Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
have helped each other avoid mistakes, raised “awareness in the
district,” and collectively improved the quality of their wines and repu-
tation. But all this is predicated on a shift in the “mindshift of the grower
community.” He describes this “mindshift” as growers' asking them-
selves, before applying any agrochemicals, “Why am I doing it? When
should I do it? How do I do it?” Lange sees this as critical if Lodi
growers are going to claim they are producing a sustainable agricultural
product.
Surprisingly, no studies of Lodi's pesticide use have yet been pub-
lished.
9
The commission surveyed its growers at the end of the BIFS grant
in 1998 and in 2003.
10
The survey's results show how growers report the
impact of partnership activities: they monitor more frequently, more
thoroughly, and spend more time doing so. They also show that in addi-
tion to using monitoring, economic thresholds, and reduced rates of
pesticides, many growers were using agroecological cultural controls
(e.g., irrigation, habitat and dust management, leaf pulling, modified
vineyard trellising, beneficial insect releases).
In 1998, the most accessible outreach efforts (newsletters, neighbor-
hood grower meetings) reached the majority of growers in the district.
The smaller percentage of growers dedicated enough to attend more time
consuming events (research seminars) had a high rate of satisfaction. But
the Lodi partnership owes its success chiefly to the social relations it has
facilitated through these four stages of partnership activities. In 1998,
growers ranked the six of their seven most useful sources of information
Table 7.1
Most important sources of knowledge for Lodi winegrape growers, ranked.
Sources: Ohmart 1998, Dlott 2004.
1998
2003
1. PCAs
1. Farm Advisors
2. Other growers
2. PCAs
3. Farm Advisors
3. Commission IPM staff (i.e.,
Ohmart and Storm)
4. Field crew
4. UC IPM manual
5. Commission and BIFS newsletters
5. Commission field days
6. Winery personnel
6. Commission newsletters
7. Commission BIFS meetings
7. Lodi breakfast meetings
