The Neal Family Vineyards, Napa Valley. On our land, our working animals are vital to our ecosystem. The animals are an integral part of the way we have farmed vineyards for over 50 years, working with Mother Nature.
Our cattle typically reside up on the Howell Mtn property, grazing the hillsides, aid in a natural fire suppression. Our cattle are too big to roam the vineyards (unlike our sheep & chickens), however they are an integral part of the ranch. Manure from our cattle is collected for our compost piles and for the Biodynamic® preparation #500. Biodynamic® (BD) prep 500 is made from freshly collected cow manure packed into the cow horns and buried at the beginning of the Fall. Six months later the cow horns are unearthed, the organic matter is removed, dynamized with water and then sprayed on the soil during the winter and spring months. Typically, this amounts to roughly a ¼ cup per acre sprayed on the ground/soil/vineyard.
Our animals are also shared with our extended NFV/JNS family. At the end of their life, the meat forms of our animals are shared, either as part of our holiday traditions or part of informal harvest celebrations.
Our sheep, and chickens are allowed into the vineyard once the cover crops are up and mature and before bud break. Our goats forage in the margins of the ranch (outside the vineyard proper) performing essential fire suppression activities. The sheep and chickens in the vine rows, typically takes place in mid to late February until roughly Mid to late March, depending on the season.
The use of animals in vineyards (specifically) sheep has gained traction and acceptance in vineyards over the last 5+ years. However, commercial herders (as opposed to small local flocks) have entered this market to meet this demand. Commercial operators (typically herds for meat) follow grazing programs consisting of many animals (often 300+) working/grazing in a small mobile electric fenced area (~2 acres) until it is mowed down. Once mowed they move them to the next ~2 acres. Growers who request “vineyard grazing” from a larger commercial operator are “scheduled”, i.e. the timing of the arrival of the grazing animals is predetermined regardless of the conditions of the vineyard/weather etc. or if the grower is ready. For example, some growers had sheep in their vineyards since the beginning of January, at a time in which the cover crop (seeded or native vegetation) is very minimal, which increases the opportunity for erosion and soil compaction, especially with significant wet winters.
Compaction in forage crops often occurs within the top 3-4 inches of soil, but it can also appear at deeper levels, forming “hard pans” that restrict the movement of water or allow water to stand. Standing water can cause cover crop dieback or non-start up due to no root development. Soils are compacted, these biological processes stall, leading to a reduction in organic matter that is broken down This early grazing also negates many of the benefits of seeded or managed cover crops and even with the best intention the grazing animals can congregate making “walking paths” which can become compacted. Also, grazing in the vine rows so early in the season (in this case) does not result in the “saving” of a tractor and mowing pass.
Some additional notes on advantages and disadvantages of large-scale animal grazing. It’s very interesting that the commercial herds charge 600-800$/acre for this service in Napa Valley to add pounds to the flock for the spring market. In other areas of California, the commercial herd owners pay the growers for this opportunity. Other important elements to remember as there are some risks or downsides. Sheep will feed on the straw, rub against the vines and trellis, move the canes or chew on them. Sheep can introduce weeds from a different vineyard from the days before. Sheep can ingest elements from the vineyards; I do cringe when I see the sheep eating in vineyards where herbicides were recently sprayed.
Vineyardists (or a grower looking into using in-vineyard grazing), must be more proactive regarding the timing and placement of grazing animals, as this can and will vary from season to season and vineyard to vineyard.
Winter cover crops are planted after harvest, which in a cool late season (such as 2023) was not completed until late October or early November. Newly planted seeds are dependent on winter rains and some sunny days to germinate and grow. With a late season, in early January the typically cover crop in the Napa Valley is just beginning to reach 4-6 inches (at most). In an early season where harvest and seeding are completed by early to mid-October the cover crop may have reached 8-12 inches at the same time, depending of course on the weather (rain and sun) throughout October, November & December. The illustrious Napa Valley Mustard, which is the earliest cover crop, does not really put on its annual show until late January and Early February. Ultra Early grazing combined with a couple large storms increases the risk of soil erosion, as the remaining vegetation (after grazing) is minimal and less able to slow down cascading water and allow for infiltration and any localized compaction decreases the rate of infiltration. In the same taken, cover crops designed to sequester carbon (through the living roots), produce biomass (above & below ground) as well as fix nitrogen are restrained by this early grazing activity. The carbon, produced from growing leaves, shoots & especially roots are the driver of soil health and by restraining their growth (through early grazing) limits the benefits.
The ideal or target for cutting/chopping/mowing a cover crop is either right at or just before flowering or heading (in the case of grains) when its reached its full potential while keeping in mind that there is potential or opportunity for cover crop regrowth which can or will terminate naturally afterwords, resulting in a weed suppressive “stubble” and also serves to protect the soil from the heat from the sun, traffic (tractors) etc. It also gives a great opportunity for beneficial insects to be released.
Cover crops above ground and the roots in the soil (building carbon) that result are especially important in the formation of soil organic matter (SOM). Most vineyards in the west coast (Mediterranean climate) average around 2-3% SOM. SOM is powerful and incredibly important in the soil. Small changes in the SOM percentage lead to huge benefits, for example a 1% increase in SOM increases the water holding capacity of the soil by roughly 25,000 gallons per acre equivalent. Cover crops and the living root in historically farmed organic vineyards can reach 8% a 4X increase from the average vineyard. SOM is also important regarding soil fertility by capturing nutrients to serve as a nutritional reservoir for plant growth and further stimulating the soil microbiome.
At Neal Family Vineyards, we believe it is important to try to work within the spiritual aspect as well as the letter of the BD certification. We believe it is beneficial to (at the very least try to) grow your own BD herbs and use local animals as opposed to purchasing or bring in these items from misc. outside sources/suppliers. It reflects the “sense of place” that runs right through into the vineyard and ultimately into the wines.
The Neal Family Vineyards, Napa Valley. On our land, our working animals are vital to our ecosystem. The animals are an integral part of way we have farmed vineyards for over 50 years, working with Mother Nature.
Our cattle typically reside up on the Howell Mtn property, grazing the hillsides, aid in a natural fire suppression. Our cattle are too big to roam the vineyards (unlike our sheep & chickens), however they are an integral part of the ranch. Manure from our cattle is collected for our compost piles and for the Biodynamic® preparation #500. Biodynamic® (BD) prep 500 is made from freshly collected cow manure packed into the cow horns and buried at the beginning of the Fall. Six months later the cow horns are unearthed, the organic matter is removed, dynamized with water and then sprayed on the soil during the winter and spring months. Typically, this amounts to roughly a ¼ cup per acre sprayed on the ground/soil/vineyard.
Our animals are also shared with our extended NFV/JNS family. At the end of their life, the meat forms of our animals are shared, either as part of our holiday traditions or part of informal harvest celebrations.
Our sheep, and chickens are allowed into the vineyard once the cover crops are up and mature and before bud break. Our goats forage in margins of the ranch (outside the vineyard proper) performing essential fire suppression activities. The sheep and chickens in the vine rows, typically takes place in mid to late February until roughly Mid to late March, depending on the season.
The use of animals in vineyards (specifically) sheep has gained traction and acceptance in vineyards over the last 5+ years. However, commercial herders (as opposed to small local flocks) have entered this market to meet this demand. Commercial operators (typically herds for meat) follow grazing programs consisting of many animals (often 300+) working/grazing in a small mobile electric fenced area (~2 acres) until it is mowed down. Once mowed they move them to the next ~2 acres. Growers who request “vineyard grazing” from a larger commercial operator are “scheduled”, i.e. the timing of the arrival of the grazing animals is predetermined regardless of the conditions of the vineyard/weather etc. or if the grower is ready. For example, some growers had sheep in their vineyards since the beginning of January, at a time in which the cover crop (seeded or native vegetation) is very minimal, which increases the opportunity for erosion, add soil compaction, especially with significant wet winters.
Compaction in forage crops often occurs within the top 3-4 inches of soil, but it can also appear at deeper levels, forming “hard pans” that restrict the movement of water or allow water to stand. Standing water can cause cover crop die back or non-start up due to no root development. Soils are compacted, these biological processes stall, leading to a reduction in organic matter that is broken down This early grazing also negates many of the benefits of seeded or managed cover crops and even with the best intention the grazing animals can congregate making “walking paths” which can become compacted. Also, grazing in the vine rows so early in the season (in this case) does not result in the “saving” of a tractor and mowing pass.
Some additional notes on advantages and disadvantages of the large-scale animal grazing. It’s very interesting is that the commercial herds charge 600-800$/acre for this service in Napa Valley to add pounds to the flock for the spring market. In other areas of California, the commercial herd owners pay the growers for this opportunity. Other important elements to remember as there are some risks or downsides. Sheep will feed on the straw, rub against the vines and trellis, move the canes or chew on them. Sheep can introduce weeds from a different vineyard from the days before. Sheep can ingest elements from the vineyards; I do cringe when I see the sheep eating in vineyards where herbicides were recently sprayed.
Vineyardists (or a grower looking into using in-vineyard grazing), must be more proactive regarding the timing and placement of grazing animals, as this can and will vary from season to season and vineyard to vineyard.
Winter cover crops are planted after harvest, which in a cool late season (such as 2023) was not completed until late October or early November. Newly planted seeds are dependent on winter rains and some sunny days to germinate and grow. With a late season, in early January the typically cover crop in the Napa Valley is just beginning to reach 4-6 inches (at most). In an early season where harvest and seeding are completed by early to mid-October the cover crop may have reached 8-12 inches at the same time, depending of course on the weather (rain and sun) throughout October, November & December. The illustrious Napa Valley Mustard, which is the earliest cover crop does not really put on its annual show until late January and Early February. Ultra Early grazing combined with a couple large storms increases the risk of soil erosion, as the remaining vegetation (after grazing) is minimal and less able to slow down cascading water and allow for infiltration and any localized compaction decrease the rate of infiltration. In the same taken, cover crops designed to sequester carbon (through the living roots), produce biomass (above & below ground) as well as fix nitrogen are restrained by this early grazing activity. The carbon, produced from growing leaves, shoots & especially roots are the driver of soil health and by restraining their growth (through early grazing) limits the benefits.
The ideal or target for cutting/chopping/mowing a cover crop is either right at or just before flowering or heading (in the case of grains) when its reached its full potential while keeping in mind that there is potential or opportunity for cover crop regrowth which can or will terminate naturally afterwords, resulting in a weed suppressive “stubble” and also serves to protect the soil from the heat from the sun, traffic (tractors) etc. It also gives a great opportunity for beneficial insects to be released.
Cover crops above ground and the roots in the soil (building carbon) that result are especially important in the formation of soil organic matter (SOM). Most vineyards in the west coast (Mediterranean climate) average around 2-3% SOM. SOM is powerful and incredibly important in the soil. Small changes in the SOM percentage, lead to huge benefits, for example a 1% increase in SOM increases the water holding capacity of the soil by roughly 25,000 gallons per acre equivalent. Cover crops and the living root in historically farmed organic vineyards can reach 8% a 4X increase from the average vineyard. SOM is also important regarding soil fertility by capturing nutrients to serve as a nutritional reservoir for plant growth and further stimulating the soil microbiome.
At Neal Family Vineyards, we believe it is important to try to work within the spiritual aspect as well as the letter of the BD certification. We believe it is beneficial to (at the very least try to) grow your own BD herbs and use local animals as opposed to purchasing or bringing in these items from misc. outside sources/suppliers. It reflects the “sense of place” that runs right through into the vineyard and ultimately into the wines.
