For meetings from 2004 – 2020, see Past Meetings here.  For more information on meetings, contact info@vascm.org

2021 Programs  

April 8, 2021:  Carbon Capture and Assessments of Healthy Soils in Vineyards of the Santa Cruz Mountains: Planning Tools and Funding Opportunities (on Zoom)
  Our speaker is Dr. Christopher Potter, Ph.D. of CASA Systems in Los Gatos. A soil scientist with over 10 years of field experience working in agriculture in northern California, Christopher Potter specializes in carbon farm planning. He will cover the basics of the carbon cycle, sequestration and the benefits of carbon to soil health, enhancing soil microbiology; field-based methodologies for measuring changes in crop production, soil carbon, and microbial activity; and composting, mulching and other management practices to improve vineyard soil health. And, he will let us know about a grant program available from Santa Clara County for its Agricultural Resilience Incentive (ARI) program that funds compost and mulch application and practices that improve soil health.  Dr. Potter has received major grant funding from the State of California (CDFA) Healthy Soils Program and has worked for several years under the CDFA Demonstration programs in croplands, orchards, and rangelands to assess carbon capture and improvements in soil water retention and drainage.  He has lived in Los Gatos for the past 25 years.

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January 22, 2021:   Weed Management, with John Roncoroni, UCCE Weed Science Farm Advisor (on Zoom)

John Roncoroni, UCCE Weed Science Farm Advisor, specializes in vineyard weed management and speaks to growers throughout Northern California. John will talk about all things weeds, including: identifying and targeting weeds; understanding the lifecycle and avoiding seed regeneration; organic herbicides; weed management options.
Also, it has been a great disappointment to many of us that WeedSlayer is being investigated by the CDFA. Specifically, the AgroGold component of the 2-part system came under investigation the end of last year when it was reported that non-organic ingredients were found (sp. glyphosate and diquot).  We will speak to this to the extent that we are able as results of the investigation have not yet been reported. And, John Roncoroni will talk about organic herbicide alternatives.

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January 22, 2021  The Chemistry of Smoke Taint with Phil Crews, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry UCSC, winemaker and proprietor, Pelican Ranch Winery (on Zoom – an updated repeat of the program in December)

Now that this year’s harvest is in there are still many questions by winemakers about the impact of smoke on this vintage and what to expect with the resulting wine. Phil Crews, PhD, is Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCSC, has taught courses on the chemistry of winemaking, and will give a presentation on the Chemistry of Smoke Taint for winemakers. Bring your questions! This will include an overview of the volatile phenols and address:

– how smoke interacts with fermentation

– what might be expected during and post fermentation, as the wine progresses and ages.

– what do the lab results really mean (how do you decipher the results, are all the volatile phenols equally important)?

– what actions can be taken at this point in time, if any, to mitigate possible smoke taint

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For more information on meetings, contact info@vascm.org