Sustainable farming practices are essential for protecting the environment, improving long-term agricultural productivity, and supporting healthy communities. In fact, many of the methods highlighted today are shared across a variety of certification programs, from sustainable certifications like SIP Certified to regenerative programs like Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC). While each certification has its own specific requirements, the core principles of responsible farming remain consistent. In this week’s Marketing Tip, we’ll take a closer look at three key areas – Water Management, Soil Health, and Habitat Preservation – and how sustainable farmers manage them to ensure future success. Water Management Water is one of agriculture’s most critical resources. Sustainable farmers work carefully to both use water efficiently and protect water quality.   Efficient Irrigation Anyone who has struggled to keep a plant alive knows that plants

To conclude a year defined by forward-thinking practices and community engagement, we at Vineyard Team proudly share an annual review to highlight our industry’s significant achievements and ongoing commitment to sustainable winegrowing. In 2024, we hosted 8 Tailgates and 2 collaborative events across 3 counties, offering over 20 continuing education (CE) hours to growers and ag professionals. These events strengthened the sense of community, supported five local coffee shops, and fostered the formation of countless new friendships. November’s annual Sustainable Ag Expo included: 531 attendees 63 exhibitors 3 special networking opportunities 16 in-person seminars 13 online courses 29 hours of continuing education  147 attendees experienced streamlined DPR reporting through a collaboration with CE Reported. All attendees enjoyed 38 gallons of coffee, 205 donuts, 26 bottles of wine, and 600 ounces of beer in the event’s lively and engaging atm

WIN EXPO Conference Focus: Vineyard & Grower Session Topics: Regenerative Farming Benefits, Innovative Vineyard Design, and Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Grape Growing Every year, the North Coast Wine Industry Trade Show & Conference (WIN Expo), largest wine industry trade event focused exclusively on the North Coast, hosts an educational conference program that covers all the major sectors of the industry: winemaking & production, sales & marketing, business strategy & leadership, and vineyard operations. This year's Vineyard & Growers track, sponsored by Verdi, will highlight the Benefits of a Regenerative Practices, Innovative Vineyard Design, and Harnessing the Power of AI in Grape Growing: Maximizing the Business and Ecological Benefits of a Regenerative Transition As North Coast wine grape growers contend with rising production costs, unpredictable climate patterns, and increasing market demands for sustainability, growers are under

Assessing the Feasibility of Regenerative Management for California Vineyards Sustainable Ag Expo   I   November 13    I    9:00-10:00 am This presentation will show the preliminary results of a three-year, large-scale project performed in various vineyards in California. The project explores the benefits and tradeoffs of compost use, no-till, and sheep grazing for soil health, vine yield, and nutrition. The presentation also includes an economic analysis of the practices. Get tickets here! --- Dr. Lazcano currently leads a team of 20 researchers at different career stages and from different backgrounds, focused on understanding the links between soil biodiversity and agroecosystem functioning. The goal of her research is to generate ecologically based soil management strategies that will reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture, with a strong focus on winegrape production. Through on farm collaborative research, Dr. Lazcano hopes to h

The Vineyard & Growers track will feature interactive sessions that will tackle the topics of Regenerative Farming, Technology in the Vineyard, and Water Management. Vineyard Water Management During Drought Years North Coast growers are no strangers to drought. With droughts seemingly growing in frequency and intensity, viticulturists are facing new struggles with water regulations and competition, sometimes resulting in complete loss of irrigation access. Where do we go from here? Join this panel of viticulture experts as they discuss vineyard management... Read more about Vineyard & Grower Track: Session 1 AI and Automation in Vineyards Without question, artificial intelligence (AI) is and will continue to transform viticulture practices. In this session technologists will weigh in on the scientific breakthroughs that have led to the current capabilities of AI systems, the automation and AI systems currently in production viticulture, and the promising automation and A

The disastrous wildfires, smoke damage and the worldwide pandemic may have been the painful medicine to bring balance back to the grape and wine market and position the industry for a healthier future with valuable lessons learned... The post Growing Forward: A Look to the Future for Winegrowers appeared first on Wine Industry Advisor. Url:https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2021/03/09/growing-forward-a-look-to-the-future-for-winegrowers?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=growing-forward-a-look-to-the-future-for-winegrowers Published Date:Tue, 09 Mar 2021 20:17:46 +0000 

Growing Forward is a ½-day, online conference focused on preparing Grapegrowers for the year ahead. The conference will kick off with a session highlighting key takeaways from the 2020 California Crush report and consider potential implications for the 2021 bulk and grape market. Following, we’ll discuss Regenerative Farming: what makes it different—some say, superior—than other sustainable farming methods. The conference closes with a panel discussion examining the impact of last years’ west coast fires on grower contacts, crop insurance and best practices for protecting your ag business in the years to come. View the Topics & Speaker-line up