July 2002
Volume 3 Issue 3
Table of Contents (click on Title)
This Year's Viticulture Field Day
Coping with Two Consecutive
Years of Poor Crops
13th
Annual Viticulture Field Day & Steak Cookout Adgenda
Wine Grape Grower's Luncheon
& Tours
Focus On Red
Comb Your Grapes This Season
Registration for Viticulture Field Day
This Year’s Viticulture Field Day
By: Tom Zabadal, SWMREC Coordinator
Nothing can change this year's disastrous grape crop failure in Southwest Michigan. It has caused economic hardship for everyone associated with this industry. We can only assess the damage and plan accordingly. This year's Viticulture Field Day will be a blend of both traditional presentations and those that address issues arising from spring freezes. In the areas of new technology we'll be demonstrating a laser-guided planting system, as well as an innovative way to install grape posts. Other discussions will address reducing vineyard cash costs in the areas of pruning and weed control. One thing that won't change is the much-appreciated Michigan wine hospitality and steak cookout at the end of the day. We hope that you'll be able to join your grape-growing neighbors for this popular event, which is now in its 13th year.
Coping with Two Consecutive Years of Poor Crops
By: Tom Zabadal, SWMREC Coordinator
A widespread freeze on the evening of April 23rd, left southwest Michigan grape growers
with a small crop for the second year in a row. In r
esponse to this devastating situation, the Michigan Grape Society
sponsored a meeting on May 7th, entitled "What Do You Do When You Have Lost Your
Grape Crop?". Edwin Kerlikowske, Sr., President of MGS, chaired the meeting which
began with a review of the status of the vineyards by Mark Longstroth. Estimates from the
more than 100 growers that attended the meeting ranged from 75-95% crop loss. Subsequent
freezes have continued to whittle away at the already modest crop potential.
Dr. Eric Hanson reviewed the prospects for reducing fertilizer needs for vineyards that would not be cropping. He indicated that in some cases the lack of crop together with fertilization may provide an opportunity to increase vine size in low-vigor vineyards. In other instances, withholding of all fertilizer applications in 2002 may be justified. Dr. Annemiek Schilder reviewed disease control strategies for damaged vineyards. She reviewed trials with several traditional, as well as new fungicide materials. She indicated that in un-cropped vineyards the control of fruit diseases such as black rot and Botrytis would be unnecessary and emphasis for disease control would be limited to those diseases affecting the health of leaf area such as powdery- and downy mildew. Dr. Tom Zabadal reviewed aspects of weed control, row middle management,
possible strategies for increasing fruit set
on questionable vineyard blocks, strategies for chemical suckering of vines, the value of
mechanical shoot positioning in the 2002 growing season to promote bud fruitfulness for
the 2003 crop. He also said that now would be the time to begin consideration of
strategies for mechanical pruning during the next dormant period as a way of reducing cash
costs in preparation for the 2003 crop. Mrs. Ron Jelinek presented information on a
request to Governor Engler to declare the southwest Michigan grape crop a disaster. A
representative from Congressman Fred Upton's office reviewed current farm legislation that
might be of importance to growers. National Grape Coope
9:00 a.m. Trade Show Opens
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Morning Vineyard Workshops
Workshop #1 Frost Irrigation of Concord Vines; Mechanical Pruning of Concord Vines - Tom Zabadal
Workshop #2 Disease Situation in Frost-Damaged Vineyards in 2002 - Annemiek Schilder
Workshop #3 Evaluating Vine Nutrition - Eric Hanson
Workshop #4 Update on Grape Insect Management - Rufus Isaacs and Keith Mason
Workshop #5 Cultural Reduction of Harvest Season Bunch Rot on Pinot Noir - Leah Clearwater10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Indoor Presentations (concurrent with outdoor workshops) SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM
10:30 a.m. Identification of Important Insect Pests of Grape - Natalia Botero-Garces and Elly Maxwell
11:00 a.m. Varietal Impact on Spring Frost Damage and Crop Reduction in 2002 - Stan Howell
12:00 noon Complimentary Luncheon
12:30 p.m. Trade Show Presentations
1:15 p.m. Equipment Demonstrations
Post Installation by Vibration - Bill Mihelich
Stress Testing of End Posts - Richard Ledebuhr
Laser-Guided Planting of Vines - Jim Thompson
Other Equipment by Trade Show Displayers
2:45 - 4:30 p.m. Afternoon Vineyard Workshops
Workshop #6 Current Research on Nitrogen Fertilization of Grapevines - Randy Vos
Workshop #7 Bud Number and Frost Damage and Crop Poten tial on Concord - Stan Howell
Workshop #8 Leaf Removal on White Riesling Vines - Tom Zabadal
Workshop #9 Chateau Herbicide - Gary Kirfman
3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Indoor Presentations (concurrent with outdoor workshops) SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM
3:00 p.m. Photosynthesis and Powdery Mildew - Leah Clearwater
4:45 p.m. Wine Hospitality - Compliments of Michigan Wineries
5:15 p.m. Steak Cookout
DISCLAIMER: Activities of this event are for informational purposes only. No endorsement of products, equipment, or presentation of information is expressed or implied by Michigan State University Extension.
Wine Grape Grower’s Luncheon & Tours
By: Al Gaus, Berrien County MSU Extension Agent and Tom Zabadal, (Coordinator, SWMREC)
Last year was a trial run for a type of meeting that was held in New York several years ago. The idea was to have an informal luncheon meeting for anyone interested in any aspect of wine grapes. It would be held in a combination with an afternoon tour. The first meeting was held last August. It was a good group of around 20 people. They met for lunch at a local restaurant, then went to a couple of vineyards around the Baroda area.
Because of the success of the 2001 meeting, MSU Extension decided to co-sponsor a
series of monthly meetings for all those
involved with the wine industry in Southwest Michigan to include
growers, winemakers, suppliers and agri-business people. Thus far in 2002, there have been
two of these meetings. The first was held at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension
Center. Annemiek Schilder made a presentation on diseases of wine grapes over the lunch
period. This was followed by a tour of some of the research plots on the station. The
finale was an evaluation of several Cabernet franc wines made from grapes from a training
system trial.
The second meeting took place on June 20th. This meeting included a tour of two of the
new wineries in Southwest Michigan. Contessa Wine Cellars was the first stop and owner
Tony Peterson was an excellent host in the luxurious surroundings of his new winery. After
making two vineyard stops along the way, the group arrived at Karma Vista Vineyards,
another new winery. Owners, Joe and Susie Herman, personally greeted us to their beautiful
facility that has panoramic views in several directions. Several new vineyards of premium
wine grape varieties including Pinot noir, Merlot and Riesling surround Karma Vista. Both
of these
new wineries have nicely-decorated, comfortable tasting areas
that contribute to the enjoyment of tasting exciting new Michigan wines.
There are two more of these meetings scheduled in 2002. The July meeting of the Southwest Michigan grape and wine industry will be held on July 18th. It will be begin with a luncheon sponsored by the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council at the Lawton Community Center. To make reservations for this meeting, call Dr. Al Gaus at 616-944-4126. The final one is scheduled for August 22 and that one will be near Jackson, Michigan.
Contact us if you would like to placed on the mailing list for this activity.
by Tom Zabadal. SWMREC Coordinator
Many wine growing areas in the eastern U.S. and Canada are emerging as producers of world class premium red wines. Not many years ago the thought of growing a variety like Merlot in this region of the world was unthinkable but today this, one of four, red wine varieties is being featured in a two and a half day conference bringing together a wealth of growing and winemaking expertise from many so-called cool climate viticultural areas. The annual meeting of the Eastern Section of the American Society of Ecology and Viticulture is just a couple a weeks away featuring not only Merlot but Cabernet franc, Chambourcin and Syrah. For those seriously interested in the pursuit of premium red wines in a cool climate, the details of this meeting program, registration, and hotel accommodations can be found at the ASEV-Eastern Section website at http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/asev/ . Besides the exceptional educational opportunity of this meeting, it will also provide the enjoyment of gourmet meals designed to compliment fine wines and a trip into the Maryland countryside to visit two Boordy Vineyards and enjoy the flair of local foods and wines at Fiore Winery.
By: Mark Longstroth District Horticultural Agent
As a result of April's frost, many grape growers are looking at vineyards with no crop this year. Following on the heels of last year's poor crop, growers do not want to spend much money on their vineyards. It is tempting to cut your losses and just ignore your vineyards this season. With little fruit on these vines, their energy will go into shoot growth. Like last year we will end up with lots of shaded wood that makes poor fruiting canes. I saw lots of dead shots last fall that were still green when freezing temperatures came. These shoots were in the interior of the vine canopy and never formed periderm or turned brown in preparation for winter. The first cold weather killing the green shoots on the vine and is some cases this was a lot of the shoots in the vineyard. You need to develop good wood for next year.
One thing growers can do is shoot positioning or combing this summer. The big advantage of shoot positioning is decreasing shading and eliminating running brush. Positioning the shoots slows their growth, preventing excess wood development. This is especially important in Niagara where we get long bull shoots that can run 10 to 20 feet or more down the trellis. I am sure that most of you know someone with an old mechanical comber. I think it would be time well spent to rip the shoots down out of the canopy to position them for next year and let light into the canopy so the buds close to the cordon get light and develop good fruit wood. Certainly, it is a better use of your time than mowing the vineyard. Do not worry about breaking or ripping out too many shoots. This year we have all the shoots we need. Every shoot you rip off is one less to prune out in the spring and means another shoot you will prune will be in the light. Lots of growers will be doing mechanical pruning next year to save money and this is very effective on vines that are set up for it rather than a mess you walked away from last year.
