To keep molds and pests at bay, the Fenocchios use copper-based products to prevent downy mildew from forming on their grapes and sulphur-based products to keep away powdery mildew, but in very small amounts and only as necessary depending on temperature and humidity, both of which can make plants more prone to disease. Copper and sulphur, which are found naturally in soil, are alternatives to the harsher, synthetic chemical products that non-organic producers use. The farm stays far away from so-called systemic pesticides, for example, which are applied through drip irrigation lines and taken up into the tissues of the plant itself, rather than merely being sprayed on the surface. The vineyard also uses pyrethrum, a natural insecticide found in the flower heads of chrysanthemum plants, instead of artificial insecticides. The Fenocchios are in the process of applying to become certified as an organic farm under EU regulations.
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