Growing Soil Nutrition

As knowledge about the benefits of cover crops grows, increasingly vineyardists are focusing on customizing their planting mixes to fit their vineyard architecture. Because each vineyard is unique, this is a good plan.

For this issue of Facts From the Field, we interviewed with Glenn T. McGourty, Viticulture and Plant Science Advisor for UCCE in Mendocino and Lake Counties, to get his ideas about new and important considerations for cover cropping in North Coast vineyards.

Probably the newest plant he advocates for your mix is Persian Clover. It delivers all the nitrogen/phosphorus fixing qualities of legumes, but it has a taller stature. It doesn't get shaded out when mixed with taller grain plants like with triticales and oats. Furthermore, it has a non-trailing habit so it doesn't creep into the trellis system. Lastly, it is pretty in the field. Not important, we admit, but it adds a nice touch.

When using clover, Glenn reminds growers that fertilization is a must. A couple of applications of a 0-36-0-19 fertilizer applied at a rate of 200# per acre will give this excellent clover a good start in your fields.

Glenn also advocates triticales. Triticale has a strong root system and is an important cover crop component where geography is sloped. Because of these factors, it is an especially important addition in newly-planted vineyards where the first winter brings such a threat of erosion. Also, triticale germinates quickly in the cool weather of fall and, because it has a long winter dormancy, it won't bolt in springtime warmth.

At Rainbow, we strongly advocate the new cover cropping strategies. They enhance soil fertility, provide biomass for weed suppression (reducing chemical application rates) and they provide beneficial insect habitat.

For more in-depth information on cover crop plants, we urge you to check out an important publication from U.C. Davis. To link to it, click here.

A Special Offer to Newsletter Customers Mention this Ad, Get a Special Deal Cover Crop Seed Mixes Cost + 10% Rainbow Ag was the first area company to aggressively promote cover crops. We have a long tradition of creating special mixes or recommending standard mixes to North Coast growers. Contact our seed specialist Lory McAsey at (707) 462-2404, or e-mail her at seed@rainbowag.com. Mention this offer to get 10% above-cost pricing.

For Gregoire Owners: 24-Hour Field Support

The pressure to get your grapes off the vine and meet the winery schedule can be intense. Rainbow is committed to keeping you in the field. During harvest, Rainbow maintains a round-the-clock field support for your Gregoire harvester.

Weekdays, 7 am - 5:30 pm, contact our Service Specialists:
Tom Carkin, (707) 462-2404 Lake & Mendocino Counties
Bob Coffin, (707) 942-4566 Sonoma, Napa & other counties

After regular business hours, contact:
Craig Bartow, technician (707) 370-8040*
* After-hour service is billed at $99/hr including travel time from technician's residence.

Parts: A Reminder to All Gregoire Owners

To keep your machine in the field, Rainbow encourages you to have basic replacement parts on hand. While our technician stocks common parts on his service truck and Rainbow has sourced common parts locally, you'll have an extra measure of certainty during harvest if you have some basics on hand.

To identify the parts you should have in house, please contact our parts managers:

Warren Henry, Ukiah (707) 462-2404
Lynn Schuler, Calistoga (707) 942-4566

Jim Mayfield Reports: Customer Feedback In a previous issue, I mentioned that we would report out some additional customer focus meeting results. We gathered a mixed group of producers. Some are loyal Rainbow Ag customers, some spread their business around, and others did little or no business with Rainbow. Here is some of what we found: Napa and Sonoma Service Comments: The most voiced concern from the this group was our Calistoga facility. The group felt that we needed a better building and location where we could service the products better. People did not like sending some of their repairs to our larger Ukiah operation. This group wanted to know more about their machines. As their tractors start to age, what should they look for? Education was very important to them. Across the board it was loudly said that the biggest positive in Calistoga is the people - hands down. "This is the dealership's biggest asset." First, I was most pleased to hear that our staff was our strongest asset. I agree. I believe that it is the single most important reason we have been successful. As to Rainbow's physical location in Calistoga, there is no doubt that we have outgrown our facility. Finding real estate in Napa county is a challenge. If you know of a more suitable location, please let me know. We will not abandon our existing building, but we would love to expand. Regarding education: This bulletin is our vehicle to deliver the information that you want. If you have questions, have an idea for a news bulletin topic that would interest you, or if you just want to forward a comment to me, please do so at mayfield@rainbowag.com. Jim Mayfield President

Warren Henry: Taming the Dragon

Managing the parts department at Rainbow's Ukiah store for over three years, Warren Henry is well aware that good customer service is a must, and he's on hand to make sure that the Ukiah department delivers on time. With thousands of parts to track, it's not the easiest job in the world.

Rainbow's commitment to on-time delivery sets our parts service apart. The next time you have a breakdown or are scheduling a repair, order at Rainbow. As a John Deere dealership, we can almost always guarantee next-day delivery on John Deere parts. Also, Rainbow now has access to parts for other makes.

What makes this all possible? Rainbow's service commitment, our access to a state-of-the-art online parts availability system and the organizational mind of Warren Henry. For all your parts questions, call Warren at (707) 462-2404.

At Rainbow Agricultural Services, our primary interest is providing great service to our customers. If you have questions or comments, or if there is any way we can serve you better, please e-mail us at:
facts@rainbowag.com

Your privacy is very important to us. If you would like to "unsubscribe" from this newsletter, please let us know by e-mailing:
offthelist@rainbowag.com
We will remove your address from our mailing list as soon as possible.

RAINBOW AGRICULTURAL SERVICES

UKIAH: 235 E Perkins St., 95482, Ph. 707-462-2404, Fax 707-462-3627
CALISTOGA: 810 Foothill Blvd., 94515, Ph. 707-942-4566, Fax 707-942-9668
NOVATO: 7546 Redwood Blvd., 94945, Ph. 415-892-1030, Fax 415-893-1481
LAKEPORT: 1975 Argonaut Rd., 95453, Ph. 707-279-0550, Fax 707-279-0594

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