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Reducing Pesticide Risks in Cold Climate Wine Grape Production an Emerging New Crop in Northern New England

Project Coordinators

Lorraine P. Berkett and M. Elena Garcia
University of Vermont
Dept. of Plant & Soil Science, 105 Carrigan Drive
802-656-0972
802-656-4656 (fax)
lorraine.berkett@uvm.edu

Executive Summary

Cold climate wine grape production is an emerging new agricultural industry in northern New England (NE) that offers value-added and agri-tourism economic opportunities. In the past, commercial grape production was not recommended in northern NE because of problems with winter survival. However, wine grape cultivars are now available that survive -34C to -37C and are being planted in the region on newly created farms or as an alternative crop on existing farms. These cold climate grape cultivars have been bred for disease and insect resistance and, whereas the standard grape cultivars grown in other wine-producing areas may require 8-11 fungicide sprays, the new cold climate wine grapes may require only 3 or fewer fungicide applications. If cold climate wine grape growers followed the "pest management schedules" published in current pest management guides, they would be potentially applying unnecessary pesticides and increasing pesticide exposure and pesticide-associated risks. The overall goal of this project is to reduce health, environmental, and economic risks and prevent unnecessary use of pesticides in this emerging new crop by: (1) assessing the disease and arthropod susceptibility of the cold climate grape cultivars being planted in the region; (2) developing Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies that incorporate the intrinsic disease and arthropod resistance of the new cultivars, reduced-risk alternatives, and pesticide resistance management practices; and (3) conducting an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted outreach educational program for new and established cold climate wine grape growers to increase their awareness and knowledge of IPM principles and techniques; pesticide alternatives; and pesticide risk-reduction and pollution prevention practices. Success will be measured by increased grower awareness and knowledge, and increased implementation of IPM and pesticide risk-reduction strategies as documented by surveys. The project will have both tangible, immediate outcomes and long-term benefits.

Objectives

The overall goal of this project is to reduce health, environmental, and economic risks and prevent unnecessary use of pesticides in this emerging new crop in northern New England by addressing the immediate informational and educational needs of the diverse stakeholders associated with cold climate wine grape production. Specific objectives are:

  1. Assess the disease and arthropod susceptibility of the cold climate grape cultivars being planted in the region.
  2. Develop Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies that incorporate the intrinsic disease and arthropod resistance of the new cultivars, reduced-risk alternatives, and pesticide resistance management practices.
  3. Conduct an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted outreach educational program for new and established cold climate wine grape growers to increase their awareness and knowledge of IPM principles and techniques; pesticide alternatives; and pesticide risk-reduction and pollution prevention practices.

This project will be the foundation for the development of environmentally-sound pest management strategies for this new agricultural industry in the region and will have immediate and long-term benefits. It is an opportune time to begin this project; the cold climate wine grape industry is in an early stage of development and since growers are either totally new to agriculture or are farmers with no experience with growing grapes, there is a critical need for education on IPM in relation to the specific grape cultivars being planted, on pesticide risk-reducing alternatives, and pollution prevention. Success will be measured by increased grower awareness and knowledge, and increased implementation of IPM and pesticide risk-reduction strategies as documented by grower surveys. It is expected that this project will decrease pesticide-related health, environmental, and/or economic risks in cold climate wine grape production in Vermont and the region. Also, from the experience and insights gained through the proposed project and through stakeholder input, future priority areas of research and outreach education will be identified that will further enhance adoption of IPM and pesticide risk-reduction strategies as the industry expands across the region.

 

Justification

Assess the disease and arthropod susceptibility of the cold climate grape cultivars being planted in the region.  One of the major challenges to grape production in northern New England has been to find cultivars that are adapted to the region's cold winters.

In the past, extension programs in northern New England have not recommended growing grapes on a commercial basis because of problems associated with winter survival of the vines (Joseph Costante, retired U. of Vermont Fruit Extension Specialist ; David Handley, U. of Maine Fruit Ext. Specialist, pers. comm. ). For example, in Burlington, VT the average low winter temperature falls between -26C to -29C. This is colder than Geneva, NY in the Finger Lakes Wine Grape Region where extension programs and research have been focused on 'cool' climate grapes (Howell, 2001) and well below the temperature tolerated by many wine grape cultivars (Pool, 1999; Bordelon et al., 1997).   However, wine grape cultivars are now available from the University of Minnesota grape breeding program that survive -34C to -37C (University of Minnesota, 2002; Peter Hemstad, Research Viticulturist, Univ. of Minnesota, per. comm.) and these cultivars are being planted in the region on newly created farms or as an alternative crop on existing farms, such as dairy farms and apple orchards. For example, nine vineyards and four bonded wineries already have been established in Vermont, totaling approximately 30 acres (12 ha) with production from this acreage estimated at 120-150 tons of grapes annually when current vines mature. This translates into approximately 100,000-125,000 bottles of wine per year from currently planted land, and there are more vineyards and acreage in the planning stage (2004 UVM Grape Industry Survey, unpublished ). Interest in cold climate wine grape production is high; a recent wine grape workshop for new and potential grape growers was attended by over 60 enthusiastic people from the region who recognize the value-added advantage and agri-tourism opportunities of growing cold climate wine grapes.

Given that cold climate grapes are being planted, now is the time to assess the susceptibility of the grape cultivars to diseases and arthropod pests in the region to determine the level of pesticide use that will be required to produce a high quality crop using IPM strategies. The new wine grape cultivars such as Frontenac, La Cresent, St. Croix, etc., have been bred not only for cold hardiness but also for disease and insect resistance and potentially can be grown with significant reduced pesticide use compared to the classic European Vitis vinifera cultivars and the French-American hybrids that are planted in southern New England and in other warmer wine growing areas (University of Minnesota, 2002; Peter Hemstad, Research Viticulturist, Univ. of Minnesota, per. comm.) Whereas V. vinifera and French-American hybrids may require 8-11 fungicide sprays (Weigle et al., 2003), the new cold climate wine grape cultivars may require only 3 or fewer well-timed fungicide applications (Peter Hemstad, Research Viticulturist, Univ. of Minnesota, per. comm.) In other words, if cold climate wine grape growers followed the "pest management schedules" published in current pest management guides (e.g., the 2003-2004 New England Small Fruit Pest Management Guide (Schloemann, 2003) and the 2004 New York and Pennsylvania Pest Management Guidelines for Grapes (Weigle and Muza, 2004 ), they potentially would be applying unnecessary pesticides and increasing pesticide exposure and pesticide-associated risks. In-vineyard assessments of the resistance/susceptibility of the cold climate cultivars to the major grape diseases and arthropod pests under the biotic and abiotic conditions found in the region would provide valuable information and serve as a basis for the development of Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies that minimize pesticide use. [Please see "Approach and Methods" for details on proposed assessment.]

2. Develop Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies that incorporate the intrinsic disease and arthropod resistance of the new cultivars, reduced-risk alternatives, and pesticide resistance management practices.

Based on the in-vineyard assessments, a Relative Susceptibility Table of Cold Climate Wine Grape Cultivars, similar to that already developed for V. vinifera and the French-American hybrids ( Weigle and Muza, 2004 ), will be developed and published on-line for grower access and made available for incorporation into future New England Small Fruit Pest Management Guides. Currently, this grower resource does not exist for cold climate grapes. Also, an IPM Calendar for Cold Climate Wine Grape Production will be developed which will highlight optimal times for scouting major arthropod pests and beneficial organisms; for monitoring environmental conditions for disease/arthropod development; for conducting cultural practices to reduce risk of disease development and other pest development/damage (including arthropods, weeds, voles, etc.) and it will provide information on pesticide options, including reduced-risk alternatives, methods to mitigate pesticide resistance development, and ways to prevent pesticide pollution. The IPM Calendar will take a whole system approach and will include horticultural and soil management practices since they impact plant and soil health and influence disease and arthropod incidence and severity of damage. The Relative Susceptibility Table and IPM Calendar for Cold Climate Wine Grape Production will be used as educational tools in the outreach educational program being proposed (Objective 3).

3. Conduct an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted outreach educational program for new and established cold climate wine grape growers to increase their awareness and knowledge of IPM principles and technique; pesticide alternatives; and pesticide risk-reduction and pollution prevention practices.

Since cold climate grape growers in the region to date are either totally new to agriculture or are farmers with no experience in growing grapes, there is a critical need for education on IPM principles and techniques as they pertain to cold climate grape production, including basic information on identification and disease/life cycles of the potential major grape diseases and arthropod pests; on pesticide risk-reducing alternatives; and on pesticide safety and pollution prevention. Misidentification of problems by growers is occurring. For example, during the current growing season a mealybug infestation was thought to be downy mildew disease by one established grape grower and a bacterial disease was thought to be a fungal disease by another grower; both could have resulted in improper and unnecessary pesticide use if the misdiagnoses were not corrected by our input. An educational program that takes a holistic approach to pest management, addressing the specific challenges cold climate grape growers will face, including the impact of horticultural practices on plant and soil health, will decrease pesticide-related health, environmental, and/or economic risks in cold climate wine grape production in Vermont and the region. Various means of education and information dissemination will be utilized. Success of the educational program will be measured by increased grower awareness and knowledge, and increased implementation of IPM and pesticide risk-reduction strategies as documented by grower surveys. [Please see Approach and Methods for further details.]

Literature Review

Wine grapes such as V. vinifera and the French-American hybrids require intensive pest (arthropod and disease) management to produce a high quality crop (Funt et al., 1997; Brown et al., 1999; Schloemann, 2003; Weigle et al. 2003; Weigle and Muza, 2004). There are a number of arthropods (insects and mites) that can be significant pests of wine grapes in the Northeast; however, because of humid, wet conditions during the growing season and the susceptibility of these grape cultivars to powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot, Phomopsis cane and fruit rot, and Botrytis bunch rot (i.e., the major grape diseases in the Northeast), disease management is a primary focus. On average, a disease management program may require 8-11 fungicide applications during a growing season (Weigle et al. 2003).

The new cold climate wine grape cultivars that are being planted in northern New England offer an opportunity to reduce pesticide use because they have been bred not only for cold hardiness but also for resistance to diseases and insects (e.g., powdery mildew (Uncinula necator (Schw.) Burr.), downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni in Sacc.), black rot (Guignardia bidwellii (Ellis) Viala & Ravaz) and grape phylloxera - foliar form, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch)) (University of Minnesota, 2002; Peter Hemstad, Research Viticulturist, Univ. of Minnesota, per. comm.). In Minnesota, these cold climate wine grape cultivars have been grown with 3 or fewer fungicide applications (compared to 8-11 applications required by other grape cultivars). However, these new grape cultivars have not been evaluated under the environmental and disease/arthropod conditions present in northern New England where a wine grape industry based on these cold climate grapes is becoming established. Documenting cultivar resistance/susceptibility to pests (arthropods and diseases) in northern New England will allow the development of IPM strategies tailored to the region's conditions and will prevent unnecessary pesticide use. Development and implementation of IPM strategies that incorporate the intrinsic disease and arthropod resistance of the new cultivars, reduced-risk alternatives, pollution prevention, and pesticide resistance management practices will reduce pesticide-related health, environmental, and/or economic risks in cold climate wine grape production in Vermont and the region.

The importance of cold climate wine grape production as an emerging new agricultural industry in northern New England was acknowledged by the USDA Northeast SARE Program which awarded Drs. Garcia and Berkett a "Partnership Grant" in 2004 to begin to document the horticultural performance of cultivars planted in four representative vineyards and to develop a website which will serve as an informational and educational site for cold climate grape production in the region. An EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Grant will allow us to expand our efforts and address the important issue of reducing pesticide-related health, environment, and economic risks at a critical stage in the development of cold climate wine grape production in Vermont and the region and will have immediate and long-term benefits.

Approach and Outcomes

1. Assess the disease and arthropod susceptibility of the cold climate grape cultivars being planted in the region.

In four representative vineyards, arthropods and diseases will be monitored and data will be collected at prescribed times during the growing season using standard assessment methods to document any differences in incidence and/or damage among grape cultivars from diseases such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot, Phomopsis cane and berry rot, and Botrytis bunch rot and key arthropods of economic importance such as the grape berry moth ( Endopiza viteana Clemens), eastern grape leafhopper (Erthoneura comes (Say)), the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi (Koch)) and the foliar form of the grape phylloxera (Pearson, 1986; Weigle and Muza, 2004; Martinson et al., 1991). At each vineyard location, environmental conditions such as rainfall, (i.e., time, duration, and amount), ambient air temperature, and leaf wetness will be monitored by a weather station/data logger (Spectrum Watchdog 425, Spectrum Technologies, Inc., Plainfield, Ill ). Vineyards will uniformly receive pesticides deemed necessary by the grower based on monitoring and potential disease/arthropod pressure. "Check" plots will be established amongst the different cultivars in which no fungicides or insecticides will be applied to determine the full potential for damage.

Based on the in-vineyard assessments, a Relative Susceptibility Table of Cold Climate Wine Grape Cultivars will be developed and published on the world wide web for grower access and made available for incorporation into future New England Small Fruit Pest Management Guides for all cold climate grape production in the region. It will be a direct, tangible outcome of this project. It will serve as a basis for the development of a Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies (Objective 2) and will be used as an educational tool in the outreach educational program being proposed (Objective 3).

2. Develop Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies that incorporate the intrinsic disease and arthropod resistance of the new cultivars, reduced-risk alternatives, and pesticide resistance management practices.

As stated previously, an IPM Calendar for Cold Climate Wine Grape Production will be developed and will highlight optimal times for scouting major arthropod pests and beneficial organisms; for monitoring environmental conditions for disease/arthropod development; for conducting cultural practices to reduce risk of disease development and other pest development/damage (including arthropods, weeds, voles, etc.) and it will provide information on pesticide options, including reduced-risk alternatives, methods to mitigate pesticide resistance development, and ways to prevent pesticide pollution. The IPM Calendar will take a whole system approach and also include horticultural and soil management practices since they impact plant and soil health and influence disease and arthropod incidence and severity of damage. The IPM Calendar for Cold Climate Wine Grape Production will be posted on the web at the Cold Climate Grape Production web site the investigators are in the process of developing and will be available for all grape growers in the region. The IPM Calendar will be a "work in progress" and will be continually updated with new information as the knowledge of and experience with cold climate cultivars increases. The IPM Calendar will be a direct, tangible outcome of the project and will be accessible to growers, prospective growers, industry representatives, and other interested individuals in Vermont and throughout the region.

3. Conduct an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted outreach educational program for new and established cold climate wine grape growers to increase their awareness and knowledge of IPM principles and technique; pesticide alternatives; and pesticide risk-reduction and pollution prevention practices.

Various means of education and information dissemination will be utilized to present an interdisciplinary educational program that will include and interweave horticulture, soil management, and IPM as they affect pesticide risk-reduction and pollution prevention in cold climate grape production. In addition to being posted on the Cold Climate Wine Grape Production website currently under construction, the educational tools developed through this project (i.e., Relative Susceptibility Table, IPM Calendar) will be discussed at proposed Annual Workshops (Please see Timetable). Other workshop topics will be determined through stakeholder input (i.e., growers will be surveyed as part of the planning process as to their priorities and they will be intricately involved in setting the educational agenda). Potentially, the workshops will be scheduled for either the winter or summer in conjunction with a vineyard tour and will be advertised throughout the region for growers to attend. A Cold Climate Wine Grape Newsletter will be produced three times per year (Autumn, Winter, Spring/Summer) and will have an IPM section wherein IPM principles and techniques will be discussed and basic information on identification and disease/life cycles of the potential major grape diseases and arthropod pests will be presented. Also, information on pesticide risk-reducing alternatives, pesticide safety, and pollution prevention will be included. The Cold Climate Wine Grape Newsletter will be posted on our website and accessible to growers, prospective growers, industry representatives, and other interested individuals throughout the region (Note: Paper copies also will be available upon request). Each issue of the Newsletter will request stakeholder feedback as to what IPM or pesticide-related topics they would like to see covered in future issues.

Impact Assessment

The success of the project will be measured, in part, by the publication of the following direct, tangible outcomes and their use by growers: (i) Relative Susceptibility Table of Cold Climate Wine Grape Cultivars; (ii) The IPM Calendar for Cold Climate Wine Grape Production; (iii) The Cold Climate Grape Newsletter (IPM Section). Grower access to these publications on our grape website will be counted and growers will be asked to evaluate the impact of each publication on their pest management practices and on their pesticide use through an on-line questionnaire similar to that used for our Apple IPM website (http://orchard.uvm.edu/uvmapple /pest/ipmfocuspgeval.html ) but the questions will be adapted for each particular grape publication. The overall impact of the project will be documented by grower surveys that will measure changes in grower awareness and knowledge, and implementation of IPM and pesticide risk-reduction strategies. It is expected that the project will have both immediate and long-term benefits in the region.

Literature Cited

Bordelon, B. P., D. C. Ferree and T. J. Zabadal. 1997. Grape bud survival in the Midwest following the winter of 1993-1994. Fruit Varieties Journal 51(1):53-59.

Brown, M., Ellis, M., Doohan, D., Ferre, D. and R. Williams. 1999. Crop profiles for grapes in Ohio. http://pestdata.ncsu.edu/cropprofiles/docs/ohgrapes.html.

Funt, R.C., Ellis, M.A. and C. Welty. 1997. Midwest small fruit pest management handbook. Bull. 861. http://ohioline.osu.edu/b861/index.html.

Howell, G. S. 2001. Sustainable grape production and the growth-yield relationship: A review. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 52(3): 165-174.

Martinson, T.E., Hoffman, C.J., Dennehy, T.J., Kamas, J.S., and T. Weigle.  1991.  Risk assessment of grape berry moth and guidelines for management of the eastern grape leafhopper.  New York Food and Life Sciences Bulletin No. 138.  10 pp.

Pool, B. 1999. Factors affecting vineyard site suitability in cold climates such as found in New York State. In-depth Fruit School and 28 th Annual New York Wine Industry Workshop. March 22-24. Geneva, NY.

Schloemann, Sonia. 2003. New England small fruit pest management guide 2003-2004. http://www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/nesfpmg/index.htm.

University of Minnesota. 2002. Commercial fruit production in Minnesota. Grapes. http://fruit.coafas.umn.edu/grape/index.htm.

Weigle T., English-Loeb, G., Wilcox, W., Mitchell, T., Dunst, R., Collins, T. and B. Shaffer. 2003. Crop Profile: Vinifera and French hybrid grapes in New York. http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/fqpa/crop-profiles/vinifera&French.html.

Weigle, T.H. and A. J. Muza. 2004. New York and Pennsylvania pest management guidelines for grapes. http://lenewa.netsync.net/public/Guidelines%202004/Home.htm.

Timetable

2004-2005

September - December

January - April

May - August

2005-2006

September - December

January - April

May - August

Major Participants

Lorraine P. Berkett, Ph.D., Department of Plant and Soil Science. University of Vermont. Extension IPM Specialist and Agric. Exp. Station Researcher. Background in both plant pathology and entomology. Extensive experience in developing highly praised, integrated, multi-disciplinary IPM extension and research programs that address stakeholder pest management needs and priorities, including pesticide safety education and pollution prevention. Will apply IPM knowledge and experience to this project. Will be overall project coordinator. Responsible for developing the Rel. Susceptibility Table and the disease and arthropod components of Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies and the outreach educational program. Also responsible for incorporating pesticide information into IPM strategies and educational program.

M. Elena Garcia, Ph.D., Department of Plant and Soil Science. University of Vermont. Extension Fruit Horticulturalist and Agric. Exp. Station Researcher. Background in horticulture, ground cover and weed management. Extensive experience in developing highly praised, integrated, multi-disciplinary fruit extension and research programs that address stakeholder needs and priorities. Will apply horticultural knowledge and experience to this project. Will be responsible for developing horticultural, ground cover, and weed management components of Cold Climate Wine Grape IPM strategies and outreach educational program.

Vineyards Involved in Cultivar Susceptibility Assessments:

Important Resource of Information on Cold Climate Wine Grape Cultivars

Project Budget

As mentioned previously, the investigators received a USDA Northeast SARE Partnership Grant ($9,604) in 2004 to begin to document the horticultural performance of cultivars planted in four representative cold climate vineyards and to develop a website which will serve as an informational and educational site for cold climate grape production in the region. An EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Grant will allow us to expand our efforts and address the important issue of reducing pesticide-related health, environment, and economic risks at a critical stage in the development of cold climate wine grape production in Vermont and the region. Both projects will complement each other.

Project Period: September 1, 2004 - August 31, 2006

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