VASCM: Drought Advice and Assistance from the NRCS for Your Vineyard

[Mary Lindsay, Muns Vineyard]

By now I think everyone knows that it's official - we're in a drought.

Attached is a notice from Rich Casale at the NRCS. The NRCS is available 
to assist with advice, site specific recommendations, technical and 
financial assistance on practices that can help mitigate the effects of 
drought, including:
- irrigation system improvements and water management,
- water storage,
- retention of soil moisture,
- selection of drought resistant plants,
- runoff recovery
- mulching
and more.

In addition,the USDA would like to know what kinds of practices growers 
are interested in and how the drought is affecting their crops. 
According to Rich, this is usually the first step before the unveiling 
of any new program addressing an emergency, given that the Governor on 
Friday declared a CA state of emergency. So if you have a particular 
idea or request, let Rich know.

*Note: About mulching,* Rich provided an excellent note about mulching 
that we distributed in October. If you didn't get a copy and would like 
to, let me know and I'll forward it. To summarize its benefits in our 
drought situation:  Mulching conserves soil moisture, reduces irrigation 
water needs, mitigates dust, improves organic matter in the soil, and 
helps to regulate soil temperatures. It will also cover bare soils if 
you seeded cover crop and it hasn't taken with the lack of rainfall.  If 
you are interested in NRCS funding or assistance for mulching, talk with 
Rich or your County NRCS representative.


Applications for the *EQIP Organic program* are open until March 21 for 
vineyards that are organic or are interesting in transitioning to 
organic. There are several incentive practices under EQIP organic that 
relate to water conservation. See the program's website here 
<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/financial/eqip/?cid=nrcs143_008224>, 
and contact Rich Casale or your county's NRCS contact if interested in 
applying for the EQIP organic program.

Your NRCS contacts are:
- for Santa Cruz: Rich Casale (Richard.Casale at ca.usda.gov, 831-475-1967)
- for Santa Clara County:  Athena Pratt, (Athena.pratt at ca.usda.gov 
<mailto:Athena.pratt at ca.usda.gov>; 831-637-4360 ext110)
- for San Mateo County: Jim Howard (james.howard at ca.usda.gov 
<mailto:james.howard at ca.usda.gov>; 650-726-4660 ext 100).

Regards,
Mary Lindsay
Muns Vineyard
VASCM
408-234-2079

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