Turn the Page; NVEELC Speakers; Efficient Sampling

March 2026

A tree grows in Virginia*

TURN THE PAGE

As you’re well aware, 2025 was a tough year. For reasons I don’t need to recount, last year the American grape and wine industry faced its stiffest and most varied headwinds perhaps in history. Businesses closed or changed hands, downsized, consolidated and searched for new efficiencies. Researchers at academic institutions and government agencies (those who remained employed) struggled to find funding for their most ambitious projects as federal funding programs—like the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which has among the largest awards for grape research—shut down. In the scientific community, 2025 became known as “the year of lost research.”

What’s in This Issue?

Scroll down for these stories and more

New speakers have been announced for NVEELC 2026, and the hotel deadline is just days away
Fertilizer supply buckles under the weight of war
The Farm Bill inches forward
Box sampling can improve the efficiency of vine nutrition sampling by 75%

Even as a nonprofit, NGRA is not immune from the industry’s economic challenges. The downstream effects of such upheaval can be massive for a small 501(c)(3) like ours. And as an organization whose mission is to actualize game-changing research of a size and scale that no one sector or region of the industry could achieve on its own, we were suddenly hamstrung. We pivoted from plans to initiate our next round of big-tent research projects to focus on executing on our extension, education and outreach theme areas. We produced the NGRA-UC Davis Grapevine Improvement Workshop and organized the forthcoming ASEV-NGRA Vineyard Nutrition Symposium to ensure research that had been done found an audience with industry stakeholders. And we worked to lift up the viticulture and enology extension community that keeps applied science alive. We hosted quarterly webinars and planned the upcoming National Viticulture & Enology Extension Leadership Conference, April 20-22, just for them.

This year, we turned the page.

At NGRA’s First-of-Year Board Meeting on January 26, we launched our 2026 strategic roadmap, which includes expanding our funding model. Our new always-on development function is designed to not only strengthen industry support but proactively seek diversified funding and novel partnerships to support the NGRA research mission. Our goal is to grow NGRA’s annual funding to $1 million by 2028. This effort will expand engagement with federal agencies, private foundations, private industry, philanthropic partners and allied organizations to secure new investments in grape science.

Importantly, our 2026 roadmap also includes advancing three research initiatives to strengthen grape production nationwide. We’ve initiated planning for project concepts that address long-term vineyard resilience, automation and climate adaptation. Specifically, they focus on enabling robotic finish pruning (led by Terry Bates, Cornell), developing drought-tolerant rootstocks (led by Luis Diaz-Garcia, UC Davis) and understanding the impact of genetics, the environment and vine management on the expression and durability of disease-resistance traits in new, improved grape varieties (led by Maddy Oravec and Katie Gold, Cornell).

The headwinds continue, but we’re leaning in. The time is now to build the funding infrastructure and research muscle that matches the scale of the challenges our industry faces. Read more about our 2026 national research and funding strategy. And if you’re not already an NGRA member or donor, I invite you to join us as we begin this new chapter together.

Donnell Brown
President

*ABOUT THE IMAGE

The Flowering Dogwood is the state tree of Virginia, and this lovely specimen at Veritas Vineyard and Winery in Afton, VA, was bursting into bloom as the chardonnay vines around it were breaking bud in late March.

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

NVEELC 2026: Speakers Announced, Hotel Deadline Is April 2

If you work in viticulture or enology extension and/or outreach, now’s your chance to secure your spot for this year’s National Viticulture and Enology Extension Leadership Community (NVEELC) Conference! Planned by the NVEELC Organizing Committee, supported by NGRA and hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, NVEELC 2026 will be held in San Antonio, TX, April 20-22, 2026. Tickets are $150 per person. Register now!

With the theme, “Meeting Stakeholders Where They Are,” the program is full of opportunities for professional development, networking and best-practice sharing to help V&E extension and outreach specialists sit tall in the saddle. Speakers include: Larry Bettiga, UC Cooperative Extension; Tim Martinson, Cornell University (Retired); Michelle Moyer, Washington State University; Justin Scheiner, Texas A&M University; Patty Skinkis, Oregon State University; Keith Striegler, GALLO; and more! Plus, a tour of four pioneering Hill Country vineyards and wineries will show how producers in this fast-growing region are winning new consumers with creative winemaking, packaging and programs that break the mold. See the complete agenda.

NVEELC will take place at the at the Westin Riverwalk San Antonio. Rooms for NVEELC attendees are $199 per night, but must be booked by April 2. Book your stay!

War in Iran Cripples Global Fertilizer Supply

One ramification of the Iran conflict will be a massive global shortage of—and higher prices for—fertilizer as fighting cripples transport through the Strait of Hormuz, Farm Futures reports. And the timing couldn’t be worse for farmers, including grape growers. Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute, cites these impacts:

Natural gas is required for ammonia production. Disrupted exports from the Middle East have significantly increased natural gas prices.
About 50% of the global supply of urea, a crystallized form of nitrogen, comes from the Middle East; Iran alone is the world’s second-largest global supplier. The price for imported urea has risen by close to a third since the conflict began.
Major suppliers of nitrogen and phosphate are Qatar and Saudi Arabia, countries impacted by the war.
Nearly 50% of the world’s sulfur exports pass through the strait.

Farm Bill Progress

“Growers have been working without a current farm bill since 2023, leaving many initiatives like trade, research and rural development in long-term limbo or (reliant) on stopgaps or other sources of funding,” reports Western Farm Press. But earlier this month, the House Agriculture Committee approved its version of a 2026 farm bill that some say provides “critical support to specialty crop growers.” The bill “bolsters export opportunities, strengthens disaster and risk management tools for permanent crops, and invests in research, conservation and on-farm innovation,” Alexi Rodriguez, president and CEO of the Almond Alliance is quoted. The Senate Ag Committee is expected to issue its own farm bill proposal in the coming months. If the Senate and House both pass farm bills, the two chambers will negotiate a final bill to be signed into law.

Cornell Atkinson: Financing the Future of Agriculture

American agriculture faces a variety of challenges: consolidation of smaller family farms into fewer, larger farms; policies that threaten growers’ ability to access necessary labor; tariffs jeopardizing markets and undercutting profits; and climate change increasing the frequency and severity of major weather events. To respond to these challenges, the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability is collaborating with public, private, nonprofit and fellow academic partners to develop research, training and partnerships that will help finance the future of U.S. agriculture. These efforts include the Resilient Agriculture Finance and Insurance Research Collaborative which, with partners the Environmental Defense Fund and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, is offering grants to U.S.-based land-grant universities and industry partners to discover and disseminate finance and insurance solutions for farmers. (Letters of intent are due April 22.) And a new executive leadership program for sustainable agriculture professionals began in February 2026, bringing together 29 professionals from financial and agricultural organizations to build connections and develop strategies to drive sustainable agriculture.

Penn State Extension Launches an AI Tool

Tilva, the new, freely available artificial intelligence-powered tool from Penn State Extension is designed to give the state’s agricultural producers around-the-clock access to trusted, research-based answers to pressing questions. The system delivers guidance drawn from science-based, Pennsylvania-specific Extension resources, expanding educators’ reach while helping farmers find reliable information quickly about agriculture, food, the environment and other topics.

New Oregon State Entomologist Pursues GRBV Vector(s)

Oregon State University recently welcomed Robert Orpet, Assistant Professor of Entomology, to its Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center in Central Point, OR. Robert’s research will focus on confirming the insect vectors of grapevine red blotch virus beyond the three-cornered alfalfa hopper, building on the work of his predecessor, Rick Hilton. Rick found GRBV in other treehoppers, planthoppers and leafhoppers, adding them to a “suspicion list” of insects that may transfer the virus from vine to vine. The Oregon Wine Board has funded the continuation of this research.

Ohio Issues a Statewide SLF Quarantine

In February, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) issued a statewide quarantine for spotted lanternfly. Previously, only 18 Ohio counties were under quarantine. Under the quarantine, trees and nursery stock may not be moved out of Ohio without a compliance agreement, permit or inspection certificate. ODA is no longer encouraging community members to report sightings of the spotted lanternfly in the state of Ohio.

California Has a New Ag Research & Innovation Roadmap

A coalition of state, academic and agricultural industry partners this month revealed its California Agricultural Research & Innovation Roadmap, a blueprint to guide and accelerate scientific discovery, and commercialization and adoption of next-generation tools. The plan was developed collaboratively by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, the California State University Agricultural Research Institute, California Community Colleges, Western Growers and the California AgTech Alliance. It provides eight long-term 10-year research priorities, underpinned by a list of potential research topics. Four near-term innovation priorities, spearheaded by the California AgTech Alliance, will be updated every two years.

UC Davis Receives Transformative Gift for Ag Tech

This month, UC Davis received a bequest of more than $25 million to be directed toward agricultural technology and innovation from late philanthropist and local businessman Dan G. Best II. The gift honors the legacy of his grandfather, C.L. Best, an agricultural innovator and founding leader of Caterpillar Tractor Co., whose design of his first track-type tractor in 1912 remains the basis for all current track-type machines used across the world today. The two-part gift provides foundational support for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. First, $12.5 million will establish the C.L. Best Innovation in Agriculture Fund to support student scholarships, faculty and staff research, and facility improvements. An additional $12 million will go to three endowed chairs—Agricultural Big Data Analytics, Robotics and Cyber-physical Farming Systems, and Controlled Environmental Engineering—named for C.L. Best in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

RESEARCH FOCUS

Thinking Inside the Box for Better Vineyard Nutrient Monitoring

By Manushi Trivedi, Justine Vanden Heuvel, James Meyers, Rowena Lohman and Terry Bates, Cornell University; Nataliya Shcherbatyuk and Pierre Davadant, Washington State University; and Rob Chancia, Rochester Institute of Technology

Editor’s Note: The March, April and May NGRA newsletters will highlight research outcomes of the NGRA-initiated HiRes Vineyard Nutrition project that will be featured at the ASEV-NGRA Vineyard Nutrition Symposium. The event will take place on June 16, 2026, in Boise, ID. Tickets go on sale mid-April. Read about the innovations here and bring your questions to the symposium!

As viticulturists, our team routinely observes that the frequent random sampling that’s typically recommended for nutrient management is often skipped due to the man-hours, distance and number of samples needed. It just seems too time- and resource-intensive to be worth doing…until it becomes apparent that there’s insufficient information with which to make accurate fertilizer recommendations. We believed that, with help from newly accessible, freely available satellite data, there could be a better way to do nutrient monitoring.

We developed a novel sampling method called “box” sampling as an easy and less expensive way to select a sampling location to accurately capture the overall nutrient distribution within a block. In particular, the method was conceived for use in smaller vineyards where growers want to do a uniform nutrient application for their specific vineyard conditions, and where reducing the time and effort required for tissue sampling can encourage more consistent sample collection across seasons. Box sampling involves using spatial satellite data to identify a 30m x 30m square grid area with three intersecting stratified variability zones to produce a single representative sample, based on an algorithm we designed. (See figure here.) The square grid for sampling that’s generated typically consists of a 30m-long area spanning two to three adjacent vineyard row-alleys. The sample collected from this area could then be analyzed and used to select an appropriate uniform fertilizer rate.

To test the method, we determined variability zones based on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data. Representative pixels from each zone were sampled using the stratified method, while the junction of these variability zones (30m x 30m sampling grid area) was sampled using the new box method. We did this in 14 vineyards in New York, Washington and California as part of the NGRA-initiated HiRes Vineyard Nutrition project. Each 10m resolution pixel may contain 15 or fewer vines, depending on vine spacing. In this study, box sampling had lower sampled vine-to-area ratio compared to stratified sampling. Specifically, about 18 vines were sampled from a 300m² area in stratified sampling, while roughly 42 vines were sampled from a 900m² area in box sampling. Box sampling was compared with random and stratified sampling methods at both bloom and veraison for grapevine foliar nitrogen (N%), phosphorus (P%), potassium (K%), magnesium (Mg%), and calcium (Ca%).

In 2021 and 2022, these methods were compared against nutrient population parameters in two vineyard blocks. Both methods showed marginal differences in mean, median and standard deviation, but box sampling consistently captured a broader range of variations. Across 14 sites in 2022 and 2023, box sampling accurately captured random nutrient variability for N%, P% and Mg% at both bloom and veraison. However, for K% (at veraison) and Ca%, box sampling performed poorly due to high spatial variability. Overall, the box sampling method reduced the distance and time traveled by 75% regardless of block size, which is to our knowledge the highest reduction reported in the literature.

Our study concentrated on accurately capturing nutrient distribution rather than estimating nutrient concentrations, as box sampling was developed for growers who typically collect and analyze only one sample per block, ensuring that single sample is more representative of the block. The study confirmed that the method effectively captured the overall nutrient distribution, indicating that it may produce nutrient maps comparable to those generated by random sampling. In fact, the box sampling algorithm is now accessible via the freely available My Efficient Vineyard (MyEV) platform, which growers can use to adjust representative sampling area year to year based on canopy conditions and soil moisture.

To our knowledge, this study is the first to leverage multi-sensor, freely available data to optimize sampling techniques for nutrient assessment in viticulture. We believe our box sampling method holds great potential not only for individual growers but also for regional-scale sampling. Plus, although the primary goal here was to capture the overall distribution of nutrients in a block while increasing operational efficiency in sample collection, future efforts could apply box sampling to estimating nutrient values throughout the season.

This article was excerpted from the original paper, “Box Sampling: A New Spatial Sampling Method for Grapevine Macronutrients Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Satellite Images,” published February 17, 2025, in the journal, Precision Agriculture. Read it here. This research was funded by the USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

USDA’s Research Priorities and NIFA’s Role

In December, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced priorities for USDA-funded research and development. This month, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Administrator Jaye Hamby explains how these priorities translate to research funded by NIFA’s grant programs. He writes that NIFA and fellow agency, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), are part of USDA’s Research, Education and Economics (REE) mission area. “While ARS conducts intramural research, NIFA is the extramural funding agency that partners with land-grant universities and others to conduct research across the nation that is locally relevant and applied,” he says. “NIFA serves as the bridge between federal investments and on-the-ground impact, supporting the scientists, Extension experts and producers who turn research into results for American agriculture.” If you’re pursuing funding from USDA-NIFA grant programs, be sure to read how the agency is enacting the R&D priorities.

NIFA Terms and Conditions Update

USDA-NIFA has adopted the first-ever USDA General Terms and Conditions (GT&Cs), established via a Secretary’s Memorandum (SM 1078-021) on Dec. 31, 2025. These GT&Cs apply to grants, cooperative agreements and similar arrangements. Additionally, NIFA-specific terms and conditions will update or remove conflicting or duplicative terms, and will be applied to all awards supporting research, education, Extension or integrated activities issued on or after March 18, 2026. To support stakeholders in understanding these updates, NIFA will host a webinar on April 15, 2026. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunities

FFAR Fellows

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) is accepting applications for the 2026-2029 cohort of FFAR Fellows. The program is designed to provide career guidance to PhD students who represent the next generation of food and agriculture scientists. It prepares a career-ready STEM workforce by breaking down disciplinary silos and focusing on professional development and soft-skills. Of the two types of fellowship offered, only the Professional Development program remains open for applications this year. Apply by April 15, 2026.

NIFA Fellowships

The USDA-NIFA AFRI Education and Workforce Development Program focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. One program goal, advancing science, provides funding for graduate and post-graduate education in food and agriculture disciplines within the private sector, government or academia. Applications are due for Predoctoral Fellowships (Program Code A7101) on April 16, 2026, and for Postdoctoral Fellowships (Program Code A7201) on April 30, 2026. Find complete details for these programs in the AFRI Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on pages 22 and 25.

NASA Space to Soil Challenge

The NASA Earth Science Technology Office invites participants to design small satellite (SmallSat) mission concepts that leverage adaptive sensing and onboard processing to enhance regenerative agriculture, forestry or a similar land resilience objective. NASA’s primary objective for this challenge is NOT to develop new agricultural or forestry science but rather to improve how SmallSats sense, process and deliver information to enable these applications. Submissions must be received by May 4, 2026.

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)

This USDA-NIFA program funds projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have adopted organic standards to grow and market high-quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical and social sciences, including economics. OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole-farm planning by delivering practical research-based information. There are three OREI programs, each with its own notice of funding opportunity and application; all are due by May 14, 2026:

OREI Planning Projects for Assistance in Development of Future OREI Proposals Requiring Multiregional or Regional Coordination
OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components
OREI Workshop Projects

NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

This prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) program recognizes early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education, and lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. Also, NSF annually selects nominees for its Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from among the most meritorious CAREER awardees. Applications are due by July 22, 2026.

Applying for a grant? Request a letter of support!

NGRA is pleased to provide letters of support for research projects that directly address our industry research priorities. Request a letter via our online request form at least two weeks prior to the grant deadline (or any internal deadline you may have). Late requests are not accepted. Requests are reviewed and approved by NGRA Research Committee leadership, so processing times may vary.

IN THE NEWS

Vineyard Nutrition Essentials - Phosphorus Fundamentals with Dr. Terry Bates

March 17, 2026 | Vineyard Underground Podcast

Drawing on decades of research in plant nutrition and root biology, Cornell’s Terry Bates explains what phosphorus is, where it comes from, and why it is essential for grapevines at the cellular level. From its role in energy transfer and DNA structure to its influence on root growth and fruit development, phosphorus is woven into nearly every aspect of vine physiology. But applying too much wastes money and reduces efficiency.

Perceptions and Preferences of U.S. Wine Consumers: Glass vs. Alternative Packaging

March 11, 2026 | Cleaner and Responsible Consumption

A team of food scientists and ag economists at University of Arkansas conducted a choice experiment with 2,000 U.S. wine consumers exploring the perceptions of glass bottles vs. alternative packaging materials for wine, including aluminum, polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/plastic and flexible packaging. Consumers clearly preferred glass bottles and liked alternative packaging the least…until they received information about the materials’ carbon footprint.

Shoppers Willing To Pay Nearly 10% More for Sustainable Products

March 10, 2026 | The Drinks Business

Consumers are willing to spend nearly 10% more on sustainably produced or sourced goods despite ongoing cost of living pressures, according to PwC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey. More than 20,000 consumers across 31 countries and territories lent their voice to the research. One-third (31%) of them said inflation is the biggest risk to their consumption habits over the next year, and 62% expect groceries to be their biggest spending increase over the next six months. Still, 80% said they are willing to pay more for sustainably produced or sourced products.

The Mounting Economic Toll of Grapevine Trunk Diseases

March 9, 2026 | SevenFifty Daily

While management practices have helped slow the spread of grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs), the difficulty in detecting them, the loss of chemistries with which to fight them, the discovery of new forms and the elusiveness of a cure makes them a global threat. Research has led to promising new approaches to treating GTDs, including applying silver–selenium nanoparticles, and antioxidants and iron chelators using aqueous ozone in nurseries.

Raising Goats to Graze

March 9, 2026 | Offrange

It’s a growing trend: Instead of mowers and herbicides, land and farm managers are turning to rented goats and sheep for vegetation management. Targeted grazing can be used to knock down nuisance plants or clear brush for fire control in areas with steep topography, or where herbicides or machinery can’t be used—or farmers would prefer not to. It’s “still a very amorphous industry with no norms or standards,” says a rep of Goats on the Go, a network of U.S.-based goat grazing affiliates. Learn how people are getting into the field on a commercial scale.

How Taiwan Is Reclaiming Its Wine Identity—Through Climate-Adaptive Science and Terroir-Driven Fermentation

March 9, 2026 | NewsWise

A professor at the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism is leading an effort to define wine styles for Taiwan’s terroir and subtropical climate, and regional palate. The research focuses on two interspecific grape varieties historically cultivated in Taiwan, and establishes winemaking approaches for fortified and sweet wine styles that achieve sensory harmony and can be made under challenging environmental conditions. “Beyond wine production, the research contributes to a broader global conversation about how non-traditional wine regions can sustain local fermentation cultures in an increasingly standardized market,” the press release says.

New Cover Crop Tool for Western Growers

March 5, 2026 | Sustainable Farming with Vineyard Team

In this podcast, Sarah Light, Agronomy Farm Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, shares the importance of cover crops. And she introduces the cover crops Species Selector tool, which was recently expanded to include 13 western states, completing the tool’s national coverage. This practical resource reflects the input and expertise of local experts and helps growers choose the best cover crops for their location, crops and management objectives. Find Species Selector for the west here: https://westerncovercrops.org/decision-tools/.

Is Phylloxera Still a Threat to the Global Wine Industry?

March 2, 2026 | SevenFifty Daily

Recent detections in regions like Walla Walla, WA (2019), and Tenerife, Spain (2025), that were historically unaffected have shown that phylloxera remains a genuine existential risk to the global wine industry. Now, climate change and increasing mechanization may be contributing to the increasing spread of leaf-feeding populations of phylloxera, particularly in Europe, but also in China, Japan, the eastern U.S., and parts of South America.

Measuring Inversions for Frost Protection and Spray Decisions

March 1, 2026 | Practical Vineyard and Winery in WineBusiness Monthly

Former UC Cooperative Extension agent Mark Battany explains what temperature inversions are, and how “measuring the air temperatures at two heights (about canopy height and 30 feet up) can tell us quite a lot about the layer of air that covers our vineyards and whose characteristics dictate how we can best manage frosts, and what happens to the sprays we apply,” he writes. Otherwise, he says, growers are left with assumptions…and the realization that “we might (have been) better off measuring.”

Overwintering in Buds: A Hidden Challenge for Grapevine Powdery Mildew Management

March 1, 2026 | WineBusiness Monthly

Did you know that powdery mildew can survive in dormant buds in climates with mild winters? This overwintering strategy is called bud perennation, and it results in shoots that are heavily infected when they emerge at budburst. These "flag shoots" trigger early disease outbreaks in focused hotspots in the vineyard and can perpetuate season-long challenges for powdery mildew management.

Light That Enhances Wine: Higher Vineyard Quality and Reduced Antifungal Treatments

Feb. 27, 2026 | UniPiNews

Researchers at the University of Pisa found that the use of UV-C radiation in Cabernet Sauvignon vines during ripening can produce grapes richer in color and aroma, without reducing yields. This technology is already used to control vine diseases and reduce the use of chemical treatments, and now seems to generate higher concentrations of anthocyanins and flavanols in treated fruit.

Women More Likely to Choose Wine from Female Winemakers

Feb. 25, 2026 | WSU Insider

Promoting women’s roles in the production of a bottle of wine can boost sales—and sales price—among women, the largest group of U.S. wine consumers. Messages like “proudly made by a woman winemaker” increased women’s intent to purchase particular wines, especially when the label’s artwork reinforced the point with feminine gender cues, according to research co-led by Washington State University and Auburn University.

Survey Finds Raids Impacted California Farm Production

Feb. 25, 2026 | Ag Alert

A survey conducted by researchers at Michigan State University in partnership with the California Farm Bureau found that fewer than 1% of California farmers reported losing workers as a direct result of immigration enforcement. However, around 15% said they lost workers due to concerns related to increased immigration enforcement, and 14% said they reduced production as a result. More than 500 farmers from across 50 of California’s 58 counties responded to the survey, which was conducted in late 2025 and early 2026.

Red Blotch a Worldwide Vineyard Threat

Feb. 23, 2026 | Good Fruit Grower

Speaking at the Great Lakes EXPO in December, Oregon State University Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center Director Alec Levin reported that detection and diagnosis of grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) is currently a rich area of research. It’s vectored by insects, but “the best way to move this virus around is through propagation, grafting in nurseries and selling vines,” he said. Roguing remains the most effective management strategy for the disease. No product is labeled to combat it, Alec added.

Can a Simple Spray Protect Grapes from Wildfire Smoke?

Feb. 19, 2026 | UC Davis CAES

Researchers from UC Davis and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service spent last summer spraying calcium on grapes to see if it can protect them from smoke exposure when wildfires strike. For grapes, calcium is known to support disease resistance, prevent cracking and strengthen skin and cell walls. “Our hypothesis was that by applying calcium we could further thicken the grape skin cell wall and decrease absorption of smoke into the grapes,” said doctoral student Arpa Boghozian, who helped design and lead the research. Analysis is ongoing and the team hopes to publish findings by early 2027.

Is It Lights Out for the Notorious Spotted Lanternfly?

Feb. 9, 2026 | Growing Produce

A nymphal parasitoid, Dryinus sinicus, shows promise as a primary biocontrol for spotted lanternfly. USDA-APHIS has been studying the wasp, a native of China, finding that it targets the first, second and third instar SLF nymphs. Hannah Broadley, an APHIS scientist leading the research, says that host-range testing was completed in December, and USDA is moving toward the final regulatory stages for its release. Her team is already focused on optimizing rearing systems to ensure a robust supply of the parasitoids once approval is granted.

Historic DNA Discovery: Turkish Kolorko identified as Hungary's Furmint

Feb. 9, 2026 | Wine Business Monthly

Swiss grape geneticist José Vouillamoz recently confirmed that the Turkish grape variety Kolorko—sourced from Turkey’s Paşaeli winery—is genetically identical to Furmint, the iconic white grape of Hungary’s Tokaj region. It is believed that Furmint was introduced into the Ottoman Empire via cuttings brought by Hungarian nobles in the 1700s. Over time, Kolorko nearly disappeared from Turkish vineyards. Paşaeli has made a varietal Kolorko since 2009 as part of its efforts to preserve indigenous varieties.

RNA Biopesticide with Nanomaterials May Solve Grapevine Red Blotch Issues

Feb. 4, 2026 | American Vineyard Magazine

Christian Mandelli, a PhD student in the Deluc lab at Oregon State, has hit upon a promising solution for Grapevine Red Blotch. By applying a spray solution of specific double-stranded RNA molecules related to GRBV on the leaf surface of infected vines and also applying it via carbon dots, he’s achieved a 95% decreased expression of the RepA GRBV gene, maintained for three months post-application. He is currently replicating the trial.

Leafroll Virus and Vine Mealybug: Research, Resistance and a Roadmap

February 2026 | California PD/GWSS Board Bulletin

Might vine mealybug prefer some grapevine cultivars than others? That’s what Summaira Riaz (USDA-ARS) and Luis Diaz-Garcia (UC Davis) are studying, with funding from the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board. Their project seeks to provide a long-term strategy to slow the spread of leafroll disease by focusing on the vector vs. the disease. Early results show clear differences on how well the pest survives after feeding on vinifera species, hybrids and rootstocks.

Vineyard Irrigation: A Balancing Act with Consequences

February 2026 | AJEV

At his 2025 ASEV Honorary Research Lecture, WSU’s Markus Keller shared insights on 20 years of research on water flow in grape berries, summarized in this article. A grape’s final size depends on the balance between water inflow and outflow during its development, he says. Water inflow occurs mostly via the xylem before veraison but via the phloem during ripening. That’s why focusing management strategies like deficit irrigation on the preveraison period will have the biggest impact on berry size and composition.

Real-Time Integrative Mapping of the Phenology and Climatic Suitability for the Spotted Lanternfly

July 31, 2025 | Insects

Researchers at Oregon State University developed a model integrating mapping of the phenology and climatic suitability for the spotted lanternfly for use in surveillance and management. Cold and heat stresses were insufficient to exclude SLF from most areas of the U.S. But in colder regions, low temps may prevent the pest from completing its lifecycle and hinder establishment. In warmer regions, adults’ earlier appearance suggests host plants there may experience stronger feeding pressure. The near-real-time forecasts produced by the model are available at USPest.org.

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