First of Three Grape IPM Workshops to Take Place June 15

6/09/06

Contact:  Sara Long

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Grape growers, integrated pest management scouts and crop consultants interested in learning more about vineyard pest management are invited to attend a series of three meetings hosted by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the National Grape Cooperative this summer at the Tim Sepalla farm near Lawton, Mich. Meetings are scheduled for June 15, July 20 and August 17.

The June meeting will begin with dinner at 6 p.m. and a discussion about crop stage and current insect and disease issues. Following dinner, hands-on workshops will cover scouting for early symptoms of important grape diseases, scouting for berry moth during bloom and using the MSU vineyard scouting sheet to record weekly scouting results. Attendees will also take a tour of a Concord grape vineyard damaged by spring frost where researchers are testing a minimal cost pest management program.

“At the July and August sessions, we will demonstrate IPM programs being tested at other juice and wine vineyards in southwestern Michigan and discuss issues growers face later in the season,” says Rufus Isaacs, MSU associate professor of entomology and one of the event coordinators. “We hope attendees will come to all three meetings to learn how to scout vineyards and minimize production costs throughout the growing season.”

There is no cost to attend the dinner meetings, but participants are asked to RSVP to the National Grape Cooperative office at 269-624-2821 so that the proper number of meals can be ordered.

All meetings will take place at the Sepalla farm, which is located at 25101 County Road 354 (76^th Avenue), Lawton, Mich. Signs will be posted.

The meetings are part of a research project funded by the EPA Strategic Agriculture Initiative, the National Grape Cooperative and Project GREEEN, the state’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU.

Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Environmental and Economic Needs) is a cooperative effort between plant-based commodities and businesses together with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture to advance Michigan’s economy through its plant-based agriculture. Its mission is to develop research and educational programs in response to industry needs, ensure and improve food safety, and protect and preserve the quality of the environment.

To learn more about Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU, visit <www.greeen.msu.edu>.
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