NYS IPM Grapes

With the labor problems we are seeing in New York and parts of Pennsylvania growers are still trying to get the pruning and tying done on a number of acres.  Often times these are the most cold sensitive Vinifera varieties which also happen to be some of the more susceptible varieties to a number of diseases.

The unusually sunny weather we have been having in the area made me think of how many of the diseases truly dislike sunshine and warm temperatures, to the point where the initial infection process can be stopped in its tracks or existing infections can be killed.

What do these two random thoughts have to do with each other you ask?  You can make sure that the training system you use encourages sunlight penetration and allows good air movement through the canopy and into the fruting zone. 

Dense canopies provide conditions for a dark, humid microclimate to exisit within the interior of the canopy (often times where the fruit is also) which can lead to increased disease pressure from powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot and Botrytis.

Although pruning and tying is getting more and more expensive as crews are in the area willing to do it you need to put a pencil to the paper to come up with the costs involved in paying for a good job of pruning versus the costs of additional fungicide applications and crop loss due to disease.

According to Kelly Link of the Fredonia Vineyard Lab research unit, 10% pink was called for the variety Concord at the Fredonia lab on April 29 this year, one day behind the 38 year average of April 28.

Other varieties are being monitored at the Fredonia lab and had the following results

Traminette = first sign of pink; majority at 2.5* (intermediate swell)

Noriet = 49% pink

Riesling = first sign of pink; majority at 2.5

Cab Sav = 1 bud pink; majority at late 2.0 (early swell) to 2.5

The vineyard lab staff is also taking readings at the site in Portland where the lab is being relocated to and got the following results

Heavy soil = 28% pink (Called 10% pink on April 29)
Gravel soil = 19% pink (Called 10% pink for April 29)

A big thank you to Kelly for keeping us in the loop!

* Using the Eichhorn-Lorenz scale

It’s time to start the conversation once again. The Lake Erie Regional Grape Team will be kicking off it’s series of weekly Coffee Pot meetings at the Jeff Schultz Vineyard up in Niagara County this Wednesday, May 2, 2007. Address for the Schultz vineyard is 2707 Albright Rd., Ransomvville, NY 14131

For those of you not familiar with our Coffee Pot Meetings – participants bring the questions and subject for discussion and the LERGP grape team brings the coffee and donuts. Meetings start at 10 AM and typically break up before lunch although you are welcome to come and go as you please.

For those staying for the entire meeting and in need of pesticide applicator recertification credits, we typically spend at least half of the two hours talking about pests and pest related issues so we are able to offer 1 pesticide recertification credit for those holding New York certification and 2 credits for those having Pennsylvania certification.

A complete listing of LERGP Coffee Pot meetings can be found on the LERGP Calendar page at http://lergp.cce.cornell.edu/Events05.htm

Any questions, let me know at thw4@cornell.edu

The 2007 New York and Pennsylvania Pest Management Guidelines for Grapes is in stock and ready for distribution. This publication contains the latest information on pests, methods of controlling the pests as well as spray application information.

To get your copy of the guide send Liz an e-mail at patorder@cornell.edu or give her a call at (607) 255-7282

The electronic version of the guidelines is available at http://ipmguidelines.org/grapes

Let me know if you have any questions, or better yet – suggestions and comments that will help make this a more useful publication for the grape growers of New York and Pennsylvania.