SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Strategies & Market Trends : Buy and Sell Signals, and Other Market Perspectives
SPY 680.44+0.6%Dec 19 4:00 PM EST

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: the longhorn who wrote (171626)4/17/2022 1:17:29 AM
From: Drygulch Dan  Read Replies (1) of 220476
 
Sounds like you have been there and done that. Really, I never wanted to own that farm. The wife wanted to make wine from our own grapes and it was listed at what looked like a bargain price when we bought it, probably due to the effects of the RE down turn from 2008.

So I bought a tractor and learned how to farm grapes, to a mediocre degree. I should have spotted the infestation earlier and I should have involved my PCA earlier in dealing with remediation. The two diseases from his sampling - Red Blotch and Leaf Curl are viruses transmitted by little flying bugs that drill into the softer grape tendrils for nourishment. Once the plant is infected, nothing kills the viruses other than fire. Had to rip out the vines, roots an all then burn. These diseases are rampant in grape growing areas. Look for big rounded hay stack looking piles of vines and you will see evidence of the infestation.

We were located in the Lodi Appelation in Caifornia. We were a very small grower. Typically around here are 100 to 1000 acre fields. Our cooperative backyard field was a total of about 11 to 12 acres. Our five and half acre portion contained about 4300 plants they were about 20 years old. Cabernet can remain productive for about 30 to 40 years. So there was still a lot of life left in those vines when we bought them back in 2013.

The original owner lost the property in about 2010 due to foreclosure by Wells Fargo. A flipper bought it and sold it to us a couple years later. It came with a usable house and a troubled well. I fixed the well issues, that was easy but costly.

Removing the grapes involved removing all the metal in the field - end posts, grape stakes, and tons of wire which we coiled back up all hand labor plus drip line removal. I left all the underground plumbing. Then with machines the grape vines could be pulled out. To avoid costs I did most of the work myself. Cost me time, mainly during Covid, but I didn't get the disease until afterwards when I went to a wedding. Sold the farm last July, paid a huge tax bill the other day.to Fed and State.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext