June ZOOM seminar summary

June 22, 2020

The IGGPRA June webinar led off with Nathan Miller of Helena Agri Enterprises who presented an in-depth look at mildew and botrytis issues as well as vine mealy bugs and mites, and all the damage they can cause.  The message was mildew pressure continues to be high this year.  Thankfully, treatments are available as well as cultural practices to control these pests.  The grower must be vigilant, however, spraying at appropriate intervals, and addressing sudden outbreaks quickly and decisively.  Attendees earned 1 hour of continuing education credit for this presentation.

Nathan was followed by fellow Helena Agri Enterprises employee Paul Crout who delivered a highly informative and timely presentation regarding pre-veraison and post veraison vineyard nutritional needs. Paul showed how to read and make sense of the laboratory results from leaf and petiole tests. Product and application timing are key: most systemic fertilizers (i.e., run through the irrigation system) will be relatively ineffective at this point in the growing cycle.  Foliar fertilizations can be very effective, but must be applied now to be available to the vines in mid-late July when the plants most need the boost.