View from the Vineyard A Practical Guide to Sustainable Winegrape Growing

by Ohmart, Clifford P.

• ISBN13: 9781935879909
• ISBN10: 1935879901
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-11-01
• Publisher: Wine Appreciation Guild

Summary

Author and entomologist Clifford P. Ohmart brings reason and clarity to the politically loaded and amorphously defined popular world of sustainable viticulture with this unique and comprehensive examination of the subject. View from the Vineyard does much more than explain what ¿sustainable¿ means, its practical importance to the wine industry and the costs of agribusiness as usual. It provides the farmer with a realistic and achievable path to a sustainable vineyard by describing: the challenges of practicing sustainable winegrowing; where does Integrated Pest Management fit in?; how are organic and sustainable farming related?; a holistic vision for the farm; how to identify and define your farm¿s resources; methods for developing sustainable goals; creating a plan to achieve your holistic vision; ecosystem management and sensitive species; and understanding the vineyard as habitat. The book concludes with a self-assessment guide in which growers can easily track their progress through these transitional periods. Clifford P. Ohmart is the author of the Lodi-Winegrower¿s Workbook and co-editor and co-author of the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Self-Assessment Workbook published in 2002 by the Wine Institute and California Association of Winegrape Growers. He also writes a bi-monthly column on sustainable winegrowing for Wines & Vines magazine, has authored 34 peer-reviewed research papers in international science journals and presented over 300 seminars, conference papers and symposia papers at Universities, government research organizations, and grower groups throughout the world.

Author Biography

Clifford P. Ohmart, Ph.D. is the author of the Lodi-Winegrower's Workbook and co-editor and co-author of the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Self-Assessment Workbook published in 2002 by the-Wine Institute and California Association of Winegrape Growers. He also writes a bi-monthly column on sustainable winegrowing for Wines Vines magazine, has authored dozens of peer-reviewed research papers in international science journals and presented over 300 seminars, conference papers and symposia papers at universities, government research organizations, and grower groups throughout the world.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xv
List of Figures	p. xvii
Understanding Sustainable Winegrowing
Defining Sustainable Winegrowing	p. 3
What is Sustainable Winegrowing?	p. 3
Evolution of Organic Farming	p. 5
The Emergence of Sustainable Agriculture	p. 5
Where Does Integrated Pest Management Fit In?	p. 8
The Sustainable Winegrowing Continuum	p. 9
References	p. 10
Sustainable Winegrowing Viewed from Different Perspectives	p. 13
How "Natural" Is Farming?	p. 13
How Are Organic and Sustainable Farming Related?	p. 15
A Brief Synopsis of Rudolf Steiner and Biodynamic Farming	p. 23
Dr. Rudolf Steiner, "Spiritual" Scientist and Researcher	p. 24
The Foundations of Biodynamic Farming	p. 25
References	p. 28
Constraints to Implementing Sustainable Winegrowing: The Commodification of the Winegrape	p. 29
The Role of Science in Winegrape Growing in the US	p. 35
The Importance of Objectivity	p. 38
References	p. 44
Practicing Sustainable Winegrowing: An Holistic View
A Holistic Vision for the Farm: The Foundation of Sustainable Winegrowing	p. 47
What is a Holistic Vision?	p. 47
Developing a Holistic Vision for Your Farm	p. 49
Identifying and Defining the Your Farm's Resources	p. 50
Developing Sustainable Goals	p. 52
An Example Holistic (Sustainable) Vision for the Lodi Winegrape Commission	p. 56
Creating a Plan To Achieve Your Holistic Vision	p. 58
References	p. 60
Social Equity: The Third E of Sustainable Winegrowing	p. 61
Job Satisfaction	p. 63
Human Resources Management	p. 64
Succession Planning and Estate Planning	p. 70
Community Involvement	p. 70
References	p. 71
Ecosystem Management: The Big Picture Approach to Sustainable Winegrowing	p. 73
Ecosystem Processes	p. 73
We Live and Farm in a Watershed	p. 78
Ecosystem Management on the Farm	p. 79
Ecosystem Management and Sensitive Speciesp81
Conservation Easements	p. 86
References	p. 86
The Role of Self-assessment in Implementing Sustainable Winegrowing	p. 89
Evolution of the Self-Assessment Workbook	p. 90
Writing the Lodi Winegrower's Workbook	p. 92
Conclusions	p. 99
References	p. 100
Data-Driven Sustainable Winegrowing: A Case for Good Record Keeping	p. 103
Sustainable Soil Management	p. 111
Soil Basics	p. 112
Sustainable Soil Management	p. 120
References	p. 125
Sustainable Water Management	p. 127
Soil Water Holding Capacity	p. 128
Vine Water Use	p. 128
Drip Irrigation and Wine Quality	p. 132
Developing a Water Management Plan	p. 136
Irrigation Pumps	p. 139
Irrigation System Distribution Uniformity	p. 143
References	p. 149
IPM, the Foundation of Sustainable Pest Management	p. 151
Why Do We Have Pest Problems?	p. 151
The History of Pest Control	p. 154
The Importance of Monitoring in Sustainable Winegrowing	p. 162
Economic Thresholds for Pest Management in Vineyards	p. 166
The Three E's of Successful Spraying	p. 173
References	p. 178
Sustainable Viticulture	p. 181
Vineyard Establishment	p. 181
Climate and Soil Surveys, Water Quality and Availability	p. 184
Environmental Survey	p. 184
Soil Sampling for Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics	p. 186
Row Orientation	p. 188
Vine Spacing and Trellising	p. 190
Stake and End Post Fatigue, Vineyard Design and Harvesting Methods	p. 190
Rootstocks and Clones	p. 190
Vineyard Nutrition Management	p. 191
An Example Vineyard Nutrient Budget	p. 193
Vine Balance	p. 198
References	p. 199
The Role of Certification in Sustainable Winegrowing	p. 201
Why Certification?	p. 202
Types of Certification Standards	p. 203
Sustainable Winegrowing and Marketing Wine	p. 206
Conclusion	p. 210
Resources	p. 213
Index	p. 215
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