Crop Protection for Vineyards

Protect your Grapes

Vineyards face constant threats from pests, birds, and extreme weather. Each season, these challenges can mean the difference between a bumper crop and significant losses. The right crop protection solutions not only safeguard your grapes but also help you boost yields and maintain fruit quality throughout the season.

Why Crop Protection Matters

Birds alone can consume up to 10% of a vineyard’s harvest each year, with red varieties particularly at risk. Besides direct consumption, birds can wound grapes, introduce bacteria, and spread fungal diseases—leading to further crop loss and diminished fruit quality. Heat waves and sun exposure can also damage grapes, causing shrivel, sunburn, and reduced yields.

Bird Netting: Your First line of defense

Bird netting is recognized as the most effective and environmentally friendly solution for protecting grapes from avian pests. Unlike scare devices, which birds can become accustomed to, netting creates a physical barrier that prevents birds from reaching the fruit. This method is noiseless, neighbor-friendly, and aligns with sustainable vineyard practices by reducing the need for chemical repellents.

Tip: Use netting clips to secure nets against wind. 

Benefits of Bird Netting:

• Prevents significant crop losses from birds
• Maintains fruit integrity and market value
• Reduces disease risk by limiting bird contact
• Lowers reliance on pesticides
• Cost-effective and reusable across seasons

Available Netting Sizes:

• 14-ft x 100-ft ¾” Mesh Black
• 14-ft x 500-ft ¾” Mesh Black
• 14-ft x 5000-ft ¾” Mesh Black

• 42-in x 5000-ft ¾” Mesh Black
• Medium Knit 17-ft x 2500-ft 

Bird Scare: Additional Protection

While netting is the gold standard, bird scare devices can provide an added layer of defense, especially early in the season or in areas where full netting isn’t practical. These deterrents use visual and auditory cues to frighten birds away from the vineyard.

Note: Birds can become habituated to scare devices over time, so rotating deterrents and combining them with netting is most effective.

Available Bird Scare Items:

• Red/Silver Mylar Tape 1-in x 500-ft
• Holographic Mylar Tape 1-in x 500-ft
• Bird-B-Gone MMSEB Eye Balloon Yellow

• Zon Mark 4 Propane Scare Cannon
• And More

Shade Cloth: Protection from Heat and Sun

With rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves, shade cloth is becoming essential for grape growers. Shade cloth moderates the microclimate around grape clusters, reducing sunburn, lowering fruit zone temperatures, and minimizing the risk of heat-related berry shrivel.

Benefits of Shade Cloth:

• Lowers cluster temperature during heat waves
• Reduces sunburn and berry shrivel
• Limits fungal disease risk by controlling humidity
• Promotes even ripening and higher quality fruit

Available Shade Cloth:

• 24-in x 3000-ft Green/Black
• 24-in x 3000-ft Black
• 48-in x 3000-ft Black

Shop Early for Best Selection

All these crop protection supplies are available at our Ag locations in Napa, St. Helena, and Healdsburg, or through our online store.

Grape protection items are in stock seasonally, starting in June. Make sure to get your quote in early for best product selection and availability!

Get a Quote Shop Crop Protection