(Winesandvines) - San Rafael, Calif.—In 1999, vine deaths in large portions of vineyard acreage in Temecula made it clear to the California wine industry and state, local and federal agencies that the glassy-winged sharpshooter’s (GWSS) vectoring of Pierce’s Disease (PD) put the entire state grape crop at risk. 

The next year, the California Department of Food and Agriculture established the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP) to work with the grape industry, the US Department of Agriculture, County Agricultural Commissioners, the University of California and other state and local agencies on this serious problem (see sidebar for program details). 

Due to the limited knowledge of PD and GWSS, the early emphasis was on funding research to develop new and better ways to manage the PD/GWSS issue. Recognizing the need and value of addressing this problem, and with the federal and state governments spending millions of dollars to control the spread of GWSS, the California winegrape industry chose to shoulder its share of the financial costs. 

In 2001, an annual, value-based assessment on wine grapes was established, primarily to fund PD/GWSS research. To date the assessment has generated more than $55 million.