February 2022 - 11

Extension viticulture farm advisor in
Fresno County. Zhuang has received
" a lot " of calls from growers about the
chemical supply issues, which are also
affecting fertilizers. He's been urging
them to move away from traditional
herbicides to mechanical means or
biocontrol such as sheep or fowl - even
though they might be more expensive.
Zhuang estimates that while a weed
program comprises 5% to 10% of total
production costs in a normal year
with the usual herbicides, the use of
non-chemical alternatives could hike
that percentage up to 10% to 20%. In
addition to their impact on the bottom
line, effective herbicides are especially
crucial to grape growers because
vines - unlike tree crops - cannot
naturally shade out weeds with
expansive canopies.
to spray (around March) - they'll
hopefully have that Rely. "
" Careful planning and
forecasting is going to be
more important than ever,
that's really the key. "
− George Zhuang,
University of California
Silver lining to supply
crisis?
Large-scale growers and retailers
weed control measures, some smaller
growers have essentially given up the
fight - simply letting the weeds take over.
" They're just letting it go wild until
the dormant season, " she said. " They're
hoping that - by when they do start
are buying up those scarcer products
when they can, in anticipation of future
shortages during critical times. Biancardi
said that while his company traditionally
runs inventories down at the end of the
season, they are instead stocking up on
herbicides that customers will demand.
" Careful planning and forecasting is
going to be more important than ever,
that's really the key, " he said. " At this
point we can't guarantee 'business as
usual,' based on what we're hearing. "
Shaking off old habits might actually
bring some benefits to business,
according to Alvarado, as a forced shift
away from chemicals could prove to be
a selling point for customers, from a
sustainability and marketing standpoint.
" Out of this shortage, there might be
some good, some wins, " she said, " but at
the same time, we're going to need some
answers. I think it's going to be a bumpy
road. "
Calling the confluence of drought,
record heat and a shortage of chemicals
a " perfect storm. " Zhuang said that
consumers could start feeling those jolts
as well.
" Eventually, somebody is going
to eat the costs - either the farming
community or the consumer is going to
eat the cost, I hate to say it, " he said. FGN
Some growers have turned to sheep and
other biocontrol measures as alternatives to
herbicide application. Photo: Evett Kilmartin
" Right now, people can still scramble
around and find some limited chemicals
to make sure the crop is successful for
the harvest, but if the situation goes for
another year, I think there's going to be a
panic in farming communities, " Zhuang
said.
Herbicide challenges
expected to linger
Unfortunately, the availability of
certain products is likely going to be
" challenged " into at least the middle of
2022, according to Andy Biancardi, a
Salinas-based sales manager at WilburEllis,
an international marketer and
distributor of agricultural products and
chemicals.
Biancardi said the suppliers he
talks to are advising people to make
preparations.
The supply of glyphosate, the key
component in products such as
RoundUp (used by many Midwestern
farmers), appears to be most affected,
Biancardi said. As a result, that shortage
has put the squeeze on alternatives such
as glufosinate, used in products like
Rely - the herbicide favored by many
California grape growers.
" The cost of glufosinate has definitely
gone up because there just isn't enough,
so everyone is obviously marking it up, "
said Biancardi, who estimates that prices
for both glyphosate and glufosinate are
up 25% to 30% for growers.
" And that's if you can get it, " he added.
Alvarado said that while large
commercial operations are able to pay
the premium prices or shift to other
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February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2022