 How do you think the recent election results will affect U.S. agriculture?
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Wine growers recently were treated to a workshop led by Michigan State University's Paolo Sabbatini, assistant professor of viticulture in the Department of Horticulture. He and some of the country's leading viticulturists are working in a multistate effort to evaluate new wine grapes for the eastern United States. The project members met for two days prior to the workshop and several of the researchers stayed for an extra day to conduct the workshop.
Keith Striegler, University of Missouri, led an informative discussion about mechanization in the vineyard. Why look at mechanization? There are several factors, according to Striegler, and much centers around labor. It is often difficult to have enough skilled laborers to complete tasks on the grower's schedule. Add to that the high costs of labor and the added drain of liability to the grower. Additional mechanization also allows the grower to have more control over the operation. It improves the grower's risk management and allows for balanced cropping, Striegler said.
Peter Cousins, a rootstock breeder and researcher from Cornell University and USDA, shared his work on the role of rootstock selection in disease protection. His work has focused on selecting the proper rootstock for the region the grower is in and the diseases common in that area. Cousins said it is possible to greatly increase the health of the grape varieties just by careful selection of rootstocks.
Check future issues of Fruit Growers News for more information on these topics.
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