The Sustainable Ag Expo isn’t just about earning CE hours—it’s a gathering place for wine industry professionals to learn, network, and celebrate the future of sustainable farming. From morning burritos to student-led research and vintage tractor showcases, this year’s Expo is packed with unique opportunities to make your experience more meaningful and memorable. Here are six can't-miss events happening alongside the seminars: 1. Monday Kick Off: Farming for the Future 🗓️ Monday, Nov 10 | 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 Center of Effort Winery Sponsored by Inland Desert Nursery Start your week with an evening of connection, SIP Certified wines, and gourmet hors d’oeuvres. Expo headliner Dr. Chris Chen, will lead a forward-looking conversation on vineyard management in a changing climate. 🎟️ Free for ticket holders (while supplies last), requires separate reservation; additional tickets $50.  2. Breakfast Burritos & Coffee = Day 1 Fuel 🗓

A 2-day ticket to the Sustainable Ag Expo doesn’t just get you into 17 in-person sessions, it also unlocks access to 13 exclusive online courses. These on-demand courses deliver valuable CE hours, including 3 DPR L&R, 8.5 DPR Other, and 13.5 CCA hours. Learn directly from experts across the country—from Cornell, UC Davis, Cal Poly, USDA, and more—on the latest research and practical strategies in sustainable winegrowing. Get your 2-day pass today and unlock your online course access starting October 13. Courses are available through November 28. Session Spotlight:  Calibration of Vineyard Sprayers | DPR 1.5 L; CCA 1.5 IPM  Dr. Andrew Landers, Cornell University  |  Online Learn why calibrating both liquid and air flow is critical for effective spray coverage. This course covers how air speed, direction, and volume affect penetration, deposition, and drift, helping you improve spray accuracy before the season begins. Want to Put Your

We’re excited to unveil the full in-person schedule for this year’s Sustainable Ag Expo, happening November 11–12 at the Madonna Inn Expo Center. Whether you’re a grower, researcher, or ag business, our two-day program delivers actionable insights to help you grow smarter and more sustainably. Highlights include: Expert-led talks & cutting-edge research — Learn from leading voices in soil health, climate-smart farming, and ag-technology Practical, field-tested strategies — Gain tools you can implement immediately CE-accredited sessions — Earn continuing education hours while you learn Networking opportunities — Connect with peers, exhibitors, and industry experts Don’t miss your chance to plan the ultimate Expo experience!

We’ve got great news for growers and ag professionals looking to knock out some continuing education—11 of Vineyard Team’s most popular online courses are now re-released and approved for DPR and CCA hours! Each course has been updated with new codes and fresh certificates, so even if you’ve taken them before, you can enroll again and earn credit. Whether you need to maintain your license or just want to stay sharp on sustainable farming practices, these courses offer valuable, accessible education at just $10 each. Enroll today and start learning at your own pace! GO TO COURSES *Don't forget to revisit CE requirements and make sure your license number is attached to your account.

Fungal pressures are complex in Michigan State’s humid continental climate. Andy Fles, Vineyard Manager at Shady Lane Cellars, uses a fungicide program that's about 50% organic, but he wondered if even softer products could keep diseases at bay. Andy got a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant and set up an experiment to test his usual program and softer products against four common fungal diseases: Powdery Mildew Downy Mildew Sour Rot Botrytis His conventional method included bacterium-based products and neonicotinoids, while his soft program leaned more on oils like stylet, neem, thyme, and orange; and a Lupin seed extract product. Andy counted infected leaves to assess mildew pressure. To assess botrytis and sour rot, teams from Michigan State University, Rufus Isaacs Lab, and Tim Miles Lab ran tests on clusters from each treatment. The project is ongoing, but results so far show that the soft products are keeping pace with his standard program.

Join us to explore how pollinator conservation, hedgerows, and innovative technology can enhance vineyard health and productivity. Learn practical strategies to protect beneficial species, reduce pesticide impacts, and attract birds that support your vines. Experience a guided hedgerow walk at McIntyre Vineyard, gain insights from an expert panel discussion, and witness a demonstration of beneficial insect release. REGISTER Speakers: Madeline Kangas, Xerces Society Sara Frazer, Monterey Pacific Jazmin Lopez, Pisoni Vineyards Jaclyn Bennett, Parabug Sam Earnshaw, Hedgerows Unlimited JoAnn Baumgartner, Wild Farm Alliance CE Approved: DPR 1.5 - O; CA 2 - S

Learn innovative methods for managing bird and vertebrate pests in vineyards. Bart Haycraft (Jackson Family Wines) and falconer Pogerof Scott discuss using falconry to deter birds. Chad Foster (Maverick Farming) shares his use of an autonomous bird laser deterrent. Kevin Garcia Lopez and Sarah Lord (Cal Poly) will present their barn owl research, focusing on nest box occupancy and how changes in vineyard habitat affect foraging behavior. The event will feature a live falconry demonstration and give attendees the opportunity to view a bird laser, including the autonomous bird laser deterrent system. Speakers: Bart Haycraft, Jackson Family Wines Pogerof Scott, Falconer Chad Foster, Maverick Farming  Joseph Traut, Cypress Agritech Graham Evans, Cypress Agritech Riley Boylan, Cypress Agritech Kevin Garcia Lopez, Cal Poly Sarah Lord, Cal Poly CE Approved: DPR 2 - O; CCA 2 - IPM

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

Doors open in 5 days! There's still time to get tickets for the Sustainable Ag Expo before prices increase!*  Doors open Tuesday, Nov. 12 & Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 am. *Prices increase Saturday, November 9 GET TICKETS Check out: The program schedule, featuring 16 in-person seminars hosted by industry experts. The Exhibitor Map, showcasing 63 sustainable ag companies. CE Hours Available 16 in-person seminars next Tuesday and Wednesday give you access to 7.5 DPR and 15.5 CCA hours. Continue taking your 12 online courses* through November 29 to earn an additional 10 DPR and 12 CCA hours. *Add your license numbers into the online portal *Online courses are accessible with a 2-day pass. FAQs Get ready for the premiere sustainable ag event of the year! Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for all of the info you need to know. If you have any questions that aren't addressed here, please reach out to Hayli@VineyardTeam.org.

Using Weather Data to Gauge Spray Drift Risk Sustainable Ag Expo   I   November 12    I    2:00-3:00 pm The regulatory situation of spray drift is changing, with increasing penalties for infractions. Mark Battany's presentation will explain the weather conditions that lead to drift and how data tools can help growers and applicators avoid spraying at high drift risk periods.  CE Approved: 1 DPR - O; 1 CCA - IPM Get Tickets!  --- Mark graduated with a B.S. in Agronomy from Colorado State University and an M.S. in Hydrologic Sciences from UC Davis. He subsequently spent two years at the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture in Cordoba, Spain as a Fulbright scholar. Mark worked for the UC Cooperative Extension from 2001 until 2024, initially as the Viticulture Farm Advisor and later the Water Management and Biometeorology Advisor for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Now retired from UC, Mark will continue to work diligently