We were very excited that on Nov 10, we were able to host the 2021 Winter Grape Day at the UC Davis Conference Center, our first On Campus, in-person event since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Cooperative Extension Specialist, Kaan Kurtural, gathered 14 speakers presenting on topics ranging from the effects of wildfire smoke on grapevines, grapes, and wine to soil health, irrigation management, nitrogen in table grapes, and the effects of cover crops on grapevine physiology. To see the complete agenda, click here.
Our first in-person On the Road program was supposed to be in Shasta County on November 3, 2021, but the program was postponed to 2022 due to unusually high COVID case numbers in Shasta County. So, our first in-person On the Road program, since the beginning of the pandemic, was in Sonoma County at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa on November 18, 2021. More information, including the agenda, can be found here.
We have lots of upcoming events in 2022 including a booth (#928) at the Unified Symposium in Sacramento on January 26 and 27, 2022 (our annual Wednesday evening reception has been canceled due to Omicron); UCD V&E On the Roads in Santa Barbara (February 22, 2022), Santa Cruz (late March 2022), and the Central Sierra (Foothills) on March 31 or early April 2022; and on-campus programs including a UC Davis Grapevine Red Blotch Disease Symposium on March 16, Evaluating the Impact of Grape Smoke Exposure: Best practices on April 8, a day-long seminar honoring Andy Walker’s career at UC Davis (May 19, 2022), and similar honors for Roger Boulton (moved to Nov 2022, due to Omicron), and more. Because of the postponement of the February program, we will be offering two Office Hours with Dave and Anita from 1-2 pm on February 10 and February 17, 2022. The featured guest for Office Hours on February 10 will be Megan Bartlett. She will give a short presentation on new root traits that may help grapevines resist drought and then be available to answer questions.
Be sure to put these events on your calendar and check our events page often, for additional programs and updated information. We are thankful for the AVF extension grants we have received and for the additional support we receive through our Extension and Industry Relations Partnership Program.