Great Lakes Expo Sessions Focus On Past Two Brutal Winters
December 15, 2015 The winters of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 were a constant theme during the Great Lakes Expo held Dec. 8-10 in Grand Rapids, MI.
Fruit sessions touched on the continuing aftermath of sub-zero temperatures and prolonged cold exposure in two growing seasons.
“It’s been a dastardly two years,” said Tom Zabadal, Coordinator and Grape Specialist of Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center for Michigan State University (MSU).
Zabadal discussed how growers can renovate injured vineyards.
“An unhealthy vineyard is one with 5% of vines damaged or unproductive,” he said.
He suggested growers put vineyards on a renewal and renovation path, similar to how peach growers handle their orchards.
“Once you’ve had a winter injury in your vineyard, you can’t trust any trunk,” he said. “All are suspect.”
Similarly, Brad Baughman, MSU Extension grape educator presented the results of the 2015 Winter Injury survey. Baughman said from the 2013-2014 winter alone, Michigan grape growers lost $3.45 million on their crop. Figures are still pending for 2015.
He said in some instances, the cold hardiness of some vitis vinifera varieties were miscalculated.
“We underestimated the cold-tenderness of Traminette, Noriet, and Chambourcin,” Baughman said.
For more coverage of the Great Lakes Expo, follow Managing Editor, Christina Herrick on Twitter at @HerrickAFG.
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