Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/816747
70 WINES&VINES May 2017 GRAPEGROWING Wines & Vines magazine are part of Wine Communications Group.) The panel at Unified focused more on high-tonnage vineyards, but at WiVi vineyard managers for Jackson Family Wines and Trea- sury Wine Estates discussed how they've mechanized premium vineyard operations as well. Speakers on both panels said there's a need for more mechani- zation but stressed it isn't yet a one-size-fits-all solution that can easily be brought to just any vine- yard. "I truly do feel that what we talk about here today, we're mov- ing in the right direction," Aaron Lange, the vice president of vine- yard operations for LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, which owns more than 7,000 acres of vineyards in the Lodi, Calif., area, said during Unified. "We will absolutely have a no- touch vineyard in five or 10 years. I truly believe it." A shrinking, aging labor pool Lange said 90% of all farm labor in California is from Mexico, but only about 2% of those workers are newcomers, and the work- force is getting older: The average age is now 38. He said immigra- tion has continued to decline in recent years, and in fact there is now a net negative immigration back to Mexico. "Especially with the recent an- nouncements we have in the news at the federal level, this is a very big issue for us as far as the supply of labor in agricultural fields among other industries, and so I urge you to really get involved politically," he said. "If you don't belong to an as- sociation that advocates on behalf of your interest, you absolutely need to get involved in one." Just as the number of available workers continues to shrink, the cost of labor is poised to increase. California is raising the minimum wage, and agricultural workers will also soon be eligible for more overtime pay. Labor already accounts for 50% of his farming costs, and Lange expects that to increase. "You can imagine we're going to have to either reduce those labor inputs or ask our wineries to pay us a hell of a lot more in order for us to survive with sustainable economics in our vineyard prac- tices," he said. Lange offered the session au- dience a detailed look at some of the steps LangeTwins has taken to reduce those labor costs and mechanize more op- erations. Most of the vineyards have been changed to 65-inch- high bilateral cordon to accom- modate machines for harvesting and pruning. To provide a specific exam- ple, Lange said a new vineyard with 65-inch bilateral cordon, with 10-gauge wire, drip wire and a stake at every vine would cost about $11,000 per acre to develop. "Our total cost to de- velop that vineyard is not cheap, and I don't think we'd be able to do it again for this cost where Save the Date! Lodi Vineyard & Wine Economics Symposium Lodi on the move to the forefront For Sponsorship Opportunities, contact Waunice Orchid at 707-666-2525 or send an email to waunice@winesymposium.com Photo Courtesy: Lodi Winegrape Commission June 29, 2017 Wine & Roses Conference Center, Lodi, California www.winesymposium.com T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S Most harvesters have a turn radius of 90° and can navigate tight turns be- tween rows.