As the relationship between climate change and extreme weather events continues to intensify, scientists have found that mountainous regions are warming far faster than the global average. This phenomenon—known as elevation-dependent warming (EDW)—is disrupting ecosystems, water supplies, and weather patterns—and sharply increasing periglacial hazards and high-altitude natural disasters. Join our free 60-minute HOBO Thought Leader webinar to learn how meteorological monitoring is key to understanding and addressing these changes.  Presented by climate monitoring experts Mikheil Elashvili, PhD (Ilia State University & Bridgewater State University), and Robert Hellström, PhD (Bridgewater State University), this session explores two case studies addressing similar research questions on opposite sides of the Earth: the Greater Caucasus, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and the Cordillera Blanca, part of the Andes range in South America. Webinar topics i

Big Ideas. Bold Solutions. We’re excited to welcome Dr. Chris Chen as the headliner for the Sustainable Ag Expo! Known for turning research into action, Dr. Chen will share practical, climate-smart solutions to help growers adapt, innovate, and lead in a changing environment. This is a must-attend for anyone ready to future-proof their vineyard. About Dr. Chen: Dr. Chris Chen is a trailblazer in climate-adaptive viticulture, serving California’s North Coast through the UC Cooperative Extension. With a Ph.D. in Horticulture and Agronomy from UC Davis, he empowers vineyards to thrive amid climate change with cutting-edge, science-driven strategies that champion both resilience and sustainability. Don't miss Dr. Chen's sessions: Mon., Nov. 10  |  5:00-6:00 pm  |  Farming for the Future: Climate-Resilient Vineyard Practices* Tues., Nov 11  |  8:00-9:00 am  |  Soil Carbon in Practice: Monitor, Test, & Improve Tues., Nov 11&nb

Expert Editorial: How Climate Change Is Disrupting the Microbial Foundations of Winemaking 

Preserving the hidden ecosystem that defines wines unique character By Aria Hahn, Ph.D. Climate change is rewriting the rules of winemaking,

Ecosystem Science combines biology, chemistry, and physics to model and predict responses like wine grape yield forecasting, water management, and disease vector mapping.  Joshua Fisher, Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Policy, at Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, and science lead at Hydrosat explains how high-resolution data from space helps farmers plan for climate change.  His research uses satellites to help growers understand how to change their practices to succeed in their current location and predict future winegrowing regions around the world. LISTEN IN Resources: 199: NASA Satellites Detect Grapevine Diseases from Space 191: CropManage: Improving the Precision of Water and Fertilizer Inputs Hydrosat Joshua Fisher Joshua Fisher on LinkedIn Joshua Fisher on Twitter Martha Anderson, Research Physical Scientist, USDA-ARS NASA Acres - applying satellite data solutions to the most pressing challenges facing U.S. agriculture

Future-Proofing Vineyards: Expert Perspectives on AI, Water Management and Climate Resilience

Navigating climate change in viticulture by water management automation, climate-friendly farming, and AI advancements By Laurie Wachter Note: This article summarizes key insights from industry experts and vineyard professionals who […]

Winegrowers and vineyard managers speak on Optimizing Irrigation, Climate Friendly Farming, AI in Grape Growing The 2023 Growing Forward conference, sponsored by LUMO, will cover a wide range of topics, including vineyard management, climate adaptation, soil moisture monitoring, irrigation best practices, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like AI. Session panels will include vineyard managers from Silver Oak Winery and Emeritus Vineyards, Jackson Family Wines, Peake Ranch Winery, and Derby Wine Estates sharing their experiences along with the results of implementing the programs presented. 2023 Session Topics: Optimizing Irrigation Practices in a Time of Change Climate-Friendly Farming: A New Frontier for the Wine Industry Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Grape Growing Virtual Broadcast is TOMORROW - Register for FREE Today!

Winegrowers and vineyard managers speak on Optimizing Irrigation, Climate Friendly Farming, AI in Grape Growing Growing Forward is a dynamic and insightful online conference designed specifically for grape growers and vineyard professionals. This conference serves as a platform to educate and support growers throughout the vineyard growing cycle, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to thrive in the ever-evolving industry. With a focus on addressing current challenges and issues impacting the grower community, the conference features renowned experts, academics, and industry professionals as speakers. The 2023 conference, sponsored by LUMO, will be covering a wide range of topics, including vineyard management, climate adaptation, soil moisture monitoring, irrigation best practices, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like AI. Session panels will include vineyard managers from Silver Oak Winery and Emeritus Vineyards, Jackson Family Wines, Peake Racj Winery, and

Growing Pains: Winemakers Reflect on a Changing Climate

As temperatures creep up (or down), winemakers make plans and prepare for what’s to come. By Laura Ness How is climate change impacting grape growing in the United States? It’s […]

There is one week remaining to participate in the Annual State of the Industry. This annual effort is an industry partnership. SVB provides all the work for free, but we have to have good participation to have useful results.  Currently we are running about 30% behind last year's participation metrics, with all regions short of expectations. Here is a link to the questions and here is a link to the survey. Here are some early high-level indications of results in a variety of areas: Financially wineries describe the 2022 year as "good year." (Not bad and not great) They describe their financial position as strong. Better than average grape quality Lower than average harvest yields The impact of the economy is described as having the largest negative impact  The Winery Confidence Index produced through the survey is running negative overall. Wineries expect to show a small bottle price increase when 2022 is wrapped up. Tourism is generally welcome in 'wine c

This month, Congress (barely) passed the Inflation Reduction Act, known colloquially as "The Climate Bill." This bill puts an unprecedented $369 billion towards reducing carbon emissions and investing in domestic energy production and manufacturing. A big slice of this is ear-marked for agriculture. How much you ask? Let's see... $4 billion is included specifically for drought-assistance for the West and the Colorado River Basin via the Bureau of Reclamation.  $14 billion is going to support rural electric cooperatives' transition to cleaner energy and help farmers invest in renewable/more-efficient energy. This is the single largest investment in home-grown biofuels...ever.  $5 billion is going to protect communities from wildfires and combat the climate crisis through climate-smart forestry.  $25 million is going towards climate-smart ag and soil health innovations. Some of this can be a little nebulous, but one very clear point is that $20 billi