2024 Michigan grape spring kick-off meeting: Preparing for the growing season
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EmailExperts will share insights on vineyard health, weather, pest control, organic practices and more. Register now (in-person or virtual) to gain knowledge, network and taste wines!
Winegrape growers and producers across Michigan are invited to join the hybrid (in-person or virtual) 2024 Statewide Michigan Grape Spring Kickoff on April 19, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center, 6686 S Center Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684. Hosted by Parallel 45 Vines & Wines and Michigan State University Extension, this event serves as a crucial opportunity for vineyards and wineries to prepare, adjust and adopt new practices as they kick off the growing season.
Agenda
8:00 a.m. Registration Desk Opens
Moderator: Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar, MSU Extension
9:00 – 9:55 a.m. A Holistic Approach to Vine Health, Production and Longevity in a Vineyard System, Fritz Westover, Westover Viticulture
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Weather summary and forecast, Jeffrey Andresen, MSU Department of Geography
10:35 – 11:05 a.m. Understanding and Enhancing Grapevine Cold Resilience, Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar, MSU Extension
11:05 – 11:15 a.m. Coffee Break
11:15 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. Grape Pricing Survey Results + trends in grape purchase contracts (Panel discussion), Tony Jacobson, P45
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:35 – 2:10 p.m. Protecting berries against insect pests, from bloom to harvest, Rufus Isaacs, MSU
2:15 – 3:10 p.m. Panel discussion on Converting to Organic, Derrick Vogel, Folklor Wine & Cider
3:15 – 3:55 p.m. Satellite and Machine Learning-based vineyard monitoring: Soil, Maturity, Disease, Matthew Homyak, Deep Planet
4:00 – 4:40 p.m. Tannin Management, Aude Watrelot, Iowa State
4:45 – 5:30 p.m. Educational wine tasting, P45
Registration
Registration is open for the 2024 Statewide Grape Spring Kickoff, a hybrid event. Virtual attendees will receive a Zoom link to the meeting upon registration.
Register for the 2024 Statewide Grape Spring Kickoff
Three Michigan restricted use pesticide applicator recertification credits for private and commercial fruit (1C) will be available for in-person attendees.
For questions or more information, please contact Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar, MSU Extension viticulture educator, at nasroll2@msu.edu.