Beneficial Insects in the Vineyard

Project Overview

RGR20-001
Project Type: Research to Grass Roots
Funds awarded in 2020: $43,515.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2022
Host Institution Award ID: G113-21-W7906
Grant Recipients: Walla Walla County Conservation District; Walla Walla Community College Institute of Enology and and Viticulture
Region: Western
State: Washington
Principal Investigator:
lynda oosterhuis
Walla Walla County Conservation District

Information Products

Commodities

  • Fruits: grapes

Practices

  • Crop Production: pollinator habitat, pollinator health, windbreaks
  • Education and Training: technical assistance, workshop
  • Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, habitat enhancement, hedgerows, wildlife
  • Pest Management: biological control

    Proposal abstract:

    Valuable information was gained from WSARE project SW10-052, Native Habitat Restoration, IPM and Beneficial Insect Conservation, providing the groundwork for viticulturists in Washington's Columbia Valley to implement conservation biological control into their vineyard management strategies.  The research  concluded that several of the native shrub-steppe species provide quality habitat for beneficial insects that can control the most problematic vineyard pests.  Vineyards and wineries have a direct relationship with the end consumer.  More and more these consumers are demanding that agriculture producers are good stewards of the land and are willing to pay more for these products. This can lead growers to interest in implementing more sustainable practices on their land. There is a need to sort through the research and narrow down the best practices for the Walla Walla Valley.  Having clear guidelines, designs, plant list and a step by step guide could provide the missing link to the implementation of habitat plantings in area vineyards.  Planting native species adjacent to and in vineyards not only provides habitat for insects that prey on vineyard pests, it also provides habitat for pollinators, game and songbirds that have lost habitat from the increase in acres of land cultivated for grape production. 

    The Walla Walla Community College's Institute of Enology and Viticulture is a key member of the Walla Walla Valley wine making community.  A partnership between the college and the Walla Walla County Conservation District is a way to reach area viticulturists and soon to be vineyard owners and managers graduating from the College's wine program.  Many of the students have never been involved in agriculture or in making land use decisions and may not be aware of the impacts these decisions can have. Implementing habitat plantings in and around vineyards can be an approachable first step into being more in tune with the ecological processes on the land.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Increasing awareness of the benefits of using  conservation biological controls in the vineyards around the Walla Walla Valley is the main objective of this project. A secondary objective is to promote agricultural biodiversity in vineyards to develop a stronger, more adaptable ecosystem in the face of a changing climate.  The dry, hot climate of Walla Walla makes it an ideal location for implementing conservation biological controls.  The research and empirical evidence exists to support the value of increasing vegetation diversity in vineyards and surround landscapes, allowing non crop species to grow in and around the grape blocks. "One of the known problems with monoculture is the diversity, abundance and activity of natural enemies of pests is drastically decreased due to the removal of vegetation that provides critical food resources and over wintering sites necessary for the longevity, reproduction and survival of many predators and parasites" ( Alteri, et, al, 2010)

      The grant funds will be used to connect viticulture students, area vineyard managers and agricultural professionals with the best information needed to  implement these practices. Collaboration between the Enology &Viticulture program, the Walla Walla County Conservation District and the area  grape growers committed to sustainable farming practices provides a direct connection of those currently making land use decision,those that will soon be making these decisions the agency that can provide the resources needed to implement these practices.  Roughly 30 students graduate from the E&V program every year.  Many of those students will go on to own or manage vineyards in Walla Walla. These new land managers may be open to preserving existing habitat or incorporating new habitat into their operations if  given a clear path to adopting biological controls.

    Altieri, M., Nichols, C., Wilson, H., Miles, A., 2010. Habitat Management in Vineyards; A growers manual for enhancing natural enemies of pests. Laboratory of Agroecology, Berkeley, CA. p.4

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.