THE LODI RULES FOR SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING: The...

THE LODI RULES FOR SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWINGWINEGROWING: The First Regional

Sustainable Farming Certification in California

presented bySt t SStuart Spencer

Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Commission

What is LWWC?

SonomaNapa

L diLodi

• All 750 Growers in Crush District #11 North America’s leading producer of: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

i

North America’s leading producer of:

Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah and Zinfandelwinegrapes

• Farmgate value: $275 MillionZinfandel

Why was LWWC formed?

• To differentiate Lodi in the marketplaceTo differentiate Lodi in the marketplace- as producer of premium winegrapes

and wineand wine

• To fund locally focused research programs

Sustainability: The Three E’s

EEcologically cologically S dS d

EEconomiconomic Viabilityc Viability SoundSoundc Viabilityc Viability

SustainableSustainable

Social Social EEEEquitquityy

Timeline for LWWC’s Sustainable Viticulture Program

Stage IGrower

Stage IIIn-Field

Stage IIIArea-wide

Stage IVSustainable

Outreach(IPM)

Program(BIFS)

Program Certification Program

Education Demonstration Self-assessment Standards

1992 1996 1999 2002 PresentLodi Winegrower’s

Workbook

Lodi’s Sustainable Viticulture Program in the Marketplacethe Marketplace

Program Development – Begun in 2003g p g

LWWC StaffStandards Development Committee:

Robert PirieLWWC StaffBryan Anthony – EJ GalloJoe CottaSt F lt

Robert PirieLarry MettlerRobert PirieT P i h d UCCESteve Felten

Jerry FryBruce Fry

Terry Prichard - UCCESteve Quashnick - PCAKent Reeves - EBMUDy

Chuck Ingels - UCCERandy LangeJohn Ledbetter

Craig Rous - winemakerBob SchulenburgMark Shimozaki - PCAJohn Ledbetter

Kim Ledbetter–BronsonMark Shimozaki PCAPaul Verdegaal - UCCE

Does Sustainable Winegrowing Add Value for Growers?for Growers?

Different kinds of value:• Increased price per ton

Different kinds of value:

• More stable winery contract

• New winery contract• Branding Lodi as Sustainable• Branding Lodi as Sustainable

WinegrowersE l b l i b ttl• Ecolabel on a wine bottle

Eco Labels Come in Different Forms

Organic• Organic• Pest Management• Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility• Sustainable Fishing• Animal Welfare• Sustainable Agriculture

Eco Labels in the Marketplacewww.ecolabels.org

• Core Values• Wegmans IPMWegmans IPM• The Food Alliance• Stemilt

S l S f• Salmon Safe• Demeter/Biodynamic• OrganicOrganic• Protected Harvest• Oregon LIVE• South African IPW

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

P iti P i t S t CCVT• Positive Point System – CCVT• Oregon LIVE• Integrated Production of Wine Program – South Africa• The Food Alliance

1. Third party certification program provides most credibility2 B f i t d d th L di Wi ’2. Base program farming standards on the Lodi Winegrower’s Workbook 3. Healthy Grown® certified by Protected Harvest was best certification model

Sustainable Viticulture Standards Components:F ti- Farm practices

- Pesticide impacts

To be certified a vineyard must:To be certified a vineyard must:- exceed minimum number of farming practices

pointspoints- not exceed maximum number of pesticide

impact pointsimpact points

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

•Using the Lodi Winegrowers Workbook as a g gguide, we drafted farming standards.

•The Committee met 14 times over a 18 monthThe Committee met 14 times over a 18 month period to review and edit the standards.

•75 Farming Standards•75 Farming Standards

•13 Management Plans

Standards Chapters

1. Ecosystem Management

2. Education, Training, , g,and Teambuilding

3 Soil Management3. Soil Management4. Water Management5 Vi d5. Vineyard

Establishment 6. Pest Management

6 1 Vineyard Monitoring for Insect Mite & Disease Pests

Pest Management

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

6.1 Vineyard Monitoring for Insect, Mite & Disease Pests

and disease pests at least once every 10 days from bud break to harvest and I keep a written record.

3

b. My PCA and/or I monitor(s) the vineyard for insect, mite y ( ) y ,and disease pests at least once every 14 days during the growing season and I keep a written record.

2

M PCA d/ I it ( ) th i d f i t itc. My PCA and/or I monitor(s) the vineyard for insect, mite and disease pests once every 21 days and I keep a written record.

1

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. 0

e. I keep no vineyard monitoring records for insect, mite and disease pests. FC

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. 3

b. I maintain hedgerows with flowering plants and I maintain grasses and 2g g p gshrubs along roadsides. 2

c. I allow vegetation other than noxious weeds to grow on headlands. 1

d I k h dl d l f t tid. I keep headlands clean of any vegetation. 0

2.1 Human Resources Plan F

YES = 6 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;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.

NO = 0

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. 1c. I maintain an annual crop and I do not till during the winter months. 1d. I do not allow a cover crop to grow between the vine rows. 0

Ecosystem Management

Hedgero planting• Hedgerow planting and management

• Buffer strips adjacent to aquatic habitatshabitats

•Natural enemy h bit thabitat

3.12 Soil Erosion: Soil Conservation Plan V

YES = 6 I have a soil conservation plan that includes the following elements: site

description; soil description; list of vineyard floor management practices; 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 = 0employed to reduce air pollution and dust. For more details see the Companion Document for the Lodi Rules.

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 acreP d•Percent acres treated

Pesticide Impact Points Based on: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

Pesticide Index

Pesticide Environmental Impact Units for an Average Rate per Acre

Lorsban 173.00Nexter 50.00C H d id 7 00Copper Hydroxide 7.00Neem Oil 5.00Provado 3 00Provado 3.00Cryolite 2.94Sulfur Dust 2 37Sulfur Dust 2.37Omite 2.05Surround 1.45 Must be Surround 1.45Roundup 0.39Kaligreen 0.39

under 50impact

itg

Rally 0.32units

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 2.944/22/2004 Sulfur dust 15 lbs 2.945/3/2004 Sulfur dust 15 lbs 2.945/13/2004 RoundUp Ultra Dry 0.92 lbs 0.03p y5/16/2004 Sulfur dust 14 lbs 2.745/29/2004 Sulfur dust 15 lbs 2.946/2/2004 Rally 40W 3 88 ozs 0 346/2/2004 Rally 40W 3.88 ozs 0.346/24/2004 Provado 0.63 ozs 1.916/24/2004 Acramite 50 WS 0.87 ozs 0.656/24/2004 Pristine 11.49 ozs 0.207/28/2004 Gramoxone Max 1 pint 0.097/31/2004 RoundUp Ultra Dry 0.63 lbs 0.02p y

Total Impact Units per Acre for Year 17.75

To be certified a vineyard mustTo be certified a vineyard must::To be certified a vineyard mustTo be certified a vineyard must::

1. exceed minimum number of farming practices points1. exceed minimum number of farming practices points

2. not exceed maximum number of pesticide impact points2. not exceed maximum number of pesticide impact points

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

•• 6 winegrowers pilot tested in 20056 winegrowers pilot tested in 20051450 tifi d f 20051450 tifi d f 2005•• 1450 acres were certified for 20051450 acres were certified for 2005

•• Have nearly 6300 acres certified in 2006Have nearly 6300 acres certified in 2006

Marketing/Messaging USDA Value Added Grant to LodiMarketing/Messaging USDA Value Added Grant to Lodi

Marketing strategy and messaging for Lodi- to Lodi growersg- to wineries, distributors & gatekeepers- to consumers

We are linking the good practices that growers are doing in the vineyards with the marketplace.

Consumer Focus Groups

• 2 held in: Sacramento, Chicago and Washington DC, g g

• Participant Profiles: Regular wine drinkers, $10 or more/bottle 25 59 years in age mix of educationalmore/bottle, 25 - 59 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

Key Research Findings

• Consumers want to hear ‘What’s in it forConsumers want to hear What s in it for me’?

The environment comes after all other wine• The environment comes after all other wine purchasing criteria are met: quality, price, taste etctaste, etc.

• Relate quality to sustainable practices!

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

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