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Facts from the Field: #22
Tools and Tips from Rainbow Ag
IN THIS ISSUE:
Monitoring Soil Moisture
Grapevines are naturally engineered to forage in the earth for water. They produce an extensive root system and usually survive drought conditions fairly well. For top-quality grapes, survival just isn't enough.
Water stress in late spring will result in poor berry set. In summertime, the berry is growing fast, and cells within it are expanding rapidly, taking up moisture from the soil. Water stress at this time will make berries smaller, and may prevent proper maturing. Keeping close tabs on soil moisture and altering your irrigation in response to real soil moisture conditions improves your crop.
Also, with good soil-moisture monitoring technology in place, you can further reduce production costs by irrigating only when you need to, in the exact amounts required.
Because the vine's roots are constantly depleting the moisture in the soil, monitoring is a day-to-day operation. Put some simple technology in place, and learn more about how to grow a great crop.
Sharpshooters and Soil Moisture
It may be that controlling soil moisture reduces your risk of sharpshooter damage.
The IPM site at Davis has this to say:
Learn More About Soil-Moisture Monitoring:
UC Davis has produced a video about monitoring soil moisture in vineyards.
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All Kawasaki Products:
0% Down
0% Interest
0 Payments
For 12 months
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Gro-Point
Soil Moisture Sensor
Use Gro-Point!
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Get immediate and accurate soil-moisture measurements.
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• | Fine tune your irrigation.
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• | Improve crop yield.
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• | Conserve water.
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Gro-Point's sensor is rugged, easy to use and maintenance-free, and responds immediately to soil moisture changes. Can be installed either horizontally or vertically.
Gro-Point measures volumetric soil moisture accurately from 8% to 42% in most soils.
Prices start at
$299
Price based on system configuration.
Call Steve Shepard for details at (707) 462-2404 x108 or e-mail irrigate@rainbowag.com
Call one of Rainbow's field reps today:
Jim Munson, Lake/Northern Mendocino
(707) 468-6549 (pager)
munsonjim@netscape.net
Bob Mitrovich, Napa/Sonoma/Mendocino
(707) 316-2108 (pager)
BobMitro@aol.com
Jerry Smith, Napa/Sonoma
(707) 324-1940 (pager)
jvsmithbow@aol.com
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The New Age of Fertilization
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FertiJet!
Fertilization for Advanced Irrigation Systems
Designed to accurately inject nutrients into your irrigation system, FertiJet can be linked simply and quickly to almost any irrigation control head.
• Save expensive fertilizers
• Maximize yield and fruit quality.
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Price based on system configuration.
Call Steve Shepard for details at (707) 462-2404 x108 or e-mail
irrigate@rainbowag.com
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Get Off the Porch, Harvest is On the Way
by Jerry Smith
Many of you are now getting ready to drag out your grape harvesters to see what they need for the upcoming campaign. Of course, a few of you realize that harvest isn't really going to start tomorrow, so there's no need to disturb the sleeping dog.
Some of you more environmentally friendly folks are delaying harvester repairs so that the last hatch of starlings can completely leave the nest in your blower housing, or for the rats to finish making enough bedding out of the belts you put in last year.
No matter what excuse you have, harvest is on the horizon, and your harvester needs to be ready. Here are a few suggestions to get you going:
- Use a check list for your annual maintenance, and keep each year's check sheet so you can compare preparation requirements over the years.
- It is easier to repair something in the comfort of your shop in the light of day, rather than at night in the field with grape juice in your eyes and the winery ringing on the cell phone.
- Make a list of all the spare parts you'll need and keep some extras on your shelf.
- Have a systematic approach to which parts you change; replace some on an annual basis and some just once every 3 or 4 years. The key to success? Consistency.
- Let your harvester operators help with the repairs if they are capable. It gives them a greater degree of familiarity with the machine.
- Know where you will get parts and service before you need them
- Spend some time running the machines prior to picking; it helps you work out potential problems.
- Lastly: If something wasn't working well last year, it probably didn't fix itself over the winter. Look into it now, before the onslaught begins.
Acampo Machine Works has prepared a handbook for Gregoire owners. To get a copy, e-mail them at gregoire@gregoire-ca.com.
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Canopy Management Seminar: IN UKIAH
Sponsored by U.C. Cooperative Extension, Mendocino and Lake Counties and Mendocino Agriculture Dept.
Friday, August 9, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mendocino College Lowery Library Little Theatre
1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah
Registration fee: $10
for registration information, contact: Linda Blatchford at 707-463-4495
In this seminar, growers tellhow they have designed and imlemented the best quality fruit for the varietals they grow. Optional field trip to Fetzer's Vineyards Experimental Trellis Plot.
Upcoming U.C. Davis Extension Workshops
U.C. Davis Extension is putting on some great educational opportunities for vineyardists interested in learning something during the dog-days of August. To register for any of these seminars, call (800) 752-0881.
Aug 7: Introduction to Grapevine Canopy Management:
Kearney Ag Center, Parlier, CA. $195.
Enroll in section 021VIT224.
Aug 12: Rootstock Identification Workshop:
U.C. Davis Viticulture Field House, Davis, CA. $195.
Enroll in section 021VIT226.
Aug 13: Winegrape Variety Identification Workshop:
U.C. Davis Viticulture Field House, Davis, CA. $195.
Enroll in section 021VIT220.
Aug 14: Vineyard Irrigation: Concepts and Consequences:
U.C. Davis, 216 Wellman Hall, Davis, CA. $195.
Enroll in section 021VIT222.
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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
www.rainbowag.com
Copyright © 2001 Rainbow Agricultural Services
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Previous issues of
Facts from the Field
21) Let in the Light
Open the vine canopy to improve grape quality.
20) Reducing Drift: Part 2
More on how to increase spray efficiency.
19) Reducing Drift: Part 1
Learn how to increase spray efficiency.
18) Fighting Frost, Protecting Profits
Don't be caught off guard by spring frosts.
17) Power-Beyond Hydraulics
Care and preventative maintenance for your hydraulic equipment.
16) Maintaining Peak Performance
Tips to make your tractor service maintenance easier.
15) Don't be Stopped Cold
Cold northern blasts periodically sweep through our region. Prevent freeze damage to your irrigation system.
14) Protect Your Equipment from Theft
At season's end, it's nice to pull your equipment in and walk away knowing it'll be ready to go at the end of the rainy season. But, will it?
13) Profit from Finance Know-How: Part 2
Rainbow reviews two of four basic financing strategies for making a major equipment purchases.
12) Profit from Finance Know-How: Part 1
The first two of four basic financing strategies for making a major equipment purchases are reviewed.
11) Growing Soil Nutrition
Glenn T. McGourty, Viticulture and Plant Science Advisor for UCCE, shares important considerations for cover cropping in North Coast vineyards.
10) A New Spray Technology Charges into Town
Rainbow Ag offers demonstrations of the latest revolution in spray technology.
9) An Ounce of Prevention...
Keep your vineyard equipment ready for the job time after time with regular, seasonal maintenance.
8) Establishing Your Reputation as a Good Neighbor
New spraying practices minimize the potential for harm and promote profitability.
7) Picking for Premium Quality
We're predicting that, in the years ahead, winemakers will be asking for mechanically harvested grapes.
6) Adjusting the Volume to Low
Discover the benefits of low volume spraying.
5) Maintain an Open Canopy
Improve grape quality by letting the sun shine in.
4) Pump Up the Power!
Find out how to save money by becoming your own power provider.
3) Mulch Mower Cuts Costs
Chris Grow mowers' design works well with the new inter-row management systems.
2) Water Quality:
The Life-Blood of a Premium Harvest
Learn about our free water quality test.
1) Seminar Spotlights
Tools of the Trade
The event has already taken place, but this bulletin also features useful information about narrow vineyard tractors. from SAME.
A) Check List Prices Online, Then Call Rainbow!
Configure or accessorize a tractor on John Deere's website.
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