Biological Pest & Disease Management for Vines at Holdaway Vineyards
The Holdaways are also successfully managing insect pests without insecticides, with flowering cover crops attracting beneficial predatory insects that keep pest species in check.
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March 3, 2026
Climate Change Adaptation
How to make your vineyard more resilient to climate change We are entering an era where climate patterns no longer follow predictable cycles. Temperatures continue to rise, rainfall becomes erratic, and weather events grow more violent and frequent. Climate adaptation and climate change resilience are becoming urgent challenges for wine growers. The new normal is…
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June 30, 2026
Rhizophagy – how plants farm soil microbes
Science continues to reveal just how sophisticated the relationship is between plant roots and the soil microbiome. We’ve written before about plants acting as miniature solar panels, using photosynthesis to produce sugars that are released into the soil as root exudates. These exudates feed soil microbes, creating a symbiotic partnership between plants and the organisms that live around their roots
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June 16, 2026
Cover crop-based under-row dry mulching enhances phyllosphere and rhizosphere microbial biodiversity in a non-irrigated vineyard
Canavera et al. (2026, Environmental Microbiome), Piacenza (Italy), found that cover crop–derived under-vine mulching in a non-irrigated vineyard significantly increased rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbial diversity while improving soil conditions and reducing pathogen pressure. Headline Findings: Methods: Conducted in a non-irrigated vineyard in northern Italy.Compared three inter-row management systems: In spring, cover crops were terminated and…
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June 16, 2026
Effects of inter-row cover crop termination strategy on grapevine performance and mycorrhizal activity under contrasting seasonal conditions
In a 2026 study published in Field Crops Research based on Mediterranean rainfed vineyards, the authors found that roller-crimping cover crops improved soil cover, vine water status, yield (in wetter conditions), and mycorrhizal colonization without affecting grape quality, while seasonal climate was the dominant driver of fungal diversity. Headline Findings: Methods: Results: Read the original…
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June 11, 2026
Supporting cavity-nesting birds in organic orchards and vineyards: Evaluating the use of artificial nest boxes
In a 2026 study led by Emanuela Granata and colleagues in organic orchards and vineyards in northern Italy, researchers found that artificial nest boxes effectively support insect-eating cavity-nesting birds and may improve natural pest control when combined with diverse landscape features. Headline Findings: Methods: Results: Read the original study here.
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