Cultivating a nose for mealy bugs

Napa Valley Register ^ | March 5, 2005 | Julissa McKinnon

[tertiary01]

Cultivating a nose for mealybugs

By JULISSA McKINNON Register Staff Writer Sunday, March 5, 2006 1:13 AM PST

A litter of week-old golden retrievers look more like big hamsters than canines. But these nine tiny balls of fur are a big source of hope for Napa Valley growers whose vineyards are blighted by infestations of vine mealybug.

For the past three years, the near-invisible pest has vexed growers as it clings to vines, sapping their energy, inviting molds and viruses and ruining grape crops. If left unchecked, mealybugs can kill a vine within five years. Currently there are 36 mealybug infestations in Napa County, according to the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner's Office....

[goldstategop]

Man's Best Friend Ping

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[tertiary01]

PING

[tertiary01]

Ping

[bigfootbob]

I hope this works.

The agricultural regulatory agencies are as responsible for the massive outbreaks as the bugs. The agencies mandate an artificial infestation threshold which prevents growers from doing anything until the damage gets to a predetermined level, set by some half-assed government pseudo-scientist. Then they restrict the agents you may use until your crop is almost destroyed before you're allowed access to effective controls.

Every several months new and improved genetically modified herbacides/mitacides are introduced, many are as effective as a blast from a garden hose and cost as much as a tractor implement. I wonder how much damage these little critters will do after they evolve in the ecosystems?

Think about the irrational hysteria surrounding DDT and you'll understand the turmoil in the ag industry for the past 10 years involving pest control..

[tertiary01]

A lot of the importance is due to the much higher prices being brought by organically grown grapes versus those grown with pesticides. If each infection can be discovered and treated then the whole vineyard will not have to be sprayed.

Also the practice (and often requirement)of leaving riparian areas adjacent to vineyards where these little critters can breed is also a factor.

[bigfootbob]

Quite frankly, organic growing, I do both, is fine for small production, like a family garden, but it produces a smaller less attractive and unstable product. The idea organic grown plant material is superior is hype, just like every other spook du jour used to promote it.

[tertiary01]

All the growers I know that grow organically are very small, usually under 20 acres. But they have no problem selling their grapes. I think it will be just a temporary fad, especially in my area where there is so much Pierce's disease.

I just thought that bringing the dogs into it was interesting.

[bigfootbob]

It is. I hope it works.

Additionally, there's similar research involving canines sniffing out cancer in humans. I find interesting. (I'm a hobby English Mastiff breeder & show aficionado)

Then the cynic in me rears it's ugly head, and I think this just might be a part of a bigger project by Peter Singer & associates as a component of mainstreaming radical animal rights initiatives.

Damn Walt Disney and that animated mouse! ;)