member E. & J. Gallo Winery this month received the 2018 Vinitaly International Award. The prestigious award is presented to outstanding companies and personalities who are distinguished for their work in the international wine world.
The award proclamation
s
tates, "Pioneers in the creation of wines capable of conquering the American and international market, as well as innovative sales and marketing strategies, E. & J. Gallo Winery, as a leader in drafting and launching the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, was also the first winery to receive ISO 14001 sustainability certification for its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of agricultural operations."
Congratulations to our Gallo colleagues!
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SUSTAINABILITY AWARD WINNERS INCLUDE CAKEBREAD
Congratulations to the winners of the
including NGRA member,
Cakebread Cellars! The awards recognize the leadership of wineries and vineyards committed to sustainability and were formally presented on April 11. Napa-based Cakebread Cellars took home the Business Award, which is given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates smart business through efficiencies, cost savings and innovation from implementing sustainable practices. One example of the company's sustainability smarts: diverting 92% of its total annual waste in the past two years and reinvesting it in the longevity of its employees. Kudos, Cakebread!
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NAT DIBUDUO TO RETIRE FROM ALLIED GRAPE GROWERS
AGG praised Nat for his advocacy on behalf of its 500+ growers and his tireless work on numerous industry boards and committees, like NGRA. "Serving California winegrape growers since 2000 has been the pinnacle of my career," Nat said in a statement announcing the change. "The decision to transition to the next phase for me was not an easy one but passing the baton to Jeff and the next generation of this dedicated staff is exciting. Jeff is a leader who is prepared to move AGG forward. He has the insight and commitment needed to continue the legacy of serving our membership and the industry."
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STUART SPENCER NOW LEADS LODI WINEGRAPE COMMISSION
NGRA member the
Lodi Winegrape Commission has appointed Stuart Spencer as its new Executive Director
, effective April 4. Stuart was promoted from Program Manager for the Lodi Winegrape Commission, a position he has held since June 1999. In his new role, Stuart will lead the Commission's marketing, public relations, strategic planning, regional branding efforts, and grower and vintner relations. He also will oversee the Commission's annual budget to market the Lodi region, facilitate grower education, viticultural research, and expand awareness of the sustainable farming practices of the LODI RULES™, a third-party-certified sustainable winegrowing program started by the Lodi Winegrape Commission in 2005.
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NEW YORK HOSTS CONCORD SUMMIT
New York State's first-ever Concord Grape Summit took place April 11, to revitalize and expand the state's concord grape industry. Farmers, researchers and industry leaders met with state officials to discuss industry growth challenges and explore new opportunities for Concord grape growers there.
Check out the initiatives announced there
to help strengthen the industry, including expanding research. (Click to the news item below, "
Cornell projects support Concord grape growers in New York," for more.)
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UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE SUPPORTS FEDERAL FOOD, AG RESEARCH
Check out FedByScience,
the Universities Alliance for Agricultural Science. This
new collaborative initiative among universities seeks to raise the visibility of the value of federal investment in food and agricultural research, and is coordinated by the
Supporters of Agricultural Research Foundation (SoAR).
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USDA SEEKS FRUIT & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORS
The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reestablishing its Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
(FVIAC)
and is seeking nominations to fill its 25 seats. Eligible nominees include anyone actively working in the fruit and vegetable industry as growers, shippers, wholesalers, distributors, brokers, retailers, restaurant representatives, processors, fresh-cut processors, foodservice suppliers, representatives of state departments of agriculture and members of trade associations. Appointees will serve staggered terms of up to two years. Nominations must be received by May 24.
Find complete details and download the nomination form here.
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ASEV ANNOUNCES BEST PAPERS; AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) best papers of 2018 are:
- Best Viticulture Paper: Drs. Summaira Riaz, Karl Lund, Jeffrey Granett and Andy Walker, "Population Diversity of Grape Phylloxera in California and Evidence for Sexual Reproduction." The study's findings may help predict outbreaks of new, more aggressive strains of phylloxera and help rootstock breeders better prepare to fight against them.
- Best Enology Paper: Drs. Emma Sherman, David Greenwood, Silas Villas-Boâs, Hildegarde Heymann and Jim Harbertson, "Impact of Grape Maturity and Ethanol Concentration on Sensory Properties of Washington State Merlot Wines." From a winemaker's perspective, it has been thought that green character in fruit is reduced in wines from riper fruit as a result of changes during grape ripening. However, findings suggest that the green character may be reduced as a result of alcohol concentration rather than ripening and fruity flavors, which are not always suppressed by ethanol.
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TOP 10 REASONS TO ATTEND NVEELC 2018
Research has no impact if it isn't put into practice. So, NGRA is proud to support the efforts of our colleagues in extension and outreach, including their grassroots-organized National Viticulture & Enology Extension Leadership Conference (NVEELC). This year's event is less than one month away (May 20-22), and registration closes even sooner (May 4). If you work in an extension or outreach role, whether at a university or in a corporate grower relations function, there are at least 10 solid reasons you'll want to attend:
- Washington is the second-largest wine producer in the U.S. and the largest producer of Concord juice grapes. It also is home to one of the most productive state-funded research programs in the country. Hosted by Washington State University (WSU) Viticulture Extension, NVEELC will be held in Prosser, giving attendees tours, tastings and talks for a unique insider's view of the state's grape industries, right from its epicenter.
- Go behind the scenes at the WSU Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center. The cutting-edge viticulture and enology facilities here are among the best in the world, and you'll tour it with faculty rockstars.
- The Clean Plant Center Northwest in Prosser is one of the premier programs for clean plants in America. Learn from them about available funding sources for clean plant education, and promotional material types that have fueled their success and could be duplicated in your region.
- Wildfires across the west brought smoke taint front-and-center for researchers and extension specialists in 2017. WSU's Dr. Tom Collins, one of the world's foremost authorities on smoke taint, will share his research on smoke and other environmental taints.
- NVEELC is a grassroots event, produced by and for the community of practice. This year's event chair, Dr. Michelle Moyer, WSU Associate Professor/Viticulture Extension Specialist, created the agenda with input from colleagues, so it's tailored to the needs and interests of extension and outreach personnel. For the grape industry, there is no other focused opportunity to network with peers, share best-practices and learn from one another.
- State and regional reports are at the heart of the annual NVEELC agenda. These structured peer presentations can give you food for thought for improving your outreach efforts to growers, winemakers and producers.
- Have a say in when and where NVEELC 2019 takes place. Attend this year and weigh in, or even make your case for hosting the event next year!
- Worried about the future of extension and outreach in America? Discuss how the function can be strengthened through more durable funding, tight integration with research and ongoing collaboration with industry.
- May is peak season for some of the Pacific Northwest's iconic cuisine! All meals are included in your NVEELC registration and will include curated menus to show off local, seasonal fare.
- NVEELC tickets are only $100. Designed to provide a lot of value for very little of your limited budget, NVEELC is made affordable thanks to the cost-conscious planning of Michelle Moyer and the generosity of event and travel scholarship sponsors California Association of Winegrape Growers, California Table Grape Commission, E. & J. Gallo Winery, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Oregon Vineyard Supply, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington Winegrowers, WSU and NGRA.
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FPS DEVELOPED 2 NEW ASSAYS FOR LEAFROLL VIRUS
Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) is the main etiological agent of grapevine leafroll disease, one of the most important viral diseases of grapevine, distributed worldwide.
Foundation Plant Services (FPS), part of the UC Davis
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
has developed a new single RT-qPCR assay, called FPST, to detect all leafroll disease variants characterized to date. It also is using the
new GLRaV-3 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, developed using funds from the Fruit Tree, Nut Tree, and Grapevine Improvement Advisory Board managed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
Learn more about the new assays here.
"Moving forward, says FPS Director and NGRA Board member Deborah Golino, "we will continue to test more samples and challenge both the ELISA kit and the FPST RT-qPCR assay against possible new divergent variants of GLRaV-3. Additionally, we will characterize more GLRaV-3 variants using HTS. The availability of more complete GLRaV-3 genome sequences will aid in further characterizing the genetic diversity covered by the assay which will be updated upon finding any new divergent variants."
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WASHINGTON STATE FUNDS $1M+ IN RESEARCH PROJECTS
For the second year, the
Washington Wine Commission has
recommended viticulture and enology research totaling more than $1 million be funded through its wine research grant program, administered by
Washington State University
. Funding for 2018-19 is 30% higher than five years ago and includes 17 projects. Two new projects focus on addressing the labor shortage in vineyards: one to develop a precise mechanical solution for shoot thinning, and the other to create a smartphone app for crop load estimation.
Click to see the complete list of projects Washington is working on.
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VITISGEN2 SPEEDS-UP SAMPLING
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April 23, 2018 │ Science
New research shows promise for a lethal gene drive in the destructive spotted wing drosophila.
April 23, 2018 │ The Packer
California's Coachella Valley grape harvest is expected to begin between May 7-10, with crop prospects off slightly from a year ago.
April 21, 2018 │ Meininger's Wine Business International
There are an estimated 1,100 varieties of Vitis vinifera in use for commercial winegrowing across the globe. In most countries, 70-90% is planted with only 12 (1% of the total diversity) and researchers have so far focused on key varieties, too. It's in the more obscure varieties, however, where traits are likely to be found that will be necessary for the future of the industry as the world continues to warm.
April 18, 2018 │ Cornell Chronicle
Cornell University grape experts and food scientists at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University (CALS) are stepping up to give Concord growers new opportunities for their products and to diversify vineyard operations in New York, the second-largest producer of Concord grapes in the nation.
April 18, 2018 │ Morning Ag Clips
"Roots continuously secrete chemicals into the soil as a way to liberate nutrients that are attached to soil particles," says Dr. Paul Hallett, a soil scientist at the University of Aberdeen. In human digestion, the stomach secretes gastric juices to help break up food. Exudates are the plant equivalent of gastric juices; accordingly, they affect how well plants pull vital nutrients and water from the soil. And they have an important role in holding soil together.
April 13, 2018 │ Wine Australia
Researchers at
the University of Queensland
have shown that their LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor-based Pesticide Adjusted for the Canopy Environment (PACE) system can reduce the amount of chemicals used by 50% or more, even at the full canopy.
April 12, 2018 │ NEO.LIFE
When people mention CRISPR, they're usually breathless over its potential to cure diseases like sickle cell anemia and muscular dystrophy. But the gene-editing technology's most promising application might not be in health care. It might be in food.
April 10, 2018 │ Farm Journal AgTech
State schools like
University of Michigan
,
Oklahoma State University,
University of North Dakota
and
Kansas State University
are adding drone facilities to their campuses. U of M's just opened and all are designed to teach students about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in controlled environments.
April 6, 2018 │ The Packer
California table grapes totaled 109.1 million boxes in last year's growing season. "After breaking the 100-million box mark only six years ago, a 109-million box crop has become the new normal for California table grape growers," Commission President Kathleen Nave says.
April 6, 2018│ Science
Two fellowship programs-one at the federal level created by the
American Association for the Advancement of Science
(
AAAS
) and another in California-enable PhD-level scientists to work in the legislature for one year, advising on science and technology. Their successes helping to guide policy seem promising.
April 5, 2018 │ The Institute: The IEEE News Source
Stefano Carpin, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at
UC Merced
, leads a team of researchers from
UC Berkeley
,
UC Davis
, and UC Merced building a robotic irrigation system called Robot-Assisted Precision Irrigation Delivery (RAPID) for grapevines. The project, funded in 2016 by a nearly $1 million grant from the USDA-NIFA, is part of the
National Science Foundation (NSF)
-led National Robotics Initiative.
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June 22, 2018
NGRA Mid-Year Board Meeting
Monterey, CA
July 9-11, 2018
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