If downy mildew and powdery mildew are present on grapevine leaves at harvest, control measures should be considered at that time to prevent early leaf drop and help vines properly acclimate for winter. Post-harvest vineyard management of downy and powdery mildew is critical as these diseases can appear late in the season and reduce photosynthesis, defoliate vines, and increase the …

As grape harvest progresses throughout Michigan, it is time to consider controlling weeds in the field after crop harvest. After grape harvest, weed control might not be the top priority for many vineyards, but this is the best time to start a weed management program for getting ahead of next year’s weed issues. After grape harvesting, the most important step …

Concord harvest has begun. This will be the last grape scouting report of the 2020 growing season. Vine growth  Niagara juice grape harvest was paused on Friday to switch to Concord harvest. So far, the early Niagara harvest was looking positive with lower than average insect damage and good volumes. Concord harvest is looking similar. Harvest of wine grapes are …

A new pilot training program from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) points to a promising solution in Pennsylvania’s efforts to thwart the Spotted Lanternfly. By utilizing scent detection dogs to identify Spotted Lanternfly egg masses, Penn Vet researchers hope to proactively neutralize the destructive insects before they become a fully realized threat as a mature adult. The …

The black spots and beautiful colors can be deceiving. At first glance, the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a beautiful insect whose colors mimic the beloved ladybug with its polka-dotted outer wings and red hind wing. But this is not the family-friendly insect that people love to see crawling on their wrist or captured in a framed print in a …

Michigan State University— It is extremely difficult to stop birds once they have tasted the sweet grapes. Bird damage in the vineyard is a concern in any grape growing region, particularly in small blocks surrounded by forests or other vegetation. The damage begins around veraison when berries begin to accumulate sugar and color and it continues until harvest, even in late …

Michigan State University Extension — Harvest 2020 is upon us, and early harvested vineyards will be limited in what pesticides can be applied due to preharvest intervals. Other vineyards still have some weeks remaining, providing more flexibility in what insecticide options are available while also having a longer time for pests to develop. This is a good time to review …

University of Missouri – Over the last 12 months I have observed crown gall becoming more apparent in some vineyards. In some vineyards infected with crown gall, close to 100% of the vines are infected. In these vineyards the most likely explanation for such a high incidence of infection is infected planting material. Based on my observations vineyards with high …

Contents of the August Issue: The Best Place to Grow Pinot Noir Bill & Lauren Hipp Retire After a Joyous Experience Sustainable Vineyard Pest Management Experts Tell of Tech Innovations Coastal Wine Industry Struggles COVID-19 Market Favors Value-Priced Wines Heroine of the Vineyards Rhonda Smith Wraps up Career

Following a decade-long effort, scientists have mapped out the genome of an aphid-like pest capable of decimating vineyards. In so doing, they have discovered how it spreads — and potentially how to stop it. The research team’s work on the genome was published this past week in a BMC Biology paper. In it, they identified nearly 3,000 genes enabling the …