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Technical Vineyard Report
by Viticulturalist, Mayacamas Olds

Vineyard Covercrop
The covercrop is primarily composed of Filaree,  Minors Lettuce, Common Chickweed, Persian Speedwell, Mallow, Common Groundsel, some Bur Clover, oats and Calendula.  Many of the plants are already blooming and seed will be set in some cases early.   The “covercrop” is lush and performing well.  It will produce a good amount of biomass for the soil. 

Sheep
Sheep have been brought in to help control covercrop plants.  With the help of a herding dog, they move through the vineyard “mowing” down the lush covercrop.  The blocks the sheep have been in, look really good for the most part.  They are not eating much of the Calendula, but they seem to be doing a really nice job of getting the cover crop down.  This is great for frost protection issues. 

The sheep are getting very fat off of the covercrop and both … Read more »