Aug 18, 2008
Retired UC Cooperative Extension viticulture advisor Bill Peacock was christened "Tulare County's grape guru" in the headline of a Visalia Times-Delta story that lauded his 36-year career.
The story of his UCCE odyssey was punctuated with warm praise.
"I would say, in my eyes, Bill is one of the heroes of the industry," grower Alfred Guimarra was quoted in the article.
"Bill turned out to be an outstanding farm adviser," grower Pat Pinkham was quoted.
The article said Peacock played a prominent role in some of the most important innovations for Central Valley grape growers in the last 50 years. Among them:
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Introduction of drip irrigation, which cut per-acre water use in half.
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Use of gable v-shaped trellises, which doubled per-acre grape production
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Development of dried-on-the-vine raisin-production system, often called the "Peacock system," which doubled per-acre raisin production.
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Identification of ideal fertilizer-application times, mostly post-harvest, which ended years of wintertime applications.
For more on Bill Peacock's career, you can also read this news release from the UC ANR News and Information Outreach.
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