Yellow Star Thistle Control in Vineyards

Yellow Star Thistle (YST) is a noxious weed that inhabits many of our vineyards and surrounding landscape. It has been very difficult to control and can overcome a vineyard or field very quickly. Its spread can be very vigorous and overcome an area in a matter of two years. We understand that this weed is not always considered an economic pest in our vineyards, but it is definitely a nuisance and it is an economic pest in rangeland situations. With the reduced rainfall in 2007 the seed count is very low and this year there is a good opportunity to gain control of this noxious weed.

There are a few steps to en effective treatment plan:
1. Survey your property and identify areas with populations of YST. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.
2. Develop and spray or a mechanical cultivation program to treat the weeds before they get too big. Spray equipment can be shared or expenses split between neighbors.
3. Follow up in April and early May to re-spray areas that were missed.
4. Finally, some hand hoeing might be necessary to eliminate any mature plants that have gone to seed. It is extremely important to eliminate all mature plants, because the seeds from one plant this year can produce up to 100 plants next year.

Information on treatment and control can be reached at the following locations:
1. Your Local Farm Chemical Dealer
2. County Agricultural Commissioner 781-7910
3. Rex Swan- SLO Cattleman’s Association 674-3077
4. Mark Battany- UC Cooperative Extension (mcbattany@ucdavis.edu) 781-5948
http://cesanluisobispo.ucdavis.edu/Viticulture/Yellow_Starthistle.htm

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"It's Me and Steve here, and we can keep our arms around it."

Jim Kroener, owner of Silver Horse Winery & Vineyards

Call it a fluke, or destiny. In just a few years, Silver Horse has reached the status that most wineries take decades to
achieve. Jim Kroener has discovered the personal gratification that comes from owning a vineyard, which came about from
an unexpected inquiry.

Jim and Suzanne Kroener visited Silver Horse on a weekend
getaway in 1994. They met the winery's owner and upon
returning home, the first inquiry came their way. Jim's business
was well established in Southern California. He “thought” he
had no intention of buying a vineyard. The second call came.
This time, the proposal was intriguing enough for the Kroener’s
to consider moving to Paso Robles and own a winery. The rest
is history. From 1996, they worked in a pole barn. Vineyard
Manager, Bob Goodwin taught them what they needed to know
about wine grape growing. When Jim's son Steve learned that
a vineyard operation was becoming a reality, his career plans
changed quickly. Steve is now the winemaker and the
completion of the new tasting room and special event venue is a
credit to his prior construction background and vision for architectural design.

Sandy loam, clay, cobblestone, and a long growing season nurtures their 80 acres of varietals Tempranillo, Garnacha,
Petite Verdot, Malbec, Cab, Zin and Syrah. The two distinct climatic regions of the Paso Robles area present many challenges.
Yet, at the heart of growing premium wine grapes is the solidarity between growers. The Kroener's are proud members of
IGGPRA. Silver Horse is enjoying remarkable success. And Jim Kroener is living his life-long dream of working with his son.

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