Fires, pandemic bite into Napa winegrape returns ByDaveKranz
“Much of this decline can be attribut- ed to the direct damage caused by the local LNU Lightning Complex and Glass wildfires, as well as the overall econom- ic impact brought on by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,” Cleveland wrote inthereport,whichwaspresentedto Napa County supervisors last week. Napa County winegrape production dropped by 60,411 tons—nearly 38%—in 2020, the report said.
“Like somany around the world, wine- grape producers also experienced a very difficult 2020,” the agricultural commis- sioner’s report said. “While losses directly related to theCOVID-19 pandemicwould be significant on their own, Napa County growers sufferedadditionally fromtwode- structive local wildfires.” The wildfires and associated smoke re- sultedingrapesnotbeingharvestedorbeing discountedinprice, andthepandemichurt
winedemand, as tasting rooms and restau- rants closedduring stay-at-homeorders. Redwinegrapes represent nearly80%of Napa County plantings, and the average priceof thosegrapesdeclined21%in2020. The prices of cabernet sauvignon grapes, the county’s most widely planted variety, also went down 21%, from$7,941 per ton to $6,261, on average. The average price of white winegrapes held relatively stable, down 2% from2019 at $2,781 per ton. Chardonnay, the coun- ty’s top white winegrape, saw its value re- main nearly unchanged at an average of $3,028 a ton. AmongNapaCounty’sothermostwidely plantedvarieties, theaveragevalueofmer- lot grapes dropped 21%, to $3,217 per ton; sauvignon blanc declined 1%, to $2,453; andpinot noir dropped 11%, to $2,467. Although winegrapes represent 99% of Napa County agricultural production in terms of value, the agricultural commis- “While losses directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic would be significant on their own, Napa County growers suffered additionally from two destructive local wildfires” —Napa County agricultural commissioner’s report sioner’s report said other sectors of the farmeconomy also suffered impacts from thewildfires. The report noted a 24%decrease in the value of rangeland, which it attributed to loss of acreage from the wildfires, com- bined with a loss of productivity due to below-average rainfall. In addition, the value of Napa County cattleproductiondroppedmore than31%, also due to thewildfires. “Evacuations forced the removal of cat- tleandmanydidnot return for grazingdue to the subsequent loss of rangeland,” the report said. In its report, the agricultural commis- sioner’s office said it processed 1,077 “access verification” requests during the LNU Lightning Complex and Glass fires, allowing farmersandranchers to“perform essential agricultural activities on their propertieswhenconditionsweredeemed safe by lawenforcement.” The agricultural commissioner’s of- fice said it worked with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to acquire and distribute approximately 300,000surgicalmasksand82,000N95res- pirators for farmemployees inresponse to thepandemic, andthat distributionofN95 respiratorscontinuedduringunhealthyair conditions during thewildfires. (DaveKranz is editor of AgAlert.Hemay be contacted at dkranz@cfbf.com.)
Twin disasters—the COVID-19 pan- demic and damaging wildfires—led the value of Napa County winegrape produc- tion to drop bymore than half last year. In an annual report, Napa County Agr icul tural Commi ss ioner Tracy Clevelandestimated the gross valueof the county’s winegrape crop at nearly $461.4 million in2020, downalmost 51%fromthe previous year.
HIT ME ALYBUG WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
New Sequoia ® CA insecticide hits mealybug (and leafhopper) like a ten-ton brick. It comes from a unique class of chemistry – the sulfoximines – and has never been used in grapes. The different mode of action makes Sequoia CA an excellent rotation partner in full-season IPM programs with other classes of chemistry. And Sequoia CA fits perfectly into pest management programs that rely on beneficial insects. Mites aren’t flared and secondary pests stay… secondary. To learn more, contact your pest control advisor.
Visit us at corteva.us ® TM Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Sequoia CA is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2021 Corteva
6 Ag Alert May 26, 2021
Powered by FlippingBook