What's HOT in Grape Production and Research

(Updated 15 May 2009)

New!  A new winegrape production guide, edited by Tony Wolf, is now available through NRAES, entitled Winegrape Production Guide for Eastern North America.  This comprehensive reference will be used by novice and experienced growers, crop advisors, service providers, educators, communicators, and students. It provides information on all aspects of wine grape culture including site selection and preparation, trellising and pruning, disease and pest identification, nutrient management, irrigation, pesticide application, harvesting, vineyard cost and returns, and grape sales.  This 336-page guide is available at the NRAES web site for $75.00. 

New!  A new active ingredient has been labeled on fruit crops.  See rynaxypyr, or Altacor, listed below under pesticide registrations

New!  The College of Agriculture and Life Science at Virginia Tech has established a new on-line Master's in Agriculture and Life Sciences.   This curriculum has been approved by the State Council of Higher Education and is now accepting applications for Fall semester 2007.  In this program, you can earn a master's degree in agriculture while working in your current job - emphasis is on education for place-bound learners, and all courses are taken on-line.  In addition to a core area, there are courses offered in five areas of concentration: (1) Biosecurity, Bioregulations and Public Health, (2) Education, (3) Environmental Science, (4) Food Safety, and (5) Plant Science and Pest Management.  In addition to course work, the student completes a project decided upon in consultation with your major advisor.  Lists of courses within each concentration may be found in the web site linked above.  This program was recently the subject of an interview by Jeff Ishee with Virginia Public Televsion's Virginia Farming.  For more information, contact Doug Pfeiffer (dgpfeiff at vt.edu) or Sharon Proffitt (sproffit at vt.edu) (see 2008-2009 Extended Campus tuition rates).

2009 Vineyard Meetings:
Northern Piedmont: (meetings start at 11:00 AM.  Watch for further details). Call Rappahonnock County Office for more details, unless otherwise noted (540-675-3619)
April 19, Toll Gate Farm &  Vineyard, Bill and Patty Freitag Topics - Early Season Disease Control – Dr. Tony Wolf, Virginia Tech Viticulturist, Seasonal Insect Control Updates, Pesticide Recordkeeping Requirements and PMGs.
Apr 29, 2:00 p.m.  Horton Vineyard and Winery, Gordonsville (meet at the Winery) Dennis and Sharon Horton. Topics – Early Season Disease Control – Dr. Mizuho Nita, Virginia Tech Grape Pathologist, Seasonal Viticultural Management - Virginia Tech Viticulturist, Dr. Tony Wolf, Weed Suppression and Control – Dr. Jeff Derr, Virginia Tech Extension Weed Scientist, Horticulture Crops, Pesticide Recordkeeping Requirements and PMGs, Directions From Culpeper: Take 29 South to Ruckersville, then left onto 33 East; the winery is 8 miles on the left

May 13, Glane Manor, Jeff White.  Topics – Seasonal Viticulture Considerations Vineyard Cover Crops, Tony Wolf, Virginia Tech Viticulturist, Seasonal Disease Control – Dr. Mizuho Nita, Virginia Tech Grape Pathologist, Insect Scouting - Dr. Doug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech Entomologist, Directions Flint Hill - Follow Rt522 north into Front Royal.  Turn left at first traffic light and proceed straight to “T” intersection with traffic light.  Turn left onto Rt340 south.  Turn left at second traffic light, Rt649, Browntown Road.  The winery entrance is 5 beautiful mountain miles ahead on the left, 2244 Browntown Road.
June 3, Linden Vineyards, Jim Law. Topics – Seasonal Viticulture Management, Dr. Tony Wolf, Virginia Tech Viticulturist, Seasonal Disease Control Update – Dr. Mizuho Nita, Virginia Tech Grape Pathologist, Entomology Update -- Dr. Doug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech Entomologist. Directions From Flint Hill: Rappahannock County:  522 North for 5 miles. Right on Route 635 for 2.4 miles. Left on Route 726 for 3.5 miles (portion unpaved). Left on Route 638 for.2 miles. Winery on left.
June 24, Doukenie Vineyard: Contact Leslie Blischak for details (703)-737-8978.  Directions From Leesburg: Route 7 West, and stay on it for 5 miles to Route 9 West (Hillsboro/Charles Town exit). Go 7.3 miles on Route 9, then turn right on Mountain Rd (Route 690 North). Drive 1 mile to Doukénie Winery on the left.
Aug 5, Alson H. Smith AREC.  Overview of the Viticulture Research Program and Crop Estimations,  Dr. Tony Wolf, Virginia Tech Viticulturist, Pre/ Post Harvest Disease Management Strategies – Dr. Mizuho Nita, Virginia Tech Grape Pathologist, WPS Review/Update (emhpasis on REIs and PHIs). Directions: From Interstate-81, take the Stephens City exit on the south side of Winchester. Go west into Stephens City (200 yards off of I-81) and proceed straight through traffic light onto Rt 631. Continue west on Rt 631 approximately 3.5 miles. Turn right (north) onto Rt 628 at "T". Go 1.5 miles north on Rt 628 and turn left (west) onto Rt 629. Go 0.8 miles to AREC on left.

Central Piedmont: (meetings start at 11:00 AM) Call Michael Lachance for more details (434-263-4035).  May 20 Please plan to come and meet with other commercial wine grape growers and Extension specialists.  It will begin at my office at the Nelson Center, just south of Food Lion on Thomas Nelson Highway (Hwy 29).  After we have lunch we will visit one or more vineyards in the Lovingston area.  You are welcome to bring vine disease samples, problem weeds and insects for identification and control recommendation.  This will be a bag-lunch program so please bring your own lunch.  We wil have the central auditorium to sit down in. Cold drinks will be provided.  June 5 - Site TBA.  July 16 - Site TBA. August 5 - Site TBA.

Imidan restrictions in vineyards:

There has been confusion regarding the advisability of the use of Imidan in vineyards.  In 2006, the Restricted Entry Interval (REI) was extended to 14 days.  This makes Imidan impractical for most grape growers to use.  In 2007, a label is posted on the newly reformatted CDMS web site, a source of pesticide labels and material safety data sheets.  In some of these labels, a REI of 24 hours is given.  This has been the source of confusion in the status of the REI for this product.  This is an outdated label that is kept online by CDMS because of certain requirements in California.  It refers to the 70W formulation without water soluble bags.  Although the old label is still posted, it is no longer supported by Gowan.  Only the formulation in water soluble bags is supported.    The REI of 14 days for phosmet remains in effect.  Virginia grape growers will be notified if there is a possibility of this changing, particularly if there is an opportunity for public input.

Updates on FQPA and Pesticide Registrations:

azinphosmethyl: Bayer agrees to Guthion phase-outs: Bayer has agreed to reducing fruit crops listed on the Guthion label.  There are 3 categories of label changes: (1) phased-out registrations (cancelled 8/31/05, not to be used after 12/31/05): nectarine, peach, and caneberries. (2) time-limited registrations (cancelled 12/31/05 unless new data justify continuation): apple, blueberry, cherry, and pear; (3) cancelled registrations: grape, plum, quince, and strawberry (not to be sold after 1 September 2002; existing stocks may be used).  On 7 Dec 2005, EPA announced the availability of its azinphosmethyl ecological risk assessment and grower impact assessment (posted at http://www.regulations.gov; search on the docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0061).  Comments must be received on or before 6 Feb 2006.  Further information will be posted here when available.

carbaryl - EPA announces Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED - this pdf exceeds 300p. See also 6-page fact sheet) for carbaryl on 10/27/04.  On 30 March 2005, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) requested that EPA revoke all tolerances for carbaryl.  NRDC's letter to EPA is posted (html).  EPA's assessment of human health and environmental risks of carbaryl, and finding on whether the tolerances for carbaryl comply with the safety standard in FFDCA section 408, as amended by the FQPA, are contained in the IRED document for carbaryl, which is available on EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/edocket, under docket number OPP-2003-0376. (More information on risk assessment is available).  The e-docket for this issue has several items listed.  On 13 Oct 06, EPA announced a petition from Washington Toxics has been received to cancel all tolerances of carbaryl.   In the Regulations.gov page, search on ID no. EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0801.  Following that link, one can also find a link to the carbaryl IRED (Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision).  Public comments are requested and must be received by 13 Nov 06.

Diazinon uses cancelled by Syngenta, but... : IRED of July 31, 2002, proposed that on most crops where use would be continued, applications would be limited to one per growing season. Grape uses would be cancelled.  A single dormant use is also proposed for cherry and pear, limited to every other year (unless pest pressure required annual application).  Use on apple would be limited to woolly apple aphid, once a year.  REI in apple, apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, pear, plums would be 4 days; caneberries, blueberries and strawberries would be 5 days.  Diazinion is highly toxic to birds.  Granular formulations, the source of most bird mortality, would be cancelled. These proposed changes have not been adopted into label changes; current labeling will remain in effect at least until July 31, 2004. May 30, 2003 Syngenta requests cancellations of all uses, effective June 30, 2003. Syngenta may not distribute after August 31.  Retail supplies may be sold until supplies exhausted.  However, Makhteshim-Agan intends to maintain all allowable uses.

endosulfan - On 29 Apr 09, EPA announced that it had received a petition to cancel all used of endosulfan. Comments must be received on or before 29 Jun 09.  Submit your comments throught the Federal eRulemaking Portal, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0615.

methomyl - States of CA, MA, CN, NY have asked EPA to repeal or modify tolerance, contending that 10-fold safety factor was not used. Comments must be received by May 9, 2005; on May 16, this public comment period was extended through 16 June 05.

spinetoram - A new active ingredient in the same class as spinosad (SpinTor, Entrust) has been registered for fruit crops. Delegate WG is registered on pome and stone fruits, bushberries, caneberries and grape.  Radiant SC is the formulation registered on strawberries

For some industry discussion on FQPA changes and issues, see Issues section of the CropLife America web site.

2009 Revisions to Commercial Vineyard Spray Guide:

The revised Pest Management Guide for commercial vineyards is now available.  (The Pest Management Guide is available on-line for free. Hard copies are also available for $6.00 plus $5.27 shipping.  Call 540-231-1322). Recommendations for grapes are also available in the web page, now updated to 2009.

2009 Revisions to Home Fruit Spray Guide:

The revised Pest Management Guide for Home Grapevines is now available.  (The Pest Management Guide is available on-line for free. Hard copies are also available for $5.00 plus $5.27 shipping.  Call 540-231-1322). Recommendations for home vines are also available in the web page, now updated to 2008.

New Viticulture link in Virginia Fruit Page:

The link for viticultural information now leads to Viticulture Notes, a bimonthly newsletter by Tony Wolf of Virginia Tech's Alson H. Smith Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Winchester. This site provides information on general viticultural topics, as well as information on upcoming educational meetings.

Vineyard and Winery Festivals:

In the VDACS Wine Web Site, there is a listing of Virginia Winery Festivals
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Send comments by e-mail to: Douglas G. Pfeiffer