Sustainable Winegrowing

Your wine club members are more than just wine enthusiasts – they’re YOUR WINE’S enthusiasts! They are invested in and have a personal connection with your brand. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. Newsletters invite your members to form an even deeper affinity with your brand. It's an opportunity to share your brand’s history, current projects, and behind-the-scenes details that aren’t available through other channels. Need Content? You Got It! A multi-page newsletter gives you more space to work with. While the idea of having several pages to fill and decorate can be exciting to some, others may be intimidated by the task. Being a brand that’s passionate about sustainability means you always have something to talk about. Having a handful of Sustainable Stories on deck can be a great asset to your newsletter! SIP Tip: Adjust the amount of detail you go into to fit the space you have. For longer pieces, consider breaking them up into serials. Today we will share two examples of SIP Certified members whose newsletters feature their dedication to sustainability in engaging ways. There are some great images to go along with these, so I highly recommend going to the show notes and clicking on The Best Newsletter You Can Send. Ancient Peaks Ancient Peaks invites their members to understand their deep relationship with the land and their community through their May 2021 newsletter’s Feature Story, For the Love of Land & Community. The article shows how and why Ancient Peaks embodies sustainability through colorful photos and specific examples that touch all 7 SIP Certified Values. A QR code on page 4 of the excerpt transforms this newsletter into a multi-media experience! Readers can scan the code to watch a thoughtful explanation from the ranch’s owner, Doug Filipponi, on what sustainability is and how they address all three legs of the three-legged stool. Niner Wine Estates Their Spring 2023 newsletter opens with A Note from Winemaker Patrick Muran, giving readers the sense that their shipment was crafted with love and devotion from the entire team at Niner Wine Estates. After providing a rundown of the wines included in their shipment, Niner announces their 2023 Green Medal Sustainability Leadership Award. They explain what the award is, and provide several specific examples of their sustainable practices. Several members of Niner’s team are featured in the newsletter, giving it a personable feel and inviting readers to become familiar with the faces behind the wine. More Tips As you saw from these two examples, there are many ways to create a newsletter that’s unique and authentic to your brand. Here are three elements both of these examples have in common: Sustainability: Thoughtful “whys” and descriptive “hows” invite your readers to: deeper connectionunderstand Teamwork: Quotes and opinions from team members: personable feelFamiliarize Food and Wine: Pairing notes and recipes specific to the wines included in your shipment give: Utility keep your newsletter around What’s YOUR Sustainable Story? We are here to help you tell your customers how your brand protects natural and human resources with the Sustainable Story program. This simple yet powerful free tool helps you tell your own personal sustainable message. And it just got better with a new online course. Go to the show notes, click the link titled Tell Your Sustainable Story to sign up, download the worksheet, watch the videos, and you are ready to tell your Sustainable Story! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how your peers fulfill the 7 SIP Certified Values as much as we’ve enjoyed...

Since the time of the Dust Bowl, landowners have worked with Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) to conserve water, improve soil, preserve natural habitat, and prevent erosion. However, it can take two to three years to secure funding to begin a sustainable initiative. Devin Best, Executive Director at the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District, and Michael Larcher, North American Solution Lead at cBrain have partnered on a new system that drastically decreases that timeframe by matching a grower’s land conservation needs with grants in a database. Landowners can participate in the Sustainable Land Initiative by submitting a short form that includes their location, acres, and goals. Technical staff from the RCD will follow up with a sight visit to determine all potential conservation projects including healthy soils, cover cropping, beaver dam analogs, and carbon farm plans. Through a database, the RCD can pull a report on all landowners interested in similar projects and connect them with funding and permitting. By aggregating data, the RCD can fund more growers, advise grant agencies on what conservation programs are most effective, and spend more time helping growers on the ground. Resources: *** Register 12/6/2023 | Prepare for 2024: CA DPR Changes, Bulk Wine Trends & Funding Sustainable Projects*** 181: Can Applying Compost Reduce Water Use? 122: Preserving Agriculture Land to Combat Climate Change 58: Barn OwlscBrainDevin BestMichael Larcher on LinkedInSan Luis Obispo County Beaver BrigadeSustainable Land InitiativeUpper Salinas-Las Tables Resource Conservation District Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 And our guest today are Devin Best is executive director of the upper Salinas, las tablas Resource Conservation District. And Mike Larcher, who is a North American solutions and sustainability lead with a company called cBrain. And today we're going to be talking about a very interesting idea called the sustainable land initiative. Thank you both for being here. Thank you. Devin Best 0:19 Thanks for having us. Craig Macmillan 0:20 Actually, before we get into that, let's kind of set the stage for those folks that are not aware. Devin, can you tell us what is a resource conservation district? Devin Best 0:28 Sure. So a resource conservation district is a non regulatory, nonprofit local organization that works with growers and local community to help provide resources and technical assistance for their management of natural resources. Craig Macmillan 0:41 And there are RCDs throughout the state, correct? Devin Best 0:44 That's correct. There's about 95 of us or so. And they're organized around watersheds, watershed political boundaries, sometimes county boundaries. So it there's a little bit of a mix of how they're organized, but they were formed out of the dust bowl er, and some of them have combined, so you might get a little bit of those sort of things. Originally, the idea was that a federal government had the Natural Resource Conservation Service. And that was a entity that was focused in on dealing with the Dust Bowl and how to help farmers with their resource issues, but they recognize that the federal government didn't really have the best working relationship with local growers. So they formed what was originally known as soil...

The needs of the market are always changing. So are the needs and ambitions of a business. Along with those ever-changing needs are the constant development of new technology and information that can help businesses thrive. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. That’s why SIP Certified brands value Always Evolving. Welcome to the final story in this year’s Sustainable Stories from SIP Certified Members. Sustainable businesses know that in order to stay relevant and successful, they must be aware of opportunities to evolve. Progress begins with investing in our most valuable resource, the People. The people who serve your customers include everyone from the ones who craft your product to those responsible for developing your business strategy. Demonstrating your brand’s ethos of Always Evolving helps everyone on your team feel inspired and empowered to continue developing their unique skills that will help your business be sustainable. There are countless opportunities for individuals in the wine industry to expand their skills and education. Read on to learn how Talley Vineyards supports all of their employees in their professional development. Always Evolving at Talley Vineyards Always Evolving as individuals and as a team ensures that everyone at Talley Vineyards is continually improving their skills and expanding their knowledge. Supervisors are encouraged to further their agriculture and vineyard education as well as their leadership skills through annual management courses – in both English and Spanish! With computers continuing to become an essential tool in today’s workforce, Talley Vineyards ensures their supervisors are taught computer skills to efficiently track time and production, and to collect data. Employees of Talley Vineyards attend educational events and are offered training when they express interest in learning new skills. The physical demand and discomfort that often come with vineyard care have been lessened with the adoption of mechanization. People who work in the vineyard experience greater efficiency with far less physical load. Talley Vineyards believes that when each member of the team has a diversity of skills, the team as a whole is stronger. What’s YOUR Sustainable Story? We are here to help you tell your customers how your brand protects natural and human resources with the Sustainable Story program. This simple yet powerful free tool helps you tell your own personal sustainable message. And it just got better with a new online course. Go to the show notes, click the link titled Tell Your Sustainable Story to sign up, download the worksheet, watch the videos, and you are ready to tell your Sustainable Story! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how your peers fulfill the 7 SIP Certified Values as much as we’ve enjoyed sharing them! Your story can be featured in next year’s Sustainable Stories campaign! We are looking for a brand with an innovative approach to one of these three Values.: If you have a great Sustainable Story, we will help you tell it. Reach out to me at whitney@vineyardteam.org with a few quick notes! We’ll get your story ready to be featured in our newsletter, podcast, online course, and social media, and in magazine articles and influencer campaigns. Until next time, this is Sustainable Winegrowing with the Vineyard Team. Resources: *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** 3 Steps to Make a Sustainable QR Tour Your Guests Will Love Business: Niner Wine EstatesMarketing Tips eNewsletterSIP Smart Training online courseSustainable Story Worksheet | PrintSustainable Story Worksheet | Electronic What's...

If you like this podcast, then you will not want to miss the premiere sustainable winegrowing event of the year – the Sustainable Ag Expo. Cliff Ohmart, Principal at Ohmart Consulting Services has helped Vineyard Team bring together the nation’s top researchers to present at the Expo for a number of years. In today's podcast, you will get a preview of the topics and speakers for this year’s event. Enjoy the perfect blend of in-person and online learning. Speak directly with national experts, earn over 20 hours of continuing education (including 18 hours of DPR), and explore sustainable ag vendors November 14-15, 2023, at the Madonna Inn Expo Center in San Luis Obispo California. By popular request, this year we have doubled the number of online courses so attendees can learn on-demand between October 16 and November 30. Here are some of the sessions Cliff mentions. Make sure to check out the sustainableagexpo.org for the full program: In-Person Online As a listener to this podcast, take 50 off of your ticket when you use code PODCAST23 at checkout. Get your ticket at Sustainable Ag Expo.org. Resources: ***Tickets | Sustainable Ag Expo***53: Producing Compost and Carbon Sequestration90: Nematode Management for Washington Grapes 129: The Efficient Vineyard Project with Terry BatesEfficient VineyardMadonna inn In-PersonOnline Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year - $50 OFF with code PODCAST23 Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 And with me today is Cliff Ohmart. He is a consultant with Omart Consulting in a whole variety of areas. One of the things that he's doing right now is he's helping to organize or he's organizing the program for the 2023 Sustainable Ag Expo in San Luis Obispo coming up. He's going to tell us a little bit about some of the folks and some of the topics that will be there and some things that might be of interest to you. So welcome, Cliff. Cliff Ohmart 0:22 Thank you very much, Creg. It's nice to be here with you. And I think this is a great opportunity to have this podcast before the expo so people can get an even better feel than just the website of what's coming. Craig Macmillan 0:34 Absolutely. For those who don't know, what is the Sustainable Ag Expo? Cliff Ohmart 0:38 it is a combined presentation slash trade show that the Vineyard Team has been putting on, I think, for at least 15 years now. Craig Macmillan 0:47 It's been a while. Cliff Ohmart 0:48 I's developed into quite the history, the roughly the format is there's a session in the morning from eight to 10, a half hour break for people to go out to the trade show 10:30 to noon, more presentations. Then there's lunch for people go to the trade show, then one to three, another half hour break, and then 3:30 to five. And there's only one session at the time, so people don't have to worry about missing something. Also, they're free to circulate through the trade show during the presentations if they so choose. This year, the Vineyard Team decided to change the format, which I takes I'm excited to see how this will go. So this year, it will be Tuesday, Wednesday full days as I just described that schedule. But then Monday evening, it'll be a kickoff what we're going to be doing for the feature presenter, which is Dr. Terry Bates from Cornell, he and I will be on stage for a period of time, I think half hour to an hour...

Looking for a fun group project for the upcoming slow season? Grab your team and create a Sustainable QR Tour! Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. A Sustainable QR Tour is a unique, educational, self-guided way for your guests to learn about your brand’s sustainable practices. When you create your Sustainable QR Tour, you will: 1. Showcase your sustainable attractions. 2. Explain each attraction with a short video or quick written description. 3. Bring your tour to life by posting your QR codes and making a map. By taking your Sustainable QR Tour, your visitors will: Learn See Enjoy In this Marketing Tip, we’ll walk you through all of the steps to create your Sustainable QR Tour. Step 1: Identify Your Sustainable Attractions Get your team togetherSustainable Stories worksheet Pick 5 to 10 things Take notes Ideas to Get You Started Vineyard Attractions Vines Owl box Cover crop Winery/Tasting Room Attractions Solar panels/EV charging stations Pamphlets for charitable foundations, organizations, etc Your brand’s Newsletter 7 Values of SIP Certified table sign Step 2: Explain Each Sustainable Attraction Create Your Content Each one of your sustainable tour attractions will have its own QR code. When scanned, the code should open up either a video or a written description. Use video: Write it out: It is important that the information for each sustainable attraction is on its own page! That way, when the QR code is scanned, only the information for the appropriate attraction opens. Generate Your QR Codes Visit the published page for each sustainable attraction’s content, and follow these steps to generate your QR code: WARNING: Don’t modify the link that appears under the QR code! SIP Tip Step 3: Bring Your Tour to Life Now it’s time to post your QR codes at your stops, and make a map so visitors know where to find them. Print & Post Your QR Codes You will need to print your QR codes and give them a clear, protective covering to shield them from the elements. You can use a laminator, packing tape, or clear binder inserts. Or have them printed on a material that can withstand the elements. Attach them to a sturdy surface at or in view of your Sustainable QR Tour attraction. Make a Map Your visitors will want to know where to go when they embark on your Sustainable QR Tour! Your map can be hand drawn, or you can use an application like Canva, or Adobe Illustrator to make your map. On the back of the map, list out your stops in the order they appear along the path, and give a quick hint for finding the QR code. SIP Tip: Make it a Game! Create a quiz sheet for your guests, and have them complete it once they visit all of the stops. Or, encourage them to post a picture or video from their tour experience on their social media and tag you. Put your guest’s names into a pot for a monthly drawing, and get creative with your prizes! A complimentary tasting for two, a piece of SWAG from your shop, or a private tour with your General Manager, Winemaker, or Vineyard Manager are just a few ideas. Coming Up... Our next Marketing Tip will feature the final story in this year’s round of Sustainable Stories from SIP Certified Members. Be sure you don’t miss the inspiring story of how Talley Vineyards supports all of their employees in their professional development. We are here to help you tell your customers how your brand protects natural and human resources with the Sustainable Story program. This simple yet powerful free tool helps you tell your own personal sustainable message. And it just got better with a new online course. Go to the show notes, click the link...

High temperatures and extreme weather events can have numerous impacts on wine grapes and ultimately wine quality. Dr. Andreea Botezatu, Associate Professor and Extension Enology Specialist at Texas A&M University, Texas AgriLife Extension Service finds that changes in ripening patterns are the most common. In high heat, sugars accumulate faster, acids degrade, ripening happens earlier and the result is higher alcohol wines. The challenge is that ripening is not linear. Tannins and maturation of the seeds do not progress at the same pace. Plus, high pH causes color and flavor instability. Andreea is experimenting with verjus, the juice of green grapes. In North America, grapes from crop thinning are traditionally considered waste. However, in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, green grape juice is used in many culinary practices. Verjus has little sugar, high acidity, and low pH making it a perfect addition to unbalanced wines. Learn about her current experiment testing both red and white grape verjus against three other acidification methods. Plus, Andreea gives listeners tips on how to prevent that green pepper flavor caused by ladybug taint. Resources: 145: New Class of Compounds Linked to Smoke Taint in Wines (Podcast)143: Can Barrier Sprays Protect Against Smoke Taint in Wine?Dr. Andreea Botezatu’s LinkedIn page Dr. Andreea Botezatu ResearchGate Dr. Andreea Botezatu Google ScholarMalo-Lactic Fermentation in a New Climate Sustainable Wine PracticesTexas A&M Facebook page Texas A&M Foundation Texas AgriLife Extension Enology YouTube Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year - $50 OFF with code PODCAST23 Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 And my guest today is Andreea Botezatu She is Associate Professor and extension enology specialist at Texas A&M University, the Texas AgriLife Service. Thanks for being our guest today. Andreea Botezatu 0:11 Thank you for having me. Craig Macmillan 0:12 We're very interested in some of the work you've been doing recently around effects of warming climates on vines and on wines. You're in enologist. In particular, you've been doing work on wine quality. That Correct? And you've been doing work in Texas, obviously. Andreea Botezatu 0:26 Yes, for the past seven years or something. Yeah. Craig Macmillan 0:30 And would you say that temperatures during the growing season in Texas overall have been increasing? Andreea Botezatu 0:35 I would Yes, the temperatures historically have been increasing. And furthermore, we see a lot more extreme weather events. So temperature records being broken, as well as like I said, extreme weather storms, winds hail, a lot of hail we, we've been having quite a bit of hail in Texas. So these can affect the process of grape growing. Craig Macmillan 0:58 Absolutely. So definitely, there's been some changes, how has this been affecting one quality, what particular parameters are being most affected? Andreea Botezatu 1:04 Right. So this is not straightforward answer for this question. Because because several things can happen when you have extreme weather events and temperatures rising. The biggest one that we see here is a changing ripening patterns. So sugar accumulation and acid degradation, they kind of change sugar tends to accumulate much faster, because of the earlier heat we tend to see earlier ripening. So earlier, harvesting...

A successful business does more than sell a great product. Companies that embrace the Business value of sustainability treat their employees and the community with care and respect. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. This is our 200 episode of Sustainable Winegrowing! Since 2016 we have spent over 700 hours researching the attest business trends and interviewing international experts so you can learn in the time it takes to drive in-between vineyards. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this program a success and to you for listening! In addition to feeling good about doing good, businesses that practice corporate social responsibility also: Enhance inviteForbes, 2022Appeal strengthenCR Strategies, 2009Expand buildForbes, 2022 Looking for ways to engage your brand with your community? Listen in to learn how the whole team at Niner Wine Estates is involved in giving back. Business at Niner Wine Estates Sharing their prosperity with the community is one of the ways Niner Wine Estates embodies the Business value of sustainability. Andrew Niner, President and CEO, is a board member of MUST! Charities, and believes in supporting the community through charitable donations. Over the last 3 years, the Paso Robles, California based winery has donated an average of $245,000 annually to charities through a linked foundation. Annual donations of $2,000 per employee go to a charity of the employee’s choice, and their own personal donations are matched by the company. Staff are further involved in community support efforts through monthly meal preparations and servings to people experiencing food insecurity. Niner Wine Estates actively engages in research to ensure the long-term sustainability of the natural resources they and their neighbors rely on. They are participating in a study of local hydrology facilitated by the United States Geologic Survey. The project goal is to improve understanding of how water moves in the Adeladia Area water basin so that groundwater resources can be quantified and monitored. Good for the Community, Good for Business If you are looking for ways to get your brand involved with your community, here are a few ideas: DonateJuan Nevarez Memorial ScholarshipClick here ContributeGet involved People want to support businesses that share their values. Are you talking about how your brand values protect the people and the planet? We are here to help you tell your customers how your brand protects natural and human resources with the Sustainable Story program. This simple yet powerful free tool helps you tell your own personal sustainable message. And it just got better with a new online course. Go to the show notes, click the link titled Tell Your Sustainable Story to sign up, download the worksheet, watch the videos, and you are ready to tell your Sustainable Story! Until next time, this is Sustainable Winegrowing with the Vineyard Team. Resources: *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course *** Business: Niner Wine EstatesMarketing Tips eNewsletter Safe Pest Management: Wolff VineyardsSIP Smart Training online courseSustainable Story Worksheet | PrintSustainable Story Worksheet | Electronic What's your Sustainable Story? Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year - $50 OFF with code PODCAST23 Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member

Plants by nature are designed to interact with light. Satellites can measure the light reflected by plants to detect grapevine diseases before they are visible to the human eye. Katie Gold, Assistant Professor of Grape Pathology, Susan Eckert Lynch Faculty Fellow, School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section of Cornell AgriTech is trailblazing remote disease detection with imaging spectroscopy also known as hyperspectral imaging. Imaging spectroscopy was developed by NASA to tell us what Mars was made out of. By turning satellites back on Earth, Katie and a team of scientists are learning how to use the light reflected back to manage grapevine viral and foliar diseases. Listen in to the end to get Katie’s number one piece of advice on the importance of data management. Resources: Alyssa K. Whitcraft, University of MarylandDisease Triangle of Plant PathologyGold LabKatie Gold, Cornell University Katie Gold - TwitterNASA AVIRIS (Airborne Visible and InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer)NASA Acres - applying satellite data solutions to the most pressing challenges facing U.S. agricultureNASA Emit SatelliteNASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)Planet Labs References: Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year - $50 OFF with code PODCAST23 Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 With us today is Katie Gold, Assistant Professor of Grape Pathology at Cornell AgraTech campus of the Cornell University. Thanks for being on the show. Katie Gold 0:08 Well, thanks for having me. Craig Macmillan 0:09 Today, we're going to talk about some really cool technology. I've been interested in it for a long time, and I can't wait to get an update on what all is happening. There's some really exciting work being done on using remote sensing for the detection of plant diseases. Can you tell us a little bit about what that research is about what's going on in that field? Katie Gold 0:25 Sure, what isn't going on in this field, it's a really exciting time to be here. So I guess to put into context, we're really at this precipice of an unprecedented era of agricultural monitoring. And this comes from the intersection of you know, hardware becoming accessible, the data analytics becoming accessible, but also investment, you know, a lot of talk of ag tech being the next big thing. And with that comes this interest in using these cool and novel data streams for disease detection. So my group specializes in plant disease sensing, it's our bread and butter to what we entirely focus on. And we specialize in a technology called imaging spectroscopy for disease detection. So this is also known as hyperspectral imaging. Imaging spectroscopy is the technical term. And this is a type of remote sensing that it differs from, you know, radio wave remote sensing, and it focuses on light in the visible to shortwave infrared range. Craig Macmillan 1:13 Talk a little bit more about that. So when we talk about hyperspectral, we're looking outside of the range of radiation, essentially, that's not just light. Katie Gold 1:24 So yes, and no. So hyperspectral is a word that describes how the light is being measured, kind of colloquially, we assigned to it more meaning that it actually has. That's why I often like to differentiate between it for explanation sake, what hyperspectral imaging is, when we talk about using it in...

In this week’s Marketing Tip we will make it easy for you to regularly create content that entices, educates, and inspires your audience. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. If you’ve been following along with this series, you created a bank of powerful video and photo visuals last month. Today we’re going to share how you can use those images on your brand’s social media. If you missed the Tip, just search your podcast player for Sustainable Winegrowing podcast episode 194: The Power of Visuals: How Video and Photos Can Help Share Your Sustainable Story | Marketing Tip Monday. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to link to today’s show notes. We are sharing real life social media examples from 3 SIP Certified brands and while I will do my best to describe the images, it helps to see them. Stay tuned to the end to learn how the talent behind our social media, Hayli, creates captivating Reels. How to Use Your Brand's Presence Regularly posting content on your social media keeps your brand in the eyes and minds of your followers. It’s a good idea to stay active on your business’s social media accounts, but the idea of constantly creating fresh content can be daunting. The good news is, there is an endless supply of content for your brand. Have you heard of food disconnect? It's a term used to describe the average consumer's lack of knowledge about where their food comes from and how it's made. When it comes to wine, most people only see the finished product in the bottle. What may seem day-to-day to you is unique and exciting to consumers. Most wine drinkers do not get to see punch downs, bud break, staff tastings, cover crops, barn owls, or bottling lines. It is all exciting! Use your brand's presence on social media to give an intimate look at all of the care that goes into taking your customers' favorite wines from the vine to the tasting room. Here are 3 examples from SIP Certified brands: 1. Enchant & Entice Villa San Juliette (@villasanjuliette) created a video mash up showing exquisite views of the vines from the tasting room, beautiful Spanish inspired architecture, the crew harvesting grapes into bins, and a table of sumptuous food and wine pairings. Each of these videos could have started out as a standalone post then combined later into one video to tempt followers to pay them a visit this season. Look at your past posts. Can you combine the images into one reel or carousel that showcases your brand? 2. Educate & Delight Anyone who follows Bon Niche Cellars (@bonnichecellars) knows that they can always count on two things from their posts: learning something new and seeing adorable animals! This post does both. The image is a close up of an adorable, fuzzy white sheep with a black nose and long ears. The caption explains how sheep are part of their sustainability program from weed abatement to soil health. Consumers love seeing and learning about animals. Talk about the gopher hunting owls, native bobcats, and friendly dogs at your property. 3. Express & Inspire Foxen Wines (@foxenwines) uses their voice on social media to express their dedication to the social component of sustainability and thank the instrumental people behind their wines. The artfully captured photo shows a hazy sky with a farmworker walking away from the camera carrying a bin of freshly harvested grapes down the vineyard row. Part of the caption reads, “At the heart of our commitment to sustainability lies Social Equity.” Sustainability means taking care of our most valuable resource – the people. Talk about the organizations you donate to and how you care for your staff by...

What makes Sour Rot so challenging for wine grape growers is that it is a disease complex. Hans C. Walter-Peterson, Viticulture Extension Specialist, Finger Lakes Grape Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension explains that Sour Rot comes in late season after ripening. Yeasts get into the berries and ferment the sugar out in the vineyard. Bacteria follow up, feasting on the alcohol, converting it into acetic acid – an unwelcome component in winemaking. And, the disease is spread rapidly by fruit flies. In this interview Hans shares methods to reduce Sour Rot disease pressure by managing increasingly resistant fruit fly populations, leafing to encourage fewer berries at fruit set, the correct way to drop fruit, and timing antimicrobial and insecticide sprays to Brix to maximize effectiveness. Cornell Cooperative Extension is trialing non-chemical control practices including UV light for sterilization and hormonal sprays plus a disease model is under development with Penn State University. Resources: 17: New Discoveries about Sour Rot – Megan Hall (Podcast) 117: Grapevine Mildew Control with UV Light - David Gadoury (Podcast) 159: Under-Vine Vegetation to Control Vine Vigor – Justine Vanden Heuvel (Podcast)Alice Wise, Cornell Cooperative Extension Control of Sour Rot via Chemical and Canopy Management TechniquesHans Walter-Peterson, Cornell Cooperative ExtensionHans Walter-Peterson ResearchGate Influence of timing and intensity of fruit zone leaf removal and kaolin applications on bunch rot control and quality improvement of Sauvignon blanc grapes, and wines, in a temperate humid climate Insecticide Resistance in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is Associated with Field Control Failure of Sour Rot Disease in a New York VineyardManaging Fruit Flies for Sour Rot Summer Bunch Rot (Sour Rot) Pest ManagementWendy McFadden-Smith, PhD., Ontario References: Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year - $50 OFF with code PODCAST23 Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 Here with us today is Hans Walter-Peterson. He is a viticulture extension specialists with the Finger Lakes Grape Program, part of Cornell Cooperative Extension. Thanks for being our guest today. Hans C. Walter-Peterson 0:12 Thanks for having me. Glad to be here. Craig Macmillan 0:14 You've been doing a lot of work on a situation I'll call it called Sour Rot on grapes. And that's what we're gonna talk about today. Let's start with some basic definitions. What exactly is Sour Rot? Hans C. Walter-Peterson 0:24 So sour rot is pretty much what it sounds like. It's one of the late season rots that can afflict grapes comes in after ripening starts so much like Botrytis, bunch rot some of these other types of rots that that growers might be familiar with. So it's another version of that, but it comes along with the bonus of acetic acid, every rot kind of brings its own different compounds to the party. Sour rot brings one that really is not terribly welcome in winemaking, you know, essentially the the main component of vinegar. It's a particularly rough type of rot. We really are getting some more challenging years with it past several years. So my program has really started to focus in on what we can do to try to keep it under control. Craig Macmillan 1:09 You know, I understand that part of the issue here. Is that sour rot is a disease complex....

Variety is the spice of life! It's crucial to keep this in mind when we look at monocrops like wine grape vineyards. The good news is, SIP Certified vineyards protect natural habitat and encourage biodiversity. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. Monocrops put a damper on biodiversity. They can deplete soils and put native plant and animal species out of a home. The vineyard must be thought of as its own ecosystem inside of a larger ecosystem. That's why sustainable winegrowers emphasize biodiversity in their vineyards. They preserve open space and keep portions of the property un-cropped, use native plants that beneficial insects love in their cover crops and landscaping, and maintain short- and long-term conservation plans. Protecting and regenerating habitat ensures that future generations have a healthy, thriving planet to call home. Maverick Farming, a vineyard management company in Santa Barbara that manages several SIP Certified properties, made changes to their tillage practices and noticed several benefits to their habitat. Habitat at Maverick Farming By working with the natural environment, Maverick Farming has improved their soil health, increased the number of beneficial insects, established native grasses, and saved money. This helped to improve the habitat, and it freed up funds to spend on more sustainability projects. Chad Foster, Operations Manager of Maverick Farming, says that what originally began as a way to be more effective with their budgeting, reducing tillage practices and allowing native grasses to flourish as cover crops have promoted root growth and better vine health in the vineyards they manage. These reductions in tillage encourage beneficial soil microbes and insect populations to establish themselves in these vineyards. Chad notices an uptick in lacewing and ladybugs where the cover crops have been allowed to flourish. The highly regenerative nature of native grasses makes them an excellent cover crop, as they reseed themselves when they get mowed down. This is a great example of how working with an environment’s natural ecosystem can support a cultivated agricultural system. In some blocks, disking and leveling are necessary due to vertebrate pests making grounds uneven, but Maverick decided to stop tilling just to till – their land didn’t have much of a need, as there weren’t many erosion issues. They no longer disc after harvest, and are able to take the money that was once spent on these efforts and either save it or move it to more pressing projects. Kudos to You! Your commitment to sustainability is something to be proud of. Your brand goes above and beyond to track its progress and make improvements over time, all in the name of protecting the people and the planet. Did you know that monitoring your progress toward a goal increases the likelihood of goal success? The effect is even larger when outcomes are made public, and when information is physically recorded (Harkin et al, 2016). That's exactly what you do when you document your practices year after year through. If you aren’t tracking your practices and want to, you can use the award-winning SIP Certified program to officially certify your property or as a self-assessment at no cost. “What our General Manager and Winemaker have always liked about SIP Certified is that it's audited, documented, and it focuses on continual improvement. It's been a hallmark of how they do it and forms the basis for how they train their team.” – John Gayley, Hospitality Team Member, Center of Effort Kudos to you for recognizing and celebrating your sustainable wins, finding areas...

If you want science-backed earth, water, biological, and mapping data about your land, look no further than the United States Geological Survey. Geoffrey Cromwell, Geologists at USGS at the California Water Science Center shares what this nonregulatory agency can do for growers and delves into two studies on California water basins. The USGS's mission is to investigate Earth sciences and make all research data available to the public. Studies cover floods, climate, earthquakes, volcanos, species, and geology. The Adeladia Area Hydrological Study located in San Luis Obispo County California, aims to understand how water moves in this atypical basin. Researchers are using stream gauges and monitoring wells to better understand how water flow changes seasonally and if there are differences in areas included in the project. In Northern Santa Barbara County California, the San Antonio Creek Study is developing a holistic hydrological model to support the region’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Plan (SGMA). Resources: Evaluation of Groundwater Resources in the Adelaida Area of San Luis Obispo County, CaliforniaHydrogeologic Characterization of the San Antonio Creek Valley Watershed, Santa Barbara County, CaliforniaSan Antonio Creek Hydrogeology StudiesSimulation of Groundwater and Surface-Water Resources of the San Antonio Creek Valley Watershed, Santa Barbara County, CaliforniaUnited States Geological Survey Vineyard Team Library | Water References: Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 Our guest today is Geoff Cromwell, he is geologist with the United States Geological Survey at the California Water Science Center. And today we're going to talk about you guessed it, water. Thanks for being on the podcast, Geoff. Geoffrey Cromwell 0:12 Absolutely happy to be here. Craig Macmillan 0:14 Before I met you, I thought that the US Geological Survey made maps that you buy on paper. I've had many of them. And turns out, there's a lot more going on with that group. First, what is the United States Geological Survey? Geoffrey Cromwell 0:23 I also had a very limited view of the USGS even when when I started working, I also have had to do some background on my own. And I've learned quite a lot, having been with the survey of what different people do and really that overlap, then at these different intersections of science. The USGS is one of the bureaus within the Department of Interior. And so this is under the executive branch. And what is unique about the USGS, among other bureaus within Department of Interior, is that the USGS has non regulatory. And so the USGS, really the mission is to investigate earth sciences, collect data, interpret the data, and then make all those data publicly available that then other agencies, the federal or state, or local or any other entity can then make decisions or action decisions. Based on the interpretive science that the USGS puts out. There's a quote that I pulled that USGS does Science in the Public Interest, the mission is to supply timely, relevant and useful information about the Earth and its processes. And so the earth and it's processing things very, you know, brought up to go. So not only do we do mapping, so topographic maps, geologic maps, there's just a whole swath of data collection and just digital map information available, but for...

97% of people start their search for a local business online (Linkedin, 2019). When someone looks up your business, what do they find? Are your images and videos up to date? Do you show what makes your brand special? Does your imagery convince searchers to pay you a visit? Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. Now, if you are thinking that you do not love the photos that show up when you google your business, it may be time to update your imagery! Your property is booming with interesting visuals that will entice future customers. Here are 3 categories to inspire your imagery refresh. 1. Showcase Your Values 70% of consumers want to know what the brands they support are doing to address social and environmental issues (Certus, 2019). Show them how your brand protects the people and the planet! If you’ve completed your Sustainable Story worksheet, half of your work is done. Grab your worksheet and your camera to create a visual version of your story. Electronic Worksheet | Printable Worksheet Here's how to show your Sustainable Story: · Focus on one value per week. Share photos and videos throughout the week or compile them into one mega-post at the end of the week. This strategy gives you nearly two months of content for your social media, blog posts, and Wine Club communications. · People love animals. Snap pics or videos of your wildlife visitors: bees, owls, butterflies, grazing sheep, or cattle. Your audience will love to see the diversity of creatures that call your property home. · Feature your vineyard manager or winemaker. Ask them to explain what’s sustainable about the task they’re doing, and why it’s important. Helping consumers understand specific sustainable practices and why they’re important can increase their willingness to pay more for a wine (Kathleen Kelley, The Pennsylvania State University, 2021)! 2. Show Them a Good Time Have you ever visited your favorite business’s website only to realize the photos are outdated, or don’t sufficiently capture the atmosphere you know and love? Good imagery helps people to mentally put themselves in the space, and can ease anxieties they may have over entering a new environment. Here’s how to replace outdated imagery to entice visitors: · Show off your romantic fireplace, mood lit cozy chairs, or a seating area overlooking the vineyard! Winetasting is an experience. A comfortable and inviting atmosphere makes all the difference. · Hosting an event? Guests wonder how to dress and if there will be seating. Share pictures of your guests having a good time at your next event to give valuable insights to future attendees! 3. Take Them Behind the Scenes A day in the wine industry may feel ordinary to you, but it is absolutely fascinating to the average consumer! “Food disconnect” is a term used to describe the average consumer’s lack of knowledge about where their food comes from. When it comes to your brand, most people only see the finished product: what’s in their glass. They don’t know about all of the time and careful consideration that went into its production. Here’s how to show them: · Walk your audience through the block-to-bottle process with photos and videos. Create a series that spans the year, and feature each process as it happens. · Give a glimpse into a day in the life! Show topping tanks, washing barrels, scouting for pests, a busy tasting room floor, and walking through the vines. Your audience will love a behind the scenes look at one of their favorite wine brands. SIP Tip! Include the whole team in this project! Ask everyone to take pictures and videos of the things...

Cliff Ohmart, Principal of Ohmart Consulting Services reflects on his 40-year career in agriculture. Cliff seeded his career with a Ph.D. in Forest Entomology from Berkley University. He worked in forestry in Australia, as a Pest Control Advisor in Chico, with the Lodi Winegrape Commission, and at SureHarvest. Cliff shares his experiences with sustainable winegrowing innovations including cover cropping, drip irrigation, solar energy, biocontrol, healthy soils, autonomous devices, and farm data management. Plus, he shares his number one tip for growers continuing on their sustainable journey. Resources: 25: Under-Vine Cover Crops 27: 50 Years of IPM130: The Biological Control of Vine Mealybug Using Mealybug Destroyers and Anagyrus Wasps Healthy Soils PlaylistSustainable Winegrowing Self-Assessment (SIP Certified)University of California Cooperative Extension Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship– Make a Gift SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Sustainable Winegrowing Education On-Demand (Western SARE) – Sign Up! Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 Our guest today is Cliff Ohmart. He is principal with Ohmart consulting services. And today we're going to talk about a little bit of perspective on what's happened in the past. And what's looking forward to in the future in the realm of sustainable wine growing sustainable crops just kind of in general. Thanks for being on the podcast, Cliff. Cliff Ohmart 0:16 You're very welcome, Craig. It's nice to be with you. Craig Macmillan 0:19 Just as full disclosure, Cliff, and I've known each other a long time. It's been really fun to see the things that he's worked on over the years, and his insights into kind of what's worked and what hasn't. So again, thanks for being on the being on the program. You've been involved in a whole variety of different crops and led different capacities over the years with different projects I've been with you see, I believe, and then also in the private sector, but how did you first get involved in this kind of thing? How did you get involved in sustainable farming? Cliff Ohmart 0:45 Yeah, I love that question. Because it wasn't deliberate at all. I was very deliberate in my education, I wanted to be a professor of forest entmology. So I got a degree a bachelor's degree in Forestry and Forest entomology and a PhD in forest entomology. And so basically, since it wasn't delivered, but unbeknownst to me, I got a very comprehensive education especially as undergrad in biology ecology, to pretty intensive program at the College of Forestry, Syracuse, and then going to grad school, again, insect ecology, Plant Pathology, things like that. And then I wanted to be a research scientist at a university. So the only job going at the time I got out was actually in Australia. So I spent 13 years as a researcher in forest entomology and again, but don't to me, all of this was really giving me a very, very solid background to get into ag. My family and I, after living in Australia for 10 years, to make a difficult decision to want to come home. And so I had two fellows that I went to grad school with who started an IPM company in Chico, California. Going to Berkeley for a PhD get a very strong background in integrated pest management. So IPM people, and that's how I got into ag and I was a pest control advisor for seven years. It was a very unusual company in that three PhDs doing PCA work. Craig Macmillan 2:15 That is unusual. Cliff Ohmart 2:16 Yeah, working,...

With heightened awareness of climate change, pollution, and environmental depletion, it’s no surprise that nearly 6 in 10 consumers are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce negative environmental impacts (IMB Institute for Business Value, 2020). Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. Energy efficiency is about using less fuel and energy to perform the same tasks and get the same results. When a business makes energy-efficient changes, they combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. There are several ways a sustainable wine business can make energy-efficient improvements. Read on to learn how at Center of Effort, many small changes around the winery compounded to have a massive impact on their overall energy use. Energy Efficiency at Center of Effort The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Center of Effort sees this clearly when they look at the tremendous energy expense savings they have realized since making Energy Efficient improvements around their winery: · Energy time-of-use adjustments on their cooling system, wastewater aerators, and other heavy energy usage equipment. · Implementing night-air cooling of barrel rooms and case goods storage areas to minimize HVAC use. · Investing in a small chiller enabling them to bring tank temperatures down on select tanks rather than the entire plant down. · Installing a quickdraw door to address insulation loss. These are just a few of the areas in which they took action to reduce their energy demand. “A lot of the changes were pretty simple and had varying impact, but all together it compounded into very meaningful differences," says Kevin Bargetto, Associate Winemaker at Center of Effort. He continues, "With these changes, our entire winery facility, tasting room and offices are entirely solar-powered. In fact, we are running net negative, meaning we are even sending generated power back to the grid!” Their solar project went live back in 2016, and Nathan Carlson, Winemaker and General Manager, says that it “showed 100% ROI over 4 years, no problem.” Your brand contributes to a higher standard of wine business through its sustainable practices. You can take pride in the way your brand protects the people and the planet. When you tell your customers what it takes to make a sustainable wine, they will share in that satisfaction. We are here to help you tell your customers how your brand protects natural and human resources with the Sustainable Story worksheet. This simple yet powerful free tool helps you tell your own personal sustainable message. And it just got better with a new online course. Go to the show notes, click the link titled Tell Your Sustainable Story to sign up, download the worksheet, watch the videos, and you are ready to tell your Sustainable Story! Until next time, this is Sustainable Winegrowing with the Vineyard Team. References: *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course ***Marketing Tips eNewsletterNiner Wines Estates protects the people and the planet Safe Pest Management: Wolff VineyardsSIP Smart Training online courseSustainable Story Worksheet | PrintSustainable Story Worksheet | Electronic What's your Sustainable Story? SIP CertifiedVineyard Team

Looking for a tool to help you make irrigation and Nitrogen application decisions? How about one that will not cost you anything? Michael Cahn, Farm Advisor, Irrigation and Water Resources at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Monterey County explains a valuable software for farmers – CropManage. This free software from the University of California combines a wide variety of data inputs to help growers make accurate and timely irrigation and fertilization decisions based on crop-specific models. The tool aggregates data from the University of California at Davis Soil Web, weather stations, evapotranspiration, and satellite imagery. Plus, it can be integrated with a farmer’s existing software. CropManage has been ground-truthed in more than 30 field trials. While the product started in lettuce, it has expanded into vineyards. Your vineyard can be a beta tester to help improve this software for the wine industry. Resources: 115: Examining Plant Nutrient Mobility with SAP Analysis 116: Using Nudge Theory to Improve Irrigation Practices 139: Vineyard Irrigation Scheduling Adapting wine grape production to climate change through canopy architecture manipulation and irrigation in warm climatesCropManage “CropManage CropManage Application for Vineyard Irrigation Decision Support.” 73rd American Society of Enology and Viticulture National Conference, San Diego CAMichael Cahn’s emailMonterey County UC Cooperative Extension Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship– Make a Gift SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Sustainable Winegrowing Education On-Demand (Western SARE) – Sign Up! Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 Our guest today is Michael Cahn. He is Farm Adviser in irrigation and water resources with UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County. But he also works in other counties as well, as I'm sure we'll talk about. And today we're going to talk about a system a decision assistance system for a whole variety of crops called CropManage, which is free and available online. And I've been following for quite a few years. In fact, he was a speaker at one of our Sustainable Ag Expos a few years back, and at the time, I was like, this is the coolest thing ever. And I can't wait to see how it develops. Welcome. Michael Cahn 0:29 Well, thank you for inviting me. Craig Macmillan 0:31 So first of all, what exactly is CropManage? Well, it Michael Cahn 0:35 is an online decision support tool that's sort of in a nutshell is how we describe it. It's essentially software that takes information from different sources, puts it through some crop models, and provide some recommendations on how long to irrigate your crops. It also for a number of crops, provides decision support on nitrogen management. Craig Macmillan 1:03 How did this all come about? This was a really interesting project, there's a lot that goes into it, what was the genesis, the idea behind this? Michael Cahn 1:09 The start of CropManage was in lettuce a number of years ago, we're trying to help growers be more efficient in nitrogen management. Nitrogen, as most of you know, in its mineral form, which would be mostly nitrate, is very mobile in the soil. So it seems like if we're going to manage nitrogen accurately, then we also have to manage water. So they go to hand in hand in hand. Of course, I work in irrigation water management. So I also had the interest in just using water efficiently on the Central Coast, because of our limited water supplies. You...

It’s here! The simple yet powerful tool to help you and your staff tell your Sustainable Story – the brand new, 30-minute online training course. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. When asked about the importance of sustainability in a variety of industries, over 80% of respondents said it’s important in food and beverage, according to Morning Consult’s 2022 Sustainability Report. Sustainability is being talked about more and more these days. We hear from our members that they don’t always know how to communicate sustainability effectively. That is why we have created the Sustainable Story online course so that you can learn what it means to be sustainable, how sustainability adds value to your wine, and how you can use storytelling to sell more wine. At the end of this 30-minute course, you will have written 7 examples of sustainable practices unique to your band. These themes are based on SIP Certified’s 7 values: Social Responsibility, Water Management, Safe Pest Management, Energy Efficiency, Habitat, Business and Always Evolving. To inspire you, we share a variety of examples of each value plus a story from a SIP Certified Member. Use your Sustainable Story during your tastings, sales calls and meetings, newsletters and Wine Club handouts, social media, and even during casual conversation when you’re talking about where you work. We encourage you to complete this course as a team so bring together your viticulturalists, wine maker, general manager, sales, marketing, and tasting room staff. Knowing what makes your brand, specifically, sustainable, will help elevate your customer experience, and can even help increase your sales. Sign up for the course to learn how! Getting started is easy, click the link titled Tell Your Sustainable Story in the show notes to sign up, download the worksheet, watch the videos, and you are ready to tell your Sustainable Story! Until next time, this is Sustainable Winegrowing with the Vineyard Team. References: *** Tell Your Sustainable Story Online Course ***Marketing Tips eNewsletterNiner Wines Estates protects the people and the planet Safe Pest Management: Wolff VineyardsSIP Smart Training online courseSustainable Story Worksheet | PrintSustainable Story Worksheet | Electronic What's your Sustainable Story? SIP CertifiedVineyard Team

RNA Interference, known as RNAi, is a biological process that leads to the silencing of gene expression. A lot of plant viruses are RNA viruses including grapevine leafroll-associated virus and grapevine red blotch virus. Yen-Wen Kuo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis is researching ways to induce RNAi in grapevines to target virus. Growers may have heard of double-stranded RNA sprays which are intended to initiate RNAi. The challenge has been that double-stranded RNA breaks down quickly in the elements. The Kou lab is working to improve this process and look for alternatives that will have little impact on the ecology. Resources: 71: New Techniques to Detect Grapevine Leafroll Disease 131: Virus Detection in Grapevines Abstract: Development of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Infiltration of Infectious Clones of Grapevine Geminivirus A Directly into Greenhouse-Grown Grapevine and Nicotiana benthamiana PlantsKuo Laboratory – Plant VirologyMaher Al Rwahnih, Foundation plant services RNA-Based Vaccination of Plants for Control of Viruses Yen-wen Kuo’s Google Scholar page Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Sustainable Winegrowing Education On-Demand (Western SARE) – Sign Up! Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 Our guest today is Yen-Wen Kuo. And she is Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at UC Davis. I'm Craig Macmillan, your host, and I'm very excited to have Dr. Koh here with us today. Welcome. Yen-Wen Kuo 0:11 Thank you for having me. Craig Macmillan 0:13 So you've been doing some interesting work the lab on interference RNA, and also how it affects plant viruses and possibly insects in the future. Can you explain for those of us that did not take genetics like we were supposed to in college, what interference RNA is and how it works? Yen-Wen Kuo 0:29 Sure. So RNA interference is a biological process in which certain types of RNA RNAs can trigger RNA interference. And then once it's triggered, it will produce specifics more RNAs, that can regulate gene expression, by degrading or binding to the target RNAs containing a homologous sequence containing a similar sequence of those small RNAs. So this is a general concept of RNA interference, we also call it RNAi is very complicated the whole process. And there are different pathways and mechanisms included in the RNA interference. RNAi is a primary and effective antiviral defense in plants, but also found in some fungi and insects and lower eukaryotes. And because of all these different mechanisms, scientists and researchers, they they work on different aspects of this mechanism for either plants or animals. And they're also looking for different potential and better ways to use RNAi for different applications. Craig Macmillan 1:45 So if I understand correctly, you have cell and there is DNA in that cell, and there's genes that code for certain things. And so the RNA is was transmitting or was carrying information from that's encoded with the gene out into the world to do something, is that a fair explanation? Yen-Wen Kuo 2:05 So the genome there in plants or animals and human is their DNA genomes is DNA, and then the DNA will transcribed into RNA. And those RNA, some of the messenger RNAs can translate into proteins. So it's a how the central dogma from DNA makes RNA and then RNA makes protein. In the old days, we thought that oh, the protein is...

The proportion of regular wine drinkers willing to pay more for sustainable wine has significantly increased in the past two years (IWSR, 2022). Your customers will only know that your wine was made sustainably if you tell them! Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. Using storytelling to share with your customers the specific things your brand does that are sustainable and why they are important (i.e. telling your Sustainable Story) helps make it clear that yours is a business that truly walks the walk when it comes to caring for the people and the planet. It builds an emotional connection and fills gaps in consumer knowledge of sustainability. Plant and animal pests are a common issue for all winegrowers. Read on to learn how in an effort to conserve water and promote plant health, Jean-Pierre Wolff of Wolff Vineyards discovered a unique pest mitigation strategy! Safe Pest Management at Wolff Vineyards In 2017, Jean-Pierre Wolff decided that rather than replanting his vines on the same rootstocks, he would convert to drought-resistant rootstocks and plant them three feet into the ground. Deriving inspiration from an African palm farming technique, Jean-Pierre uses PVC pipes to deliver water and nutrients directly to the root zone. There is no wait time for the nutrients to be pushed to the roots, and no water is wasted through parts of the soil that contain no roots. Along with the tremendous water savings resulting from his deeply planted vines and subsurface irrigation technology, Wolff has discovered an “indirectly obvious” benefit - fewer weeds! Since water and fertilizer are applied through PVC pipes that lead directly to the root systems 3-feet underground, native and noxious weeds with shallow roots can’t access these resources, and therefore can’t thrive. Vertebrate pests have also had little success in establishing themselves in these areas since they don’t typically dig to the depths at which the roots lie. Does Your Team Know Your Sustainable Story? Need an easy way to help your team talk about your sustainable practices? Download the brand-new Sustainable Story worksheet. This simple yet powerful free tool helps you tell your own personal sustainable message. Simply download the worksheet linked in the show notes, complete it with your whole team, and keep following along with this podcast series to learn how to incorporate your story into every aspect of your marketing and sales. Plus, we are inspiring you by sharing what like-minded brands are doing to care for the people and the planet. Worksheet for Print | Worksheet for Electronic Filling P.S. We have a brand-new online course coming soon! In just a few weeks, you and your staff will have access to a free 30-minute Sustainable Story training that will teach you how to explain sustainability, coach you through writing your own Sustainable Story, and show you how talking about your good work can help sell more wine. Stay tuned. Check out the show notes to download and complete your own Sustainable Story worksheet, read an example from Niner Wine Estates, to see the consumer segment infographic, and to sign up for our biweekly Marketing Tips newsletter. Until next time, this is Sustainable Winegrowing with the Vineyard Team. References: SIP Smart Training online courseMarketing Tips eNewsletterNiner Wines Estates protects the people and the planet Safe Pest Management: Wolff VineyardsSustainable Story Worksheet | PrintSustainable Story Worksheet | Electronic What's your Sustainable Story? SIP CertifiedVineyard Team

When it comes to labor and employment, the best thing that you can do is be proactive, says Anthony P. Raimondo, Attorney, and Founder of Raimondo Miller A Law Corporation. Anthony covers the importance of accurate, individualized timekeeping, not just a work schedule. Today, there is software that supports both employers and employees. Right from your tablet or smartphone, you can track clock ins and outs, verify that the employee received their breaks, and even provide telehealth. Anthony provides an update on current union laws, what you need to know whether you use a management company or farm labor contractor, and how growers of any size can stay up to date with recent laws. Resources: REGISTER: 7/14/2023 Pre-Harvest Safety: Train-the-Trainer Amendments to California Agricultural Bargaining Process Per Governor’s Agreement with Unions California Alters Union Process for Agricultural Workers Raimondo Miller A Law Corporation References: Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship- Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org. Transcript Craig Macmillan 0:00 And with us today is Anthony Raimondo, he is an attorney and founder of the law firm of Raimondo and Miller in Fresno, California. And we're going to talk about some legal and regulatory things that are affecting growers all over the nation in the west coast and local states. Thanks for being here, Anthony. Anthony Raimondo 0:15 Thank you for having me. Craig Macmillan 0:17 You've been interviewed and have written and have appeared widely and have had a number of interesting insights. And there are a couple of things that I picked up on from looking at when your interview is that I really for me, it spoke to me personally, because I was in the vineyard side of things for a long time. And that's the issue of timekeeping. I'd love to talk a little bit about the kind of exposure legal exposure that a grower might have around timekeeping, which on the surface sounds like a very simple thing and in the field turns out not to be a very simple thing. And also what kind of practices a grower might get into trouble for what some ways growers can protect themselves? What kind of what kind of experience do you have in this topic? Anthony Raimondo 0:49 It's something that we deal with quite a bit, we deal with both the compliance aspect of things kind of that front end planning of how do we do things to stay out of trouble. But we also deal with the defense side, a lot of the litigation that's going on right now is class action or collective action litigation, where you have one or a couple of workers who stand in for the entire workforce, over a period of years alleging a range of different wage and hour type violations. And a lot of those things really come down to timekeeping. Craig Macmillan 1:22 Gotcha. Now, what we used to do back in the day was people would show up, and the management would show up, and we had a clipboard with an eight and a half by 11 piece of paper. And we sign people in and check them off. And then we basically looked at our watches and said, Okay, we're starting at 9:05. And then everyone at work, then we check what time we came back for lunch, etc. It seems like that would work perfectly well. But we did have some issues with folks along the lines that that kind of disputed how accurate that was, or those are the kinds of things that get people kind of in trouble kind of backward, or what's the source of some of these complaints? Anthony Raimondo ...