Raisin growers who’ve invested in mechanization reaped the benefits this season as the federal government tightened borders and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials marched into agricultural operations with a vengeance. ...
About the only thing remaining on the agenda for the 2007 season is for the fat lady to sing — and all signs are that she’ll be singing praises for an outstanding vintage. From south to north, wine grape harvest is mostly finished, and while yields are down overall, quality is excellent....
Even though vine mealybug may not be top of mind in the fall, it should be, according to Walt Bentley, UC entomologist at the Kearney Agricultural Center. Even vineyards that have not yet been infested by the pest can benefit from fall pesticide applications....
The fires that ripped through California’s southland were as fickle at picking on vineyards as they were at picking on homeowners. ...
The days of the neutron probe and basing irrigations solely on evapotranspiration data are limited at best. At least that’s the way Matt Angell with Emeryville-based PureSense Company sees it....
If the wineries are hurting for juice this season, they’re not bringing cash to the table just yet and it is getting very late....
There was a little early frost on the pumpkin in a few select areas last week, and scattered rain showers washed the dust off a few berries up and down the state. While unseasonably cool temperatures were recorded in certain locales on the Central Coast, damage is thought to be fairly insignificant at this point. In some cases, it may even be helpful....
University of California (UC) researchers are evaluating more than two-dozen wine grape varieties from European appellations for suitability to San Joaquin Valley production. The trial at UC’s Kearney Ag Center includes Aglianico, Montepulciano, Cinsaut, Souzao, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Durif among others. ...
As with other wine grape growing areas, the cool spell that descended upon California a few weeks ago slowed harvest in Mendocino County as well....
It started out fast and furious and ahead of schedule, but the cool snap earlier in September slowed harvest somewhat....
Mother Nature gave California growers a break for the most part this season with relatively light pest and disease pressure and moderate temperatures. Not too many growers are overly optimistic they’ll get the same break in ’08....
Things were looking pretty good for raisin grape growers earlier in the season, but recent rains are putting a bit of a damper on the current forecast....
Acramite®-50WS -- Broad spectrum control, fast knock-down and long lasting residual for the best mite control in grapes....
It’s like a teenager in charge of a clutch on a super-revved Ferrari: Harvest on the Central Coast is progressing, but it’s been “stomp on the gas” one minute and “slam on the brakes” the next....
It has been a fast-paced harvest season, but the latest cool snap seems to have slowed things a bit — and that’s welcome news for most growers, as well as the wineries....
The Grape Line, Sponsored
by Chemtura Corporation
