Organic vineyard management in California

California grape production is a multi-billion dollar business, but only a small fraction of the productive acreage is farmed organically. One aspect of organic management is the pest control strategies, which rely heavily on biological and cultural controls, as well as approved pesticides. To determine what factors might restrict adoption of organic farming practices, we describe the current status and future needs for three primary arthropod pests: leafhoppers, mealybugs and mites. Two key factors – grape commodity and location – can impact pest and natural enemy abundance, and are discussed with respect to their influence on pest control strategies. Trends in pesticide use are presented as an indication of future direction in vineyard pest management.