We have received our accreditation from the IOBC and have published the 2026 LIVE Vineyard Checklist and Green/Yellow/Red List, as well as all supporting documents.
This year we have reclassified all of the yellow control points on the Checklist to red (required). We took this action because most of these items are extremely important, nearly all members currently meet all yellow items, and the scoring of these items was a constant source of confusion to both members and the public. Members will have two years to comply with all of them, although based on our analysis it is likely that nearly all members currently meet these standards.
The following control points are now red:
2.5 Wetland and upland protection and restoration
3.2 Risk assessment and correction plan
4.2 Herbicide Reduction
5.1 Choice of varieties, clones, and rootstock
5.2 Plant material quality and health
6.4 Nutrient supply and timing
8.4 Other inputs in the vineyard
9.1 Worker hygiene
11.1 Health and safety responsibilities, instructions, and training
11.2 Accident procedures and protective clothing/equipment
We also reclassified one yellow item to green (bonus/recommended):
3.2.2 A written plan has been developed to address controllable risks for all farmed acreage.
We added a number of new items - one red (required) and six green (bonus/recommended):
Red Item (required)
8.7.4 Regardless of source, a water quality test has been performed within the last five years, whether the vineyard is irrigated or dry-farmed. All new members must obtain a baseline test within the first year of enrollment. This test can be the same as that described in 7.3.1
Green Items (bonus/recommended)
4.2.6 No glyphosate was used within the vineyard
4.2.7 No glyphosate was used on the entire farm, including all non-vineyard acreage
4.2.8 No synthetic herbicide was used within the vineyard
4.2.9 No synthetic herbicide was used on the entire farm, including all non-vineyard acreage
8.3.8 Grower uses only OMRI-approved active ingredients when applying any pesticide (fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, et al.).
8.7.6 pH of sprayer water is tested annually prior to any applications and the results are used to select the appropriate products.
The following changes have been made the the LIVE Yellow List of Approved Pesticides:
- Flagged Myclobutanil (Rally) for potential removal due to multiple toxicities
- Added hydrogen peroxide/peroxyacetic acid (Oxidate, Jet Ag) with restrictions (see Yellow List)
- Added note that glufosinate-P formulation may not be used at present
- Added Isaria fumosorosea Apopka Strain 97 (NoFly) for thrips and flea beetles
- Added flupyradifurone (Sivanto Prime) for leafhopper
Members may now also apply for a variance to use OMRI products not on the Yellow List(other than copper formulations). The Variance Form can be found in the Vineyard Reporting Templates and Resources folder. The following conditions apply:
- The product is labeled for wine grapes in the state where it is planned to be used and is used to control the pest for which it is labeled (ie. not for off-label use).
- The grower must collect and submit efficacy data to LIVE for review
- The grower monitors for ecological impact and submits evidence that there has been no adverse impact from use - this can include photos, testing of soil/grapes/wine, monitoring of beneficial populations, etc. Evidence should be tailored to the product(s) used and their potential impact(s).
- Grower monitors for unintended consequences of use, for instance secondary infections, unnecessary vineyard compaction, excess water use, etc.
- At the end of the season, the grower must submit a report detailing the above with a protocol for continued use and/or future inclusion of the product on the LIVE Yellow List. The format of the report is at the discretion of the grower.
We also have two new policy announcements:
Records Revision: In the case of a revision to an input report that would change a non-compliance to a compliance due to a claim of erroneous initial reporting, the grower must sign an affidavit stating that the revision is true and accurate. Further, in the case of removal of a non-approved Yellow List pesticide from the reporting, the grower must submit, at their cost, a sample of wine from the affected block(s) to an ISO 17025 accredited lab for pesticide residue analysis and request that the results be sent directly from the lab to LIVE for review. Results must show no residue of the pesticide that was removed from the reporting.
Label Violation of an Yellow List Approved Active Ingredient: LIVE cannot certify any site that is in violation of state or federal law unless the grower self-reports to the appropriate regulatory agency and accepts whatever penalty (if any) is assessed and makes a plan for corrective action to avoid future violations.
