Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/89919
Growers: Attract and maintain a steady labor force by offering on-farm housing that sleeps up to 20 workers in high quality, low maintenance structures. Wood-canker diseases are a leading cause of vineyard and orchard removal in many parts of the country. Another early detection tool geared for the grower is a spore trap to measure presence and risk of disease. The research team is working with Coastal Viticulture Con- sultants to develop a solar-powered spore trap that would show presence of spores in the vineyard's atmosphere. The California company already offers a powdery mildew spore-trapping program for growers. "If growers knew that the threat of infection is there from the spore counts, that could help them justify the expense of preventative strategies, like adjusting their timing of pruning," she said. Planting disease-resistant cultivars is a time-tested and sustainable approach to disease management. A range of resistance exists among commercial grape cultivars, but information is limited. Researchers will work to develop an improved, faster screening assay for evaluating commercial cultivars and USDA germplasm repositories for sources of disease resistance. Cultivars screened will include juice grape and table grape varieties that have been overlooked by inter- national researchers who are mainly concerned with wine grape varieties. Preventative practices Economic analyses will be developed to help show growers the importance of using preventative strategies to better manage wood-canker diseases in young vine- yards compared to taking drastic measures in older ones, like cutting dead cordons and replanting vines. Researchers will build an outreach strategy with new extension tools, such as smartphone applications, that encourage adoption of preventative practices. A smartphone application is envisioned for growers to use in the vineyard to aid in early diagnosis. The app would provide photos detailing symptoms and give rec- ommendations on how to take samples to confirm diagnosis. "A disease like Esca is not common in Washington State, so if it came in on nursery stock and something looked suspicious, a grower might not even think of con- sidering Esca as a potential disease," she said. "A smart- phone app could be valuable in getting growers in the habit of considering wood-canker diseases—especially those who haven't experienced these diseases—before they become problematic in the vineyard." The research project is supported by the National Wine Grape Initiative, a national coalition representing juice, raisin, table, and wine grape producers. Initiative members have committed vineyards for the trial and serve on the project's advisory board. The SCRI grant pro- vides funding for the first two years of a five-year project. Baumgartner hopes additional funding will come after completion of the first two years. The project is transdisciplinary and includes a broad team of researchers. Principal investigator is USDA's Dr. Themis Michailides, also at Davis. Other investigators include: David Doll, University of California Cooperative Extension; Mizuho Nita, Virginia Tech; Grant Cramer, University of Nevada, Reno; Philippe Rolshausen, UC, Riverside; Jonathan Kaplan, California State University, Sacramento; and Mark Lubell, UC, Davis. • www.goodfruit.com +,-$& .($-( ').(- )( (1/$&& +.(($("" + $ " "!#!"! )0)--)+ )0#.--& ).& )+% +).()" +),-( )()'1!- )$(-)+%, )$(-$$!- )(/ 1)+, + $"#-- .+(1&(*+1 +, ;;;4,-0&63;2;)0(-2+'31 PHIL BROWN WELDING CORP. ,32) • %< • ?-0) ($32/0-2-',-+%2 Contact Vine Tech Equipment your Northwest Phil Brown Dealer ;;;:-2)8)',)59-41)28'31 GOOD FRUIT GROWER NOVEMBER 2012 35 P Over 170 units already sold! We use these quality components: • James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding • Jeld-Wen windows with double-strength glass • Copper water lines • Large capacity water heaters With 20 years' experience here in the Valley to service your product We have several floor plans approved by the Washington State Department of Health– fully self-contained units, and dormitory only. They include: • showers • toilets/sinks • kitchen with appliances - GE • plumbed for washer/dryer Experienced in building H-2A Housing– • eating area • sleeping area • social area We are the only factory HUD code builder in Washington. &!)$(" &!(&)$(" >)778,%2-2',)7;-()*36 2%663;86))63;74%'-2+7 >!6%'83613928)(:%0:) -7%:%-0%&0) >=(6%90-'(6-:)26300)6',%-2 *36032+71338,34)6%8-32 >"7)7)<-78-2+86%'836 ,=(6%90-'7=78)1 >(.978%&0),-8',*36(-**)6)28 (6%;&%6,)-+,87 > )%613928)(%9831%8-' &3<78348346):)2870-(-2+