Peoples Company
Pacific Northwest

Alan Busacca is known to many people around the Northwest U.S., California, and beyond as ‘Dr. Dirt’. He is a soil scientist and geologist who some years ago shifted his passion for pure research on agriculture, soil formation, and Ice Age geology toward the applied science of growing grapes for fine wine and helping others do the same.

Alan was professor of soil science, agriculture, and geology from 1982 to 2006 at Washington State University. With a growing personal and professional interest in vineyard consulting, wine grapes, and wine, Alan left WSU in 2006 to pursue a new path. Alan now lives and works in the Columbia Gorge area 70 miles east of Portland, Oregon. He co-owns Volcano Ridge Vineyard near The Dalles, Oregon and sells grapes to about 15 wineries. And he owns Heart Catcher Wines, using his estate-grown fruit to craft terroir-expressive wines.

From 2013 to mid-2014, Alan served as Director of the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College, the premier 2-year winemaking degree program in the Pacific Northwest and as General Manager of the program’s bonded winery, College Cellars.

In the consulting realm, Alan owns Vinitas Vineyard Consultants, evaluating land nationally and internationally for vineyard development, pre-purchase and pre-sale assessment of farmland, and assisting in the design of vineyards. He also serves as an expert witness across the U.S. on hydric soils for wetland litigation.

Alan now also uses his 40 years of professional experience as special advisor to Peoples Company and Agribusiness Trading Group to evaluate and market important vineyard and other agricultural lands in the Pacific Northwest.

Alan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences from University of California, Santa Cruz, worked for several years as a field geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, then earned Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Soil Science from U.C. Davis. His teaching at WSU focused on processes of soil formation, soil classification and mapping, soil resources, and world agriculture.

His research areas at WSU were soil management; the formation and properties of soils of the Pacific Northwest; and how geology and soils have shaped our agriculture and our use of natural resources; the Ice-Age geology of the Pacific Northwest; study of paleosols (ancient soils now buried deep in the windblown loess deposits of the Palouse and other areas of the world) to reconstruct past climates, climate change, and ecology of the Quaternary Period (Ice Ages). While at WSU, Alan authored or co-authored about 50 refereed articles in scientific journals, 6 book chapters, 13 field trip guidebooks, 8 symposium proceedings, 12 other publications, & 80 abstracts.

Raised on a mountain ranch in South East Spokane County, Nicole spent her days raising cattle and equestrian riding, along with being involved in her FFA Chapter showing market cattle. After graduating with a degree in Public Relations and Marketing, Nicole found herself in the world of corporate marketing relations and sales. It didn’t take long for her Ag-centric roots to cross paths with Risk Management in the agricultural insurance sector.

Combining the two spheres allowed her to serve growers in the nine counties surrounding Walla Walla.  With extensive knowledge of the diverse farm and ranch lifestyle and growing practices throughout the Pacific Northwest, from direct seeding technology, irrigated and non-irrigated farming, specialty seed varieties and large animal ranching, joining the ATG Team was a perfect fit to allow her the opportunity to use her experience to assist in the team’s service of its valued clients.

Farm, soil and map area knowledge along with research and development experience within the Ag sector is something she continues to seek out which aids in her position as the Washington State Representative for the Farmer’s Ending Hunger Nonprofit Organization.

In her spare time you will find her hosting the FFA Agronomy CDE training for Touchet High School along with Co-Advising the FFA Chapter and coaching the High School Cheerleading squad. Besides coaching, she enjoys golfing, playing tennis and wine tasting throughout the region. She is also actively involved with many ranches in the area, helping at Bull Sales and getting together with friends and family in Pullman, WA for one of her favorite ways to unwind, Cougar Football Saturdays!

Lori joined the AgriBusiness Trading Group team with a deep understanding of the valuable connections and experiences of orchard and vineyard ownership, wine production and Federal, State and County laws governing winery businesses and economic practices. Lori owned her own vineyard and winery in the “Rocks District AVA” of Milton Freewater. Her on the ground knowledge is backed by Enology and Viticulture education from UC Davis and WSU’s vineyard and winery management programs. Lori adds to AgriBusiness Trading Group's focus of unparalleled customer service, extreme integrity, unmatched professionalism and obsession to always putting client’s needs before her own. ATG continues to serve the needs of clients in the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California.

Adam's entire career, spanning the last 27 years, has been focused on the regional agricultural industry with many of those years spent in farm and food production management and operations. Since 2006, he has been specializing in the representation of clients involved in large agribusiness transfers totaling tens of millions of dollars. With his extensive agribusiness background and hands-on agricultural experience, he is able to understand and appreciate the unique needs of agricultural business and real estate owners throughout the process of divestment or acquisition much better than a generalist real estate broker. Adam is obsessed with placing his client’s needs above his own and always takes the ethical and moral high ground in all dealings.

Adam also considers one of his most important attributes, which can be directly related to years of involvement in the agricultural community, to be a highly ingrained work ethic and belief that hard work and attention to detail will always assist him in exceeding his client’s expectations. Adam's formal education consists of an Associate of Arts degree and extensive, additional undergraduate work in agricultural business and science with ongoing education in commercial real estate business operations, valuation and marketing.  Adam is licensed to sell real estate in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana.

Adam's passion is agribusiness. His ambition is to exceed expectations while assisting clients in the realization of their goals.  Adam would love to put that passion and ambition to work for you!