From new canopy management tools to new wireless solutions, growers can learn about some of latest tools and technology for wine grape management at the 2012 Central Coast Vine Symposium. The two‐day wine grape production conference and trade show will be held March 6‐7, 2012 at the Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, Calif.

The theme for the 2012 wine production conference is “Learning from Adversity: how to turn yesterday’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.” The conference will host top‐notch wine grape industry speakers from around the state addressing topics such as irrigation and fertility, soils, frost, pests and diseases, grape vine stress and more. The VINE Showcase is the trade show affiliated with the meeting.  Exhibitors include local, regional and national companies that provide viticulture products and services.

Companies such as Adcon Telemetry – which recently merged with McCrometer – will be introducing its expanded ability to provide wireless flow measurement solutions. For many years, Adcon has provided growers with wireless environmental monitoring solutions, and now with its new alliance with McCrometer, growers will be able to wirelessly monitor the flow rate of their wells.

“McCrometer Connect now allows us to offer integrated solutions that will allow growers to seamlessly and effortlessly monitor the flow rate of their wells and the environmental conditions in their vineyard,” said Steve Grove, an Adcon Marketing Specialist.

“McCrometer is a world-leader in flow meter manufacturing and water measurement.  We are California-based and literally have hundreds of thousands of meters across the U.S. and internationally.  With McCrometer Connect, we are now flow-instrumentation specialists.”

Adcon will also be showcasing its new “LiveData” application.  It’s an easy-to-use navigation system that allows growers to browse through the data from their stations using Google maps. The information is updated automatically without any user intervention and can be accessed from smart phones and tablets, as well as computers.

Other companies such as BASF will be on hand to talk about its new product, Vivando – a fungicide that gives grape growers a new and unique mode of action to fight powdery mildew.

“Vivandowill be an important addition to the grape grower’s disease control arsenal,” said William Strickland, BASF Vivando Marketing Manager. “The active ingredient, metrafenone, is the first fungicide to be developed in its chemical class, giving growers a new way to fight yield-robbing powdery mildew.”

Powdery mildew was a huge problem for Central Coast vineyards last year so according to Central Coast vineyard manager and VINE host, Lowell Zelinski, this new product is an important development for growers.

“The big thing about Vivando is its new mode of action,” said Zelinski. “Fungi get resistant to how fungicides work and can overcome their ‘mode of action.  BASF has extensive research that shows that Vivando does not exhibit cross-resistance to any of the known fungicide modes of action. It also has some other key advantages for fighting powdery mildew which growers can learn about when the come to the meeting.”

Wine industry members can also find out about vineyard equipment, vineyard nutrients and pest and disease prevention products, vineyard management services, vines and rootstocks, wine caves, frost protection insurance and new canopy management technology from companies such as Advanced Viticulture, Cal West Rain, Cal-Coast Machinery, Coastal Tractor, Duarte Trees & Vines, Mitchell Insurance Services, Netafim, Nordby Construction, Nutrient Technologies, Oro Agri, Inc., PanAm Insurance, Paso Robles Polaris & Specialized Equipment Repair, Precision Ag Consulting, Sunridge Nurseries, Suterra, TechnoVineyard, Vintage Nurseries, and the Wallace Group.

Western Farm Press is a symposium sponsor.

For a complete list of speakers, topics and exhibitors, to register or for more information about the Central Coast VINE Symposium, visit www.vinesymposium.com or call (805) 434‐3331.