July 11th – To continue funding crucial research combating winegrape pests and diseases, the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board kept the PD/GWSS Winegrape Assessment rate at $1.25 per $1,000 value for the 2023 harvest.
The Board ensures grower funds are utilized wisely and productively to support the development of innovative solutions to PD, GWSS, and seven additional designated winegrapes pests and diseases. The 2023 assessment is expected to bring in an estimated $5.0 million. View the full list of pests and diseases online at bit.ly/3qSSPQ8.
“As the PD/GWSS Board, our responsibility lies in protecting the interests of the winegrape industry and promoting its long-term sustainability,” said PD/GWSS Board Chair William Drayton. “The PD/GWSS assessment allows us to effectively allocate resources towards comprehensive research efforts, enabling leading scientists to tackle the ever-evolving challenges posed by pests and diseases.”
The assessment has averaged $1.35 per $1,000 of value and has collected $83.1 million since 2001. The Board advises the California Department of Food and Agriculture on the best use of assessment funds, with $55 million invested in 282 research grants.
The Board has been at the forefront of safeguarding the California winegrape industry against devastating threats since winegrape growers passed the first PD/GWSS Referendum in 2000. The PD/GWSS Referendum is conducted every five years and will take place again in 2025. Learn more about Board-funded research, including a list of current research projects, at bit.ly/3w27mtc.
