Viticulture briefs

<p class="bold allcaps">Fruit growers to meet on moth threat</p> <p>The Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner's Office will hold two meetings for grape, olive and other fruit growers in March and April to discuss the threat posed by the European Grapevine Moth.</p><p>Each meeting will feature an overview of the program to fight the moth and discuss the pest's biology, damage, monitoring and control. Both will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.</p><p>On March 26, the meeting will be held in Sonoma at the Schell-Vista Fire Department, 22950 Broadway.</p><p>On April 16, the meeting will be held in Santa Rosa at the Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave.</p><p>RSVP is required. For questions, visit www.sonoma-county.org/agcomm, or contact Stefan Parnay or Alexis Ramey at 565-2371.</p><h3>Web site educates about sharpshooter</h3> <p>Three wine industry groups have launched a Web site to educate and build support among winegrape growers and vintners for the upcoming referendum on an assessment to fund research on Pierce's disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.</p><p>The Web site, www.protectyourvineyard.com, was designed by a coalition made up of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, Family Winemakers of California and Wine Institute.</p><p>Enacted in 2001, the assessment has been one of the primary sources of funding for research addressing Pierce's disease and its primary vector, the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The referendum gives winegrape growers and vintners the opportunity to vote on continuing the assessment until 2016.</p><p>The assessment allows for grapes to be assessed up to $3 per $1,000 of crop value. For the past two years the assessment rate has been set at $1 per $1,000.</p><p>Ballots will be sent out the week of March 29. At least 40 percent of eligible growers must cast ballots to validate the referendum. Passage requires either a "yes" vote by 65 percent of those voting who represent the majority of the assessment that was paid in 2009, or a "yes" vote by a majority of those voting who represent 65 percent or more of the assessment that was paid in 2009.</p><h3>Nicholson honored as Woman of Year</h3> <p>Sonoma Valley vintner Ramona Nicholson was named 2010 Woman of the Year in the 6th Assembly District by Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.</p><p>Born and raised on Nicholson Ranch, Nicholson is now responsible for all aspects of the family-owned vineyard and winery. She is respected within the wine industry for her expertise in wine production and her volunteer work with the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance, Huffman said.</p><p>Nicholson, her husband and three children were honored March 8 at the State Capitol during the annual Woman of the Year ceremony.</p><p>— Press Democrat staff</p>