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Drive research to maximize the productivity, sustainability and competitiveness
of the American grape industries.
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THE FIRST 30 DAYS
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Donnell Brown
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It's been an incredible first month! I've spent my first 30 days meeting as many people as possible, gleaning perspectives from each sector NGWI represents and from researchers, policymakers, producers, extension specialists and more. Across the board, no matter who I've met, where they work or what they do, the thing that has impressed me the most is the passion, commitment and just plain
smarts of the people who are driving the research agenda in the grape industries. It's a joy to work with people who care so deeply about advancing our collective cause.
In between events and meetings, I've installed myself in our Sacramento office and am now accepting visitors. (Hint, hint!) If you work in or near Sacramento or business brings you to the Capitol, please stop by. Whether my travels bring me to your neck of the woods, or vice versa, I hope to meet YOU very soon!
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Vicky Scharlau and I have been working closely to download all organizational knowledge and transfer management responsibilities to me. She and her terrific 501 Consultants team have been a fantastic resource; they will continue to provide interim services through the end of May. At that time, Vicky will return to the NGWI board, representing Washington Winegrowers.
May also will bring the debut of our new website, as well as a new roster of research committee members (see story below). And of course, our next board meeting will take place June 8, here in Sacramento. Lots of good stuff happening!
Thanks for welcoming me aboard! And more importantly, thank you for all that you do to ensure research continues to improve the quality and competitiveness of the American grape industries.
Donnell
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NVEELC 2017 AND BEYOND
The National Viticulture & Enology Extension Leadership Conference (NVEELC) 2017 took place April 2-5, 2017, at the UC Davis, Oakville Station, gathering nearly 50 research and extension specialists from across the nation to compare challenges, share ideas and learn about new research that can be put into practice today. NGWI Executive Director Donnell Brown attended this year to represent the organization as a founding partner and event sponsor.
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Dr. Kaan Kurtural, UC Davis
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At the conference, Keith Striegler of E&J Gallo, Chair of NGWI's Extension & Outreach Committee, presented the history of NVEELC, explaining that the conference was born from our organization's strategic planning process as a means to strengthen the extension and outreach community. He also pointed out that extension and outreach remains one of NGWI's research priorities (see related article below), as an important vehicle for ensuring that research results are disseminated to the industry at large and put into practice.
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New Growth at the UC Davis Oakville Station Vineyard
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To address the need for more organization and planning for the conference going forward, Striegler announced that a planning committee will be established. Members will set meetings dates and locations two years in advance. NVEELC 2018 will be in Washington in 2018; the exact dates and location to be announced.
NGWI and NVEELC are committed to working together and developing proposals to build and grow a national structure for information sharing.
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RESEARCH COMMITTEE REVITALIZES FOCUS AREAS
The Research Committee, headed by Nick Dokoozlian, Executive Committee member and Vice President
, Viticulture, Chemistry and Enology at E&J Gallo Winery, convened mid-April to finalize NGWI's four newly updated research focus areas, install chairs for each and to identify industry and academic partners to serve as members of each committee. The committees are to be formalized by early May and begin work in advance of our June board meeting.
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Nick Dokoozlian
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"Research is the lifeblood of the grape industry and the cornerstone of the National Grape & Wine Initiative," Dokoozlian said. "We reviewed our research theme areas to ensure we were tracking with industry needs and focusing on the issues that are most critical to the quality and competitiveness of American table grapes, wine grapes, juice grapes and raisins."
Our revised research themes, their technical priorities and committee chairs are as follows:
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Natural Resources & Environment
Focuses on water use and sustainability, remote sensing for monitoring vine and soil water status, soil health and sustainability, and climate change.
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Genomics & Grapevine Improvement
Cultivates advances in genomics, bioinformatics, traditional breeding, marker-assisted selection, molecular physiology, cultivar and clonal selection, and establishment and maintenance of disease-free plant materials.
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Integrated Vineyard Production Systems
Chair: Russell Smithyman
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Spans agronomics, remote and proximal sensors for improving production efficiency, vineyard design, mechanization, and improved pest- and disease-management systems.
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Extension & Outreach
Supports the national, state and regional objectives of extension and outreach specialists; ensures that research is put into practical application and that field observations for knowledge are bubbled up.
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"Our research theme committees-from the chair to each individual member-play a vital role in ensuring the grape research agenda at a national and regional level," Dokoozlian added. "We believe that each member brings a unique perspective, deep knowledge and rich relationships that will help us connect all the dots and deliver results."
Research Committee Chair,
Dokoozlian appoints each theme committee chair, who serves a three-year term. Theme chairs lead the establishment of research priorities in their respective focus areas and the development of projects to address them. They convene committee meetings and working sessions at least quarterly, and in conjunction with Dokoozlian, select people to participate on their committees. Committee members are an integral part of establishing and achieving the goals of each theme committees, and serve three-year terms, as well.
If you're interested in serving on a theme committee or have a research project to submit for consideration, please contact the committee chair (listed above) and/or
Nick Dokoozlian
directly.
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RESEARCH IN PRACTICE - PH AND WATER QUALITY EFFECT ON PESTICIDE SPRAY SOLUTION
Matt Ehlhardt, Harvey Lyman Co.
Originally published by Lodi Winegrape Commission | April 23, 2017
Water is going to be the primary carrier of your
agricultural chemicals. It will have the job of delivering pesticides to the plant, fungal spores or insect to achieve the goal of protecting your vines. Water quality is determined by chemical properties such as pH (measure of acidity and alkalinity) and the level of inorganic minerals present (water hardness as determined by level of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc....). Pesticides can be sensitive to water chemistry and quality. Some are affected by high pH. At various levels above a pH of 7 certain pesticides can undergo alkaline hydrolysis. Alkaline hydrolysis breaks down the parent pesticide molecule into charged or ionic molecules (cations and anions). In this form a pesticides' ability to perform can be altered. Uptake through the plant leaf, inability to bind at its target site, and in the ionic form binding with hard water minerals or charged soil sediment that may occur in spray water are a few critical events that can be influenced by alkaline hydrolysis.
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NEW TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKS TO BOOST AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AMERICA
Clyde Wayne Crews, Jr. |
Forbes | April 25, 2017
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THIRD ANNUAL CALIFORNIA GREEN MEDAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED: SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The California Green Medal recipients have been announced for the third annual Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards. The California Green Medal recognizes the leadership of wineries and vineyards committed to sustainability and is presented by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners, Sonoma County Winegrowers and The Vineyard Team. |
PULLED RAISIN VINEYARDS LED 2016 DECLINE IN CALIFORNIA GRAPE ACREAGE Cary Blake | Western Farm Press | April 20, 2017
California grape acreage (all types combined) fell 2.3 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, shriveled the most by a 7.5 percent decline in raisin vineyards.
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MARCH FOR SCIENCE DRAWS BIG CROWDS, CLEVER SIGNS ACROSS U.S.
Lacey Johnson and Lisa Fernandez |
Reuters | April 22, 2017
Tens of thousands of people turned out in cities across the United States and beyond on Saturday for Earth Day events billed as a "celebration of science" to counter what organizers say is a growing disregard for evidence-based knowledge in Washington.
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Upcoming Events
NGWI Board of Directors Meeting
June 8, 2017
Sacramento, California
ASEV National Conference
June 26-29
Bellevue, WA
ASEV Eastern Section
July 10-12
Charlottesville, VA
ARS Grape Research Workshop and NGWI Board Meeting
Wednesday, November 29 - Friday, December 1, 2017
West Coast Location, TBD
Please plan to arrive late Tuesday, November 28 and depart after 3PM on Friday, December 1.
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