Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Workgroup

In October 1999 the Division approved funding for a statewide workgroup to promote collaborative planning and coordination of University research and extension activities related to GWSS.  The IPM of Glassy-Winged Sharpshooters and the Diseases They Vector is one of more than 70 workgroups established by the ANR Program Council.  These workgroups bring together AES scientists, UCCE specialists and advisors, and other partners to address emerging and continuing high priority issues important to California’s agricultural, natural and human resources communities.

The GWSS workgroup met for the first time on January 10-11, 2000, at UC Riverside.  Over 25 members were present including UC scientists, specialists and farm advisors, representatives from CDFA, and from the wine and grape industries.  The two-day meeting included reports on GWSS/PD activity in Riverside, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and the San Joaquin Valley; a review of CDFA GWSS/PD Task Force research priorities and draft recommendations from the UC Task Force; an update on regulatory and quarantine issues; and discussion and agreement on research and extension outreach objectives for the workgroup.

The GWSS workgroup also took the opportunity to discuss ways to better coordinate the review and selection of research proposals for Pierce’s disease and the GWSS and BGSS competitive research programs funded by CDFA, the University, USDA and the grape industry.  This collaboration and review is viewed as an important step in maximizing the value of research expenditures and reducing the possibility of duplicate funding of similar projects.