Join a lively conversation about tapping the power of one of our chief assets in the climate struggle: the soil. The panel will discuss the role of farming in adapting to climate change: how vineyards and working lands can contribute to the recovery of resilient landscapes in the face of increasing climatic instability, how mycorrhizal networks regulate nutrient and energy flows, and how those networks are affected by farming practices. The group will also share practical experience on implementing practices on-farm to build soil, increase organic matter and improve the overall health of the landscape on your own property.

1. Logo here
Long-Term Economics of Generative Farming
Jason Lett, Proprietor and Winegrower

2. 1965 1966 - 1967

3. “Here’s the bug,
and here’s how
to kill it”

4. The Eyrie

5. Estate
Vineyards
• 57 Acres
• 5 sites
• Elev. 180’-870’
• Legacy
Organic
• Legacy Non-
irrigated
• Legacy no-till
The Dundee Hills
SISTERS
DAPHNE
THE EYRIE
ROLAND GREEN
OUTCROP

7. • Diverse, native cover
• Mowed, not plowed
• Stable system (no weeds)
• Diverse soil microbiology
• Lower drought stress
• Soil Nutrient “mapping”
Benefits:
Generative
Soil

8. • Diversity feeds complexity
• Wine character and expressivity
Generative
Soil

9. • Diversity feeds complexity
• Wine character and expressivity
Generative
Soil

10. Generative Soil - what are
the costs?
Conventional Assumptions:
• Use of Systemic Fungicides = lower spray frequencies
• Lower canopy management costs
• Herbicides - lower weed control costs

11. Generative Soil - what are
the costs?
Cost Comparisons (Variable costs only):
• Manual Labor hours
• Tractor Labor hours
• Chemical costs
• Not included: irrigation, fixed costs, fuel

12. VINEYARD ECONOMICS: ESTABLISHING AND PRODUCING PINOT NOIR WINE
GRAPES IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON
Beau Olen and Patty Skinkis, AEB 0060 October 2018
Cost Analysis

13. OREGON VITICULTURE
Edward Hellman (Editor), OSU Press 2003
Cost Analysis

14. Compared against average
costs at Eyrie 2016 - 2018

15. • Olen/Skinkis: 8x4 (1362 Vines per Acre)
• Hellman: 7x5 (1245 Vines per Acre)
• Eyrie: Mainly 10x6 (old) 8x5 (new)
• Average: 871 Vines per Acre
Controlling for Vine Spacing…
… broke down manual budgets to hours/vine
…Hours per Vine

16. Labor Time, Hours/Vine

17. 0.
0.035
0.07
0.105
0.14
HOURSPERVINE
OLEN/SKINKIS HELLMAN EYRIE
Labor Hours

18. 0.
0.0125
0.025
0.0375
0.05
HOURSPERVINE
OLEN/SKINKIS HELLMAN EYRIE
Training
(3x catchwires + VSP)

19. 0.
0.0075
0.015
0.0225
HOURSPERVINE
OLEN/SKINKIS HELLMAN EYRIE
MACHINE
Leaf Pull

20. 0.
0.0075
0.015
0.0225
0.03
0.0375
HOURSPERVINE
OLEN/SKINKIS HELLMAN EYRIE
Cluster Thinning

21. 2.26
3.22
2.81 2.76
0.
0.825
1.65
2.475
3.3
4.125
TONSPERACRE
2016 2017 2018 Average
PINOT YIELDS at EYRIE

22. 0.
0.0325
0.065
0.0975
0.13
0.1625
HOURSPERVINE
OLEN/SKINKIS HELLMAN EYRIE
Total Hours/Vine

23. Tractor Time, Hours/Vine
1968

24. The
Fischer
in
action

25. 0.
0.005
0.01
0.015
0.02
0.025
HOURSPERVINE
OLEN/SKINKIS HELLMAN EYRIE
Total Tractor Hours per Vine

26. Chemical Costs
OVS 2018 WINE GRAPE CONVENTIONAL SPRAY PROGRAM
Special thanks to Jose Grimaldo at OVS

27. Spray Supplies - Conventional
$/Acre
FUNGICIDES
Meteor 4L
Microthiol
Ph-D
PureSpray Oil
Quintec
Scala SC
Tebucon
Torino
Vintre
Vivando
FOLIAR NUTRITION
Kelp MC
Solubor
STICKER SPREADER
Kinetic
HERBICIDES
Glystar
Reckon

28. Spray Supplies - Eyrie (Organic)
$/Acre
FUNGICIDES
Microthiol (Sulfur)
Cinnerate (Powdery Eradicant)
Kaligreen (Powdery Eradicant)
Regalia (immune signaler)
Milk Whey
FOLIAR NUTRITION
Kelp MC
Solubor
Milk Whey
STICKER SPREADER
NuFilm P
Kinetic
HERBICIDES
None

29. 0.
22.5
45.
67.5
90.
112.5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
DOLLARS/ACRE
OVS CONVENTIONAL EYRIE
Spray Cost
April June August

30. $535
$242
0.
150.
300.
450.
600.
TOTAL
DOLLARS/ACRE
OVS CONVENTIONAL EYRIE
Spray Cost

31. [VALUE]
[VALUE]
0.
150.
300.
450.
600.
TOTAL
DOLLARS/ACRE
OVS CONVENTIONAL EYRIE
$353
Spray Cost

32. Generative Soil Systems -
the costs:
Cost Comparisons
• Manual Labor hours
• Tractor Labor hours
• Chemical costs

33. Cost Comparisons
• Manual Labor hours - Equivalent
• Tractor Labor hours
• Chemical costs
Generative Soil Systems -
the costs:

34. Cost Comparisons
• Manual Labor hours - Equivalent
• Tractor Labor hours - Equivalent
• Chemical costs
Generative Soil Systems -
the costs:

35. Cost Comparisons
• Manual Labor hours - Equivalent
• Tractor Labor hours - Equivalent
• Chemical costs - Lower
Generative Soil Systems -
the costs:

36. Cost Comparisons
• Manual Labor hours - Equivalent
• Tractor Labor hours - Equivalent
• Chemical costs - Lower
How is this possible?
Generative Soil Systems -
the costs:

37. Thank You