Carbon Farming for Successful Vineyard Systems
This lecture by Dr. David Montgomery will present research from his books Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations and Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life, with a particular focus on the benefits of no-till farming and cover crop management. The aim is to provide a profitable recipe to rebuild soil organic matter, cultivate beneficial soil life, smother weeds, and suppress pests while using far less fossil fuel, fertilizer, and pesticide for a positive impact on the health of your environment, workers, and profitability.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service will also be on hand to answer questions and share resources developed for farmers to increase soil health and grower profitability.
View the Session Recording
Speaker Bios
Cory Owens is the state soil scientist and soil health coordinator for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service based out of Portland. She leads the technical soil services program across the state, which includes helping farmers, ranchers, and foresters learn how a healthy soil can help them. Cory completed her undergraduate work in crop and soil science at Oregon State University and her graduate work at the University of California, Davis, earning a M.S. in soil science. Her favorite soil is Amity.
Dan Rinke’s winegrowing career began with a B.S. in viticulture with a minor in plant science from Fresno State University. After school, he worked as the assistant winemaker at Domaine Alfred and then became viticulturist at Rhys Vineyards. In 2007, Dan took the position as winegrower (vineyard manager/winemaker) at Johan Vineyards, an 85-acre certified organic/Biodynamic, dry farmed, and minimally-tilled vineyard and winery in the Willamette Valley. He views making wine through the lens of an organic farmer and treats his cellar philosophy like his farming approach; all fermentations are uninoculated with minimal additions or interventions.
In 2011, Dan and his wife Kim Hamblin started Art+Science Cider+Wine on their property, Roshambo ArtFarm, a 50-acre farm that has hay fields, pastures, an annual music festival, and a 15-acre diversified, no-till, Biodynamic, dry farmed, regenerative orchard. Dan also consults for a few vineyards, orchards, wineries, and cideries with interests in organic/Biodynamic farming and low intervention wine and cider production.
In 2011, Dan and his wife Kim Hamblin started Art+Science Cider+Wine on their property, Roshambo ArtFarm, a 50-acre farm that has hay fields, pastures, an annual music festival, and a 15-acre diversified, no-till, Biodynamic, dry farmed, regenerative orchard. Dan also consults for a few vineyards, orchards, wineries, and cideries with interests in organic/Biodynamic farming and low intervention wine and cider production.
Karl Mohr spent the last 13 years in Oregon vineyards as a crew worker, vit-tech, and viticulturist. An informal interest in botany, herbology, plant propagation, organic farming, and permaculture was married to a deep affinity for wine. In his role as a viticulturist for Atlas Vineyard Management, Karl has implemented and explored novel approaches to pest control, vineyard nutrition, cover cropping, crop estimation, irrigation, and vine disease monitoring and treatment. Additionally, Karl continues to investigate no-till farming, regenerative practices, integration of the wildscape into the vineyard, alternative varieties for Oregon, Biodynamic farming, and bio-pest control.
After receiving a B.A. from Ohio University in Spanish, Karl relocated to Salem, Oregon, and obtained an A.S. in Vineyard Management from Chemeketa Community College where he later taught classes. His involvement in the industry includes the OWB Research Committee, Adopt-a-Researcher Program, LIVE, Willamette Valley Tech Committee, and North Valley Biodynamic Group.
After receiving a B.A. from Ohio University in Spanish, Karl relocated to Salem, Oregon, and obtained an A.S. in Vineyard Management from Chemeketa Community College where he later taught classes. His involvement in the industry includes the OWB Research Committee, Adopt-a-Researcher Program, LIVE, Willamette Valley Tech Committee, and North Valley Biodynamic Group.
Dr. David R. Montgomery is a MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington. He is an internationally recognized geologist who studies landscape evolution and the effects of geological processes on ecological systems and human societies. An author of award-winning popular-science books, David has been featured in documentary films, network and cable news, and on a wide variety of TV and radio programs including NOVA, PBS NewsHour, Fox and Friends, and All Things Considered. His books have been translated into nine languages. David lives in Seattle with his wife Anne Biklé and their black lab guide-dog dropout Loki.
