Dear members,
With great gratitude for our local firefighting crews, last week’s smoke has cleared, and containment of regional fires progresses. It was a sobering reminder of the importance of our community’s ongoing focus on wildfire resiliency. Just this last week, NVG representatives attended Napa County’s budget hearings. We’ve advocated over the last several years for greater allocation of resources for wildfire and were encouraged to hear that the now approved budget includes the greatest community investment in wildfire and disaster prevention to date. It was noted in these hearings that the vigor of the local wine industry is uniquely tied to the county’s revenues and available services via property and sales tax. This further goes to show that NVG’s support of the grower community has a direct and positive impact on the community as a whole. On your behalf, we are building strong ties with Napa County’s new Fire Administrator, David Shew, who will be a guest on our podcast in July. We hope you tune in to hear more about his vision for Napa County to become a model of wildfire readiness. We continue to work in lockstep with Napa County Ag Commissioner Tracy Cleveland to ensure an easy-to-navigate Ag Pass Program. If you are not yet enrolled in the 2024 Program, now is the time to do so. We appreciated hearing from many of you last week, seeking our guidance and support in understanding smoke impacts and fielding your concerns about scheduled controlled burns as we rapidly approach veraison. While controlled burns are an essential wildfire mitigation tactic here in Napa County, we are working to address the need for a crop protection overlay with CalFire and community stakeholders, taking into consideration timing and scale of controlled burns at times when grapes are most susceptible to smoke. Following outreach with Napa County Fire this week, we want members to be aware that controlled burns are now suspended for the season, as fire personnel and resources shift their attention to fire suppression. Meanwhile, our understanding of the impacts of smoke exposure on winegrapes continues to improve. We completed our third year of baseline data collection with ETS Labs and encourage you all to follow our best practices guidelines for collecting baseline grape samples this growing season, both to inform your teams as well as the global testing methodology. Don’t forget to access all your member wildfire resources when in need or reach out to an NVG staff member anytime. Our team is here for you through this wildfire season!
0 Comments
Jennifer Hampton, a social worker, life coach, and mental health professional, spoke to Connect & Cultivate attendees about Strategies for Preventing Burnout in the Workplace. Drawing from her extensive experience in stressful environments, she shared practical strategies to prevent and address burnout. Here are the key takeaways:
Definition and Impact of Burnout:
Practical Tools and Techniques:
Stress-Relief Techniques:
Books to Read:
Creating a Supportive Work Environment:
1. Flexible Scheduling
2. Open Communication and Feedback
3. Time Management Tools
4. Cultural Changes
NVG's Advocacy on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a basin-wide plan that lays out a path for sustainable management of a groundwater basin over 20 years. NVG has worked for several years as a voice for growers, aiming to ensure that the state-mandated GSP considers how water is used in vineyards and how these regulations will impact grape-growing operations. NVG is also a committed community partner in meeting the county’s environmental goals related to ensuring the health of the subbasin. This advocacy includes representing members on the GSP Advisory Committee, providing regular public comment and presentations to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), and regular correspondence with county staff to aid the County in understanding effective water mitigation strategies in Napa County vineyards. See below to view a recent article highlighting NVG's support of and feedback on the GSP's rollout, our comments on the GSP Workplans, and our most recent presentation to the TAG. Sustainable Vineyard Practices: Irrigation Last month, NVG hosted an irrigation-focused Sustainable Vineyard Practices Seminar, where we received an update on the GSP from Jamison Crosby, Napa County’s Natural Resources Conservation Manager. As a result of NVG's continued advocacy on the GSP, Napa County has committed to developing incentive programs for growers who have already implemented effective water conservation strategies and are willing to share their data with the county. NVG will continue participating in these stakeholder discussions on behalf of members. If you are interested in participating as a pilot site for well monitoring to help inform the model used to calculate the sustainable yield of the Napa Valley Subbasin, please reach out to Jamison Crosby at [email protected] if you would like to support this effort. Please see below to watch a recording of this update and stay abreast of an important regulation for our industry. Napa Valley Grapegrowers Water Conservation & GSP Resources NVG has created a wealth of resources to support members throughout the planning and implementation of the GSP. Watch our Water Conservation Seminar with information about the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, view a video on Water Reclamation in the Napa Valley, and visit our GSP and Water & Irrigation webpages for additional resources. Additional Resources GSP Workplans GSP Combined Program Overview Napa RCD Napa County WICC Napa County UCCE These resources were partially funded by the USDA Extension Risk Management Education Grant.
The timing of rainfall affects when you begin to irrigate, as do vine water stress and needs. To support you in planning your responsible irrigation practices for the season, NVG provides you with the following resources: Water is a limited and valuable resource that must be managed well to secure the future of farming and to protect our natural ecosystems. Please click the button below to hear from Miguel García with the Napa County Resource Conservation District as he discusses various actions growers can take to manage their water more effectively.
Read the Entire 2023 Napa County Crop Report
Thank you to the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner's Office for their work on the 2023 Crop Report. This is an invaluable tool for our community, and it wouldn't be possible without their team. Check out the report’s feature on NAVIP: Neighborhood Alliance for Vineyard Protection on pages 12-13, bringing a neighborhood approach to pest and disease management to the forefront. The Ag Commissioner's Office is incredibly high-touch when it comes to pest detection in order to keep our vineyards safe from harmful pests. Learn more about their efforts on pest exclusion and detection in Napa County on pages 18-19. NVG has highlighted several community partner events that may be of interest to NVG members. Ag Container Recycling Day The Napa County Agricultural Commissioner & Sealer of Weights and Measures Office is hosting an ag container recycling day at the Calistoga Corp Yard (4410 Silverado Trail North, Calistoga) on Thursday, May 9 from 8:00am - 3:00pm. Click below to access the flyer with more information in English or Spanish. 2024 Ag Pass Program Application Open Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Ag Pass Program and can be submitted via the button below. Growers who possess a current Operator ID or a Restricted Materials Permit for the 2024 season have already been issued their Ag Pass and do not need to fill out an application, they can simply login to CalAgPermits. To support folks in training their employees on proper safety during a disaster, a requirement of this program, the Agricultural Commissioner has collaborated with with the Napa County Sheriff, UC Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor, and Napa County Fire to create informative videos. Climate Coffee Chat with Dr. Andrew Isaacs Supervisor Cottrell invites members of the community to join Professor Andrew Isaacs of UC Berkeley Haas School of Business for a Climate Education Session. Don’t miss this opportunity! Over 200 NVG member companies have benefited from Professor Isaacs' classes to date! Dry Farming Workshop Join the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, Community Alliance with Family Farmers and Vineyard Team for a discussion and demonstration on establishing a dry farmed vineyard in coastal regions. They will discuss rootstock selection, land preparation, vine spacing, planting process and watering regiment for the first two years. Coffee and pastries will be provided. This event will take place on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 8:00am - 11:00am at the end of Galleron Lane in St. Helena. Thank you to the Department of Water Resources for providing funding for education on dry farming in coastal winegrapes. UC Davis Grape Day
On June 5, 2024, UC Davis will host a Grape Day at the Oakville Experimental Vineyard (1380 Oakville Grade Rd, Oakville, CA 94562). The event will take place from 8:00am - 2:00pm. Speakers include farm advisors, cooperative extension specialists, and UC Davis Faculty. Click below to learn more and register for Grape Day! Photo by Sarah Anne Risk NVG has created a library of Best Practices resources for growers to utilize in making their management and in-the-field decisions. Suckering, also known as shoot thinning, is the process of removing the excess growth from a grapevine. This is a key step in maintaining vine balance and creating a canopy ideal for grape growing. As the valley is experiencing an explosion of growth, we wanted to remind folks of our best practices videos on suckering, available in both English and Spanish. Curious about our other Best Practices?
We welcome you to check out (and share with your team!) our Best Practices Library, which includes papers and videos available in English and Spanish. Continue scrolling to register for NVG's next Climate Science Seminar with Drew Isaacs. With a mission to cultivate viticultural excellence and environmental stewardship for the Napa Valley, NVG has created a wealth of resources focused on climate science and resilience. NVG's Annual Climate & Water Practices Survey To continue to benchmark Napa Valley’s environmental stewardship and provide resources of greatest value to growers, please fill out our annual Climate & Water Practices Survey. Your responses support NVG’s eligibility for grant funds and help us advocate for incentive programs for your business. All responses will be anonymous and aggregated. Join us at our upcoming Climate Science Workshop! Be among the 200 companies that have gone through NVG’s Climate Science Workshop with Drew Isaacs, Professor as UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. If you have already attended, now is a chance to share the opportunity with other members of your team! NVG's Climate Science Best Practices Building your operation’s plan to reduce your climate impact? Learning the differences between fossil carbon and modern carbon is essential. Learn more with NVG’s best practices videos: Climate Resiliency Resources
NVG helps growers navigate both the farming and business risks of a changing climate, to cultivate long-term resiliency in Napa Valley. Access member resources to inform your climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in the vineyard. Photo by Sarah Anne Risk It's that time of year! Vines around the Napa Valley are bursting with new growth! The Napa Valley Grapegrowers Viticulture & Environmental Stewardship Committee has developed Best Practices resources on frost protection and springtime viticultural activities, as well as ways to be a good neighbor, for members. Spring Best Practices for Frost Control Frost season is almost here; check out the following best practices for frost control in Napa Valley vineyards. Being a Good Neighbor Best Practices Papers One of the most important components of sustainable farming is being a good neighbor. Each one of us represents the Napa Valley wine industry with our daily practices on site. This paper shares some ideas on how to be a good rural neighbor. Additional NVG Best Practices To view all of NVG's best practices papers and videos highlighting important aspects of farming in a responsible and sustainable manner, click below. The NVG Weather Alert The Weather Alert, a free membership benefit exclusively for NVG Grower and Vineyard Management Company members, helps in effectively planning for extreme weather events throughout the season including frost protection, irrigation strategies, preventing heat illness and exhaustion during summer season, management for rain days, and more. Thank you, Weather Alert Sponsors!
This grower resource is sponsored by American AgCredit Crop Insurance, Allied Clean Fuels Plaza, and Allied Propane Service & Precision Forecasting. Applications Open: Carl Moyer Subsidy Program The Carl Moyer Program provides an opportunity to exchange your older diesel tractor for a substantial rebate towards a cleaner, more efficient vehicle. The program has approximately allocated $1 billion to date and continues to provide over $60 million in grant funding each year to clean up older polluting engines throughout California. Applications are accepted through March 28, 2024. Input Sought for National Grape and Wine Survey A nationwide project supported by the USDA titled "Enhancing regional grape and wine production and quality” is seeking engagement from stakeholders. The project aims to better understand issues impacting viticulture, enology, and winery business management. We encourage you participate in this stakeholder engagement process to ensure Napa County grower concerns are included. Responses Requested for UC Davis Extension Survey The UC Davis Extension team is seeking input to help them to identify the primary concerns and issues impacting the wine industry. Results will be used to assist the research team in providing the industry with new outreach (Extension) resources and information. The last day to participate is March 29. New Regulation: Beneficial Ownership Information Reports (BOIR) Starting January 1, 2024, there's a new regulation that you need to know about: Beneficial Ownership Information Reports (BOIR). What does this mean for you? If you own any company, even LLCs or Corporations simply holding your property, you're now obligated to submit beneficial ownership information reports to FinCEN. See below for more information on this new regulation, provided by Engel & Völkers Real Estate Global Advisor, Philippa Ward. Neonicotinoid Regulatory Update Title 3, California Code of Regulations 6990 (3CCR 6990) On January 1, 2024, new regulations regarding the use of neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides will take effect. In 2023, about 13,300 acres of production agriculture were treated with neonics in Napa County with 614 applications. This represents roughly a third of the farmed acreage in the County. Neonics are a synthetic insecticide chemically similar to nicotine. They were registered for agricultural use in the 1990’s as replacement for carbamate and organophosphate pesticides. Neonics are now the most widely used group of insecticides in the world, representing about 25% of agrochemical use. Unfortunately, neonics turned out to be highly toxic to bees and other pollinators in small amounts. Neonics are used as a systemic broad-spectrum insecticide. The insecticide is absorbed by the plant and travels throughout the plant tissues to leaves, stems, fruits, and flowers. Pollinators exposed to pesticide residue can be harmed. The new regulations limit the amount of active ingredient applied, and the frequency and timing of applications with the goal of increasing protection of pollinators. These regulations apply only to production agriculture, not structural pest control or non – production settings such as parks and cemeteries. 3CCR 6990 outlines guidelines across 16 crop groups. Each crop group has a table with application rate and timing restrictions for both foliar and soil applications. Napa’s winegrapes fall into the “berries and small fruits” group. For all groups, no applications may be made during “bloom,” defined as the period from the onset of flowering until petal fall is complete. Imidacloprid, Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, and Thiamethoxam are the four specific neonic active ingredients included in 3CCR 6990. All are from the nitroguanidine family of neonic insecticides with similar characteristics and properties. Some of the commonly used pesticides containing these ingredients in Napa are Belay, Venom, Admire Pro, Macho, and Platinum. For grapes, the application rate and timing requirements for these active ingredients will be triggered by three scenarios:
The product labels will not be updated with these new requirements. In some cases, the label may have a higher rate than the regulation. If there is a difference, the strictest requirement must be followed. The complete guide to 3CCR 6990 from the Department of Pesticide Regulation can be found by clicking below. |
Categories
All
Archives
June 2024
|
|