While this blog is oriented to the delights of Suisun Valley, some times it must take a serious bent to cover threatening issues. The European Grapevine Moth represents one of those times.
Found in Napa’s Oakville District last harvest for the first time in the United States, this invasive pest is a real threat to grape growing and wine. The vineyard owner of the first identified site LOST the entire 2009 grape crop to this infestation, and at Oakville prices that is a lot of income.
The quarantine areas have been set by the CDFA and portions of Solano County above Green Valley (our immediate neighbor to the west) are under quarantine. Our Solano Ag Commisioners office is actively involved in monitoring for this pest and prepared to act quickly if the EGVM spreads, but the main fight right now is in Napa County.
Napa County Ag Commissioner David Whitmer has scheduled a grower meeting March 30 to cover a long list of items pertaining to this issue. We have provided the agenda for this meeting below and hope any interested Suisun or Green Valley growers will attend to get updated on what is happening and what they might need to prepare for.
Draft Agenda
EUROPEAN GRAPEVINE MOTH (EGVM)
Industry Meeting
March 30, 2010, 9:00a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Yountville Community Center
6516 Washington Street, Yountville, CA
9:00 – 9:10 Welcome and Introductions:
Dave Whitmer, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner
9:10 – 9:40 EGVM Biology, Damage, Monitoring and Control
Monica Cooper, Viticultural Farm Advisor, U.C. Cooperative Extension
9:40 – 10:20 EGVM Quarantine and Regulatory Requirements
Acting Director Robert Leavitt and staff,
California Department of Food and Agriculture
State Plant Health Director Helene Wright,
United States Department of Agriculture
Dave Whitmer, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner
10:20 – 10:40 EGVM Control Program
Martin Mochizuki, Grower Liaison for EGVM Program
Dave Whitmer, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner
10:40 – 10:55 EGVM Compliance Agreements – Who Needs One?
10:55 – 11:00 Closing Remarks
Dave Whitmer, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner
Only a unified front will contribute to dealing with this major threat.
