December 8, 2008

Grape growers can learn about the latest technologies and sustainable vineyard practices at the annual wintertime Sustainable Grape Growing Workshop on Thursday, Dec. 11, at California State University, Fresno. The workshop is designed to help growers improve quality and to manage vineyard operations more economically.

The workshop will be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Agricultural Sciences Building room 109 (2415 E. San Ramon) and a field demonstration will be in the Fresno State Vineyards. Registration begins at 7 a.m. It is free to grape growers and includes parking and lunch.

The event is co-hosted by the Viticulture and Enology Research Center, the Department of Viticulture and Enology at Fresno State, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers.

“Linking credible sustainable and related green initiatives to business sensibility is rapidly increasing,” said Joe Browde, IPM program manager of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. “This workshop will enable grape growers to better understand this link and [advance] their use of smart and economically viable sustainable practices.”

The workshop shows Fresno State’s commitment to environmental issues and sustainable development in higher education. In 2007, university President John Welty signed the Talloires Declaration, a 10-point action plan for incorporating sustainability issues into teaching, research and outreach programs at universities worldwide.

Presenters include Dr. Kaan Kurtural, professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology who holds the Bronco Wine Company Viticulture Chair, and Dr. Robert Wample, head of viticulture and enology programs at Fresno State.

Kurtural will discuss five key steps of canopy management sustainably, and Wample will present economic considerations for mechanically managing grapevine canopies.

Other topics will include farm labor contractor issues, optimizing new pesticides for integrated pest management programs, understanding regulations and mitigation tactics on air quality and pesticides, and understanding and managing greenhouse gases in vineyards.

After the indoor presentations, Greg Berg of Oxbo International will demonstrate in the vineyard the equipment used in Wample’s mechanization research program.

Continuing education credits for pesticide applicators and pest control advisors will be available through the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation. CCA continuing education credits also will be available through the California Certified Crop Advisor Program.

Workshop funding is provided by the Wine Institute, the California Association of Winegrape Growers, the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Public parking is recommended in Lot P, on the corner of Barstow and Maple avenues, although attendees are authorized to park in any green lot on campus on this day.

For more info call 559.278.2089. Click here to see the full schedule with workshop topics and presenters.