Search Results for: extension

Sunflowers, Flax & Beans: New Crops for NNY?

July 25, 2006

Organic Sunflowers, Flax & Beans: New Crops for NNY?

Fifteen to 20 percent increases in the organic food market coupled with premium prices for certified organic grains have prompted growing interest by Northern New York farmers in organic grain production. Responding to that interest, the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) is funding the evaluation of sunflowers, flax, and dry beans as new crops for farmers in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Cornell University E.V. Baker Agricultural Research Farm (Willsboro, NY ) Manager Michael Davis says the project is evaluating ways to insert new options into organic crop rotations. The 2006 trials at the farm are testing four sunflower varieties, five flax varieties (including Omega, a gold colored flax), and four dry bean varieties. Crop sequencing, planting density, fertilizer requirements, weed and pest control strategies, harvest timing and yield are some of the production factors under evaluation.

An analysis of production costs and returns for each of the crops under scrutiny will help farmers assess the profit potential for their farm business.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County Executive Director Anita Deming says, “Farmers are looking for new products to diversify their plantings. This can help with rotations, reducing pest populations and marketing, however, first the farmers want to know if they can make money growing a new crop and how much labor is involved. Knowing the variable costs of production and selling prices is crucial for a farmer deciding to make a change. The information from this project can help farmers decide which crops are best for their situation.”

Previous NNYADP small grants projects have focused on the production of spring and winter wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa/grass hay.

Regional buyers, such as Champlain Valley Milling, have helped build farmer interest in the organic production of grains for processing into flours and cake mixes. Processors have purchased organically-grown soybeans for both human and animal consumption. Grass-fed beef production has also been the focus of an NNYADP project.

For More Information:
Michael Davis, Cornell University E.V. Baker Research Farm Manager, 518-963-7492. mhd11@cornell.edu

Organic Grapevine Management

Northern NY Agricultural Development Program Small Grants Project Report 2006

Organic Grapevine Management

Project Leader(s):
Anita Deming, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Essex County, Westport NY, 518-962–4810 ext 409, ald6@cornell.edu
Rob McDowell, Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association Chairman, Plattsburgh NY, 518-561-6434, redwine@charter.net

Collaborator(s):
Mike Davis – Research Associate, Cornell University E.V. Baker Agricultural Research Farm Manager, Willsboro, NY
Steve Lerch – Research Support Specialist 2, NYS Experiment Station, Geneva, NY

Farmer participants:

Rob McDowell, Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association, Clinton County
Kathryn and Will Reinhart – Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association, Essex County

Background:
The Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association wanted to minimize pesticide usage while protecting their investment in vines. They are meeting with Vermont farmers who were growing grapes organically. They are working with Mike Davis at the Cornell University E.V. Baker Agricultural Research Farm Manager, Willsboro, NY. Mike has considerable experience growing organic grains and vegetables.

They wanted to test several organic compounds for effectiveness in grapes to control powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot, and phomopsis. They decided to try Milstop – a potassium bicarbonate, Champion – a copper hydroxide, SMS Stylet oil, Bordeaux Mixture – Copper sulfate, Milk, and Compost Tea. We were unable to use the compost tea, as we were unable to identify a protocol that could be recommended by any NY advisor.

They ended up using JMS Stylet Oil, Champion WP Wetted Powder (Copper Hydroxide), Baking Soda (potassium bicarbonate), whey (from Sam Hendren), and a Control.

2006 was a heavy disease pressure year for black rot, downy and powdery mildew due to high rainfall and humidity. However, the variety that we chose for the trial, Frontenac, was partially resistant to mildew pressure.

Methods:

Started with 4 year old Frontenac vines (which have some innate resistance to mildew but not black rot)

Set up a random spray protocol with 5 reps with the help of Mike Davis.

Kevin Iungerman, Regional Fruit specialist, trained Rob McDowell in identification of pests and provided Integrated Pest Management disease identification worksheets for future reference.

Spray applications

Used separate sprayers for each application. Sprayed each rep separately then moved to next spray application
Followed label instructions for mixing, rates and spraying for Stylet Oil and Champion.
Used generic Organic recommendations from NOFA of 5 pounds per acre of Baking Soda on grapes
Used an Australian web site recommendations for whey application
All sprays were contact based and not systemic. Since it rained so much the sprays were washed off
Used “New Film” (pinolene) as a spreader sticker to keep spray on the plant for Champion and Baking Soda applications.

Sprayed on

First spray was post bloom which was late. There should have been a pre-bloom and a bloom spray. We had trouble getting started.
Then we sprayed 7 to 10 days after that five separate times until veraison (color change). However, some sprays were put on under wet conditions as it never stopped raining.
There was one spray after veraison.
The vines were sprayed on 7/5, 7/12, 7/27, 8/8, and 8/24.
The mildew pressure subsided as the weather conditions dried up. The black rot pressure was not increasing either so sprays were stopped.

The reps were scouted and infestation of Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, and Black Rot were scored on a 0 to 4 basis (None, Some -, Some, More, More +).

Results:

The crop in terms of quantity was excellent.
The black rot did impact the quality, however, Rob McDowell was able to pick infested berries out and find good clusters for wine making from all replications including the control.

Powdery Mildew was ranked “Some -” on all blocks including the control. However it was ranked “Some” in nearby Lemberger and Cab Franc.
Downy Mildew was ranked “Some -” all blocks including the control. However, it was ranked “More +” on nearby Leon Millot.
Black Rot was ranked “Some” and “More” on all blocks except those with Champion WP which ranked “Some-” indicating a beneficial impact from this application.
Phomopsis was never positively identified on this farm.

The entire crop of Leon Millot was lost on one farm due to downy mildew so the pressure was high. The Saint Croix was reasonably untouched.

Conclusions/Outcomes/Impacts:

Need to start early with controls, before bloom to keep pest and disease pressure from ever building up.

Selecting resistant varieties is as important as reducing pesticide usage.

IPM/Sustainable growing methods are superior to organic grape production at this time. We need training on sustainable IPM spraying.

True organic testing is very expensive and requires trained researchers and professors multiple replications.

Black rot is hard to control effectively organically.

Outreach:

Results were sent out on the cce_cold_country_viticulture-L list serve.
Discussions of spray alternatives were held at the Cold season workshops in Willsboro.

22 farmers attended workshops on the Cold Season varieties and Rob discussed his project and organic alternatives.
Class is planned for April of 2007 on IPM for grape pest control.

Acknowledgments:
Northern NY Agricultural Development Program Small Grants Program
Cornell E. V. Baker Research Farm Willsboro for land and work, especially by Farm Manager Mike Davis
Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association for work done and organizing meetings.

For More Information:
Anita Deming, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Essex County, Westport NY, 518-962–4810 ext 409, ald6@cornell.edu
Rob McDowell, Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association Chairman, Plattsburgh NY, 518-561-6434, redwine@charter.net

NNY Wine Grape Cultivar Trial – Stage 3 Addendum

Northern NY Agricultural Development Program Small Grants Project Report 2007-2008 Addenda

Cold Hardy Willsboro Wine Grape Cultivar Trial – Stage Three – Addendum

Project Leader:
Kevin Iungerman, CCE Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program

Collaborator(s):

Local grape growers
Extension Associations of CCE’s NENY Commercial Fruit Program (Albany, Clinton, Essex, Saratoga, Washington Counties)
Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association
Michael H. Davis, farm manager, Cornell Willsboro E.V. Baker Farm, Willsboro
Steven Lerch, Cornell Grape Program, Geneva, NY
Dr. Tim Martinson, Cornell Statewide Viticulture Extension Program
Ben Gavitt, Cornell Wine Analytical Lab, Geneva, NY
Chris Gerling, Cornell Wine Analytical Lab, Geneva, NY

Cooperating Producers:

County	Producer	Farm/Vineyard	City/Town	State
Clinton	Phil Favreau	Stone House Vineyard	Mooers	NY
Clinton	Richard Lamoy	Lamoy Vineyard	Morrisonville	NY
Clinton	Rob McDowell	Purple Gate Vineyard	Plattsburgh	NY
Essex	William & Kathryn Reinhardt	Blue Stone Vineyards	Willsboro	NY
Essex	Peter Rowley	Edgewater Farm	Willsboro	NY
Essex	Libby Treadwell	Bessboro Farm	Westport	NY
Orange	Ed Lincoln	Maple Gate Farm	Randolph	VT
Windsor	Robert Stevens	BowVineyard	Weathersfield	VT

Background:
The Willsboro Wine Grape Trial is a unique, 300-vine vineyard planted in 2005 to comparatively evaluate 25-hybrid cold-hardy-wine-grape-cultivars, with the help of private and land-grant collaborators. It has also had the benefit of Cornell Extension support as well NYFVI and NNADP funding assistance since its inception.

Performance differences were extensive in the first year because of initial vine quality variability due to a number of reasons as previously described, and so, 2005 performance variability was not due to site or climate factors.

In 2006, growth performance and vine pruning and training practices largely leveled the initial differences of vine condition. Very small crop amounts were carried on healthy vines in 2006 to ensure fall vine acclimation going into winter (2006-2007). An exception was the nearly 33% mortality with Petite Amie vines which were received as marginal quality softwood cuttings. Cuttings were successfully propagated at the NYSAES, Geneva for replacement planting and these were planted in 2007 and should begin bearing appreciably in 2009.

The focus for 2007 was to allow the vines to become more fully established. Vines were minimally maintained, again, as previously described. Post-veraison tasting and brix readings, and periodic juice sampling helped familiarize staff and volunteers with relative maturity sequences, and this and maturation set the stage for more extensive cropping and also the making of the first finished wine in 2008. The small 2007 crop was utilized for purposes of identification and grower education and was divided up among our volunteers, a number of whom made wine which has been informally reviewed and tasted by the regulars assisting and participating in Willsboro’s working seminars.

The fall 2007 acclimation period was outstanding, superior to 2006. Unfortunately, the 2007 – 2008 winter was again mild — as they have been since the vines were planted. Contrary to expectations, virtually all of the grapes in the trial have done quite well to date and virtually all of the cultivars (except the replacements) have begun to produce. The basic plan for 2008 was to step-up viticulture care and exercise more rigorous pest management oversight to support increased cropping and first wine production. This was greatly enhanced by the seasonal assistant who was able to more closely coordinate and attend to the vineyard care and observational needs.

Methods – Request Tables from local Cornell Cooperative Extension:
Growing season data collection was enhanced in 2008 because of the 0.25 time seasonal assistant being on site. Richard Lamoy noted dates of bud break, cane growth stages, bloom, capfall, berry set, and veraision for each of the wine grape cultivars by individual vine. The results of which have been included Tables 1 and 2 accompanying this seasonal report. Through weekly and more frequent consultation with Kevin Iungerman, Lamoy monitored for insect and disease issues and applied pesticides according to the provisions of the NY-PA Pest Management Guidelines for Grapes. Lamoy also prepared juice samples and these were sent to Tim Martinson, of Cornell’s Statewide Viticulture Program, for analysis at the Geneva Experiment Station.

Over the course of the growing season, the tasks of vine tying, pruning, and training were largely carried out with Willsboro volunteer assistance in our “working seminars”. Lamoy also monitored maturity weekly providing the data foundation for our comparative phenology by cultivar (Table 1). Lamoy greatly aided maturity assessment from mid-August through the September and October harvests. Together, Lamoy and Iungerman coordinated the organization and direction of volunteers for our harvests on September 24, 26, and October 1, 4, 2008. All grapes were picked and weighed by individual vine, and transported the same or the next day to the Cornell Wine Lab. Summary information by cultivar can be found in Tables 1 and 2.

2008 Results:
The 2008 growing season was both cooler and wetter than the 2007 season, but vine condition was very good and late summer conditions were very favorable for berry maturation. The accompanying Table 1 provides comparative information regarding vigor, growth stage attainment, harvest dates, and projected yields on a per acre basis.

Vine Phenology information only hints at what may be the more optimal grapes of the trial because – at this time still – the vineyard is yet rather juvenal in character; harvest dates and brix (sugar) targets have yet to be characterized uniquely to the site, owing to the novelty of the planting to the region, the still unfolding climate and weather constraints, and also the quite human challenge of utilizing volunteer help for many endeavors, particularly the most critical: harvest. (Our volunteer colleagues have been immensely important not only to the work at hand but in helping to realize the learning potential of the endeavor overall.)

At the conclusion of the 2008 season, and upon reviewing information, despite earlier expectations, it is apparent that virtually all of the vines in the Willsboro Trial are likely capable of producing commercial quantities per se. Seventeen of the twenty-five cultivars (see Table 1) were projected as producing 5 tons or more of fruit. Cayuga White, Niagara, and NY 76.844.24 projections came in at 8.62, 8.28, and 8.78 tons per acre respectively. This being noted, it is important to emphasize that large crop loads do work against adequate or full maturation of both fruit and vines. Heavy crops mitigate the prospects for full maturation of fruit and wood.

The 2009 live node evaluation (Table 2) is beginning to turn up winter injury levels despite continuing mild conditions (historically). (A note: the spring frost pattern appears to be emerging as the greater cold threat to wine grapes in the region than absolute winter cold.)

Marquette was one vine that exhibited a more favorable brix profile together with a projected yield rate of 5.13 tons per acre (Table 1).

Most brix readings for the trial were on the low side across the board. Only seven cultivars had readings in the 20 to 22 brix range (Table 2); these grapes had projected production ranges of 4.3 to 6.2 tons per acre.

Canopy management techniques to reduce crop load via cane and/or cluster thinning, and further vegetation management techniques should help to boost brix readings and move outlier production levels — 3.33 T/A on the low side and 8.62 T/A on the high side as example — to more of a modal representation that would be capable of sustained production (say 5 to 7 tons per acre).

A strong caveat to above scenario is the continuance of relatively protracted autumns and mild winters as have occurred at Willsboro since 2005.

According to Dr. Bruce Bordelon of Purdue University, who has extensively examined hybrid grape production in the Midwest, production levels of 500 tons per acre and wholesale grape prices of $500 per ton mean that it will takes 23 years to recoup the investment and production costs associated with vineyard establishment! However, payback drops to 12 years at prices of $600 per ton, and to 9 years with prices of $700 per ton. However, prices can range 50% to 125% of these base rates depending upon sugar content. (“Business Planning and Economics of Midwestern Grape Production”, Bruce Bordelon, Extension Viticulture Specialist, Purdue University.)

The Willsboro site was carefully chosen over several proffered alternatives, and the process has to-date underscored the potential economic import of exercising due diligence in choosing vineyard location. Dr. Bordelon notes that unanticipated miss-steps can easily add $1000 per acre to vineyard establishment costs. For instance, each modification adapted to buffer a site’s shortcomings — soil amendments for pH, or fertility; tiling for drainage; plantings for windscreens; sprinklers and wind machines for perennially frosty sites; mismatching vines to trellis system or soil; failing to trial vines prior to large scale planting: etc. etc. — all add costs, many of which could be minimized through superior vineyard site selection.

Whether one grows for others, or for one’s own winery operation, these production and quality concerns impact saleable product, whether in sold hoppers of grapes or bottled wines. The 2008 Willsboro harvest marked the first time that grapes of some of what are believed to be the more promising of the Willsboro wine grapes, were selected, harvested, and transported to Geneva NY for controlled wine making by the Cornell Wine Lab. Extension enologist Chris Gerling and his staff handled the wine making part of this research.

Wines were made from five red grape cultivars (Marquette, MN 1200, Sabrevois, St. Croix, and Frontenac) and six whites (ES 6-16-30, LaCrescent, Petite Amie, NY 76.844.24, Prairie Star, and St. Pepin). These eleven wines from the 2008 Willsboro harvest (Table 3) indicate that quality wines are indeed possible to be had despite our non-traditional and colder production region. All of these Cornell Wine Lab wines were made in a “skeletal” dry fashion, according to Cornell enologist, Dr. Anna Katherine Mansfield.

The wines were not your more commercial products as such; rather, they were made to exhibit more baseline characteristics of the grapes involved. All were treated uniformly; indeed, though the EC1118 yeast was used generically as it typically ensures more reliable and complete fermentation, it also tends to dampen aromatic aspects of white wines, as the particular yeast is more typically used with red wines.

Despite this apparent limitation, it was the whites, which appeared to receive the more favorable reception at our two wine tasting and evaluation sessions, led by Dr. Mansfield and also Chris Gerling (both of the Cornell Wine Lab). Improved brix levels especially, but also expanded wine making techniques, and more selective yeasts, will further add commercial definition to these wines and blends. Willsboro volunteer participants have thoroughly pursued and enjoyed blending possibilities in the past and the challenge was informally picked up to good effect at the Slyboro session at Granville on June 3.

Conclusions/Outcomes/Impacts:
Commercial levels of wine grape production, and the making of quality commercial wines from these grapes, are quite attainable by agricultural entrepreneurs of the Upper Hudson and Champlain valleys of NY. Both horticultural skills development specific to viticulture and proficient enology practices will be required in a matched venture or market to permit this to be realized.

The demonstrable teaching task ahead for the Willsboro Wine Grape Trial is to enumerate practices now to further improve fruit quality by matching cropping loads to vigor, by narrowing upon optimal harvest windows, and in the wine making, to evaluate a range of other yeasts and commercial approaches that might add pizzazz to the wines and wine blends made from these and other cold hardy grapes.

In 2009, there will be stepped-up attention to canopy care with greater shoot positioning and light cane removal, and post-verasion cane shortening to better position grapes for sun exposure and better air circulation, to achieve on the one hand enhanced carbohydrate partitioning (sugar formation, acid reduction) and greater disease avoidance.

Four small wineries now exist in the NENYF program’s 5 county area. Collectively, most of their raw product is sourced out-of-area. Shifting to hardier wine grapes capable of fully ripening in our short season, and improving local winemaking expertise with these hardier grapes are the two underlying goals of this continuing grape project.

I fully expect that this Willsboro work will aid several “pre-commercial” persons who are now cooperating with the NENYF program to assertively move their own vineyard and winery ventures to ones of commercial level. Our results should also boost “native” output of our existing wineries. Together, these outcomes should double the NENYF program area wineries in the next several years.

Outreach:

In 2008, Iungerman organized “working seminar” sessions with volunteers, assisted by Richard Lamoy (seasonal horticulture field assistant) and several members of the Lake Champlain Grapes Growers Association. The working sessions covered dormant pruning, vine training and tying, overviews of vine health (disease and insect issues), bird netting, and finally, maturity and the four harvest events. Participants were contacted via postings to the NENYF program cce-cold-country-viticulture-L site and via the Lake Champlain Grape Growers email list.

Iungerman and Lerch also participated in a dormant pruning session with approximately 20 attendees at Phil Favreau’s Stonehouse Vineyard & Winery, at Mooers, NY on April 5, 2008.

Iungerman and Tim Martinson organized the “Cold Climate Viticulture: Wines & Vines in the North Country.” meeting at Willsboro’s Noblewood Park on June 4, 2008. The workshop dealt with vineyard establishment issues, IPM, and also the Willsboro Trial and the wine grapes of the trial, and wine types that can be made. Speakers were Iungerman, Martinson, Chris Gerling, and Grape IPM Coordinator Tim Weigle. The Willsboro planting was visited as part of the day’s program, and was followed by a wine tasting at the vineyard. The wines were obtained from Chris Granstrom of Lincoln Peak Winery in VT because they were blends of several of the wine grapes growing in the trial, most notably the Marquette grape. Seventy-five persons were in attendance. On June 5, the program was repeated at the Jefferson County CCE office in Watertown and a visit to the Yellow Barn Winery.

Iungerman organized the “Cornell Tree Fruit & Berry Program Work Team Tour of the Champlain Fruit Production Region.” over June 17 – 19. The Cornell Baker Farm, and the Willsboro Grape Trial were among the stops in the region that Iungerman arranged.

Next steps:
Work remains to further develop optimal cropping techniques and increased production performance. The next logical step is to consider approaches to managing vigor and how such measures might impact the different cultivars and especially their wines. Such work will support extension educational practices for new and experienced grape growers alike via demonstrable practices.

Cropping practices will be geared to enhancing grape sugar and acid formation as much as possible within the available light and temperature parameters of our northern latitude location.

Additionally, we would need to illustrate how differences of practice can impact wood maturity for these various wine grape cultivars, a growth stage that is critical to the vines winter acclimation potential.

Acknowledgments:
In closing, my thanks once again, to Steve Lerch, Cornell Grape Program, Geneva; Richard Lamoy, who was an exceptional seasonal colleague; Mike Davis and the Cornell Willsboro Baker Farm Staff; the Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association; Willsboro volunteers Rob McDowell, Phil Favreau, and a number of others – all of whom have assisted this year’s work at the Willsboro Trial. Thanks, too, to the growers and CCE Extension Associations of CCE’s NENY Commercial Fruit Program; CCE; and the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, who provided the funding support for the technical and seasonal assistance and the wine making effort at Cornell.

Reports and/or articles in which the results of this project have already been published.

* Standard And Hardier Cultivars Being Evaluated For Suitability, Willsboro NY Cold Hardy Wine Grape Trial: A Subset Of Hardier Vines. Cold Climate Viticulture: Wines and a Vines in the North Country, Willsboro and Watertown, NY, June 4, and 5, 2008.

* 2008 CCE Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program Annual Report Success Stories: “Professional Outreach and Education for Commercial Fruit Producers”, “Developing Volunteer Skills at the Willsboro Cold-Hardy Wine-Grape Trial”, and “Willsboro Cold-Hardy Wine-Grape Trial Promising Wines”.

For More Information :

Kevin Iungerman, CCE Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program, kai3@cornell.edu

NNY Wine Grape Cultivar Trial – Stage 3

NNY Agricultural Development Program Small Grants Project 2007-2008

Cold Hardy Willsboro Wine Grape Cultivar Trial – Stage Three

Project Leader:
Kevin Iungerman, CCE Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program

Collaborator(s):

Local grape growers
Extension Associations of CCE’s NENY Commercial Fruit Program (Albany, Clinton, Essex, Saratoga, Washington Counties)
Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association
Michael H. Davis, farm manager, Cornell Willsboro E.V. Baker Farm, Willsboro
Steven Lerch, Cornell Grape Program, Geneva, NY
Dr. Tim Martinson, Cornell Statewide Viticulture Extension Program
Ben Gavitt, Cornell Wine Analytical Lab, Geneva, NY

Introduction:
The Willsboro Wine Grape Trail – Stage Three will complete the work of the prior several seasons: planting and establishment, 2005; trellising, training and deer-deterrence fencing, 2006; juice sample characterization, 2007 (a prelude to finished wines in 2008). In each year, comparative annual hardiness and vine performance data has been collected.

The objective of these efforts was to supplant uninformed and disappointing trial and error approaches practiced by individuals, with an alternative research-based effort, which was capable of jump-starting vineyard and winery establishment in the region by engaging volunteer participants directly in the research effort.

The result has been the establishment of a unique, 300-vine vineyard, comprising 25 wine grape cultivars, each planted in 4 replications of 3 vine panels, and which is now on track to produce 10 varietal wines when full cropping is realized in 2008.

Overall, the trial represents a more profitable expenditure of entrepreneurial time, effort, and investment, which facilitate local vineyard and winery establishment that can foster unique marketing links with established tourist destinations, such as Lake Champlain.

Research activities:
A) Continuing evaluation of cultivar-specific winter hardiness, and spring vigor profile and growth resumption, as chronicled in 2006-2007. (Noting such things as dates and vigor of bud break, examples of secondary versus primary growth, instances of failed buds, cane and trunk die-back, or vine mortality, and dormant pruning weights.)

B) Continuing to note cultivar-specific, base line information regarding bud break, flowering, berry and cluster formation, and maturity and yield component indices (via limited berry sampling and development evaluation in August and September 2008)

C) A stepped-up maintenance of the research plot, as regards pest, and vine growth and condition monitoring, nutrition, shoot positioning and thinning, and cluster removal for balanced quality cropping, etc. to reflect the shift from a juice end-product in 2007 to finished wines in 2008. This change will be aided by hiring a 0.25 seasonal horticultural assistant based at the Baker Willsboro Farm.

D) Conducting the harvest of all of the variety trial grapes, characterizing juices once again, and preparing 10 varietal wines through the services of the Cornell Wine Lab. These finished wines will be available for examination, critique, and tasting at one or more public sessions organized for that purpose.

Education and Outreach Plan:
One or more “work-seminars” will be organized for each activity area above (A-D). Volunteer participants will have instruction and be able to participate in all envisioned activities. Volunteer participants will be coordinated between the Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association and the CCE Northeastern NY Commercial Fruit Program. Events are open to all interested individuals in NNY and regionally. Notices of events will be similarly jointly disseminated, and also via the Seaway Wine and Grape Association, and by other unaffiliated grape persons. Progressive and final results of field assessments and evaluations will be disseminated via these same means, and also via newsletters and releases of the Cornell Statewide Viticulture Extension Program.

Time frame:
Field activities envisioned for this project stage (as described) will begin following onset of the 2007-2008 dormant season (post December 2007) and be completed prior to the end of December 2008.

Cooperating Producers:

County	Producer	Farm/Vineyard	City/Town	State
Albany	Mike DiCrescenzo	Altamont Vineyard	Altamont	NY
Clinton	Phil Favreau	Stone House Vineyard	Mooers	NY
Clinton	Richard Lamoy	Lamoy Vineyard	Morrisonville	NY
Clinton	Rob McDowell	Purple Gate Vineyard	Plattsburgh	NY
Essex	William & Kathryn Reinhardt	Blue Stone Vineyards	Willsboro	NY
Essex	Libby Treadwell	Bessboro Farm	Westport	NY
Saratoga	Michael Spiak	Kayaderosseras Vineyard	Greenfield Center	NY
Washington	Paul Dallemagne	Mountain View Winery	Cambridge	NY
Washington	Kenneth Denberg	Natural Selection Farm	Cambridge	NY
Washington	Andrew Farmer	Slyboro Cidery, Hicks Orchard andNortheast Vine Supply	GranvillePoultney	NYVT
Orange	Ed Lincoln	Maple Gate Farm	Randolph	VT
Windsor	Robert Stevens	BowVineyard	Weathersfield	VT

Background:
The Willsboro Grape project succeeded in establishing a unique, 300-vine vineyard trial of 25 cold-hardy-wine-grape-cultivar prospects with the help of private and land-grant collaborators and also the NYFVI and Northern New York Agricultural Development Program small grants funding assistance.

Planted in 2005, vine performance differences were extensive in the first year, not because of site or climate factors, but because of initial vine variability. These differences arose as a result of challenging procurement issues: the uniqueness of the vines; the many varied nurseries providing vines; the different planting forms available (bare root, softwood cuttings, grafts, plugs) and their requisite multiple planting dates; and delayed order placement stemming from uncertainty surrounding funding support and the cooperative consultative process of establishing the trial.

Despite these initial obstacles, the trial was put in place in record-time (comparable to similar evaluative trials) and in 2006; growth performance and vine pruning and training practices largely leveled initial differences. Small amounts of crop were carried to ensure that overall vine acclimation would not be compromised going into the 2006-2007 dormant period. Retained crop was utilized for purposes of identification, and also grower education and tasting.

Overall, vines were in very good condition in late fall of 2006, and it was hoped that typical winter conditions would afford a fair comparison of winter acclimation and subsequent growth and survival performance going into the 2007 growing season. Such was not the case. In point of fact, winter climatic factors since our 2005 planting have not provided sufficient stresses to evoke distinct adaptive plant responses. Contrary to expectations, virtually all of the grapes in the trial did quite well and virtually all of the cultivars produced fruit.

In 2007, differences in crop load and quality were noted, and these will serve as a basis of comparison in 2008 when more selective pruning practices (cluster thinning, cane placement and removal) will be carried out on the by then mature vines. Beginning in mid-August, weekly tasting and brix readings were initiated, and periodic juice sample evaluations also. These practices helped to establish a relative maturity sequence, which sets the stage for full cropping and finished wines during 2008.

The fall 2007 acclimation period was outstanding, superior to 2006, and indeed this was the case across all of NY. Once more, it is hoped that rather extreme – but historically normal – winter temperatures will occur over the 2007-2008 dormant season. Otherwise, mild winters may markedly undermine one major purpose of this trial, namely establishing the relative cold hardiness merits of the different vines being evaluated for our regional conditions.

Methods:
At several points in the spring, information on dormancy, bud break, cane growth, and cluster growth were noted across the different cultivars using the Eichorn-Lorenz Growth Stages format as guides. Vine mortality, and incidence of blank versus live buds was noted.
These exercises provided an approximation of the relative mortality and overwintering outcomes for the different vines. Cane prunings weights were also collected on two replications in connection with dormant pruning, and this effort suggested their prior season vigor and growth as reflected by 2006 wood production.

Over the course of the growing season, these and all normal horticultural practices required to maintain the vines was carried out as follows:

Eichorn-Lorenz Growth Stage evaluations: Iungerman
basic vine tying, pruning, and training: researchers (i.e., Iungerman and Lerch) and volunteers
cane pruning weights: Iungerman and Lerch
vine health (pest, and growth condition monitoring, pesticide applications): Iungerman
crop protection (bird netting): researchers and volunteers
grape maturity progression from mid-August into early September (weekly evaluation of veraison and brix): Iungerman, local grower Will Reinhardt
harvest of grapes: researchers and volunteers;
grape berry samples: researchers and volunteers
grape juice sample preparation and shipping: Iungerman;
juice sample analysis: Ben Gavitt, Cornell Wine Analysis Lab
recording of data and preliminary summary: Iungerman.

Results – Request tables from local Cornell Cooperative Extension:
The 2007 growing season did disclose comparative differences of harvest dates, field brix levels, yield, berry weights, and information about juice sample brix, ph, and titratable acidity values for most of the grapes in the trial. Because of costs, and coordination of volunteer labor, juice samples were not taken on all cultivars.

The information presented in the table is regarded as preliminary because final crop load management was not engaged in 2007, as full cropping was not intended, and relative harvest timing was still being worked out for the site. Both aspects are expected to impact final results overall when applied in 2008, Still, we can see that harvests began on September 8 and extended until September 29, and indications of Brix readings and fall conditions suggests some grapes could have hung longer. Yields, on the basis of 12 vines totals, suggest that productivity differences will be important, as they ranged from 15.6 to 186 kg. However, final grape quality, value for wine, and demand, will also play a final assessment role, particularly as more selective crop load management and maturity evaluation mediate results.

Conclusions/Outcomes/Impacts:
Though cumulative winters (2005-2006; 2006-2007) haven’t leveled the field as much as was hoped, we are filling-in much of the information void that existed previously about hardy hybrid grapes in this region. We are thereby moving from anecdotal lore to much more credible information as it is based upon side-by-side comparisons of many cultivars grown at a single site right here in this region.

What’s more, local and regional grape enthusiasts are not only learning about different grapes, they are learning more about vineyard management and wine making needs. Notably, the site and process are fully accessible. People are learning by seeing, doing, and tasting. A number of our volunteers – from Albany, Clinton, Essex, Saratoga, and Washington counties, and one person in Vermont – are conducting adjunct wine making trials with this season’s production run-up to the 2008-cropping year.

Serendipitously, in 2007, we seem to have hit upon a novel way for dramatically reducing conventional weed control measures in young vineyards, and having participants regularly on the spot went a long way toward convincing folks of its utility.

Our weed control regimen involved a combination of raised-bed and the use of plastic mulch at planting, and alley mowing and weed-whipping missed edges. In 2007, we choose instead to arrest vegetation between the mulch and the mowed alley via a single roundup application when the vegetation edge was approximately 7- 15 inches high. Subsequent alley mowing discharges aided in toppling the killed grass over on to the mulch; there, together with the mower clippings, this comprised a further plant-based mulch atop the plastic, and so shaded the plastic, screening it from exposure to ultraviolet light and photo-degradation. The end result is that the preplant plastic from 2005 was still functioning as an effective weed control through 2007, and likely will into 2008.

Outreach:
Regular volunteers, and also particular-event sequence visitors, participated throughout the season via the “working” seminars, when we tackled spring pruning and training, and later, shoot positioning, tying, and then crop evaluation and maturity onset, the pre-emptive application of bird netting for crop protection, and finally the series of berry sampling in connection with harvest characterization, juice sample preparation, and finally, the series of different cultivar harvests.

After weighing of crop, each harvest was divided among the volunteers, and seven cooperators planned to make wine from the grapes for a follow-up tasting and evaluation session to be announced early in 2008. In all, eleven group “working” seminar sessions were coordinated in support of both the trial and in support of viticulture skill development, and in generally responding to participant questions regarding the activity, or more broadly related questions. Thirteen cooperator volunteers formed the backbone for the “working seminars”, and another 18 persons attended and assisted at various times.

Separately, the Statewide Extension Viticulture Program inaugurated a series of telecom distance-learning sessions for winemaking in June and July of 2007. One successfully registered class was in Westport, Essex County, and it was nearly exclusively composed of volunteers with the Willsboro Wine Grape Trial. The information broadened the interest and support for allied educational and cooperative ventures.

Early in 2008, a follow-up planning meeting is envisioned to look ahead to 2008 needs and supportive programming, including education, demonstration, and vineyard and winery visits. We will also gather the “adjunct” wines and wine makers together for a review and taste of the 2007 season – and its winemaking legacy.

Next steps:
Next year we will shift to more rigorous crop and cluster care in anticipation of the finished wines to be made under the auspices of the Cornell Wine Lab. Minimally, the Wine Lab will make five finished wines. Additionally, as in 2007, but more extensively, local and regional wine makers will also make wine from the 2008 harvest. The project was been fortunate to have had the support of a half-dozen stalwart volunteers, particularly over the course of numerous weekend afternoons during the harvests of September and October 2007. We will work to continue this partnership.

All of the efforts as included in the “Measures” section above will be repeated in 2008, so that cumulative findings can provide base-line information profiles for the different cultivars over the course of this trial. This information will pertain to flowering onset, berry and cluster formation incidence, and maturity and yield component indices (via limited, sequenced weekly berry sampling and development evaluation in August and September). The hiring of an on-site, part-time seasonal assistant in 2008 will greatly enhance this task in 2008. It will also allow the project leader to expand and coordinate related on- and off-site learning activities supportive of further viticultural practices skill development.

All of this cumulative information will be available for correlation with degree-day and weather records, and contrasting observations on bud break and survival, vigor, and other measures.

Acknowledgments:
In closing, my thanks once again, to Steve Lerch, Cornell Grape Program, Geneva; Mike Davis and the Cornell Willsboro Baker Farm staff; the Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association; volunteers Richard LaMoy, Rob McDowell, Mike Spiak, and a number of others; and Anita Deming, CCE Essex County, who have assisted me in carrying out this year’s work at the Willsboro Trial. Thanks, too, to the growers and CCE Extension Associations of CCE’s NENY Commercial Fruit Program; CCE; and the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, who provided the funding support allowing this work to be undertaken.

Reports and/or articles
Iungerman’s report to the Cornell Recent Advances in Viticulture and Enology (CRAVE) Conference. 2007 Program Theme: “This is What I Do.” November 15, 2007, Cornell Cooperative Extension Ag Inservice, Ramada Inn, Ithaca, NY.

Ham Davis article in Adirondack Life, September 2007, about wine grapes in the Adirondacks, which included information on the Willsboro Trial.

NNY Wine Grape Cultivar Trial – Stage 2

NNY Agricultural Development Program 2006-2007 Project Report

Cold Hardy Willsboro Wine Grape Cultivar Trial – Stage Two

Project Leader:
Kevin Iungerman, CCE Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program

Collaborator(s):
Cornell University E.V. Baker Agricultural Research Farm at Willsboro, NY
Grape Growers and Extension Associations of CCE’s NENY Commercial Fruit Program
The Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association
Steven Lerch, Cornell Grape Program, Geneva, NY
Ben Gavitt, Cornell Wine Analytical Lab, Geneva, NY

Cooperating Producers:
Albany County: Mike DiCrescenzo
Clinton County: Phil Favreau, Richard Lamoy, Rob McDowell
Essex County: William & Kathryn Reinhardt, Libby Treadwell
Orange County: Ed Lincoln
Saratoga County: Michael Spiak
Washington County: Kenneth Denberg, Andrew Farmer, Paul Dallemagne
Windsor County: Robert Stevens

Small amounts of crop were carried to ensure that overall vine acclimation would not be compromised going into the 2006-2007 dormant period. Retained crop was utilized for purposes of identification, and also grower education and tasting.

Methods:
At several points in the spring, information on dormancy, bud break, cane growth, and cluster growth were noted across the different cultivars using the Eichorn-Lorenz Growth Stages format as guides. Vine mortality, and incidence of blank versus live buds was noted. These exercises provided an approximation of the relative mortality and overwintering outcomes for the different vines. Cane prunings weights were also collected on two replications in connection with dormant pruning, and this effort suggested their prior season vigor and growth as reflected by 2006 wood production.

Over the course of the growing season, these and all normal horticultural practices required to maintain the vines was carried out as follows:

Eichorn-Lorenz Growth Stage evaluations: Iungerman.
Basic vine tying, pruning, and training: researchers (i.e. Iungerman and Lerch) and volunteers.
Cane pruning weights: Iungerman and Lerch.
Vine health (pest, and growth condition monitoring, pesticide applications):Iungerman. Crop protection (bird netting): Researchers and volunteers.
Grape maturity progression from mid-August into early September (weekly evaluation of veraison and brix): Iungerman, local grower Will Reinhardt.
Harvest of grapes: Researchers and volunteers.
Grape berry samples: Researchers and volunteers.
Grape juice sample preparation and shipping: Iungerman.
Juice sample analysis: Ben Gavitt, Cornell Wine Analysis Lab.
Recording of data and preliminary summary: Iungerman.

Next steps:
Next year we will shift to more rigorous crop and cluster care in anticipation of the finished wines to be made under the auspices of the Cornell Wine Lab.

Minimally, the Wine Lab will make five finished wines. Additionally, as in 2007, but more extensively, local and regional wine makers will also make wine from the 2008 harvest.

The project was been fortunate to have had the support of a half-dozen stalwart volunteers, particularly over the course of numerous weekend afternoons during the harvests of September and October 2007. We will work to continue this partnership.

The hiring of an on-site, part- time seasonal assistant in 2008 will greatly enhance this task in 2008. It will also allow the project leader to expand and coordinate related on- and off-site learning activities supportive of further viticultural practices skill development.

All of this cumulative information will be available for correlation with degree-day and weather records, and contrasting observations on bud break and survival, vigor, and other measures.

Acknowledgments:
In closing, my thanks once again to Steve Lerch, Cornell Grape Program, Geneva; Mike Davis and the Cornell Willsboro Baker Farm Staff; the Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association, volunteers Richard LaMoy, Rob McDowell, Mike Spiak, and a number of others; and Anita Deming, CCE Essex County; who have assisted me in carrying out this year’s work at the Willsboro Trial. Thanks too, to the Growers and CCE Extension Associations of CCE’s NENY Commercial Fruit Program; CCE; and the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, who provided the funding support allowing this work to be undertaken.

Reports and/or articles in which the results of this project have already been published.
Iungerman report to Cornell Recent Advances in Viticulture and Enology Conference, 2007; Program Theme: “This is What I Do,” November 15, 2007, Cornell Cooperative Extension Ag Inservice, Ramada Inn, Ithaca, NY.

Ham Davis article in Adirondack Life, September 2007, about wine grapes in the Adirondacks, which included information on the Willsboro Trial.

For More Information:
Kevin Iungerman, CCE Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program, kai3@cornell.edu