Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/562166
September 2015 WINES&VINES 25 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS S olano County, Calif.—The Solano County Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance that limits how often and where "noise-making devices" may be used to protect vineyards. Bordering Napa County, Solano County is home to 25 wineries and an estimated 3,000 acres of vineyards. On July 28, the Solano agriculture commissioner Jim Allan reported to the county board that he had been unable to resolve a dispute between residents and a local grapegrower. Residents of Rancho Solano in Fairfield, Calif. had repeatedly complained about a "bird cannon" that was fired through- out the night, disrupting sleep. He told Wines & Vines that he'd not been able to mediate the problem with the grower in the course of the past three years, so the supervisors took action. "It was the one time we couldn't broker a solution," Allan said. He acknowledged that the gas-fired can- nons are commonly used in the grapegrowing industry and are protected under "right to farm" laws as a useful tool in preventing bird-predation. "We want growers to have the tools," he said. But use of the noisy cannons at night also scares away barn owls, a natural and effective deter- rent to grape-devouring birds and other verte- brate predators. He declined to name the targeted grape- grower but suggested he was a contract vine- yard manager for V. Sattui Winery in neighboring Napa County. When contacted by Wines & Vines, Tom Da- vies, president of the 40,000-case winery, said that although he was not fully aware of the problem in Solano, "I'll take responsibility." He had been informed last year that the cannons were going off at night. "There is no reason for that, and that was not our intention. Our vineyard supervisor said he'd forgotten to turn them off for a night or two. As soon as we found out, we bought solar timers last year to regulate them. "We grow some 300 acres of grapes in dif- ferent counties. I feel badly about this situation, and we regret it," he said. "When I found out, it seemed like a waste of propane," Davies said of the gas-fired can- nons. "People want to live in ag areas: It's desir- able, but we also need to farm." Davies said the Solano vineyard grows mostly Gamay grapes, valued at about $900 per ton. "Here in Napa, if you have expensive fruit, you'd install bird netting." Now the cannons have been removed and replaced with machines that broadcast predator calls. "It's important to be good neighbors," Davies said. "As more people move closer to agriculture, everyone has to give a bit." Effective in 30 days from its adoption, Sec- tion 22.70 specifies that the "noise-making de- vices...shall not be operated more than 11 times per hour, and only from one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset." —Jane Firstenfeld Vineyard Cannons: Hold Your Fire © 2015 StaVin Inc. StaVın Inc, P.O.Box 1693, Sausalito,CA 94966 (415) 331-7849 f (415) 331-0516 stavin.com Recently, we installed high technology smoke fltration scrubbers atop our oak toasting facility. It wasn't cheap, and though the decision was a completely voluntary one, unrequired by law, we felt obliged to do it. The last twenty-four years have taught us a deep gratitude and respect for nature. And that you should never bite the hand that feeds you. ® Propane-powered bird cannons like these triggered complaints in Solano County.