As vines move into dormancy and winter approaches, vineyard teams shift their attention to preparation for the season ahead. This quiet period is an ideal moment to strengthen irrigation infrastructure, improve control, and set clear expectations for water use in the new year. With the RF-C1, vineyard managers gain remote control and monitoring of irrigation equipment. From valve actuation to pump performance, every command can be executed and reviewed in one place on DropControl. This helps crews verify that systems are operating correctly during the off season and that any repair needs are uncovered long before bud break. Winter is also a good time to invest in efficiency. The RF-C1 works with flow meters, pressure switches, and field devices to ensure accurate application across every block. The constant stream of data it provides supports smarter scheduling and ensures that when the vines require water again, each drop is accounted for. WiseConn will be at the WIN Expo this year,

You can glean a lot of information about a wine from the label. The next time you walk down a wine aisle, you may notice that you feel comfortable with the common terms and symbols like vintage, place of origin, and percent alcohol, but feel some confusion when you see some of the increasingly present ones like natural, vegan, and organic. In this week’s Marketing Tip, we’re giving you a green wine glossary: 5 common wine designations defined so you’ll wonder no longer.   Your Green Wine Glossary Vegan  Not every wine fits a vegan lifestyle. During the winemaking process, small particles can cause haziness or unwanted flavor properties. Winemakers can add a fining agent that will bind to these tiny particles and make them large enough to be filtered out. Many fining agents are animal-based – for example: egg whites, casein, and gelatin. Wine that was fined with any of these materials cannot be considered vegan. Vegan wines include those that

  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

Experience an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of three unique dry-farmed vineyards in Paso Robles.  Walk the sites alongside the growers themselves as they share their hands-on experience, challenges, and innovative approaches to dry farming. Delve into critical topics such as vine spacing, floor and canopy management, varietal selection, and site-specific strategies for thriving without irrigation. This is an opportunity to engage with like-minded professionals, exchange insights, and see firsthand how dry farming shapes vine health, fruit quality, and wine character. REGISTER Site locations: Armory Vineyards  John Rolph Family Vineyards  Adelaida Cellars  CE: CCA 2 - SWM Logistics: Arrive to the pick-up location (Paso Robles Event Center) betweem 7:15-7:30 am for a 7:45 am departure. Coffee will be available. We will return to our meeting spot at 11:00 am. Look for the Vineyard Team sign. This event is free and open to the public. Transportation is included (to

Who (or what) is this eddy you keep talking about? Efficient water management has never been more critical for agriculture and specifically for viticulture. High-end viticulture needs to manage water to not only cut costs, but to keep quality high in a market of oversupply and buyers who hold the upper hand over the grower. High production viticulture may not need the water management finesse for quality that high-end viticulture does, but regulatory demands for groundwater protection as well as limitations on water deliveries push growers into making the most out of every gallon. Here at AV, we’ve made use of impactful technologies to help growers irrigate efficiently and control vine stress to improve wine quality from their vineyards. Our primary tools have been the soil moisture probe and, more recently, the Florapulse microtensiometer. Both tools have been indispensable and even more so now that we have our own data portal to view and analyze these data streams. More recen

Mastering effective water management not only boosts crop yield and quality but also promotes sustainable farming practices. Whether you're growing a diverse array of vegetables or focusing on a specific crop, understanding the interplay of environmental factors, soil properties, and crop needs is critical for success. Join our free 45-minute webinar designed for small farm operators and learn how to overcome the challenges of improper watering and improve irrigation management. Presented by Wenjing Guan, Extension Vegetable Specialist at Purdue University, webinar topics include:  How crops respond to water stress Key principles of water management for diversified small farms A review of cost-effective irrigation methods Practical application of soil moisture sensors to improve irrigation management This session will be packed with actionable insights to help you make informed water management decisions, increase water use efficiency, and boost productivity. About Wenjing Gua

Dry farming in Paso Robles involves a variety of approaches and practices, including floor management, spacing, varietals, and canopy management. These methods are highly adaptable and tailored to the unique conditions of each site.  Join us for a grower roundtable that will provide practical insights for both dry farmers and those interested in dry farming! Date/time: Thursday, February 20 @ 9:00-11:00 am Location: Lone madrone Winery REGISTER HERE This meeting is funded by the Department of Water Resources and is a collaboration between CSWA, CAFF, and Vineyard Team.

Dry farming in Paso Robles involves a variety of approaches and practices, including floor management, spacing, varietals, and canopy management. These methods are highly adaptable and tailored to the unique conditions of each site.  Join us for a grower roundtable that will provide practical insights for both dry farmers and those interested in dry farming! REGISTER HERE This meeting is funded by the Department of Water Resources and is a collaboration between CSWA, CAFF, and Vineyard Team.

HotSpot AG founder James Nichols lived the daily challenges of farming when he returned home to Hanford after his UC Davis graduation. His family tasked him with implementing a water budget for irrigating their 4,600 acres of almonds and pistachios. After researching and testing automated irrigation systems that didn’t meet his needs, Nichols designed his own and then spent five years perfecting it in the family orchards.  At that point, the family encouraged him to focus on sharing his invention with others, convinced it would help many people. And so, in 2018, HotSpot AG was born.  The HotSpot AG solution streamlines a grower’s workflow by making it easier to manage, track and schedule sensor data and automate irrigation pumps and valves from anywhere. HotSpot can also monitor groundwater levels and automate fertigation and chemigation. Another timely solution for North Coast growers as the frost season approaches is HotSpot’s ability to automate wind mach

Data loggers and remote monitoring systems can give growers data that helps protect and conserve water while also enhancing crop health. Join our upcoming webinar when ag monitoring expert Brett Stebbins shares how you can optimize your water usage and irrigation practices:  November 7, 11am PT Register