Trees & Vines

March 26, 2025
Pistachio genome study may benefit breeding efforts: Ag Alert file photo

March 26, 2025
Wine market woes could zap Pierce's disease funds: Agricultural biologist Rochelle Romano checks traps in Vacaville for the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a vector for Pierce’s disease.
Photo/Sapana Pandey

March 12, 2025

Precision spraying equipment can help reduce costs

The high-tech Smart Apply system individually controls air-blast sprayer nozzles to match material applications to canopy density, resulting in potentially reduced pesticide use.

Photo/Courtesy of John Deere

February 26, 2025
Smaller-sized navel oranges find use in juice plants

February 12, 2025

Winemakers use artificial intelligence for sales intel

Katerina Axelsson, CEO and founder of San Luis Obispo-based Tastry, uses artificial intelligence software to guide winemakers in their craft. Through chemistry, machine learning and AI, the company tests wines and can identify compounds that are out of balance. Once identified by the lab, a winemaker can correct any imperfections during a second fermentation.

Photo/Courtesy of Tastry

January 29, 2025

Survey finds deeply integrated vineyard workforce

Employees at Dutton Ranch in Sebastopol pull leaves away from fruit zones to expose winegrape berries to more sunlight in preparation for harvest in 2023. A new survey of more than 1,600 vineyard workers in Sonoma County found that the workforce has on average 14 years of agricultural work experience, including an average of nine years in the county and seven years with their current employer.

Photo/Fred Greaves