Owners of small neglected vineyards and even home grapevines need to be aware of the threat posed by the European Grapevine Moth, officials warn.
A quarantine is in effect for 9,000 Sonoma Valley acres as the pest, first reported near Oakville in October, continues to spread, most likely by grape processing equipment.
Sonoma Mayor Steve Barbose and City Manager Linda Kelly met last week with Cathy Neville, Sonoma County’s agricultural commissioner. The county is concerned about homeowners who have small vineyards or patches of grapevine in their yards, Kelly said, in order that they become educated regarding the moth and signs of infestation.
The county is asking any abandoned vineyards or untended grapevines, where moths could breed unnoticed, be reported immediately.
The county is contacting affected growers and has scheduled mandatory outreach meetings to put growers on compliance agreements. Meetings for Kenwood to Carneros growers will be held: June 9, 9:30 a.m. at the Sonoma Veterans Building; and June 15, at 2 p.m. at Atwood Ranch.
A quarantine does not prohibit the shipment of grapes from an affected area, but adds a compliance agreement which calls for careful inspections of fruit and equipment. Only loads certified clean of the pest are cleared for transport.
“If there’s one message to get out, it’s make sure the equipment is clean and sterilized before leaving an infected area,” said Cathy Neville, Sonoma County’s agricultural commissioner.
Kelly said the county reiterated a previous statement that no aerial spraying has been approved to fight the moth. Organic pesticides are among the treatment options.
The European grapevine moth causes severe fungal rot, and its larvae ruin ripening fruit. Last year, approximately 10 acres of vineyards in Napa County – the first infestation in North American – had a 100 percent crop loss due to the insect burrowing into the fruit. Most of Napa County is now under quarantine.
