Soil Health for Vineyards, Orchards, and Their Retail Outlets Seminar

Improving the vitality and health of agricultural soils in all situations is perhaps the most effective step to improving the sustainability of all aspects of agriculture, the economic vitality of farmers and farming, and, as HB21-1181, the statute establishing the Soil Health Program states:

“Healthy soils have important environmental benefits, including improved air and water quality, soil structural integrity, erosion prevention, and nutrient cycling; increased biological and microbiological diversity; and carbon sequestration….”

The extreme temperatures of the past two Octobers damaged our industry by decimating the production of Vitis vinifera varieties.  Drought continually threatens our industry making us compete for limited water supplies. Increasing soil health is a foundational tool to combat the negative effects of climate extremes such as these recent examples.

This free webinar will cover the importance of soil health for vineyard and orchard production and how to create a sustainable business environment that allows growers and winemakers to afford and achieve soil health.

The presentations will be in-person at CSU’s Orchard Mesa Research Station, 3170 B1/2 Road, Grand Junction, 81503 on Friday, March 4, 2022 beginning at 9 AM.  The presentations will also be available via Zoom concurrently on March 4th, and available to watch after that date anytime on coloradowine.com archives under Viticultural Resources.

Please register in advance by filling out this form, whether you plan to attend in-person at Orchard Mesa or via Zoom.

The agenda is as follows:

• 8:45 Coffee and pastries for those attending in person
• 9:00-9:15: Welcome and overview of the agenda
• 9:15-10:05: Basic introduction to soil health
  • 5 principles of soil health (Lisa Eash, CSU)
  • Soil Health principles applied to orchards and vineyards (Horst Caspari, CSU State Viticulturist)
• 10:05-10:20: Break
• 10:20-11:10:  Presentation on the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Soil Health Program plus the STAR and STAR+ programs that support that farmers in implementing soil health practices.
  • • Cindy Lair, CDA’s Conservation Services Division Program Manager
  • Review of Vineyards and Orchard Forms
    • Lisa Eash, who has been working to implement the STAR program
• 11:10-11:45: How wineries, farm stands, and retail operations can easily and affordable participate in and support soil health efforts
  • 11:10-11:25:  The Alliance Center’s Regenerative Recovery Coalition  (Jane Allen)
    • Overview of the Regenerative Recovery Coalition
    • Agriculture working group
    • Healthy Soils Challenge
  • 11:25-11:45:   Anthony Myint, Zero Food Print
• 11:45-12:00: Wrap Up (Next steps, timeframe, etc.)

Please note COVID new Protocols in place: masks are now optional for those attending events at the Orchard Mesa Research Station.  Anyone who has recently been exposed to COVID-19 or who is feeling ill should not attend in person, but rather use the Zoom option to join the meeting.

Call Doug Caskey, 720.304.3406, for more information and with your questions.