Statewide Viticulture Extension Program

Meeting announcement for Beginner’s workshop on June 4 in Willsboro and June 5 in Watertown, NY

vines-in-north-country-announcement.pdf

Dr. Loeb, entomologist at Cornell University, provides an annual update of insect pest management. Included are changes in pesticide registrations, insect biology, and management options.

loeb-insect-management-2008.pdf

Wayne Wilcox, Professor of Plant Pathology at the NY State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, writes an annual comprehensive review of disease management programs for vineyards. At 21 pages, this pdf document is lengthy, but packed with excellent information on:

• Changes in fungicide registration, and relative efficacy/cost of different materials
• Biology and control of major grape pathogens
• ‘Putting it all together’ - an overview of fungicide choices based on vine development

Wayne incorporates the latest research results into this document every year. For example, this year’s version includes results of a study on UV light and powdery mildew development - which provides insight on weather-related differences in powdery mildew severity.

Here it is in PDF format:

wilcox-2008-grape-disease-management.pdf

Thanks to Hans Walter-Peterson, Finger Lakes Grape Program (http://flg.cce.cornell.edu) for formatting this document and adding photos.

The eight issues of Veraison to Harvest published in 2007 are now archived at

http://blogs.cce.cornell.edu/grapes/07-veraison-to-harvest-archive/

In late August, Dr. Justine Vanden Heuvel and I traveled to Long Island for a look at the Long Island wine industry.

Here are my impressions of the region:

long-island-viticulture.pdf

long-island-portfolio.pdf

The New York Agricultural Statistics Service projects a 180,000 ton grape crop in NY, up 16% from last year’s 155,000 ton crop. Nationwide, the crop will be up 9% from ‘06, but still 11% below the 2005 season. California’s crop (88% of total) is up 400 T from ‘06, while the Washington State crop is expected to increase from 316,000 T to 381,000 T. Michigan looks like its set to rebound back to 95,000 T, rebounding from last year’s 31,000 T crop, 1/3 of a normal crop. Concord and Niagara Juice grapes comprise a large portion of the Michigan crop as well as the NY and WA crops.

Press release is posted at:

http://www.nass.usda.gov/ny/

This PDF newsletter - intended to be an insert in regional newsletters or stand-alone pdf document - was released today. It contains several articles describing newsworthy events in Cornell Viticulture and Enology Research, Teaching, and extension programs across NY.

Viticulture/Enology Extension Update 6/15/2007

Here is an article that was published in Finger Lakes Vineyard Notes ‘Harvest Issue’. Its a profile of Thomas Henick-Kling, who was Enologist for 17 years at Geneva, and who introduced many ideas and concepts to the fledgling small winery industry. It is done in the form of an interview, and the PDF document is suitable for redistributing to extension audiences.
Focus on Flavors - Thomas Henick-Kling

Hans Walter-Peterson has been appointed Area Extension Educator for Viticulture with the Finger Lakes Grape Program, effective June 1st. He comes to the program following 5 years as Extension Educator - Cultural Practices for the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program. Here is a news release and photo. Congratulations Hans, and good luck as you start your new job.
hans-walter-peterson-joins-finger-lakes-grape-program.doc