—By Tom Philpott I recently wrote a piece about growing interest in California farmland by massive investment funds. But almonds and other tree nuts, the main focus of my article, aren’t the only commodities drawing interest from the smart-money crowd. From what I can tell, a successful California farmland investment require these two conditions: 1) …Read More
by Carol Grieve’ Many of us are chosing to make organic and non-GMO food choices. What about our wine? Why has organic wine been given a bad rap. Buying wine can be confusing. What is USDA Certified organic wine? What does it mean when it says “made with organically grown grapes”? What is biodynamic wine? What …Read More
By News Staff, Can sound vibrations replace pesticides? Researchers are adapting different eco-friendly methods to try and boost harvests and open up a new chapter in sustainable farming. Scientists in Northern Italy are experimenting with what they call eco-friendly sound and odor devices to fight off insects from their cultivated fields., though environmental activists dont accept …Read More
By Kelowna Capital News From Bogota, Colombia, to Mexico City, to the wineries of the Okanagan, PhD student Camilo Peña has been on a round-the-world research journey aimed at better understanding and documenting the relationship between marketing, consumer motivation, and social and environmental sustainability in agriculture. His ambitions led him to Quail’s Gate winery in West …Read More
By Eric Mortenson, Oregon grape growers say herbicide drift is damaging vineyards and it’s time for the state to ban 2,4-D use during April to October growing season. Joel Meyers estimates herbicide drift has caused $50,000 damage in the past three years to vineyards he owns, leases or manages in Oregon’s Yamhill County wine country, …Read More
By Maria Gaura, Santa Cruz County is a pioneer in organic agriculture, with trendsetting organic farms, restaurants and specialty foods. But even here, in the alternative heartland, organic vineyards are few and far between. Only 40 acres of Santa Cruz County wine grapes, about 6 percent of vineyard acreage, are certified organic, according to crop reports. …Read More
By Jeff Quackenbush, Despite significant rains in March and February, North Coast winegrape growers are honing their skills in using less water as the threat of spring frost, summer heat and long-term drought loom in their minds. “I don’t think anyone had any illusions that we would get so much it filled our shortage problems,” …Read More
by Mary Hookham Judy Reith Rozelle is not only passionate about conducting grape trials and research, but also about helping people throughout Wisconsin successfully start their own vineyards. In fact, she runs a small business to help new grape growers choose the most viable varieties to plant. “I think people who start working in grapes …Read More
By Elizabeth Licata, The French government puts pressure on a Burgundian winemaker to spray his organic vineyard Organic wine is a small but growing market, but a winemaker in France’s Burgundy region cares so deeply about the organic cause that he’s willing to risk jail to avoid using pesticides on his vineyard. According to The Local, the …Read More