Events

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Learn about:

• Beneficial insects that prey on pests
• Insect and native plant ID
• Insectary planting designs
• Birds of prey

Guest speakers:

• Gwendolyn Ellen, Farmscaping for Beneficials Coordinator, OSU IPPC
• Jeff Picton, Chintimini Wildlife Center

This workshop is made possible by USDA Risk Management Education Partnerships Program Agreement # RM16RMEPP522C025 Reduce Farm Risk through Integrated Biological Pest Management Education!

Join us at the Salem Convention Center for what will be a day full of innovatve ideas and detailed informaton about new and excitng products to help you build the best agronomic program for both low impact sustainable and organic farming practces.

LIVE - An Economic Feasibility Analysis & Market Trade Impact will be presented by Christian Miller of Full Glass Research from 10:40-11:10am.

Join Leda Garside from Tuality Healthcare and ¡Salud! as she shares important resources that are available for work crews in the wine industry.

Please join us for an introduction to LIVE, the Pacific Northwest’s certifier of sustainable wines and vineyards. Brighid O’Keane, LIVE’s Outreach Director, will describe program logistics, the inspection process, and member benefits for vineyards and wineries. LIVE standards are internationally accredited and support environmentally and socially responsible wine growing through third-party certification and education. Please RSVP for this event.

Dr. Jay Pscheidt, Professor; Extension Plant Pathology Specialist; OSU Department of Botany and Plant Pathology

Fungicide resistance became a priority this past summer with several documented powdery mildew management failures in vineyards. Several new fungicides have been registered for grapes and some of these contain two active ingredients, and many of the new ingredients are at high risk of encouraging the development of resistant fungal pathogens. These new combinations represent a challenge for sustained plant disease management. In this seminar, Dr. Pscheidt will discuss ideas on how to best utilize these materials in the upcoming season.

To view live online, see link above. Live chat will NOT be available, however, online live participants can submit questions during the seminar to danielle.gabriel@oregonstate.edu, and they will be answered at the end.

A working meeting to update vineyard standards in view of current research and regional growing issues.

GoToMeeting details
Attend online: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/241596605
Call in: (312) 757-3121, access code 241-596-605

The WAWGG Annual Convention includes educational programming for the Northwest grape and wine industry, featuring sessions and workshops for growers, viticulture staff, wineries, enologists, tasting room staff, and marketers.

The Oregon Wine Symposium delivers Oregon wine research and education relevant to industry professionals.

This annual industry meeting organized by the Idaho Wine Commission provides two days of educational seminars.

The WAWGG Convention is the premier educational and networking opportunity for the Northwest grape and wine industry with a trade show, sessions, and events for everyone including growers, vintners, viticulturists, enologists, tasting room staff, marketers, and more!

This three-day event is the second largest of its kind in the nation featuring a trade show with nearly 200 booths, a poster session showcasing the latest industry research, diverse educational session offerings, an Honor Reception recognizing industry leaders and legends, a Leadership Luncheon with keynote speaker  Robert Spector, and, of course, networking opportunities galore!

Three full days of seminars bringing you up to date on what's happening in Idaho's world of wine. You'll hear from some of the industry's most prominent professionals including: Patty Skinkis with Oregon State University, Greg Jones with Southern Oregon University, Thomas Henick-Kling with Washington State University, Eric Degerman with Great Northwest Wine, Michelle Moyer with Washington State University and Tim Gaiser, MS. 

The Idaho wine industry's 2017 Annual Meeting will take place February 14-16 at The 8th & Main Building in Downtown Boise. Visit the website for agenda and registration information.

Learn, connect and grow at the Oregon Wine Symposium, the premier educational event and trade show for the Northwest wine community. The Symposium is comprised of two full days of panel discussions and presentations covering the most relevant topics in viticulture, enology and wine business. Presented by the wine industry’s leading experts, the Symposium is a must-attend event for winery and vineyard owners, vineyard managers, winemakers, marketing and sales managers and winery staff. Registration includes access to the Northwest’s biggest wine industry trade show, featuring more than 170 exhibitors. 

Registration & Cost: $20 - $240

The LIVE Board of Directors would like to invite our membership to discuss the future of herbicide use standards at a special board meeting. 

RSVP is required, click the link below to register.

The 2018 Oregon Wine Symposium is Feb. 20-21 

Learn, connect and grow at the Oregon Wine Symposium, the premier educational event and trade show for the Northwest wine community. The Symposium is comprised of two full days of panel discussions and presentations covering the most relevant topics in viticulture, enology and wine business. Presented by leading wine industry experts, the Symposium is a must-attend event for winery and vineyard owners, vineyard managers, winemakers, marketing and sales managers and winery staff. Registration includes access to the Northwest’s biggest wine industry trade show, featuring more than 180 exhibitors.

Department of Crop and Soil Science Special Seminar

PRESENTED BY: DR. TIMOTHY PAULITZUSDA-ARS
WHEAT HEALTH, GENETICS AND QUALITY RESEARCH UNIT, PULLMAN, WA

The 2019 Oregon Wine Symposium is Feb. 12-13 
As the premier educational event and trade show for the Northwest wine community, the Oregon Wine Symposium covers the most relevant topics in viticulture, enology and wine business. Presented by leading wine industry experts, the Symposium is a must-attend event for winery and vineyard owners, vineyard managers, winemakers, marketing and sales managers and winery staff.

February 12, 2019 - 8:00am to February 13, 2019 - 5:00pm
Oregon Convention Center
777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Portland, OR

This workshop is designed for crop consultants, vineyard managers or anyone who writes or recommends fungicide programs.

Registration will be limited to 50 people, and closes February 18, 2019. Cost: $55, covers lunch and all workshop handouts

Tentative Agenda (subject to change, will be finalized by 7 Jan 2019)

8:30 AM – Registration and Refreshments, Pre-Workshop Survey
9:00 AM – Opening discussion and presentation of day’s activities
9:15 AM – General Mildew Biology (Dr. Charlotte Oliver, Washington State University)
9:45 AM – How Fungicide Resistance Occurs, and Using Resistance Management Concepts in Mildew Management Programs (Dr. Timothy Miles, Michigan State University)
10:15 AM – Coffee Break
10:30 AM – Cultural Practices to Manage Mildew (Katherine East, Washington State University)
10:50 AM – The Implications of Poor Sprayer Maintenance and Practices (Gwen Hoheisel, Washington State University)
11: 25 AM – Designing a Mildew Spray Program (small group activity) (Dr. Michelle Moyer, Washington State University)

Presentation of activity rules, procedures, and intended educational outcomes
Division into groups and assignment of vineyard scenarios and management philosophies

12:00 PM – Lunch Break and Networking
1:00 PM – Continue group work and finalization of activity
3:30 PM – Presentation of Vineyard Scenarios and Designed Spray Programs –  Group evaluation and discussion
5:00-5:30 PM – Wrap-up and post-workshop survey

Dr. Michelle Moyer, Assistant Professor & Extension Viticulturist; Washington State University Department of Viticulture and Enology

Powdery mildew remains a concern for grape growers and can be difficult manage. Populations of Erysiphe necator cleistothecia can burst open and release ascospores over an extended period of time ranging from fall through late spring. These ascospores are an important source of primary inoculum for grapevine powdery mildew epidemics. Dr. Moyer will discuss the role of primary inoculum in grape powdery mildew epidemics; focusing on the biology of inoculum arrival, and how weather and management choices influence subsequent epidemic development.

To view live online, see link above. Live chat will NOT be available, however, online live participants can submit questions during the seminar to danielle.gabriel@oregonstate.edu, and they will be answered at the end.
 

Water Rights & Policies for Agriculturists & Wineries

• Water Rights & Exempt Well Policies (Bill Neve, Water Rights Solutions; Dave Stockdale, WEC)
• Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership Programs (Chris Hyland, WWWMP)
• Winery Wastewater Permitting program (Patrick Hallinan, Dept of Ecology)
• Q &A regarding water rights, water programs, and wastewater permitting (Bill, Chris, Patrick, plus Eric Hartwig, Dept of Ecology)
• ASP Composting for Grape Pomace and other Organic Wastes (Peter Moon, O2Compost)
• Visit to ASP demo project for Q&A

Email dave.stockdale@wwcc.edu for more information.

Regularly scheduled LIVE Board Meeting

Join us on Thursday, March 17 to discuss updates to LIVE's winery standards. Please email us to RSVP, and include your program feedback.

Join the Oregon Wine Research Institute for its annual event highlighting research relevant to the Oregon wine industry. The 2016 program focuses on grape and wine quality, the sensory impact of wine, and an update on the NPK trial. Registration is $65 and lunch is included.

Join LIVE for a morning of three terrific seminars in southern Oregon!

Dr. Houston Wilson from UC Berkeley will share some cultural control strategies for managing leafhoppers, including cultivating parasite habitat. Dr. Wilson will explain how leafhoppers may be potential vectors for Red Blotch.

Dr. Paul Jepson from OSU will speak about the Pesticide Stewardship Partnership, with a focus on practical remediation and residuals found Southern Oregon.  

Finally, LIVE founder Al MacDonald will present an overview of LIVE standards, the rationale behind them and will be fielding questions.

This event is free to all. RSVP to event organizer Daniel Sweeney at daniel.qrv@gmail.com for more information. 

Presenters: Drs. Walt Mahaffee and Jay Pscheidt

In 2015, we received a number of reports of powdery mildew not responding to FRAC 11 fungicide applications (Abound, Flint, Sovran). Samples from these vineyards had E. necator isolated that were resistance to both FRAC 11 and FRAC 3 fungicides (Tebucon, Procure, Rally, Vintage, Inspire Super). Further surveys of the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, and Hood River, indicated that greater than 80% of vineyards had E. necator populations with both FRAC 3 and FRAC 11 resistance population. In 2016, there were several control failures in vineyards that were again shown to be associated with E. necator populations resistant to both FRAC 3 and FRAC 11 fungicides. These data indicate these fungicide groups may not be managing grape powdery mildew as well as expected. 

A recent OWB research bulletin alerted growers about this potential problem and many have expressed concern and the need for more information and recommendations. In order to provide these, OWRI is presenting an information and Q&A webinar with Dr. Walt Mahaffee, research plant pathologist at the USDA Agriculture Research Service horticulture unit in Corvallis; and Dr. Jay Pscheidt, OSU extension plant pathology specialist. Together they will provide research background on powdery mildew resistance, and recommendations, and answer questions from webinar participants. 

The webinar will be recorded and made available on the OWRI website in its webinar archive. Please address questions to Denise Dewey at 541.737.3620 or denise.dewey@oregonstate.edu.  

This non-credit online course will cover the most relevant principles of vineyard production from vineyard design to pest management. Online participants will learn jointly with upper division students at Oregon State University who are taking this course as part of the B.S. in Horticulture Degree, with an option in Viticulture and Enology. This course provides professional development for industry members seeking continuing education or for those new to vineyard and winery production. Focus will be placed on the importance of making informed vineyard management decisions by understanding impacts on grapevine physiology, sustainability, and economics.

Major topics to be covered include vineyard site selection and design, nutrient management, irrigation management, canopy management, vineyard floor management, pest management, managing fruit yield and quality, harvest operations, vineyard technology, labor and economics.

Dates and Times - Registration closes 08:00 am, March 23, 2018

Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 3 to June 7, 2018
Lectures are held 8:00 - 9:50 AM PST

This course will be offered online. Once registered, you will be contacted with connection details for the online classroom. Those who live/work in close proximity to the OSU main campus (Corvallis) must check with the instructor if they choose to participate in the classroom rather than online.

Registration fee - $500 (on or before March 16, 2018), $600 (March 17 - March 23, 2018)

For more details on this course, please see the course brochure.

UPDATE 3/19/18: This is the rescheduled event that was postponed from March 1 due to weather and soil conditions.

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LIVE and Bethel Heights are hosting a morning field day to demonstrate equipment to manage undervine weeds without herbicide.

Ted Casteel (Bethel Heights) will show his Clemens Multiclean and Grape Hoe. Representatives from Clemens, Oregon Vineyard Supply, Atlas, and Pape will be available to answer questions and show off their available equipment.

See you there!

The Healthy Soil, Healthy Region Workshop is a region-wide approach to bring together agricultural professionals and producers from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for a 3-day workshop to improve awareness of existing, new, and evolving regional soil health practices and assessment methods. The workshop will provide hands-on training on soil health practices, improve understanding of the practical barriers producers face when implementing soil health practices, and increase familiarity with tools that can be used by producers to make decisions related to soil health. We will also strive to get the various groups working on soil health in the region on the same page regarding sampling protocols, method selection, and the current state of the science.

Keynote titled, “Taking Action on Soil Health: Aligning science, economics and policies for adoption.”  Presented by Pipa Elias.

LIVE is teaming up with Chemeketa Community College and the Oregon Wine Board to offer a sprayer calibration workshop.

Cost: $15 

This class will cover conventional sprayer calibration techniques. Students will learn the basics of sprayer calibration, maintenance and inspections. Students will learn techniques that can be used for most sprayers they will encounter on a vineyard or other agricultural settings. This class will be hands on and students will be assisting with calibrations. Please bring a calculator or smart phone with a calculator.

(Partnership/funding from Chemeketa Community College Wine Studies Program, the Erath Family Foundation, Oregon Wine Board)

Join Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences' annual event highlighting research relevant to the Oregon wine industry. Members of the Oregon Wine Research Institute and guest speakers Dr. José Ramón Úrbez-Torres and Dr. Anita Oberholster will present. This year, the focus is on pest management strategies, wine quality, and grapevine trunk disease.

Register here: https://2017liveannualmeeting.eventbrite.com

Our 20th anniversary Annual Meeting will be held at the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, OR. The event will include board meeting and awards ceremony, as well as guest speakers on various topics.

Join us for educational sessions, a celebratory luncheon, and our annual membership meeting. Doors open at 8am. Coffee, pastries, and lunch by The Rogue Gourmet Catering Company.

Tickets for the full program and lunch are available now.

$65 early registration through April 1.
$80 from April 1-18.
$50 for current community college or university students

The morning board meeting is free to attend.

Schedule

9-11am LIVE Board Meeting and Awards 

11am-12pm Breakout Session 1: Enology Breakout Session (limit 30 seats) - Topics may include packaging, cooling, and chemical footprint
Dr. Roger Boulton, UC Davis via Skype 

11am-12pm Breakout Session 2: Viticulture Breakout Session - Vineyard Establishment: How Plant Material Selection and Cultural Practices Can Promote Vine Growth and Productivity
Larry Bettiga, UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County

12-1pm Lunch

1-3pm Keynote Address
Selling Sustainability - How to Grow your Business with Mission-Focused Marketing
Deb Hatcher, A to Z Wineworks

Presented by TricorBraun Winepak

Sponsored by Ardagh Group and Atlas Vineyard Management

Join us for educational sessions, luncheon, and our annual membership meeting. Doors open at 8am. Coffee, pastries, and lunch by The Rogue Gourmet Catering Company. 

$65 early registration through April 1. $80 from April 1-19.

Schedule (Subject to Change)

8:00    Check in and Continental Breakfast     

9:00    LIVE Board Meeting and Organizational Updates

10:45  Clean Plants: James A. Stamp, Ph.D. - Stamp Associates Viticulture, Inc.

Grapevines are a naturally weedy species and physically or pathologically challenged plants grow well under nursery conditions. Most US vines are produced in California but the CDFA regulations that govern their production are insufficiently rigorous. Consequently, diseased or physically imperfect vines are frequently delivered to winegrowers. The following will be discussed:

• The process of grapevine propagation and opportunities for disease contamination and avoidance: the importance of timing of order placement in relationship to propagation schedule
• Why it is important to test grapevine nursery stock: historical observations and the present day situation including detection of virus and crown gall in Protocol 2010 nursery stock
• How to test nursery stock for important viruses: up front testing of mother vines, testing of finished product
• How to examine nursery stock to detect physical imperfections and the relationship with fungal pathogens
• Green potted and dormant vines in relation to virus pressure

About James Stamp

Dr. James A. Stamp is a Sebastopol, California scientist who specializes in grapevine nursery plant material quality and propagation, and the critical evaluation of vineyard performance issues. He has more than 30 years of experience in California viticulture and established Stamp Associates Viticulture, Inc. after founding Novavine grapevine nursery, working in the agbiotech industry and completing a post-doctorate at UC Davis. Stamp Associates advises growers and winemakers in the U.S. and overseas in the establishment and management of high quality, pathogen-tested vineyards.  

11:15    Guest Perspective: Fred Merwarth - Winemaker & Vineyard Manager, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Hermann J. Wiemer is regarded as one of the pioneers of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. As a native of Bernkastel, Germany who emigrated to the Finger Lakes in the 1960s, Hermann J. Wiemer was uniquely qualified to help establish and create a wine region now known for its Riesling identity. Today, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards has three properties, all at different stages of sustainabile production: from organic and biodynamic, without the use of herbicides since 2004; to a vineyard with minimal input but challenged by mildew; to a new property with a history of heavy inputs that they are in the initial stages of cultivation and a shift away from herbicides.

About Fred Merwarth

In 2003, Hermann’s long-term apprentice Fred Merwarth took charge of winemaking and vineyard management. Fred’s talent and ambition brought fresh energy and vision to the winery, placing it on a new trajectory. In 2007, Hermann officially retired, handing over the winery to Fred, who has perfected Hermann’s detail-oriented approach to viticulture and winemaking, extensively working on understanding the relationship between the vines and soils of the Finger Lakes. The winery has been recognized for the last 9 years as one of the world’s Top 100 Estates by Wine & Spirits Magazine; Wine Spectator listed the winery on the top 100 Wines in the world in 2010; and critics and connoisseurs such as Robert Parker, Eric Asimov, Stuart Piggott, consistently mention Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard as the top Riesling producer in the US.

12:15   Lunch, Award Ceremony & Board Elections

1:15     Keynote Address: Joe Whitworth - President, The Freshwater Trust

The Freshwater Trust is a freshwater conservation and restoration organization based in Portland, Oregon. TFT understands that fixing the water quality and quantity issues in the West can and will not be done in a silo and certainly not in the absence of the largest water users in the country. Today, under the direction of Whitworth, the nonprofit works with dozens of farmers, ranchers and winemakers in Oregon, Idaho and California to protect and restore local waterways. For example, TFT partnered with Red Lily Vineyards and Pearl Family Vineyards to restore the streamside running along the winery properties. The native trees and shrubs planted filter nutrients, reduce erosion, sequester carbon, and improve native fish habitat. Out in Eastern Oregon, the organization compensates farmers and ranchers for not taking water out of rivers and tributaries in certain times of the year when fish need it the most. Their projects are proof that working lands and healthy rivers can coexist. Furthermore, the organization uses new tools and technologies to quantify the amount of impact each restoration project is having over time, so they can guarantee that the effort is making a difference. Whitworth will provide an overview of the current state of water in the West and the role winemakers and other agricultural entities have to play in its future. 

About Joe Whitworth

Joe has been responsible for strategic direction of The Freshwater Trust for more than a decade, growing the organization’s budget tenfold during that time. He is focused on the next generation of conservation tools at the intersection of technology and finance to get results on the ground. In addition to formal advisory roles in B Corp, foundation and government settings, he is a patented inventor, author of the book “Quantified: Redefining Conservation for the Next Economy” published by Island Press, and has served as founding board chair of the Council for Responsible Sport. Joe has also served as a guest lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark College with an emphasis in natural resources and water law.

2:45    Closing Remarks & Adjourn

The 2018 LIVE Annual Meeting is Presented by TricorBraun Winepak

Habitat restoration using native plants in and around wine grape vineyards has the potential to improve biological control of pest insects and mites. Dr. David James from Washington State University will present information on research conducted over five years on the best native plants to use in regional viticulture to achieve enhanced IPM and make vineyards ‘hot spots’ of biodiversity. He will also present information on the prospects of using flowering native plant species for in-row ground covers that are hardy and drought tolerant. The beauty of shrub-steppe native plants and their associated insect biodiversity can benefit not only pest management but also nature conservation and the quality of farm and community life. Please join us for a presentation of Dr. James’ findings and an opportunity to discuss with regional growers the opportunities and challenges for enhancing biodiversity in local vineyards. Please register by April 24.

From the folks at Oregon Wine Research Institute (OWRI):

Join us on campus at Oregon State University on Wednesday, April 3, in Corvallis, Oregon. Grape Day is our annual event highlighting research relevant to the Oregon wine industry. The goal is to provide industry members with an opportunity to network and discuss research with our researchers and invited speakers. There will be five oral presentations, lunch, and an interactive poster session during the event. Members of the Oregon Wine Research Institute and guest speakers Dr. Monica Cooper, UC Cooperative Extension, and Dr. Tom Collins, Washington State University, will present. For more information, visit our website owri.oregonstate.edu

Join us for educational sessions, luncheon, and our annual membership meeting. Doors open at 8am. Coffee, pastries, and lunch by The Rogue Gourmet Catering Company. 

Register today. $70 early registration through March 31. $85 from April 1-17.

Schedule (Subject to Change)

8:00     Check-in & Continental Breakfast

9:00     LIVE Board Meeting & Organizational Updates

10:45   Social Sustainability and Workforce Considerations (Leda Garside, ¡Salud!)

11:15   Communicating Sustainability (Jon Bonné, PUNCH)

12:15   Lunch, Awards & Board Elections

1:15     Cultivating Entomopathogens and Endophytes for Target Specific Organic Pest Control (Tradd Cotter, Mushroom Mountain LLC)

2:45     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

Presented Exclusively by TricorBraun Winepak

Please join us at Crawford Beck Vineyard to learn about new technology to manage Powdery Mildew and screen for fungicide resistance. 
Early detection of spores is critical to successful management of a powdery mildew epidemic and reduction of sprays. Amy Peetz from Revolution Crop Consultants (www.revolution-cc.com) will present about and demonstrate this spore trapping technology. Methods use real-time quantitative PCR to tell growers the exact number of spore that were in a given spot in a vineyard over a 3-4 day period. Results are delivered to the grower within 24 hours of sample collection; giving the grower the best insight as to whether to spray. Amy will also discuss use of this technology to screen for fungicide resistance.

Save the date! Details to be announced soon.

Glyphosate, understanding mode of action (MOA) and the potential implications for your vineyards and wine

UPDATE: Venue has changed to Adelsheim.

Attend a dynamic presentation and discussion with Mimi Casteel (Hope Well Vineyard) about the science behind how glyphosate and other chemistries work, Adelsheim and Jackson Family Wines are graciously hosting an open conversation about the most widely used herbicide in the world. If you have questions about the science of glyphosate, how it works, pesticide modes of action (MOA), and alternative practices, please join us. 

For all members of all skill levels.

Learn the ins and outs of LIVE certification with one of our longest serving inspectors, Rebecca Sweet. Rebecca will cover the range of topics found in our standards, including a foundational knowledge of Integrated Production, an overview of our online resources and reporting tools, and how LIVE and our partners work together.

As an added bonus, after the training you will get to work alongside Rebecca as she teaches you how to complete your annual reporting. Please bring your laptop.

Seating is limited to 35 attendees. Additional trainings will be announced shortly.

A Chemeketa Community College Wine Studies Workshop
$47 to attend. Register HERE.

Presents the principles of financial management for wineries. Topics include winery forecasting and analysis techniques, financing, cost accounting, business modelling, analytics, and financial benchmarking against wine industry metrics. 

Instructors: 
Quinton Jay, CEO Bacchus Wine Consulting, Napa 
William Vyenielo, Director Moss-Adams Wine Practice, Sonoma

Join us for an introduction to beekeeping at the Left Coast Estate. You will learn the basics of bee biology, beekeeping equipment, seasonal management, and hive products. Visit the Left Coast apiary, get a taste of estate honey, and share a toast with their Queen Bee Bubbly.

Join LIVE inspector Dana Pricher as she provides tools and instruction for mapping your vineyard site. Vineyard maps are important for inspectors to perform their annual compliance reviews, as they verify multiple checklist items against the map you provide. Dana has a background in GIS and we are excited to have her as a new member of our inspection team.

Attendance is capped at 40 due to space constraints.

If you're curious about a growing global movement of business as a force for good, please join us June 6th from 10-12 at A to Z Wineworks to learn more about B Corp certification and roll up your sleeves for a working session to help benchmark the beneficial impacts of your business.  

The first hour will set context answering the basics questions:

• What's a B Corp?
• Why do it? Specifically, hear from B Corp wineries and how they have benefited
• What's the process and cost of certification?
• How LIVE certification can help you to qualify you to become a B Corp

Our second hour we will dive into the standards behind B Corp certification, specifically the Quick Impact Assessment. You'll need to bring your laptop and ideally register your company by answering a few quick questions prior to attending.

Free to all. LIVE does not require B Corp certification, this is an informational session only.

A Chemeketa Community College Wine Studies Workshop
$77 to attend. Register HERE.

Presents graphic design skills to create both marketing collateral materials and digital content. Prepares winery staff to manage outsource design projects. 

Instructors: 
Christine Linder, Instructor Chemeketa Community College 
Colin Stapp, Instructor Chemeketa Community College
 

You’ve seen the hit TV show “Shark Tank”. Now Salem’s Nonprofit Share Tank takes the Mid-Valley by storm.  Watch live from the studio audience as LIVE and 3 other local nonprofits enter the shark tank to pitch their projects to a panel of local philanthropist’ sharks.  Will their projects get funded and go on to benefit the community? Your applause might just be the difference, or you might choose to chip in too.

Come to support LIVE! Tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for youth and students. 

The show will be filmed and you will be the studio audience.  Nonprofit Share Tank is presented by Michael R. Wooters Edward Jones Investments and the Center for Community Innovation.

Please join a meet-and-greet social with the LIVE board and staff at the Picnic Shelter in Hood River's Port Marina Park on June 29. Learn more about LIVE certification, inspection process, and benefits from organizational leadership and members. LIVE standards are internationally accredited and support environmentally and socially responsible winegrowing through third-party certification and education.

Please RSVP here and contact Brighid O'Keane, LIVE's Outreach Director, if you're interested in bringing wine to share.

The Marina Park picnic shelter is located on the west side of the Hood River Marina, just north of the Hood River County Historic Museum and the Yacht Club. 

Lake Chelan Wine Valley and WineGirl Wines are partnering to host Brighid O'Keane, LIVE's Washington Outreach Coordinator, for a meet-and-greet for Lake Chelan AVA wineries and vineyards.

Brighid will present an introduction to LIVE standards and certification, and will be on hand to answer your specific questions about the inspection process and member benefits. Please join us for coffee, snacks, and conversation!

Summary of course:
Join us for a short seminar to learn about supporting native pollinators and beneficial insects that provide pest control services in Pacific Northwest vineyards. This course will provide an introduction to: recognizing key groups of pollinators and beneficial insects, their biology and natural history, and farm practices that support these insects, such as protecting and creating habitat, modifying vineyard management practices, and considerations regarding how to manage pests while protecting beneficial species. In addition, participants will learn about technical and financial resources available to support these efforts. There will be an indoor, classroom component in the morning, and an outdoor, hands-on component in the afternoon.

Presenter biography:
Sarina Jepsen, Endangered Species Program Director, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The Xerces Society is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Sarina has a Master’s degree in Entomology from U.C. Davis, studying conservation biocontrol of grape leafhoppers in vineyard agroecosystems. For ten years, she has worked to conserve native bees, butterflies, and other invertebrate species through research, education, advocacy, and protecting and restoring landscapes. She has worked with natural resource professionals to understand and protect at risk species, and authored numerous publications on the conservation of monarch butterflies and other endangered pollinators. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Bumblebee Specialist Group, which is evaluating the extinction risk of the world’s bumble bee species.

Acknowledgements:
The Xerces Society thanks the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for supporting our pollinator conservation efforts.

Please join us for an open vineyard inspection at Canoe Ridge Vineyards on Monday, July 23rd. This will be a casual opportunity to shadow the inspection of a LIVE vineyard and ask staff questions about the program and membership. Growers interested in LIVE will learn more about the inspection process and certification requirements. RSVPs are required as we have a minimum and maximum participation cap to run this event.

As part of our sustainability certification process, LIVE works with 3rd-party contractors to inspect our member vineyards and wineries and verify compliance to program standards. Inspections take place years one and two for new vineyard members, and every third year after receiving certification.

You are invited to join a meet-and-greet event with the LIVE board and staff at 14 Hands Winery in Prosser on July 11th. Learn more about LIVE certification, inspection process and member benefits. LIVE standards are internationally accredited and support environmentally and socially responsible wine growing through third-party certification and education.

Wine and appetizers will be provided. Please contact Brighid O'Keane, LIVE's Outreach Director, if you have any questions. 

Join LIVE and OSU for a wide range of topics at Van Duzer Vineyards. This will be a hands-on event in four 30 minute modules. 

The event is free to attend. Attendance is capped at 120, and this will fill up fast so please register early. We will have free coffee in the morning as you arrive.

August meeting of the board of directors.

Join our staff and board of directors at 14 Hands Winery to learn about certification over a glass of wine. 

The Rogue Valley Winegrowers Association is hosting a technical seminar on red blotch, Aug. 25 from 1-3 pm. Join speakers Marc Fuchs of Cornell University and Vaughn Walton, OSU entomologist, as they lead a seminar on red blotch and leaf roll viruses and their insect vectors. The seminar will be followed by a vineyard tour from 3-5 pm and refreshments at South Stage Cellars beginning at 5 pm. Cost: Free to RVWA Members, $20 for non-members. Please help RVWA prepare by sending your RSVP to John Pratt.

Stoller Vineyards will host the 2016 LIVE/OWRI Field Day. We will be deliver three modules over the course of the morning. This event is free and open to all. Register HERE.

Who’s stressed—you or the vines?
Dr. Patty Skinkis, Viticulture Extension Specialist, OSU

Dry farming in the Willamette Valley is becoming more concerning with recent warm, dry seasons. Learn how to determine if your vines are water-stressed and how to manage it whether you have access to water or not.  Irrigation, vineyard floor management, canopy and crop management are all factors that may influence vine water use and will be discussed.

Predatory Bird Control
Dana Sanchez, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Assistant Professor
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife

Considerations for Migrant Workers
Dr. Kent Anger, Senior Scientist and Associate Director, CROET
Associate Professor, Behavioral Neuroscience

Attend a dynamic presentation and discussion with Mimi Casteel (Hope Well Vineyard) about the science behind how glyphosate and other chemistries work, Zenith Vineyard is graciously hosting an open conversation about the most widely used herbicide in the world. If you have questions about the science of glyphosate, how it works, pesticide modes of action (MOA), and alternative practices, please join us. Free and open to all.

Join LIVE and Oregon Wine Research Institute on Monday, August 7 at Ponzi Vineyards in Sherwood, OR for an expert-led overview of issues impacting sustainability in vineyards.

Agenda

9:00    Keynote: Comparison of Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic Winegrowing Systems: Commonalities and Differences in Plant Microbiomes (Glenn McGourty, UC Davis)

10:00    Vineyard Nutrition (Paul Schreiner, USDA ARS)

11:00    Clean Plant Process (Scott Harper, Clean Plant Center Northwest & Geoff Hall, Ste Michelle Wine Estates)

12:00    Mechanization in the Vineyard (Joey Myers, Vinetenders)

12:45    Wine Tasting

1:30    Adjourn

Full Description and Speaker Bios

Keynote ​Comparison of Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic Winegrowing Systems: Commonalities and Differences in Plant Microbiomes

Speaker: Glenn McGourty, UC Davis

Winegrowers have embraced the concept of terroir—where in part, vineyard place, soils and farming practices among other things leave a distinct imprint on the flavor and quality of wine.  With new advances in research, we are better able to understand how microbiomes—the microbes associated with plants—affect plant growth and resilience. These microbes live on and in plants, and actually represent genetic resources that plants can utilize. There are three microbiomes associated with plants.  The phyllosphere is the microbial community associated with foliage.  The fructosphere is the microbial community associated with fruit. The rhizosphere is the microbial community associated with roots. Sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming systems approach managing these microbial communities in different ways. New research is beginning to associate wine flavors with the microbes present in the different microbiomes, and may be more important than soil parent material in affecting wine flavor. Soil management is a “toolbox” useful for growers to exert the most control of vine growth and balance. In an era of climate change and rising greenhouse gas levels, improving soil health by building organic matter allows individuals to build more resilience into their vineyards while making a personal contribution to sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gases. Potential resilience includes storing more water in the soil, improving aeration and root exploration, more storage and easier exchange of nutrients and fruit that ferments virtually on its own when crushed without problems. This talk will compare and contrast how different farming systems improve soil health and wine quality while addressing serious environmental issues at the same time (reducing carbon footprint, storing soil moisture, improving water quality and creating biodiversity).

Topic 1: Vineyard Nutrition

Speaker: Paul Schreiner, USDA ARS

Paul Schreiner will present recent findings and discuss general information about managing grapevine nutrition. Dr. Schreiner will discuss when nutrients are taken up soil, show how deficiency symptoms appear in grapevines, and provide tissue nutrient guidelines for wine grapes. Dr. Schreiner will also present information about managing N, P, and K to optimize vine growth and/or fruit composition, and discuss the role and management of mycorrhizal fungi in grapevines.

Topic 2: Clean Plant Process

Speakers: Scott Harper, Clean Plant Center Northwest and Geoff Hall, Ste Michelle Wine Estates

The clean plant process is critical to the health and economic viability of our supported industries, because disease control relies on three key factors: elimination of infected material in grower and nursery blocks; ongoing disease management practices (scouting, testing, vector control, and removing infected plants); and the availability of clean planting material to replace existing blocks or to establish new ones. Without all three factors working on concert, you cannot prevent or control the spread of disease. With the emergence of diseases such as grapevine leaf roll, red blotch, and Pierce’s disease, the risks of using non-certified, and thus potentially infected, planting material are too great, and it is only with industry-wide participation in the clean plant process, and certification schemes, that we have chance of controlling these diseases.

The impact of the various grapevine viruses on fruit quality and yield can be devastating to the economics of a vineyard. As industry awareness and understanding of these viruses increase, wineries are distinguishing between clean and infected fruit when determining grape quality and thus ultimately affecting payment terms. These potential consequences contribute to the importance of obtaining certified plant material prior to installing your vineyard. With average lifespans of 30+ years, it is imperative to ensure you will not be removing the vine after only a few years due to underperforming yields or fruit quality. Therefore, supporting certification programs and understanding where your vines come from are critical to the overall success and longevity of your vineyard.  Always discuss with your nursery the source material of your vine order, request the latest test results, even visit the source block in the fall to ensure there are not obviously symptomatic vines that could end up in your vineyard.  Tight cooperation between growers, nurseries, and certification programs is absolutely critical to the overall sustainability of a wine industry.  

About the Clean Plant Center Northwest

The Clean Plant Center Northwest (CPCNW), based at Washington State University, Prosser, acquires, develops, and distributes clean grapevine, fruit tree, and hop selections to nurseries and growers throughout the Pacific Northwest, the US, and around the world. Selections are introduced into our program, tested for damaging and economically important virus and virus-like pathogens, then sent through the virus elimination process, tested and re-tested to ensure that all pathogens were successfully eliminated, and then propagated and retained in our collection for distribution. These clean plants are also the basis of state certification schemes, as only material from a registered clean plant center may be used to produce new mother blocks.

Topic 3: Mechanization in the Vineyard

Speakers: Joey Myers, Vinetenders

As the farm labor market tightens, vineyard mechanization is increasingly necessary, and growers are now using machine harvesters in a variety of vineyard settings.  Vinetenders has been mechanically harvesting grapes for their clients for a number of years. Joey will talk about his experience acquiring, using, and maintaining a mechanical harvester, vineyard design needs, and working with winemakers

Please join a meet-and-greet event with the LIVE board and staff at the Walter Clore Center on August 10. Learn more about LIVE certification, inspection process and member benefits. LIVE standards are internationally accredited and support environmentally and socially responsible wine growing through third-party certification and education. Please RSVP by August 4 to Brighid@livecertified.org. 

This event is for vineyard representatives in Washington, Idaho, and Eastern Oregon who want to learn about the LIVE program, improve their inspection process, and hear the latest in regional sustainability practices. At this event, you will hear from Rebecca Sweet - a third-party LIVE inspector - about LIVE's technical checklist, standards, and inspection process. Rebecca will cover essential details for new or prospective members about expectations, challenges, and opportunities in LIVE certification. Brighid O'Keane, LIVE's Washington & Idaho Outreach Coordinator, will also be on hand to answer general questions about membership benefits and the enrollment process.

We hope you can join us! Please address any questions to Brighid at Brighid@LIVEcertified.org.

Please join us for an introduction to LIVE, the Pacific Northwest’s certifier of sustainable wines and vineyards. Brighid O’Keane, LIVE’s Washington & Idaho Outreach Coordinator, will be on hand to answer your questions about the inspection process and member benefits. LIVE standards are internationally accredited and support environmentally and socially responsible wine growing through third-party certification and education.

Join us for this half-day workshop at Northwest Wine Studies Center on Friday, August 16. This module-style workshop presents three topics, each 40 minutes long. 

Date: Friday, August 16
Time: Registration begins at 9:30 AM, the event begins at 10:00 AM
Location: Northwest Wine Studies Center, 215 Doaks Ferry Road, Salem, OR 97304
Price: Pay what you want (recommended donation is $35). Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

Topics include:

How to Monitor for Vine Water Stress – Patty Skinkis, OSU 
With the warming climatic conditions over the past decade, we have observed increasing signs of water stress during late summer. Knowing your vineyard conditions, such as soil moisture and grapevine water status, is important to the management of vineyards for health and productivity, whether irrigated or dry-farmed. You will learn about the different ways to monitor soil moisture and measure vine water status to help you determine vineyard management practices that may ameliorate or prevent water-mediated stress in the future.

Intelligent Sprayer Demonstration - Jay Pscheidt, OSU
An Intelligent Airblast Sprayer with sensors to detect plant canopy and ground speed will be demonstrated. Participants will be given yellow water sensitive cards to place anywhere they wish in the grape canopy. The canopy will be sprayed with just water in standard airblast mode and compared with intelligent (smart) mode. Cards will be collected after sprays have dried and coverage will be discussed.

Non-Chemical Undervine Weed Control - Marcelo Moretti, OSU
Demonstrations of various techniques will show how to reduce and eliminate chemical use in undervine weed control.

Protecting Oregon from Invasive Species: The Path Forward

Please register at the following link: tinyurl.com/OISCSummit

Participate in shaping Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species with policy leaders, legislators, invasive species specialists, and Oregon Invasive Species Council partners. 

You will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about the collective impact approach to invasive species from keynote speaker Heather Braun of the Great Lakes Commission
• Connect with policy leaders, colleagues, and partners from across Oregon
• Provide dynamic feedback on Oregon’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species
• Help answer the question: How can we be effective in collaborating to combat invasive species?
• Recognize invasive species champions at the Award Luncheon

For updates and more information visit: www.oregoninvasivespeciescouncil.org

Please join us for a special gathering to welcome Dr. Greg Jones to Linfield as our new Director of Wine Education.

Greg is a research climatologist who focuses on how terroir influences wine production. He studies in particular the effect climate changes have on vine growth, fruit production and the resulting wine quality. He regularly conducts research for the wine industry in Oregon and has given hundreds of presentations on climate and wine regionally, nationally and internationally. He was a contributing author to the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report, as well as the author of many book chapters, reports and articles on wine economics, climate change and climatological assessments of viticultural potential.

There will be wine and appetizers. We welcome all who are interested in learning more about Linfield Wine Studies and our new program director.

Join us for an afternoon to learn about cover crops and the LIVE sustainability program in Idaho. You are welcome to sign up for one or both of these sessions offered in Caldwell on September 16th. Please note that these two events are at different locations.

1:00 - 3:00 pm     LIVE Open Inspection @ Bitner Vineyards (16645 Plum Rd, Caldwell)

Are you interested in joining LIVE but want to learn more about the program and certification process? LIVE member Ron Bitner is hosting an open inspection, where you will have the opportunity to ask questions about sustainability standards, practices, and the inspection process.

3:30 - 5:00 pm     Idaho Cover Crop Workshop @ Peaceful Belly Farm (20021 Hoskins Rd, Caldwell)

After the open insepection, join us down the road for an educational Idaho cover crop workshop. Cover crops are an important aspect of sustainable winegrowing. They prevent potential soil erosion and compaction, can increase soil fertility and provide organic matter, and often serve as an alternative to herbicide use. Hosted by Peaceful Belly Farm, LIVE inspector Rebecca Sweet will discuss different types of cover crops and management practices for Idaho vineyards.

The GoGreen Conference, created and organized by B Corporation Social Enterprises, is a sustainability learning experience for business and government decision-makers. Featuring regionally targeted content and recognized leaders from the community, GoGreen works across industry silos to foster peer-to-peer learning and collaborative solutions. 

The conference will feature a panel focusing on the wine industry's sustainability efforts, and will feature LIVE members as well as Executive Director Chris Serra.

Presenter: Dr. Thomas J. Burr, Professor, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University
Location: OSU Kidder Hall 202

To view online, visit: http://live.oregonstate.edu. Please note, the event will not be available until 12:00PM on Friday, October 6.

Live chat will NOT be available, however, online live participants can submit questions during the seminar to denise.dewey@oregonstate.edu, and they will be answered at the end.

Tom’s research on grape crown gall is aimed at furthering and transferring knowledge that will assist the grape industry in managing the disease. His lab developed a very sensitive method for detecting the grape crown gall pathogen, Agrobacterium vitis, which has led to greatly elucidating its presence in association with grapes and a better understanding of its biology in vineyards. They determined that the bacterium is randomly distributed systemically in dormant grape canes and can also be detected in dormant buds as well as on surfaces of leaves and shoots during the growing season. Therefore, the pathogen can survive internally as well as externally. They were also able to determine that wild grapevines in NY as well as in CA often carry the crown gall pathogen. They are currently finishing a project to determine if “clean” vines can be produced through tissue culture propagation.

Another component of Tom’s work involves the development of a biological control for the disease.  This has involved studying a strain of A. vitis, F2/5, that does not cause crown gall but is able to inhibit crown gall infections specifically on grape wounds. The mechanism of inhibition is still unknown however, they have determined that it is not caused by antibiosis. Pathogenic strains of A. vitis are not killed by F2/5 but are prevented from causing infection specifically on grapevines. F2/5, like other strains of A. vitis, causes a necrosis of grape tissue and therefore they have worked to develop a derivative strain that does not cause grape necrosis but still is inhibitory to crown gall. Currently they are working towards developing a commercial product utilizing this F2/5 derivative.