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

There's Still Time to get Your Tickets for the Sustainable Ag Expo! November 14-15, 2023 | Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo The two-day seminar and tradeshow provides an opportunity for farmers, ag professionals, and pest control advisors to learn about the latest farming research, resource issues, and business trends related to sustainable agriculture. "The Sustainable Ag Expo is a forum for sharing knowledge and experiences with each other.” - Bart Haycraft The Expo brings together researchers and growers so you can earn continuing education hours and improve your business all while connecting with peers and agriculture companies. Our Exhibitor community is growing stronger than ever with the return of many of our fantastic Business Members, as well as some exciting new faces! CE HOURS APPROVED: DPR: 8.5 hours in-person (1.5 Laws & Regs), 9.5 hours online (1 Laws & Regs) CCA: 16.5 hours in-person, 13 hours online THAT'S A TOTAL OF 18 DPR & 29.

LIGHTSABERS & JEDI IN THE WINE INDUSTRY Special Event Discussion on Technology in the Hands of Viticulturists   Vineyard Team announces a limited-space, intimate conversation with Cornell University’s distinguished researcher on precision viticulture, Dr. Terry Bates. On Monday, November 13, 2023, preceding the first day of the in-person Sustainable Ag Expo, Dr. Bates will lead a discussion on technology in the hands of viticulturists. The conversation will examine the metaphorical connection between lightsabers and skilled vine cultivators, and discuss how cutting-edge tools could transform modern viticulture. In 2021, the Precision Viticulture market was valued at $1,528.56 million US dollars. It is projected grow at a 9.17% compound annual growth rate over the next seven years, reaching $3,308.66 Million US dollars by 2030. (Verified Market Research, 2023) While growers have large spatial variations in soil, vine growth, and fruit yield, they

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Terry Bates as our headline speaker this year! Dr. Bates is Director of Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Lab Cornell AgriTech. He will speak about integrating multiple layers of spatial vineyard information into variable-rate management maps and the myths, misperceptions, and motivations for precision vineyard management. His research program focuses on viticulture with an integrated systems approach to vine productivity, fruit quality, and farm profitability. Research interests and contributions include vine mineral nutrition and root biology to control vegetative growth, mechanized vineyard management for fruit quality and labor reduction, and Precision Viticulture to increase production efficiency. Read more about Dr. Terry Bates, his experience, and articles HERE. Get your tickets for the Sustainable Ag Expo HERE.