At Sunridge Nurseries, innovation isn’t a buzzword, it’s built into every step of our production process. We’ve intentionally partnered with industry-leading technology providers to ensure every vine we ship is grown with precision, consistency, and plant health as the priority. Here’s how technology has elevated our nursery program: Precision Fertigation FLOREP / RiTech Using the Nutritech system from RiTech, we fertigate with customized nutrient formulations based on crop type and growth stage. Each formula is pre-programmed and can be adjusted instantly, allowing us to deliver the exact nutrients our vines need at each stage from planting through shipping.   Advanced Plant Health SOBionics Hidroblue System Our Hidroblue system produces hypochlorous acid (HClO), a non-toxic solution that keeps irrigation lines clean and significantly effective at preventing and treating fungal and bacterial plant diseases. Since implementing this system, we’ve seen

Variable Rate Fertigation Made Simple! The HotSpot AG Tri-Channel Venturi Skid helps growers simplify and streamline fertigation operations without sacrificing precision. Users will gain consistent nutrient delivery and a more affordable alternative to traditional multi-channel injection systems. Designed for Growers with Multi-Channel Injection Needs Inject one material at a time between the range of 18 to 180 GPH (will vary based upon material density) Three separate channels for precise control of multiple products  Simply connect hoses and power to get started High reliability with self flushing sequence of venturi, flowmeter, and manifold before and after each injection More affordable than traditional multi-injection systems Gain Confidence, Not Complexity The Tri-Channel Venturi Fert Skid offers simple, consistent performance with fewer field visits and minimal upkeep. It’s the smarter way to inject nutrients or treat water while giving you precision, reliability

More and more farms are standardizing their use of Lumo across their entire operation.  We’ve seen growers expand from a couple ranches to dozens. From 50 acres to over 2,000. That kind of expansion is built on seeing significant returns on investment season after season.  But everyone needs to start somewhere, so it’s only natural to ask: "If I want to see the highest return on my investment in Lumo, which ranches should I start with?" Here’s a couple ways to think about it: 1. Highest Value Crops Many growers start with ranches where their crop values are the highest because that’s where irrigating with precision pays the most.  It’s part of the reason we’ve seen such good success in Napa and Sonoma with many of the best wine growers in the world, and it’s why we’re seeing increasing interest from berry growers on the Central Coast.  If dialing in your irrigation precision can have a modest impac

HotSpot AG is excited to welcome World Ag Expo attendees to our Training Center for an educational session as part of this year’s World Ag Expo Tours on February 10th. The tour stop offers attendees a chance to learn how growers utilize innovative HotSpot AG solutions to support best practices in water conservation through irrigation automation and optimize nutrition management with automated variable rate fertigation injection skids. Guests will be given an exclusive opportunity to witness a live demonstration and see how the HotSpot AG technology seamlessly executes complex irrigation and fertigation schedules with just a touch of a button. Within the Training Center, a condensed layout of the irrigation pipeline offers viewers a unique opportunity to see firsthand how the HotSpot software communicates in real-time with equipment out in the field. When you visit the training center, you can expect: Water savings through precise scheduling Energy reduction with pump and VFD opt

When you’re weighing your irrigation automation options for your next vineyard development project, there are good reasons to consider putting Lumo in from the start. 1. Faster Vine Establishment With Lumo installed, you’re never going to miss irrigations, which is especially important during heat events that can damage young vines. Everything will run automatically according to the schedule you set, even overnight and on weekends and holidays.  You’ll eliminate the risk of under or over-irrigating because you’ll be tracking water volumes at a block level and you’ll receive alerts whenever there’s something up with your irrigation system performance.  Nailing your irrigation upfront is critical to the longevity of your vines, ensuring their roots get properly established and improving the long-term productivity of your vineyard.  With Lumo in from the start, you can be 100% certain your vines are getting the care they need to thr

Continuous fertigation is gaining traction among growers who want to promote yield and preserve crop quality. This practice involves delivering smaller, steadier doses over the course of the crop season. Instead of applying large nutrient loads at select times during the season, maintaining a consistent injection rate that aligns closely with the crops natural uptake patterns can result in waste production and support improved crop quality and yield. In some cases, applying smaller doses within individual irrigation events can also be beneficial, but the primary value comes from season-long nutrient delivery based on the crops demand.  Field Observations and Operational Benefits  Growers are reporting a wide range of benefits from adopting continuous fertigation. For instance, almond grower Nathan Heeringa has noted improvements in almond development and overall performance when fertilizer is delivered in smaller, consistent doses. This method aligns with his broader experie

Smart Solutions, Resilient Vineyards, and the Future of Farming WIN Expo sessions dedicated to Vineyard innovation, sustainability, and the technologies reshaping grape growing. The challenges facing today’s winegrowers are more complex than ever - from rising costs and labor shortages to shifting regulations and climate pressures. At this year’s WIN Expo, the Vineyard & Grower Conference Sessions, sponsored by Verdi,  deliver practical insights and proven solutions to help you adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving environment. Through expert-led presentations, attendees will gain strategies for assessing ag tech investments, managing groundwater security, and turning vineyard identity into a marketing advantage. Whether you’re a vineyard owner, manager, or supplier, these discussions will equip you with the tools to build efficiency, resilience, and long-term success. The AgTech Investment Dilemma: Determining Which Tech Solutions Meet Your Needs Agric

With the conclusion of harvest, it’s easy to shift focus from irrigation. The crops are in, and the season’s busiest time is nearly wrapped. However, the irrigation practices in the immediate post-harvest weeks are crucial for next year’s growth, yield, and quality. Market conditions often tighten budgets, labor availability decreases, and water allocations may already be stretched thin from the season. At the same time, crops are still active beneath the soil line, requiring care to build root strength and store nutrients for the year ahead. Balancing limited resources with the ongoing needs of the crop can feel like a gamble, especially when every decision impacts next year’s performance. How HotSpot AG Helps in Practice Reliable irrigation automation makes all the difference. HotSpot AG’s systems were designed with the understanding that every farm has unique characteristics, such as older pumps, intricate irrigation layouts, and specific site challe

Off-Season, On Point: Essential Prep for Superior Grapevines A new season is just around the corner! As we enter Fall, our off-season presents the opportunity for our nursery to reflect, recharge, and prepare for the coming year. To ensure a successful start, here are just a few of the essential preparations that take place when we aren’t producing vines. These measures are designed to ensure that we are fully equipped for the new season and to maintain our commitment to providing the healthiest vines for our partners.  Farming Virus Sampling We test over 120k vines each year to ensure Sunridge vines have well over a 99% statistical confidence of being virus free. No other nursery comes close to this level of testing. Dropping Fruit By removing the vine clusters from our scion mother blocks, and channeling all the vine’s energy into growth, we ensure the production of robust canes for optimal wood harvesting.  Replants & Increase Blocks I

We’ve updated our soil moisture monitoring tool in DropControl to make it faster, more intuitive, and more efficient. Allowing access to critical soil moisture profile data quickly, with better visibility, they can optimize irrigation in real time and make more accurate decisions. We’re continuing to improve water management tools for every stage of the crop cycle.🌱 ✅ Better data visualization ✅ More informed agronomic decisions ✅ Greater efficiency in irrigation and fertigation ✅ Faster and more customizable A more intuitive interface to understand what’s happening below the surface and take action with greater precision. 💧