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16 WINES&VINES December 2015 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS Eaton's BECOPAD ® depth filter sheets provide excellent filtration while maximizing throughput. It's the choice for winemakers who demand high capacity, minimal drip loss and virtually no color adsorption. Visit www.eaton.com/wine or contact Marge DeAngelis 732-212-4703. Get the Clear Advantage F I LT R AT I O N P R E C I S I O N USDA May Help Replant Burned California Vineyards S an Rafael, Calif.—As many as a dozen vineyards were scorched or destroyed by wildfires in California's Lake County and Sierra Foothills in summer 2015. Some owners have already applied for federal as- sistance under the USDA's Tree Assistance Pro- gram (TAP), and others may still be eligible, though they must act now to get funding. Katie Delbar, county executive director of the USDA's Farm Service Agency for Lake and Mendocino counties, confirmed that some vineyards in Middletown, Calif., had been damaged by wildfires, and told Wines & Vines, "I think TAP will be a good fit to help them replace and re- habilitate their vines." She suggested that growers begin the claims process "by the end of the year." Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Wine Commission, said, "Approximately 10 vineyards in southern Lake County were impacted by the Valley Fire. Vineyard damage ranged from some heat-damaged leaves along outer vineyard rows to vine damage and trunk charring. Ad- ditional damage included losses of irrigation systems and melted water pumps, trellising and fencing, as well as lost equipment such as tractors." She commended the USDA's Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. "The two agencies have provided in- credible support to impacted grapegrowers." In Calaveras County, vineyards were affected by the Butte Fire, but Jeff Torres, county farm services executive director, said recently that he'd only had direct contact with a single grower. Kevin Locke, owner of Locke Vineyards, told Wines & Vines that the crop in a 5-acre Zinfan- del vineyard in Mountain Ranch was destroyed just before harvest. The grapes, Locke said, were insured, but he hopes to draw upon TAP funds for subsidies including cost sharing for vine replacement, fencing and irrigation equipment. Locke is trying to look at the disaster as an opportunity. "We're thinking about grafting some over to Barbera. In the section that's re- ally burnt, we could interplant." Steve Collum of Vineyard Concepts LLC had leased a 9-acre vineyard planted to Syrah and Viognier near Mountain Ranch, Calif. He lost his entire crop and about half the vines—along with drip irrigation lines—just prior to harvest. The crop was insured, but the fate of the vine- yard is still uncertain. "Most of the vines don't need to be re- placed, but they need to be rehabbed," Collum said. "I'm meeting with owners, because I'm just leasing. I'll have to see if they want to continue." —Jane Firstenfeld Steve Collum lost his entire crop to the Butte Fire that burned nearly 71,000 acres in California.