Webinar will show growers how to assess the risk of phylloxera in Washington state vineyards.
SEATTLE (April 7, 2022)—Washington wine grape growers are invited to learn about how to use the recently-developed Phylloxera Risk Assessment Map to determine the risk of phylloxera in their vineyards during a free webinar on April 20, 2022. Pesticide recertification credit (1.0) will be available from both Washington and Oregon agriculture departments.
Phylloxera are tiny aphid-like insects that feed on grapevine roots and cause decline in vine health and vigor. The pest was discovered in Washington wine growing regions several years ago. Research supported by the Washington State Wine Commission is providing new knowledge about the pest under Washington conditions.
Some Washington vineyards are more susceptible to phylloxera due to soil type and soil temperatures than previously thought. As part of research funded by the Washington wine industry, Washington State University scientists developed a risk assessment map to help growers identify vineyards with potential for phylloxera establishment. Dr. Michelle Moyer, WSU statewide extension viticulturist, will discuss how to use the map and access additional resources. WSU Entomologist Dr. Doug Walsh, who leads the research, will share preliminary results from two years of pesticide efficacy trials and soil solar radiation treatments.
The WAVEx webinar on April 20 will help prepare Washington wine grape growers to deal with the pest in the coming season. One pesticide recertification credit has been approved by Washington and Oregon agriculture departments. Register for free here.
About WAVE and WAVEx
Washington Advancements in Viticulture and Enology (WAVE) and WAVEx are a series of research seminars and webinars sponsored by the Washington State Wine Commission and WSU. WAVEx is the condensed, shorter webinar series. The events help make wine research findings more accessible to growers and wineries.
About the Washington State Wine Commission
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, WSWC provides a marketing platform to raise positive awareness about the Washington wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSWC is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987. To learn more, visit www.washingtonwine.org.
