Maximize Vineyard Profitability Through Precision pathogen monitoring
Spray Less and Save More with Root
Spray Less and Save More with Root
Viticulture is a practice of precision, but the looming threat of powdery mildew can turn it into a guessing game, fraught with the risks of crop damage and unnecessary chemical use. The mental weight of these decisions can be as burdensome as their financial impact, threatening both your yield and your commitment to the land.
Root brings a beacon of certainty to this unpredictable landscape. Our advanced pathogen monitoring system harnesses the power of data to turn the tides in your favor. Imagine the relief of knowing that every spray is timely, every decision data-backed, and every resource allocated with precision. With Root, you reclaim control, ensuring that your vines thrive and your legacy endures, all while fostering the land.
"If you are a really high pressure vineyard, you could definitely utilize this technology to help save money and help as an early warning system for when you have mildew coming into your vineyard. On the other side, if you are a vineyard that rarely gets mildew, you can really use this to extend your intervals and cut out passes during the season."
- Brad Kurtz, Vineyard Director, Gloria Ferrer
Brad decided to lengthen his sprays because of our data showing that there was no powdery mildew in spring 2021. We didn't see any powdery mildew at any of Brad's five sensors until June 22, months after he began spraying. He lengthened the intervals between sprays from 8 to 14 days starting in May, cutting two sprays and saving $34,000. In addition, he was alerted when and where powdery mildew was present so that he could stay on control efforts at just the right time. Brad and his team first saw powdery mildew on July 7, more than two weeks after we first alerted him to the spores entering the vineyard. We also alerted Brad later in July to high pathogen pressure at only one of his sensors, which he confirmed was coming from a neighbor's vineyard.
Caleb had one of our sensors in a vineyard in Napa. Caleb started spraying much later than usual because our data showed that there was no powdery mildew. He also lengthened his sprays to every 21 days and stopped spraying altogether before powdery mildew first appeared in late July. He only sprayed three times in 2021 and never had symptoms until the end of July.
Kyle had three sensors in the Santa Cruz mountains, including one at a site that gets powdery mildew every year. The particular site is especially hard to spray as it is on a steep hillside. Historically, powdery mildew pressure is high even in the early season at this site, but our sensors showed that this year there was no powdery mildew until much later than expected. Our sensors detected powdery mildew's first arrival on June 8, and Kyle first detected symptoms on July 6.
Root gives growers the information to better manage the pathogen
Even in high pressure years, Root's pathogen monitoring system can help growers manage their crop more effectively. Just as spraying when the pathogen is not there is wasteful, not spraying when the pathogen arrives can create a domino effect that allows the pathogen to flourish. Moreover, knowing when and where powdery mildew pressure is very high can help growers better manage an outbreak through identification and elimination of pathogen sources, leafing, and adjustments to the spray program.
Spraying at the right time is the key to control the local powdery mildew population. Fortunately, Root identifies the spores when they are still in the air, giving growers at least a week to respond.
Please reach us at info@rootappliedsciences.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Root's system outperforms spinning rods by capturing 10 times more air volume, ensuring cleaner samples without sticky materials. This results in more sensitive analysis due to minimal DNA loss, and samples are protected from UV light degradation.
Incredibly easy. Changing a sample takes just 15 seconds, making it convenient and efficient for regular monitoring.
We analyze samples twice a week, providing you with regular updates and insights into spore levels in your vineyard.
Our efficient process means results are generally returned within 24 hours of sample receipt, giving you timely data to make informed decisions.
The absence of sticky material and protection from UV light during collection make our material more stable, thus reducing the risk of DNA degradation, which is more prevalent in spinning rods.
With Root, the maximum time from spore detection in the air to you receiving the data is just 5 days, compared to the 10 days often experienced with spinning rods.
Absolutely. By providing timely and accurate data on spore presence and concentration, our technology allows you to spray at the right time, with growers reducing fungicide use by 20-80%. Some growers use the technology to use biopesticides more effectively and say they are making better wine with faster rates of native fermentation.
We are a group of scientists who believe that agriculture deserves actionable information. Our expertise includes plant pathology, entomology, ecology, microbiology, soils, and engineering.
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