Are These Smart Solar Panels the Future of Sustainable Vineyards?
March 20, 2025 | SevenFifty Daily
A vineyard at Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany features a sophisticated agrivoltaic system designed just for grapes. These “vitivoltaics” have gutters that direct rainwater to irrigation outlets, heating wire for frost protection, UVC devices to deter downy mildew (though it’s less of a problem because the vines are shielded from precipitation), and electrical outlets for farm equipment and laptops. Agrivoltaics have been shown to lower temperatures under the panels, helping to slow ripening and retain soil moisture. Vines suffer less sunburn, have lower sugar content and higher acidity. The only downside? The cost to install.
NASA Uses Advanced Radar to Track Groundwater in California
March 20, 2025 | Maven’s Notebook
A NASA jet equipped with radar technology so sensitive it can detect ground movements thinner than a nickel will fly six missions over California’s San Joaquin Valley this year in hopes of pinpointing where groundwater replenishment occurs and, ultimately, quantifying the amount of water naturally recharging the system. The ground movements it’s tracking are the nearly imperceptible swelling of the earth’s surface as water seeps in. “We’re measuring changes in surface elevation—smaller than a centimeter—that tell us where the water is,” says the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab scientist who oversees the synthetic aperture radar program central to the project.
The Importance of Grape Germplasm Collections
March 18, 2025 | USDA Radio
USDA’s grape collections play a significant role in preserving and protecting obscure, even unnamed grape varieties (called “accessions”) whose DNA may hold keys to the sustainability of the grape and wine industry. These living plants are maintained in Geneva, NY, and Davis, CA, for use by grape breeders and geneticists in developing grape varieties with improved traits like disease or drought tolerance or resistance, flavor or color attributes, and more. USDA-ARS Grape Curator Erin Galarneau explains.
Spotted Lanternfly Strategies for Vineyards
March 12, 2025 | Good Fruit Grower
At the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO in December, a panel of experts shared bad news and good news about spotted lanternfly. “The bad news: The invasive pest continues to spread across the United States, posing a threat to vineyards wherever it goes,” reports Good Fruit Grower. The good news: management strategies seem effective in controlling the pest—at least in Southeast Pennsylvania, SLF’s “ground zero.” Adapting these methods to other regions might not be a straightforward process.
Grapevine Red Blotch Virus Detection in the Vineyard: Leveraging Machine Learning with VIS/NIR Hyperspectral Images for Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Vines
March 10, 2025 | Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
A Fresno State-led study reveals that, using machine learning to analyze imaging, a targeted set of spectral bands from the visible (VIS) to near-infrared (NIR) range can enable early detection of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus, even before symptoms are visible. The findings pave the way for precise and autonomous sensing systems for GRBV scouting in vineyards.
Local Vintners Test Autonomous Wildfire Suppression System
March 6, 2025 | North Bay Business Journal
Two California wineries, one in Napa and one in Sonoma, are piloting a wildfire suppression platform called FireDome, modeled on Israel’s Iron Dome autonomous missile defense system. In 2026, they plan to deploy a two-layer sensor-based system that detects approaching wildfire then launches eco-friendly retardant into the path of the flames. The initial design is set to protect 50 to 100 acres with a single launcher.
UCD Grapevine Breeding Program Update: Focus on Disease Resistant and Blending Cultivars
March 4, 2025 | Wine Business Monthly
Luis Diaz-Garcia and Dario Cantù gave updates on grape breeding and genetics research at UC Davis. Luis reported that, in the next 5 to 10 years, new releases could be available with the same PD-resistance as the recently released Walker varieties, with powdery mildew resistance, too. Dario noted that, “we’ve made great progress in understanding North American wild grape species,” whose DNA can be mined for genetic resistance to “a wide range of biotic stresses (PD, nematodes, phylloxera) and abiotic stresses (salt, drought, cold).”
Grape Sleuthing Through History: Solving the Cynthiana Mystery to Save the Variety from Extinction
March 1, 2025 | Wine Business Monthly
Using high-tech gene sequencing and old-fashioned ampelography, Lucie Morton, an independent viticulturist in Virginia, reports that “it can now be stated conclusively that Cynthiana and Norton are different varieties.” Here, she details how “Cynthiana came into (Eastern US) vineyards so furtively and effectively,” and argues that definitively separating the two varieties will “resurrect a highly acclaimed grape variety from death by obscurity.” Dean Volenberg, director of the Missouri Grape and Wine Institute, was instrumental in the discovery.
How Fungi Move Among Us
March 1, 2025 | The New York Times
Mycorrhizal fungi are the “supply chains of the soil,” exchanging vital nutrients with plants (80% of which [including grape] rely on their networks) for the carbon they need to grow. These fungi seem to assess supply and demand to reach toward the largest payoff, even shuttling nutrients and nuclei in opposite directions if needed. Research by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks on how these “living algorithms” make decisions was published in the journal Nature last month. Click for cool video.
Investigating Fanleaf Symptom Development and Nematode Transmission to Imagine Novel Management Strategies
March 2025 | California PD/GWSS Board Bulletin
Are your grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) resistant rootstocks not seeming so resistant anymore? Research funded by the CDFA PD/GWSS Board and led by Cornell’s Marc Fuchs seeks to unlock the genetic mechanisms of GFLV symptom expression to potentially prevent the virus from causing root and foliar damage. Novel new disease management options could be on the horizon. (See p. 3.)
Sensor Snapshot from Satellites to Drones
March 2025 | HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Podcast
One aspect of the NGRA-initiated HiRes Vineyard Nutrition project is exploring the use of data derived from various sensors (e.g., on satellites, drones or tractors) to assess vine nutrition status and make decisions about nutrient management. Listen is as Rob Chancia (Rochester Institute of Technology) explains the tradeoffs of satellite vs. drone imagery, for example, and how the HiRes team seeks to ensure that sensor data can be readily used by growers in the real world.
What Do Fish, Butterflies and Bats Have to Do With Booze?
February 28, 2025 | Modern Farmer
This Modern Farmer article encourages consumers “to acknowledge our drinks as agricultural products” and look for clues on product packaging that point to “choices that are healthier for us and the planet.” It introduces sustainability certifications that might be listed on verified “ecolabels,” including Organic, Biodynamic, B Corp and LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), as well as the more specific wildlife protection programs like Fish-Friendly, Salmon-Safe, Bee-Friendly, Bat-Friendly (for spirits made from agave, which is pollinated by bats).
Monitoring and Building Soil Health in California Vineyards
February 28, 2025 | Grape & Wine Magazine
A Cal Poly-led study confirms that, in California vineyards, the “core suite of soil health indicators” recommended by the Soil Health Institute—soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon mineralization potential (MinC) and aggregate stability index (ASI)—works well to assess the effectiveness of regenerative practices. Using these metrics, they also confirmed that “building soil health may face more biophysical limitations in Mediterranean regions compared to temperate climate zones.” And they remind us that “building soil health is a slow process that often takes over a decade.”
Understanding Photosynthesis in Relation to Climate Change in Grapevines
February 15, 2025 | Theory in Biosciences
A literature review by viticulture researchers in India catalogs changes to grape phenology under changing climatic conditions and the resulting impacts on wine, raisin and table grape production. Grapes are maturing earlier, they write, increasing the sugar-to-acid ratio, a crucial determinant of wine’s alcohol concentration and flavor, and bad news for table grapes. As light intensity and CO2 levels rise, the biosynthesis of anthocyanins and tannins declines--and berry color. Rising temperatures can diminish the production of antioxidants, affecting the quality of raisins. If there’s good news, it’s that Cabernet Sauvignon seems relatively well-equipped for heat stress—better than Syrah, anyway.
Wine Minute: Wine Grape Pests
February 14, 2025 | Pacific Northwest Ag Network
Did you know that vine mealybug (the more prolific and destructive species of this pest) was discovered in Oregon in only 2022? In this podcast, Oregon State entomologist Andrew Butcher talks about the challenges of studying the tiny, cryptic invader.
Selecting a Rootstock for a Winegrape Vineyard
February 1, 2025 | Wine Business Monthly
Grape growers started using rootstocks more than 130 years ago for pest and disease control. Although they’ve since recognized their “long-term impacts on productivity, efficiency and profitability,” writes viticulturist Stan Grant for Wine Business Monthly, “selecting a rootstock remains a dubious business due to uncertainty about rootstock influences for any specific vineyard situation.” Here, he offers guidance on how to “fine-tune rootstock selection options for the best possible match with scion variety, soil and vineyard management objectives.”
Molecular Diagnostics to Identify Fungicide Resistance in New Zealand Vineyards
February 1, 2025 | Bragato Research Institute
Researchers in New Zealand seek to develop molecular diagnostic tools to detect fungicide-resistant powdery mildew in their vineyards. Molecular diagnostics are faster and more efficient than traditional lab testing. By identifying genetic changes in the target gene linked to resistance, these tools can quickly determine whether a fungus has adapted to a particular fungicide, and make it possible to test for multiple types of resistance simultaneously.
Investigating Alternative Training Systems to Boost Vineyard Productivity – Flowering to Harvest Season 2022-23
February 1, 2025 | Bragato Research Institute
The seven-year Next Generation Viticulture project in New Zealand has established field trials to compare six alternative training systems to the country’s traditional 3Cane system to see if any improved vineyard productivity. At the end of the first season, all six “had significantly higher retained node numbers, actively developed more shoots shortly after budburst, produced significantly more fruit, and grew and kept more biomass.” But 6VCane stood out.
Dogs Sniff out Devastating Spotted Lanternflies for Early Detection
January 2, 2025 | Cornell Chronicle
In a study led by researchers at Cornell to compare humans’ vs. dogs’ ability to find overwintering spotted lanternfly eggs, it was found that each has their strengths. Trained detector dogs are better at sniffing out egg masses in forested areas, while people excel at spotting them in vineyards. Dogs also do well in situations where the target’s scent is less concentrated, as when there are low densities of SLF before they’ve infested an area.
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