VASCM: European Grapevine Moth Quarantine: Update, and what you need to do

[Mary Lindsay, Muns Vineyard]

After speaking with the Santa Clara County Ag Dept. this morning I would 
like to share some information about what the quarantine in the County 
involves.  The presence of the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) in Morgan 
Hill/Gilroy affects certainly those vineyards in the quarantine area, 
but also some of our local wineries that bring fruit in from that area.  
And the Ag Dept. has recommendations for our vineyards to help prevent 
its spread. 

I do not find any information about this particular quarantine on the 
website at http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/ag/ .  This quarantine, 
however, is roughly based on other existing quarantines in place for the 
EGVM, and an example is at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/eg_moth/downloads/2010-32.pdf 
.

Here is more information specific to the quarantine in Santa Clara 
County, as provided by the County Ag Dept:

1.  Wineries:  All parties moving fruit out of the quarantine area need 
to obtain a compliance agreement from the County Ag Dept. in which they 
are located. That means that wineries in our area bringing in fruit from 
the quarantine area need to:
- Get a compliance agreement. It stipulates that the winery will accept 
fruit from a vineyard in the quarantine area only if the vineyard is in 
compliance.  Get a compliance agreement by calling the Ag Dept and make 
an appointment.  A list of the offices is below.
- The bins need to be covered during transport.
- White winegrapes need to be pressed at 2 bars (which has been shown to 
destroy all life stages of the moth).
- Pomace from fruit out of the quarantine area should not be spread in 
the vineyard. The Ag office has a list of recommended treatments for 
pomace which I will share when I receive it, but it includes composting 
at high temperatures. If you cannot compost at high enough temps the 
pomace should be taken to a composting facility that can.

This is undoubtedly not a complete list, but wineries needing a 
compliance agreement for fruit in the quarantine area will find out all 
the details when they talk with the Ag Dept.

2.  Vineyards:  Whether or not you are in a quarantine area it is 
recommended that you drop all fruit that is not harvested to prevent the 
EGVM from taking up residence and spreading. Also, you might consider 
spraying for the pest in late winter. New populations of the moth emerge 
in the Spring.  The Ag Dept. will provide me a list of sprays that I 
will forward when I get it.  They are planning an educational meeting in 
another few months and when I get the schedule I will notify you.

Let's all do what we need to do to prevent this pest from spreading into 
our vineyards.

Mary Lindsay
President, VASCM
408-234-2079 (cell)


County Ag Departments:

Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture
Website at: http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/ag/

The Ag Commissioner is at this location
1553 Berger Drive, Building # 1
San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 918-4600 Main Phone Line
On Duty Biology Hours are 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture
605 Tennant Avenue, Suite G
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Phone: (408) 465-2900 Main Phone Line
On Duty Biologist Office Hours are from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Santa Cruz County Ag Commissioner:
http://www.agdept.com/
175 Westridge Drive
Watsonville, CA 95076 
<http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&ed=ea28P.p_0ToRaL97u9ydvhDuywXFnJHRUj4j.LboGAIQoz_skkQqIJYK7zvUleSxsw--&csz=Watsonville,+CA&country=us>
Information: (831) 763-8080
Fax: (831) 763-8255


San Mateo County Ag Department:
728 Heller Street
PO Box 999
Redwood City, CA 94064-0999
Phone: (650) 363-4700
Fax: (650) 367-0130
www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/agwm <http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/agwm>
agwm <http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/agwm>smateoag at co.sanmateo.ca.us 
<mailto:smateoag at co.sanmateo.ca.us>