Reducing Spray Drift and Chemical Waste Spraying vineyards with pesticides and fungicides can often result in drift, leading to inefficient application and environmental damage. Wineries are under increasing pressure to reduce chemical usage and minimize spray drift. Solution: Low-Drift Nozzles from Spraying Systems Co. Spraying Systems Co. offers advanced Low-Drift Nozzles and TankJet® Nozzles designed to reduce spray drift, providing more precise application of chemicals. These nozzles minimize waste, reduce environmental impact, and ensure better treatment coverage for the vines. How It Works: Low-Drift Nozzles create larger droplets that fall directly onto the vines, minimizing drift and ensuring that chemicals are applied more efficiently. TankJet® Nozzles offer customizable spray patterns, allowing you to adjust the nozzle to match your specific needs, whether you're spraying large areas or hard-to-reach spots in the vineyard. These technologies help you reduce che

A follow up to a 2024 Tailgate, Dr. Shunping Ding of Cal Poly will share updated results from a recent study on on the efficacy of different fungicide programs containing biofungicides and their impact on grape yield and berry chemistry. Then, we will head out to the vineyard at Cal Poly to learn about new technologies for integrated management of powdery mildew and talk with farmers from different growing regions about their fungicide programs. Plus, arrive early to learn about Cal Poly’s wine & vit programs during a tour of the new, state of the art winery and vineyard! Agenda: 8:30 am - Winery Tour with Erica Nordby, CalPoly 9:00 - 9:30 am - Dr. Ding, Cal Poly - Presentation 9:45 - 11:00 am - Presentation & Grower Panel in the Vineyard Speakers: Erica Nordby, Cal Poly Shunping Ding, Cal Poly Jenny Broome, UC Santa Cruz Sarah Placella, Root Applied Sciences Dr. Pal From, Saga Robotics Erin Amaral, Pacific Coast Farming Zach Merkel,&

Farmers and agricultural experts indicate that better access to ongoing education is crucial to advance their businesses. Recognizing that advancements in science and technology are constant, Vineyard Team launched a series of online courses to deliver the latest education on sustainable winegrowing.  Courses feature insights from experienced farmers, researchers, and UC Extension. Best of all, viewers can access these courses for free (saving $380)! All courses within Sustainable Winegrowing On Demand include valuable continuing education hours (11.5 Department of Pesticide Regulation, 34 Certified Crop Advisor), and a train-the-trainer kit so viewers can easily educate their team. Through this program, there is a unique opportunity to connect with other sustainable winegrowers through roundtable discussions. Larry Witted, PCA and CCA from Lodi, California shares, "The Sustainable Winegrowing education from Vineyard Team allows me to view cutting-edge educational pro

225: California’s Ban on Autonomous Tractors An antiquated California law makes using autonomous equipment in the vineyard challenging. Michael Miiller, Director of Government Relations at the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) explains that workplace safety standards developed in the 1970s based on 1940s equipment state that self-driven tractors must have an operator onboard. To update this law, CAWG is working closely with manufacturers and countries that allow autonomous equipment to aggregate data on safety. Automation has many potential benefits to farm workers including developing transferable skills, upward mobility, precision agriculture, and increased safety. Learn about how the law works today and about funding opportunities to train staff. LISTEN IN Resources:         117: Grapevine Mildew Control with UV Light 120: Autonomous Drone Vineyard Spraying 219: Intelligent Sprayers to Improve Fungicide Applications and Save Money Californ

Tailgate | Fungicide Spraying: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint & Financial Burden Learn how to optimize the use of biofungicides alone or integrated into a conventional fungicide program.  Dr. Ding of Cal Poly shares results from a recent study on on the efficacy of different fungicide programs and their impact on grape yield and berry chemistry.  Talk with farmers from three growing regions about their fungicide programs. Plus, learn about Cal Poly’s wine & vit programs during a tour of the new, state of the art winery and vineyard. REGISTER Agenda: 8:30 am - Winery Tour with Erica Nordby, CalPoly 9:00 - 11:00 am - Presentations & Panel Discussion Speakers: Shunping Ding, Cal Poly Erica Nordby, Cal Poly Erin Amaral, Pacific Coast Farming Hilary Graves, Booker Wines Ruben Solorzano, Coastal Vineyard Care Associates Bob Thomas, Mesa Vineyard Management CE Approved: DPR 1 - O; CCA 2 - IPM REGISTER Directions: - Take exit for California Blvd. - turn right o

Tailgate | Fungicide Spraying: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint & Financial Burden Learn how to optimize the use of biofungicides alone or integrated into a conventional fungicide program.  Dr. Ding of Cal Poly shares results from a recent study on on the efficacy of different fungicide programs and their impact on grape yield and berry chemistry.  Talk with farmers from three growing regions about their fungicide programs. Plus, learn about Cal Poly’s wine & vit programs during a tour of the new, state of the art winery and vineyard. REGISTER Agenda: 8:30 am - Winery Tour with Erica Nordby, CalPoly 9:00 - 11:00 am - Presentations & Panel Discussion Speakers: Shunping Ding, Cal Poly Erica Nordby, Cal Poly Erin Amaral, Pacific Coast Farming Hilary Graves, Booker Wines Ruben Solorzano, Coastal Vineyard Care Associates Bob Thomas, Mesa Vineyard Management CE Approved: DPR 1 - O; CCA 2 - IPM REGISTER Directions: - Take exit for California Blvd. - turn right

Cheer to 30 Years! Thanks to our supporters and members, Vineyard Team has grown from a grassroots organization to a multi-award-winning leader in the sustainability movement. Since 1994, the non-profit has served farmers, winemakers, and industry partners by creating an educational network with the leadership of its staff and board of directors. We value your support over the last three decades and will continue to help you cultivate valuable relationships. Here is a Quarterly Update from our Executive Director, Beth Vukmanic: Events coming up in 2024… In 2023, we had 372 attendees at 8 Tailgates hosted by 7 venues (including one Webinar). 3/14 | Power Up: Sustainable Energy 4/10 | Vine to Wine Water Treatment 4/12 | Fungicide Spraying: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint & Financial Burden 5/15 | The Ins & Outs of Developing a New Vineyard Site Get registered for all of this year's Tailgates today.  Regulatory Relief Managers of SIP Certified vineyards can save ti

Atascadero, CA: Vineyard Team announces their 2024 events, including 6 in-person Tailgate meetings and the Sustainable Ag Expo. Tailgate meetings are in-person educational events (field demonstrations and discussions) where attendees visit a property and hear from experts and growers on a given topic. Topics range from irrigation and pest management, to soil health, and safety training. Growers have the opportunity to join the conversation and talk directly with presenters to learn how to adopt sustainable farming practices in their vineyards. Plus, many Tailgates include DPR and CCA continuing education hours. New this year, Vineyard Team and Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA) will be co-hosting a half-day seminar on sustainable energy for the wine industry. At Power Up: Sustainable Energy for the Wine Industry, attendees will hear practical discussions focused on the energy use of vineyard and winery operations, efficiency, cost, and the future. Experts will discuss topi