Month: August 2014

Cider Apple Survey: Please respond by September 1

August 25, 2014

As part of the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative-funded project “Apple Market Optimization and Expansion through Value-Added Hard Cider Production,” we are conducting a survey of orchards and commercial hard cider makers to assess demands and production capacity for apples that may be destined for the hard cider market. There are two surveys, please complete the one most appropriate for your business. If you both grow fruit and make hard cider as separate or related businesses, please feel free to complete both surveys. Wineries that produce apple-based products are also invited to participate.

Even if you don’t make cider or sell fruit to cideries, it is important to complete the survey in order to assess Vermont’s capacity to continue to serve a leading role in this growing market.

Orchard survey:
https://survey.uvm.edu/index.php/635332/lang-en

Cidery survey:
https://survey.uvm.edu/index.php/957663/lang-en

Please complete these short surveys before September 1.

The hard cider industry is growing at a rapid pace, with annual sales growth of over 50% for each of the past five years. Through this project we will: identify production capacity and needs for market expansion; identify orchard production system and varieties suited for hard cider; and conduct economic analysis to determine price points for cider apples. This survey will provide important baseline data that will inform this and future apple research that will support increased market expansion for Vermont-grown fruit.

Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist


Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.
Always read the label before using any pesticide.
The label is the legal document for the product use.
Disregard any information in this newsletter if it is in conflict with the label.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, a USDA NIFA E-IPM Grant, and USDA Risk Management Agency Funds.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR 2012 FRUIT CROP LOSSES ANNOUNCED

August 7, 2014

From Pam Smith at UVM Extension Risk Management:

DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR 2012 FRUIT CROP LOSSES ANNOUNCED
Enrollment Began July 22
Producers who experienced losses to bush or tree fruit crops due to frost, freeze or other weather-related conditions during the 2012 crop year may be eligible for assistance through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides supplemental NAP payments to eligible producers.

Farmers who did not have access to crop insurance and are in primary and adjacent counties that received a Secretarial disaster designation because of frost or freeze in 2012 are eligible for NAP assistance. Losses due to weather damage or other adverse natural occurrences may also qualify for program assistance.

Vermont counties eligible for 2012 NAP fruit crop assistance are Addison, Bennington and Rutland Counties.

NAP enrollment begins July 22, 2014. Applications must be submitted to FSA county offices by Sept. 22, 2014.

To expedite applications, producers who experienced losses are encouraged to collect records documenting these losses in preparation for sign-up. Producers also are encouraged to contact their FSA county office to schedule an appointment. Limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and beginning producers are eligible for premium reductions and also may be eligible for fee reductions.
Interested producers can view the 2012 NAP Coverage for Frost, Freeze or Weather Related Fruit Losses Fact Sheet at http://go.usa.gov/5kSQ, or visit a local FSA office. To find out if land is located in an eligible frost/freeze county, visit http://go.usa.gov/53rz.

Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.
Always read the label before using any pesticide.
The label is the legal document for the product use.
Disregard any information in this newsletter if it is in conflict with the label.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, a USDA NIFA E-IPM Grant, and USDA Risk Management Agency Funds.

Northern Grapes Project August News You Can Use: Grape Berry Ripening

This is

also on the Northern Grapes Website at http://northerngrapesproject.org/?page_id=802

News You Can Use

 

Grape Berry Ripening

Marquette clusters during veraison at Parley Lake Winery in Waconia, MN.

photo: Seth Reid

As we head into August, veraison will commence, and along with it, thoughts of when to harvest. A great deal of research has been conducted to characterize the ripening profiles of Vitis vinifera cultivars, which helps growers make informed decisions regarding harvest. However, little is known about the changes in chemical composition during ripening of the cold hardy cultivars.

Recent work at the University of Minnesota tracked changes in fruit composition of 11 cultivars, including seven cold hardy cultivars. The results are a good start to understanding more about the changes that occur in fruit chemistry as berries ripen. Included in this months’ News You Can Use are two publications that summarize this work; the first is “Understanding the Ripening Chemistry of Cold-Hardy Wine Grapes to Predict Optimal Harvest Time,” an article originally published in the August 2012 issue of Northern Grapes News. The second is “Fruit Ripening Profiles of Cold Climate Wine Grape Cultivars,” a research report that was written as part of the Year 2 Northern Grapes Progress Report.

Additional Resources:

Fruit Maturity Evaluation of Wine Grapes for Harvest Planning (http://www.extension.org/pages/33152/fruit-maturity-evaluation-of-wine-grapes-for-harvest-planning#.U9Kx2PldWJc)

Collecting Berry Samples to Assess Grape Maturity

(http://www.extension.org/pages/33154/collecting-berry-samples-to-assess-grape-maturity#.U9Kz7vldWJc)

Using a Refractometer to Measure the Sugar Concentration of Sap and Syrup (http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/kids/refractometer.htm)

Chrislyn A. Particka, PhD

Extension Support Specialist

Cornell University

Department of Horticultural Sciences

630 W. North Street

Geneva, NY 14456

cap297

315-787-2449 (desk)

315-787-2216 (fax)

www.northerngrapesproject.org

Michigan State: Post-Infection Disease Management in Vineyards

August 4, 2014

Dr. Annemiek Schilder summarizes options for post-infection disease management in vineyards in a recent post:
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/what_to_do_when_you_start_seeing_disease_in_the_vineyard_post_infection_tre?utm_source=Pest+Management+-+MSU+Extension+News+-+8-4-14&utm_campaign=Pest+Management+8-4-14&utm_medium=email

Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.
Always read the label before using any pesticide.
The label is the legal document for the product use.
Disregard any information in this newsletter if it is in conflict with the label.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, a USDA NIFA E-IPM Grant, and USDA Risk Management Agency Funds.

Industry-Supported Cider Apple Research commences at UVM

August 4, 2014

Since 2008, the hard cider industry nationwide has seen annual growth of over 50%, which presents a significant opportunity for apple growers to increase sales of fruit to that market. Vermont is a leader in the production of hard cider, as it is home to Vermont Hard Cider Company (makers of Woodchuck and other nationally-distributed ciders), as well as local and regional brands including Citizen, Champlain, Stowe, Flag Hill, Whetstone, and other cideries. In June, the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative announced funding for a project entitled: “Apple Market Optimization and Expansion through Value-Added Hard Cider Production.” The project is co-directed by UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist Terence Bradshaw and Agricultural Economist Dr. David Conner with the goal of facilitating increased production of cider apples and purchases of fruit by local cideries. Partners in the project include Vermont Hard Cider, Champlain Cider, and Citizen Cider, as well as several growers.

Through this project we will:
• Develop the Vermont Cider Network collaboratively within VTFGA and the UVM Apple Program to facilitate collaboration between orchards and cideries;
• Develop understanding of production capacity for cideries and apple growers interested in growing cider apples;
• Conduct economic analysis of orchards to determine price points and overall feasibility of growing processing apples for multiple cultivars and orchard production systems, and;
• Identify presently-growing or unique apple cultivars that meet the needs of orchards and cideries via horticultural testing, juice quality assessment, and coordinated fermentation trials at commercial cideries.

This project represents an important investment in research and outreach by UVM College of Agriculture and Life Science, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and Vermont Hard Cider Company, with in-kind matches from other cideries and participating growers. It also provides the opportunity to get professionals out to orchards representing all scales of operation throughout the state to provide technical assistance services.

Terence Bradshaw, UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Specialist

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.
Always read the label before using any pesticide.
The label is the legal document for the product use.
Disregard any information in this newsletter if it is in conflict with the label.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, a USDA NIFA E-IPM Grant, and USDA Risk Management Agency Funds.