The wine grape industry in California and beyond is experiencing a difficult period of economic uncertainty. Declining alcohol consumption, excess fruit supply, and decreased fruit pricing have left many growers unable to find buyers for their crop, even in strong production years where fruit quality is high. Last year, large quantities of grapes were left unharvested, and growers were forced to make tough management decisions for fruit they could not sell.
In response to these challenges, mothballing has become an increasingly popular cost savings strategy to keep vineyards viable in years when markets are down.
What is “Mothballing” in Vineyards?
There are different levels to the practice, but in general mothballing is a management technique that allows growers to maintain vineyards with minimal inputs so they can be returned to full production once conditions improve. Mothballing does not encourage growers to abandon vineyards, but instead to consider operational objectives, a timeline for returning to production, methods for reducing input costs, and maintenance of vine health that minimizes damage over time.
A grower may choose to mothball their vineyard if market demand for fruit is low or if there are no contracts in place for fruit purchase. This tactic is also useful for growers wanting to preserve vineyard assets without having to invest in removal or replanting in the future. In the short term, it can reduce labor, irrigation, and other production costs and allows growers the potential to re-start production quickly at market shifts.
Different Approaches for Mothballing Vineyards
Although certain aspects of production may be scaled back, it is important to remain mindful of pest and disease pressure, and the potential risk they pose to neighboring vineyards. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has outlined a few possible approaches to mothballing. Note that each “type” steadily increases production tasks until it reaches standard industry production:
Figure: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
It is crucial to weigh the tradeoffs of each type carefully before deciding which course of action to take for your vineyard. The key takeaway for growers is that adequate pest and disease management should be prioritized at any level. This is because insect pests like vine mealybug are especially damaging to vineyards. VMB populations increase exponentially in short periods of time and are responsible for the loss of vine vigor and transmission of leafroll virus. a
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“Mothballing a vineyard is not an easy choice, but in today’s market it can be a practical way to save on inputs in the short term. The goal should be to scale back thoughtfully but main- tain enough pest and vine management to avoid long-term damage.”
-Bart Haycroft, Farm Manager at Kendall Jackson Vineyard |
Exceptional Vine Mealybug Solutions for Mothballed Vineyards
In reduced management years, Suterra’s Celada VMB, CheckMate VMB-F (for conventional production), and CheckMate VMB-O (for organic production) are proven, reliable technologies that help maintain control of vine mealybug. Celada VMB provides protection for an entire year, while CheckMate sprayable pheromones provide protection for up to 4 weeks and are often tank mixed with fungicides for dual applications. These mating disruption solutions help suppress this key vineyard pest until vineyards ready to return to full production.
While growers began mothballing their vineyards in the early 2000s, the choices surrounding inputs and labor vary from one field to the next. Mothballing is a practical strategy given the state of the wine grape market, but it does carry risks. Research on the long-term implications of mothballing is still developing. Before deciding to mothball your vines, consider the length of time the vineyard will be out of production, current vine health, and plans for recovery.
For support with pest management in mothballed vineyards, contact a member of our team here.