Grapes

South Tyrolean growers cooperate to survive

South Tyrol’s apple industry gives new meaning to the word “cooperative.” Members of the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) saw that firsthand in November during a tour of the Italian province, which is nestled in... more »

Vineyard management plan changes during drought

How California wine grape vines responded in 2014 was partially dependent on what happened to them in 2013. It is good to find out what is happening below 2 feet. Vines can survive under very... more »

EPA registers Sivanto for 2015

Bayer CropScience’s Sivanto insecticide has received registration from EPA and will be available for the 2015 growing season.According to Bayer, Sivanto precisely targets key damaging pests at multiple insect life stages to prevent damage to... more »

Stomping out grape disease one vineyard at a time

Cracking the genetic code of a common disease affecting grape production could improve vineyard management and help protect the multibillion-dollar industry that includes raisins, juice, jam/jelly, fresh grapes, grape-seed extract and oil, vinegar and wine.Click... more »

New vineyard establishment cost resource published

One of the major categories of wine grapes grown in the Great Lakes region is the hybrid. Developed primarily from European and American parents, these grapes combine favorable wine characteristics with pest tolerance and often... more »

Winery development pre-conference scheduled for March

To assist potential entrepreneurs in understanding the elements of a successful winery business launch, Michigan State University will hold a one-day winery development pre-conference March 4, in association with the 2015 Michigan Grape & Wine... more »

Hard cider: New industry faces shortage of trees, labor

Despite being a very old practice, the making of hard cider is virtually a new industry in the United States. The recent growth in sales has been “staggering,” and the U.S. apple industry as a... more »

Precision agriculture poised for growth

An agricultural engineering professor, in the forefront of high-tech innovation, believes there are significant advantages for specialty crop operators who pursue and adapt precision agriculture technologies. The bottom line – impacted by such trends as... more »

Orchard rides hard cider wave

When Andrew Blake first approached his family with the idea of starting a hard cider operation at Blake Farms cider mill and orchard in Armada, Michigan, the response was less than enthusiastic. “We told him... more »

Pruning is more science than art these days

FGN recently asked Jim Schupp, an associate professor of pomology at Penn State University, and Peter Hirst, a professor of horticulture at Purdue University, to answer a few questions via email about winter pruning. You’ll... more »