Researchers Work to Develop, Test Dry-Farm-Adapted Corn Varieties
Western SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) discusses work by Lucas Nebert, a research associate in the Department of Horticulture at OSU. Read on to learn what they discovered and to find more information about Nebert's OSU Dry Farming Project, which is mapping areas of the state compatible with dry farming.
Join us today for our industry-only tasting event at The Redd from 11 am - 3 pm.
Participating members: Anne Amie Vyds, Arlyn, Ayres Vyd, Beckham Estate Vyd, Belle Pente Vyd, Brick House Vyd, Brooks Wine, Cameron Winery, Carabella, Crowley Wines, Evening Land Vyds, Evesham Wood, The Eyrie Vineyards, Flâneur Wines, Frog’s Leap, Goodfellow Family Cellars, Illahe Vyds, Iterum Wines, J.C. Somers, J.K. Carriere, Kelley Fox Wines, Lundeen Wines, Mellen Meyer, Mount Eden Vyds, Patricia Green Cellars, Portland Wine Co/love & squalor, Purple Hands, Scenic Valley Farms, Sivilli Wine Co., Stag Hollow Wines & Vyd, Stangeland Vyds/Botaneity Wines, Tekstura Wine Co., Teutonic Wine Company, Trisaetum, Twill Cellars, Walter Scott, & Westrey Wine Co.
Special guests: Dry Farming Institute, Culinary Breeding Network, LIVE, & Revino.
A special thanks to the staff at Ecotrust, Elephants Delicatessen, Arden Event Collective and to our Oregon distributors: Casa Bruno, Estelle Imports, Galaxy Wine Company, Handcrafted, Julian Sinclair, Mitchell Wine Group, Oregon Brand Management, PDX Wines, & Vehrs Distributing.
Tasting event at the Redd
Check out the YouTube page of the Dry Farming Collaborative, part of the OSU Small Farms Program.
Plenty to watch, including discussions with farmers and variety trial research results.
Join the Culinary Breeding Network at Wellspent Market on Saturday, September 16th between 11 am - 3 pm for the third annual Tomato Fest! Taste dry farmed tomatoes (and melon), talk with chefs and farmers, and more. This event is open to the public and will showcase locally grown produce.
Deep Roots in the News: Read the interview with Tyson Crowley of Crowley Wines and John Paul of Cameron Winery.
Sunburn in grapevines a recurring disorder by Lee Allen of Western FarmPress
A primer on an increasingly urgent problem in grape growing.
Does farmland lose value in drought? by Michael Lauher of PrairieFarmer
Learn about the value of farmland undergoing drought.
Learn about how to keep your soil in tip top shape with this primer from FarmProgress. It explores different options that might be right for you, from no-till to testing.
FarmProgress is a multi-brand farmer news and marketing group owned by Informa that covers national, regional, and state-level organizations and represents multiple ag shows. They offer free online information for farmers.
Learn about Amy Garrett's and Dr. Lucas Nebert's dry farming research in Oregon. Garrett is the head of the Dry Farming Institute who collaborates frequently with Dr. Nebert, a dryland farming researcher. Both have done extensive research on corn, tomatoes, and other produce, including field studies funded by SARE and research with OSU. Read a profile on their work and listen to their interview by Geoff Norcross of OPB's Think Out Loud here. Don't miss another article by OPB on Dr. Nebert's work studying the dry farming of corn here.
Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing the dry farming and grape growing in Oregon.
Oregon State researchers make breakthrough in understanding the chemistry of wildfire smoke in wine by Sean Nealon of Oregon State University
Explore cutting edge research into smoke tainted grapes by Oregon State University and Washington State University.
Farmers, gardeners collaborate on dry farming in Oregon by Elizabeth Castillo of Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB); interview by Geoff Norcross of OPB’s Think Out Loud
OPB explores work being done by the Dry Farming Collaborative through an interview with the founder and board president of the Dry Farming Institute, Amy Garrett. The Dry Farming Institute is an Oregon organization focused on promoting dry farming through marketing assistance, seed stewardship, and collaborations with growers and researchers.
Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing the dry farming of winegrapes in Oregon.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Vines by Greg Norton of the Oregon Wine Press
This is a deep dive into Dr. Alexander Levin’s work and history in researching vineyard management techniques, including water and irrigation.
Growing Pains: Winemakers Reflect on a Changing Climate by Laura Ness of the Wine Industry Advisor
Check out quotes from Evan Martin, owner and winemaker of Martin Woods in McMinnville, who reflects on the positives and negatives of dry farmed vines.
Walking The Rows: Résonance Vineyard And The Fool’s Errand Plot by Jill Barth of Forbes Magazine
A focused look at the Résonance Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, one of the Willamette Valley’s oldest dry farmed and own-rooted vineyards.
Residents of Central Oregon weigh in on a proposed resort in the high desert that would pump 300,000 gallons of water per day from wells, expanding to five million gallons by 2035. Much of the water would, you guessed it, go to irrigate proposed golf courses. The public outcry is causing the company to backtrack… some. This after State Representatives have called for the Oregon Water Resources Department to stop issuing new water rights permits.
For a deep dive on struggles over water rights in Oregon, listen to All Things Considered March 2022 report.
“Pushing the Eco Envelop: Three wineries utilize unique sustainability solutions” by Greg Norton of Oregon Wine Press – This article includes a look at Abbot Claim’s innovative solution to recycling winery wastewater.
“Grant to help U of A researchers address farming in drying climate” by Eva-Marie Hube of the Arizona Daily Star
“Dry farming could help agriculture in the western US amid climate change” by Katherine Kornei of Science News
“Oregon’s water problems are accumulating; Idaho may have an answer” by Randy Stapilus of Oregon Capital Chronicle
“Kansas Is Showing What a Drier Future Looks Like” by Adam Minter of Bloomberg via the Washington Post
“How do you grow crops with no water?" A rancher on the Gila River is trying an old approach” by Jake Frederico of the Arizona Republic
“As California's Drought Goes On, What Can Farmers Do?” by Kendall Lambert of Civil Eats
“California Falls Short When Helping Farmers Save Water” by Adam Kotin and Kendall Lambert of Civil Eats
Newsletter recommendation: Stay up to date with farm-focused sustainable agriculture with the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s resiliency and sustainability newsletter: ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture. The latest edition included USDA news, a calendar of farming summits, and an excellent organic agriculture podcast interview with Dr. Amber Sciligo of the Organic Center.
The past is present: Curious about historical dry farming practices and concerns? The 1909 book “Arid Agriculture” by B. C. Buffum is available digitally here.
How the neighbors do it: Read an in-depth report by the California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative on dry farmed Californian wines. Report includes key definitions, historical practices, and extensive links to research and winery profiles. Don’t miss the feature on Frog’s Leap! A must-read.
Nerd out with the neighbors: CAFF.org (Community Alliance with Family Farmers)’s 2015 report on dry farming wine grapes in California, funded by the California Department of Water Resources.
Looking for law in all the right places: Want to know what’s up with groundwater in Oregon? Read the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s 2021 biennial report "Groundwater Quality Protection in Oregon" here.
Check out California’s Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Act here.
Podcast of the month: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Latest episode discusses how environment rules are made. Think of it as your guide to positively influencing the process! Prefer your nerdy government info in written form? Check out their blog here.
Report of the month: “State Leadership Must Take Action to Protect Water Security for All Oregonians” advisory report by the Oregon Secretary of State [PDF]
This report is an audit of Oregon’s water governance. It discusses the challenges unique to the governing system and discusses the various governmental agencies in charge of different aspects of water management in Oregon. It advocates for a reorganization and re-prioritization of how water is managed in the state towards a more integrated, equitable, and collaborative approach.
