What's HOT in Grape Production and Research

(Updated 21 August 2008)

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).

Vineyard Meetings:
Northern Piedmont: (meetings start at 11:00 AM.  Watch for further details).
April 23, 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.  Directions From Washington VA: 211 E / US-522 N 2.7 miles, turn left onto US-522N go 2.7 miles, turn sharp right onto Ben Venue Rd. 1.3 miles, end at 423 Ben Venue Rd.
May 28, Chateau O’Brien, Howard O’Brien, Owner; Jason Murray, Vineyard Manager, Markham  Topics – Nutritional Considerations and Seasonal Disease Control Considerations – Dr. Tony Wolf, Virginia Tech Viticulturist.  Seasonal Insect Damage Control  and Other Insect Issues: Product Labels and Environmental Precautions.  Vineayrd Cover Crops. Directions From Front Royal: Take I-66 East to exit 18 Markham, turn right on Leeds Manor Rd. VA 688, cross Route 55 and turn left onto Old Markham Road, across from old Post Office, turn right onto Railstop Rd., end at 3238 Rail Stop Road, Markham.  
June 25, Horton Vineyard and Winery, Gordonsville (meet at the Winery).  Dennis and Sharon Horton.  Meet at the winery. Topics – Seasonal Insect Control Update: Product Labels & Environmental Precautions – Dr. Doug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech Entomologist.  Seasonal Viticultural Management Strategies - Virginia Tech Viticulturist.  Directions From Culpeper: Take 29 South to Ruckersville, then left onto 33 East; the winery is 8 miles on the left.
July 23Falcon Glen Vineyard and Marterella WineryTopics – Crop Estimations and Pre/ Post Harvest Disease Management Strategies – Dr. Tony Wolf, Virginia Tech Viticulturist , Late season insect scouting – Dr. Doug Pfeiffer, Virginia Tech Entomologist.  WPS Review/Update (emphasis on REIs and PHIs).  Directions: Take Highway 17 North,go left on to Route 628 -  Keith Road- just after Ben and Mary's Steakhouse.... Go to the bitter end.... about (1.1 miles) to the stop sign- it's a dead end.  Take a  left on Cannonball Gate Road, stay the course until you see Falcon Glen Road on your right.  WE DO NOT HAVE A SIGN AT THE TOP OF THE STREET.  Take a  right onto Falcon Glen Road  - go slow--- it's a gravel road and the curve is blind.. Our  entrance is the 2nd driveway on the right - enter through the brick columns and  stay to your right - the tasting room is at the top of the hill just past the pond.  WATCH OUT FOR DOGS!!!

Central Piedmont:
(meetings start at 11:00 AM
) - Dates for 2008 meetings - Watch for more information!
July 11 Pollack Vineyard

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.

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.

2008 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 at no cost, but must be requested and picked through your county extension office (no funds are available for mailing these publications). Recommendations for grapes are also available in the web page, now updated to 2008.

2008 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 at no cost, but must be requested and picked through your county extension office (no funds are available for mailing these publications)e. 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