THE LODI RULES FOR SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING: The First Regional Sustainable Farming Certification in California

Transcription

1 THE LODI RULES FOR SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING: The First Regional Sustainable Farming Certification in California presented by Stuart t Spencer Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Commission

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3 What is LWWC? Sonoma Napa Lodi All 750 Growers in Crush District #11 Voted in by growers in 1991 Funded by assessment of grape crop 90,000 vineyard acres 20% of CA s winegrapes Farmgate value: $275 Million North America s leading producer of: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah and Zinfandel

4 Why was LWWC formed? To differentiate Lodi in the marketplace - as producer of premium winegrapes and wine To fund locally focused research programs

5 Sustainability: The Three E s Economi c Viability Sustainable Ecologically Sound Social Equit quit y

6 Timeline for LWWC s Sustainable Viticulture Program Stage I Grower Outreach (IPM) Stage II In-Field Program (BIFS) Stage III Area-wide Program Stage IV Sustainable Certification Program Education Demonstration Self-assessment Standards Present Lodi Winegrower s Workbook

7 Lodi s Sustainable Viticulture Program in the Marketplace Program Development Begun in 2003 Standards Development Committee: LWWC Staff Bryan Anthony EJ Gallo Joe Cotta Steve Felten Jerry Fry Bruce Fry Chuck Ingels - UCCE Randy Lange John Ledbetter Kim Ledbetter Bronson Robert Pirie Larry Mettler Robert Pirie Terry Prichard - UCCE Steve Quashnick - PCA Kent Reeves - EBMUD Craig Rous - winemaker Bob Schulenburg Mark Shimozaki - PCA Paul Verdegaal - UCCE

8 Does Sustainable Winegrowing Add Value for Growers? Different kinds of value: Increased price per ton More stable winery contract New winery contract Branding Lodi as Sustainable Winegrowers Ecolabel l on a wine bottle

9 Eco Labels Come in Different Forms Organic Pest Management Social Responsibility Sustainable Fishing Animal Welfare Sustainable Agriculture

10 Eco Labels in the Marketplace Core Values Wegmans IPM The Food Alliance Stemilt Salmon Safe Demeter/Biodynamic Organic Protected Harvest Oregon LIVE South African IPW

11 How Can Lodi add value? Grower committee was formed in April 2001 to review value added programs in US & elsewhere and concluded: Fish Friendly Farming Calif. North Coast Positive Point System CCVT Oregon LIVE Integrated Production of Wine Program South Africa The Food Alliance 1. Third party certification program provides most credibility 2. Base program farming standards d on the Lodi Winegrower s Workbook 3. Healthy Grown certified by Protected Harvest was best certification model

12 Sustainable Viticulture Standards Components: - Farm practices - Pesticide impacts To be certified a vineyard must: - exceed minimum number of farming practices points - not exceed maximum number of pesticide impact points

13 Criteria for Farming Practices Standards - must be measurable - included for a good reason - technically achievable by all Lodi growers

14 Using g the Lodi Winegrowers Workbook as a guide, we drafted farming standards. The Committee met 14 times over a 18 month period to review and edit the standards. 75 Farming Standards 13 Management Plans

15 Standards Chapters 1. Ecosystem Management 2. Education, Training, and Teambuilding 3. Soil Management 4. Water Management 5. Vineyard Establishment 6. Pest Management

16 Pest Management 6.1 Vineyard Monitoring for Insect, Mite & Disease Pests a. My PCA and/or I monitor(s) the vineyard for insect, mite and disease pests at least once every 10 days from bud break 3 to harvest and I keep a written record. b. My PCA and/or I monitor(s) the vineyard for insect, mite and disease pests at least once every 14 days during the 2 growing season and I keep a written record. c. My PCA and/or I monitor(s) )the vineyard dfor insect, mite and disease pests once every 21 days and I keep a written record. d. My PCA and/or I monitor(s) the vineyard for insect, mite and disease pests once a month and I keep a written record. e. I keep no vineyard monitoring records for insect, mite and disease pests. 1 0 FC

17 1.6.2 Vegetative Habitat Management around Vineyard F a. I maintain hedgerows of California native plants and I maintain California native grasses and shrubs along roadsides. b. I maintain hedgerows with flowering plants and I maintain grasses and shrubs along roadsides. c. I allow vegetation other than noxious weeds to grow on headlands. d. Ik keep headlands d clean of any vegetation. ti

18 2.1 Human Resources Plan F My company/farming operation has a written human resources plan containing the following elements: company mission; company values; company strategy; human resources strategy; staffing and recruiting; training and development; performance management and employee relations; compensation and benefits; and record keeping. For more details see the Companion Document for Lodi Rules. YES = 6 NO = 0

19 3.13 Cover Cropping to Minimize Soil Erosion V a. I maintain a permanent cover crop (i.e. non-tilled) in every row. 3 b. I maintain permanent cover crop (i.e. non-tilled) every other row. 2 c. I maintain an annual crop and I do not till during the winter months. 1 d. I do not allow a cover crop to grow between the vine rows. 0

20 Ecosystem Management Hedgerow planting and management Buffer strips adjacent to aquatic habitats Natural enemy habitat t

21 3.12 Soil Erosion: Soil Conservation Plan V I have a soil conservation plan that includes the following elements: site description; soil description; list of vineyard floor management practices; YES = 6 practices to minimize soil erosion by water and also by air; and practices employed to reduce air pollution and dust. For more details see the NO = 0 Companion Document for the Lodi Rules.

22 Pesticide Impact Model Contracted with Benbrook Consulting to develop multi-attribute pesticide impact model Formulation Treatment timing Application method Number of applications per acre Average rate per acre Percent P acres treated

23 Pesticide Impact Points Based on: - Avian toxicity - Mammalian dietary exposure - Worker exposure - Aquatic toxicity -Impact on pest natural enemies and Honey bees - Ground water and VOC impacts to be added

24 Pesticide Environmental Impact Units for an Average Rate per Acre Pesticide Index Lorsban Nexter Copper Hydroxide Neem Oil 5.00 Provado Cryolite 2.94 Sulfur Dust 2.37 Omite 2.05 Surround 1.45 Must be Roundup 0.39 under 50 Kaligreen 0.39 impact Rally 0.32 units

25 Pesticide Impact Units for an example Lodi Vineyard for one Year Input Date Chemical Name Rate/Acre Impact Units/Acre 4/13/2004 Sulfur dust 15 lbs /22/2004 Sulfur dust 15 lbs /3/2004 Sulfur dust 15 lbs /13/2004 RoundUp Ultra Dry 0.92 lbs /16/2004 Sulfur dust 14 lbs /29/2004 Sulfur dust 15 lbs /2/2004 Rally 40W 388ozs /24/2004 Provado 0.63 ozs /24/2004 Acramite 50 WS 0.87 ozs /24/2004 Pristine ozs /28/2004 Gramoxone Max 1 pint /31/2004 RoundUp Ultra Dry 0.63 lbs 0.02 Total Impact Units per Acre for Year 17.75

26 To be certified a vineyard must: 1. exceed minimum number of farming practices points 2. not exceed maximum number of pesticide impact points

27 Annual Certification 10 Growers 20 Growers 30 Growers 50 Growers $2,680 (new) $2,150 (new) $1,960 (new) $1,820 (new) $1,840 (renewing) $1,300 (renewing) $1,120 (renewing) $980 (renewing) Incremental Assessment: $1.00 / acre

28 6 winegrowers pilot tested in acres were certified for 2005 Have nearly 6300 acres certified in 2006

29 Marketing/Messaging USDA Value Added Grant to Lodi Marketing strategy and messaging for Lodi -to Lodi growers - to wineries, distributors & gatekeepers - to consumers We are linking the good practices that growers are doing in the vineyards with the marketplace.

30 Consumer Focus Groups 2 held in: Sacramento, Chicago and Washington DC Participant Profiles: Regular wine drinkers, $10 or more/bottle, years in age, mix of educational and income levels Focus Groups explored: Wine purchasing behavior Focus Groups explored: Wine purchasing behavior, Lodi message statements, and eco-label names

31 Key Research Findings Consumers want to hear What s in it for me? The environment comes after all other wine purchasing criteria are met: quality, price, taste, etc. Relate quality to sustainable practices!

32 In Lodi, our wines are grown with extra care by generations for farming families. We are responsible to our land, our workers, the community we live in, and to all those who enjoy our great wines.

33 Tag Lines for Bumper Sticker or T Shirt:

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