Hid-In-Pines Vineyard


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NE SARE 2010 Research Project FNE10-691 Final Report

  Heading:

FNE10-691

Better Wine Grape Quality using Combined Vine Training and Canopy Management – Phase Two   

 Richard Lamoy

Hid-In-Pines Farm and Vineyard

456 Soper Street

Morrisonville, NY 12962

Phone – 518-643-0006

e-mail – richL@charter.net

www.hipvineyard.com

 January  7, 2011

 

  1. Goals

 The goal of the project was to see if it is possible to improve the quality of wine grapes by using a combination of training systems and canopy management to match the varieties. The objective was to use three existing varieties of wine grapes – Frontenac, Leon Millot  and LaCrosse.  The Frontenac and Leon Millot were trained to both Vertical Shoot Positioning and 4 Arm Kniffen. The LaCorsse was trained to Top Wire Cordon (TWC) and 4 Arm Kniffen.  Within those systems each is to be compared using Shoot Thinning, Cluster Thinning and use a control or check.  Data results will compare yield and quality as measured by visual inspection of the fruit and sugar and acid measurements close to and at harvest. 

  1. Farm profile

The farm name is Hid-In-Pines Farm and Vineyard located at 456 Soper Street in Morrisonville, NY. In the past it operated as a fresh vegetable and fruit farm as well as a small dairy. The farm is currently operating as a vineyard and has recently opened a winery. The farm is an offshoot of Lamoy’s Produce and they are both part of the same physical farm of approximately 90 acres. The vineyard currently consists of three acres of cold hardy wine grapes. The existing outbuildings have been turned into the new farm winery and the wine from the grape crop will soon be marketed in the new tasting room. The buildings are finished with a rustic barn board siding to maintain the authentic look and character of an old farm. 

  1. Participants

 The technical advisor on this project is Kevin Iungerman who is the Cornell Cooperative Extension Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program Specialist. Mr. Iungerman heads up the Willsboro Cold Hardy Grape Trial at the Cornell Baker Farm.

This year Lake Champlain Wines – the local grape growers association – attended the outreach meetings where we combined this research project with some hands on demonstrations of trellising and training methods.

  1. Project activities

The project began by examining the vines in the early spring for winter bud damage. The temperatures during the winter of 2009-2010 were fairly typical of a normal winter. Normal lows have been in the -10 to -12F range and this year we reached -11F during the coldest event.  All the varieties, Frontenac, Leon Millot and LaCrosse had very good bud survival with only limited minor bud damage. Work began in the vineyard doing preliminary dormant season vine pruning keeping in mind the training systems. The number of retained nodes (buds) was based on making bud cuts to determine bud mortality rates. The desired retained nodes were set at a base of 5 nodes per foot of canopy for Frontenac, 6 nodes per foot for Leon Millot and 6 nodes per foot for LaCrosse.  The retained nodes were counted and recorded after pruning. Keep in mind that the foot of canopy includes two levels with the 4 arm Kniffen and the number of nodes was divided between these two levels. The Frontenac used 3 nodes per foot on the top wire and two nodes per foot on the bottom fruiting wire. The Leon Millot and LaCrosse were adjusted to 4 buds per foot upper and 2 buds per foot on the lower on the 4 Arm Kniffen system. 

Shortly after spring pruning, the training systems were established. One row of Frontenac and the Leon Millot had been previously trained to the proper systems. The second and third rows of Frontenac had been Vertical Shoot Positioned (VSP) prior to this year. At pruning, two long canes near the trunk at the fruiting wire were retained. These were trained up to the top wire and tied down to it and thus the four arms were established. Some canes were a bit short to allow for a fully spread canopy on the top wire, so extra nodes were retained on the lower wire in those cases. The LaCrosse had been previously trained to Top Wire Cordon (TWC) on half the vines. The other half was retained as 4 Arm Kniffen in all varieties.

To better understand the types of training systems used see Diagram 1 on the next pages.

 

 

Diagram 1

Vertical Shoot Positioning 

 

Vertical Shoot Positioning

Vertical Shoot Positioned (VSP)

 

 

  

 

Top Wire Cordon (TWC)

 

 

Early season LaCrosse Vine on Top Wire Cordon

 

In Season Pruning and Training 

As the growing season progressed the vines were trained and maintained to the appropriate systems. Times needed for these operations were recorded and later tabulated for each treatment panel. These were listed as Pass One, Pass Two, etc. 

The VSP shoots were trained between the catch wires. As the shoots grew over the top wire by a few feet, they were hedged off to just above the top wire.   

The vines trained to the 4 Arm Kniffen were allowed to grow the shoots as long as they got. They were trained to droop down while straightening them out (combed).  Any shoots that interfered with the tires of the tractor running over them for normal vineyard operations were cut off at the ground (skirted) to prevent the shoots from being broken off. Rows two and three of the Frontenac 4 Arm Kniffen did not fill well this year on the upper shoots. As a result, lower than would be expected number of shoots and clusters formed. The vines are well formed now, but yields were affected for 2010 and this study. 

The Top Wire Cordon (TWC) vines were kept tied to the top wire and the new shoots were trained downward and combed to open the canopy up. If the vines touched the ground as above, they were skirted back.  

At the appropriate time shoot thinning and cluster thinning were implemented aiming for the desired number of shoots and clusters per foot and recorded. Shoot thinning was aimed at a final shoot count of 5 shoots per row foot (combined wires) for all treatments. All treatments, including the Check were appropriately hedged or skirted and leaf pulling took place to expose the fruit. 

Pictures were taken as the year progressed to help document the results of these operations.

Sampling and Testing

 Samples were taken of the fruit beginning in early September to monitor ripening and potential differences in the fruit quality. Three samples were taken for each treatment approximately ten days apart. The final sample was taken at harvest to gather the final fruit quality sample. Fifty grapes were taken randomly from each panel of each variety. Each sampling period took readings of thirty (30) individual samples.  All samples tested the sugar (brix), acid (pH) and TA (titratable or total acidity). All the samples were recorded in a spreadsheet as part of the final results and is available. Notes were also taken of fruit quality and canopy density as they became apparent. 

The sample berries were crushed and the juice extracted for testing. The brix was measured using a handheld refractometer. The pH was measured using a portable electronic pH meter after calibrating. The TA was measured using a Hanna Instruments 84102 Mini Titrator with digital readout after proper calibration. 

Harvest

Each variety of grapes was all harvested the same day when possible so the results would be consistent.  The Leon Millot was harvested on September 21, 2010, a full month sooner than in 2009. The LaCrosse was harvested September 26, 2010. The Frontenac needed to be harvested on two days as a result of additional rows. Row One of Frontenac was harvested first on October 4, 2010. Rows Two and Three were harvested on October 5, 2010. Some of the grapes were past their prime. Those were the most open vines, notably the shoot thinned ones. In  future studies and in real life, they would be harvested at their prime condition. This year they were harvested on the same days to try to compare numbers, but in effect less accurate because of it. Most affected was yield of the shoot thinned panels(much less than anticipated during growth). 

Every vine of every treatment was picked into its own grape lug. They were individually weighed in pounds to the tenth pound and recorded. As the vines were picked, the harvested clusters were counted and recorded. These two measurements allowed for average vine and cluster weights for each treatment. It also makes it possible to give acre equivalent yields based on vine and row spacing.

 

 

  1. Results

There continued to be a lot of information gathered from the trial project this year as there was in the previous.  Again it is obvious that it is possible to influence and increase the quality of wine grapes through training systems and canopy management.  I will list the information here in a condensed format for the results of the trial. After that I will try to interpret some of these results and what it can mean. Like any other study, the validity of the data would be enhanced with further testing in future years. Again I believe there are a lot of possibilities and look forward to continuing this research work with the demonstration planting I initiated in 2009 to further the knowledge base of information.

Frontenac

The VSP requires more time for training and summer pruning than the 4 Arm Kniffen. In general it takestwo or three large hedgings to get the VSP down to a manageable size to not shade the fruit. The 4 Arm Kniffen stays visibly more open especially the shoot thinned panel with the fruit more exposed for ripening, reducing the need for pruning and leaf pulling.For comparison I assign a value of $1000 per ton for grapes of minimum brix level of 21, $900 for brix between 19.5 and 21, $800 over 18 but under 19.5 and $500 for a brix of under 18. Actual price differences will vary from area to area and variety to variety, but this shows how price drops for lower sugar and higher acids.

 Following is a summary of comparative treatments:

Frontenac Row One

                           AvgYield lbs  Tons/Acre     brix      pH       TA       Price    Value/Acre

VSP Shoot Thinned    15.7                5.42     23.0     3.35     12.8     $1000    $5420

4 AK Shoot Thinned  28.3                9.78     22.8     3.21     13.7     $1000    $9780

 

VSP Cluster Thinned  21.3                7.34     21.0     3.37     16.0     $1000    $7340

4 AK Cluster Thinned            29.1                10.05   21.6     3.15     14.0     $1000  $10050

 

VSP Check                 22.5                7.77     20.6     3.38     16.0       $800    $6160

4 AK Check                29.2                10.07   21.4     3.18     14.5     $1000  $10070

 

Frontenac

Row Two          AvgYield lbs  Tons/Acre     brix      pH       TA       Price    Value/Acre

VSP Shoot Thinned    16.1                5.56     21.0     3.17     14.6     $1000    $5560

4 AK Shoot Thinned*            15.3                5.29     23.4     3.25     13.5     $1000    $5290

 

VSP Cluster Thinned  12.5                4.30     23.0     3.18     15.1     $1000    $4300

4 AK Cluster Thinned            * 19.4              6.69     23.4     3.31     13.3     $1000   $6690

 

VSP Check                 13.3                4.60     23.0     3.20     14.4     $1000    $4600

4 AK Check                24.4                8.43     23.0     3.35     14.7     $1000    $8430

*Past prime and many grapes had dropped.

 

Frontenac Row Three

                           AvgYield lbs  Tons/Acre     brix      pH       TA       Price    Value/Acre

VSP Shoot Thinned    15.6                5.38     24.0     3.30     13.9     $1000    $5380

4 AK Shoot Thinned*            11.1                3.82     24.4     3.37     13.2     $1000    $3820

 

VSP Cluster Thinned  17.3                5.96     23.2     3.31     14.9     $1000    $5960

4 AK Cluster Thinned* 16.3              5.63     24.0     3.34     12.4     $1000    $5630

 

VSP Check                 18.3                6.32     23.0     3.46     14.2     $1000    $6320

4 AK Check    *          14.5                5.01     24.0     3.44     13.2     $1000    $5010

*Past prime and many grapes had dropped.

 

Frontenac AVERAGE

 

                           AvgYield lbs  Tons/Acre     brix      pH       TA       Price    Value/Acre

VSP Shoot Thinned    15.8                5.44     22.7     3.27     13.8     $1000    $5440

4 AK Shoot Thinned  18.2                6.26     23.5     3.28     13.5     $1000    $6260

 

VSP Cluster Thinned  17.0                5.85     22.4     3.29     15.3     $1000    $5850

4 AK Cluster Thinned            21.6                7.43     23.0     3.27     13.2     $1000    $7430

 

VSP Check                 18.0                6.19     22.2     3.35     14.9     $1000    $6190

4 AK Check                22.7                7.81     22.8     3.32     14.1     $1000    $7810

 

 

Frontenac Row One #####

                           AvgYield lbs  Tons/Acre     brix      pH       TA       Price    Value/Acre

VSP Shoot Thinned    15.7                5.42     23.0     3.35     12.8     $1000    $5420

4 AK Shoot Thinned  28.3                9.78     22.8     3.21     13.7     $1000    $9780

 

VSP Cluster Thinned  21.3                7.34     21.0     3.37     16.0     $1000    $7340

4 AK Cluster Thinned            29.1                10.05   21.6     3.15     14.0     $1000  $10050

 

VSP Check                 22.5                7.77     20.6     3.38     16.0       $800    $6160

4 AK Check                29.2                10.07   21.4     3.18     14.5     $1000  $10070

 

###### This row was more mature and probably represents a more true representation of the variety than even the average shown above.
Leon Millot

The Leon Millot grapes are in two adjacent rows, with one having VSP training and the other the 4 Arm Kniffen. The training was implemented the same as the Frontenac, training the extra two arms from long center canes retained at dormant pruning in 2009. This year the upper cordons were well developed and they were winter pruned to approximately 6 buds per foot of row space – four upper and two lower. The shoot thinned treatment ended with as close to 5 shoots per foot as I could get on both VSP and 4 AK. The cluster thinned treatment relied on removing clusters to get as close to the target number as possible.  Overall the 4 Arm Kniffen required less summer pruning and training time than did the VSP. The canopy was also somewhat less dense than the VSP area.

For comparison I assign a value of $1000 per ton for grapes of minimum brix level of 20, $800 over 18 but under 20 and $500 for a brix of under 18. Actual price differences will vary from area to area and variety to variety, but this shows how price drops for lower sugar and higher acids.

 Following is a summary of comparative treatments:

                                    Yield lbs Tons/Acre    brix      pH       TA       Price    Value/Acre

VSP Shoot Thinned    18.5                 6.39     20.6     3.47     5.2       $1000      $5200

4 AK Shoot Thinned  28.6                 9.86     21.2     3.57     5.4       $1000      $9860

 

VSP Cluster Thinned  14.8                 5.10     20.8     3.50     5.9       $1000     $5100

4 AK Cluster Thinned            29.6              10.23     19.4     3.55     6.6         $800      $8184

 

VSP Control               15.0                 5.17     20.6     3.50     6.4       $1000      $5170

4 AK Control              30.7               10.59     21.0     3.51     6.1       $1000    $10590

The yield differences with Leon Millot is significant resulting in about double the yield in all treatments. The quality in general was very close through all treatments and training systems. Overall this year the 4 Arm Kniffen resulted in a much greater yield and resulting value to the crop than the VSP training systems with little difference between thinning and not thinning, either shoot or cluster thinning.

Leon Millot Grapes Before Picking- VSP Shoot Thinned

LaCrosse 

The LaCrosse vines were trained to Top Wire Cordon (TWC) and 4 Arm Kniffen. The TWC vines this year were well formed. Both training systems performed well and the fruit was of good quality. Neither system required a great deal of labor to keep trained and under control. 

For LaCrosse- a white grape -I assign a value of $1000 per ton for grapes of minimum brix level of 18, $800 over 15 but under 18 and $500 for a brix of under 15            . Actual price differences will vary from area to area and variety to variety, but this shows how price drops for lower sugar and higher acids.

 Following is a summary of comparative treatments: 

                                    Yield lbs Tons/Acre    brix      pH       TA       Price    Value/Acre

TWC Shoot Thinned   25.9                8.93     19.2     3.50     6.9     $1000      $8930

4 AK Shoot Thinned  25.1                8.65     18.6     3.59     8.6     $1000      $8650

 

TWC Cluster Thinned 21.7                7.50     18.0     3.35     7.6     $1000      $7500

4 AK Cluster Thinned            24.2                8.34     18.0     3.61     8.2     $1000      $8340

 

TWC Control              21.4                7.39     18.0     3.45     7.2     $1000      $7390

4 AK Control              32.3              11.16     18.6     3.61     8.2     $1000    $11160

  

LaCrosse grapes on Top Wire Cordon

 LABOR

The following table summarizes the time involved in the labor of training and tying the vines of each treatment during the growing season. It logs the actual times needed for each treatment. By gathering this information it takes any extra labor needed for any treatment into consideration.

 

 

Labor

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Time

Labor Date

 

 

 

 

Hours: Minutes

 

Variety

Training

Canopy

Panel

 

 

 

System

Management

Number

 

Row One

Frontenac

VSP **

Shoot Thinned

One

1:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

VSP **

Cluster Thinned

Two

1:35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

VSP **

Control

Three

1:38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Shoot Thinned

One

0:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Cluster Thinned

Two

0:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Control

Three

0:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leon Millot

VSP

Shoot Thinned

One

1:46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leon Millot

VSP

Cluster Thinned

Two

1:55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leon Millot

VSP

Control

Three

1:52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leon Millot

4 AK ***

Shoot Thinned

One

0:31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leon Millot

4 AK ***

Cluster Thinned

Two

0:37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leon Millot

4 AK ***

Control

Three

0:35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LaCrosse

TWC *

Shoot Thinned

One

0:29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LaCrosse

TWC *

Cluster Thinned

Two

0:24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LaCrosse

TWC *

Control

Three

0:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LaCrosse

4 AK ***

Shoot Thinned

One

1:02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LaCrosse

4 AK ***

Cluster Thinned

Two

1:04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LaCrosse

4 AK ***

Control

Three

1:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Labor

2010

 

Total Time

Labor Date

 

 

 

 

Hours: Minutes

 

Variety

Training

Canopy

Panel

 

 

 

System

Management

Number

 

Row Two

Frontenac

VSP **

Shoot Thinned

One

1:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

VSP **

Cluster Thinned

Two

1:30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

VSP **

Control

Three

1:26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Shoot Thinned

One

0:18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Cluster Thinned

Two

0:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Control

Three

0:16

 

 

 

 

 

 

RowThree

Frontenac

VSP

Shoot Thinned

One

1:34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

VSP

Cluster Thinned

Two

1:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

VSP

Control

Three

1:34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Shoot Thinned

One

0:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Cluster Thinned

Two

0:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frontenac

4 AK ***

Control

Three

0:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Conditions

The winter conditions previous to this project were fairly typical of a normal winter at the farm location. A low of -11F was experienced for the winter. The normal low is about      -12F for the farm. 

The summer began a bit warmer than normal and much above the previous year. This year the farm logged 2500 growing degree days, normal is 2400 and last year was only 2200.  Summer highs were well above last year and somewhat above normal. As fall approached, the weather cooled and allowed aromatic esters to form very well. 

Fairly typical rainfall occurred throughout the growing season with a few heavy rainfalls in July and August which dictated an extra spraying for disease over what might have been needed.  

Pea sized hail occurred September 13 just prior to anticipated harvest. Minor damage occurred to the grapes. 

  1. Economics

In general it is certainly possible to increase the value of the wine grapes both through increased yields and improved quality. Furthermore net farm income could be increased by getting higher returns for the crop along with diminished labor requirement. Some of the treatments required substantially less labor input during the growing season as well as harvest labor. In this study, the harvest time was not tracked per vine. Possibly that should be included in a future study. 

Leon Millot   

                                                                                                Labor                            Net

                                    Tons/Acre        Price/T   Value/A      Hours/$10x172* 

VSP Shoot Thinned       6.39              $1000    $5200         1.77         $3044             $2156

4 AK Shoot Thinned     9.86              $1000    $9860         0.52         $894               $8966

 

VSP Cluster Thinned    5.10               $1000    $5100         1.92         $3302             $1798

4 AK Cluster Thinned              10.23               $800    $8184         0.62         $1066             $7078

 

VSP Control                 5.17               $1000    $5170         1.87        $3216              $1954

4 AK Control              10.59               $1000  $10590         0.58         $998               $9592

*Spacing provides approximately 688 vines / Acre divided by 4 = 172

 For the Leon Millot this year, the 4 Arm Kniffen holds a great advantage over VSP. Quality was slightly better on the 4AK, but the real advantage was greatly increased yields over all canopy management techniques. There was also much less labor required on a per acre basis.

LaCrosse       

                                                                                                Labor                            Net

                                    Tons/Acre        Price/T   Value/A     Hours/$10x172* 

TWC Shoot Thinned      8.93              $1000    $8930         0.48           $826             $8104

4 AK Shoot Thinned     8.65              $1000    $8650         1.13         $1944             $6686

 

TWC Cluster Thinned    7.50              $1000    $7500         0.40         $4198             $4198

4 AK Cluster Thinned              8.34               $1000    $8340         1.03         $1772             $6568

 

TWC Control                7.39               $1000    $7390         0.42           $722             $6668

4 AK Control              11.16               $1000  $11600         1.17         $2012             $9988

 

*Spacing provides approximately 688 vines / Acre divided by 4 = 172

LaCrosse this year required less labor using the Top Wire Cordon system. Quality was similar for all treatments.  This year the treatment with the greatest yield also gave the greatest return.  There is no clear winner with LaCrosse this year. 

Frontenac AVERAGE

                                                                                        Labor                        Net

                                Tons/Acre        Price/T   Value/A        Hours/$10x172* 

VSP Shoot Thinned    5.44            $1000         $5440          1.43      $2460               $2980

4 AK Shoot Thinned  6.26           $1000         $6260          0.32       $550                $5710

 

VSP Cluster Thinned  5.85           $1000         $5850          1.55      $2666               $3184

4 AK Cluster Thinned            7.43           $1000         $7430          0.35      $602                 $6828

 

VSP Check                 6.19            $1000         $6190          1.55      $2666               $3524

4 AK Check                7.81            $1000         $7810          0.33      $568                 $7242

 

*Spacing provides approximately 688 vines / Acre divided by 4 = 172

The Frontenac portion of the trial is made up of first and second year converted 4 Arm Kniffen from VSP vines. The second year vines were more developed and yielded higher with the 4 Arm Kniffen than did the first year vines. This definitely lowered the difference between the two training systems, but even the averages yielded twice as much net income comparing 4 Arm Kniffen to the Vertical Shoot Positioned portion. 

  1. Assessment

This trial project shows that there is great potential to maximize yield, increase quality and net farm profit. Further testing should be done to validate these findings. More years of data and expanded replications would be of value. I see this project as validating the concept and the additional testing would give reliability to the findings. In the future it would probably be worth expanding the number of training systems, and varieties this work was done with. It may be possible to reliably predict the best combination of variety, training system and possibly canopy management type. Armed with that information, it would increase the net farm income and sustainability of adopting farmers. 

  1. Adoption

At this point, I would continue to advise caution in adoption of the results of this project. It certainly would value anyone considering adopting this to give it a try on their individual farm, possibly in a side by side comparison. The results may vary from farm to farm based on soil types, climate and inputs. After further testing on my vineyard, I will probably adopt these concepts to maximize farm income. 

     10. Outreach

I see the outreach part of this project as a continuing process and hope to continue the dissemination of the results for the next year or more. This current year the outreach consisted of several methods of dissemination. 

Onsite Field Meetings. 

 A tour and field meeting was held at the vineyard on July 17 and was well attended by a number of local vineyard owners and other grape enthusiasts from NY, Vermont and Quebec.  It was held in conjuction with Lake Champlain Wines (Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association).   

An overall summary of the project was given out in a binder along with a site map showing the layout of the newly planted trial expansion and a PowerPoint slide show. The meeting covered the trial and its layout. I went over data collection and basic training and canopy management. A discussion covered the trial and its layout. We conducted a walking tour and included a discussion of what was being done, studied and compared. 

I later demonstrated how to assemble a simple trellis system and begin to train the vines to it. The wire was strung on one row and end anchors were demonstrated.  The demonstration vineyard block planted in 2009 was used for this purpose. 

I used the opportunity at two tour and meeting dates at the Cornell Willsboro Farm Cold Hardy Grape Variety Trial this year to briefly describe FNE10-691 with those attendees.

This year I had a number of volunteers that showed up to help with harvest in the larger vineyard. A number of them are growers with their own vineyards, so I showed them the different Training Systems and Canopy Management treatments of this trial. Again they expressed an interest in the systems and asked to be sent the final data.

Networking with Extension 

Cooperative Extension personnel were used wherever I could to help with the dissemination of data.  As stated above joint meetings and involvement of Extension or Cornell personnel were used whenever possible. Tim Martinson, Cornell Head Extension Associate of Viticulture was at the August meeting in Willsboro this year. Kevin Iungerman (project advisor) attended the field meeting in July and at Willsboro.  

I accompanied Amy Ivy of Clinton County Cooperative Extension to a Congressional fact finding meeting held in Tupper Lake’s Wild Center.  I discussed the importance of continuing grant work such as this project. In attendance were Congressmen Cardoza of California and Congressman Owens of New York. 

Printed Material 

As stated above, a pamphlet binder was handed out at a meeting which included initial planning, trellising and training in the trial along with a PowerPoint Presentation. A copy of this was also brought to the Clinton County Cooperative Extension office and added to their file of material available to interested parties. It is also available to other offices upon request. 

A summary of this study is being prepared and will be available to all interested as either printed material or in an Excel Spreadsheet format.  

News Media 

This year’s project got a bit more press exposure with a few magazine articles. They were aimed at getting general information out to the public and improving exposure and public interest in cold hardy grapes. 

NYS Small Farm Quarterly

http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/quarterly/archive/fall10/C9.pdf 

Growing Magazine.

http://www.growingmagazine.com/article.php?id=5446 

Cornell’s Veraison To Harvest

http://grapesandwine.cals.cornell.edu/cals/grapesandwine/veraison-to-harvest/upload/Veraison-to-Harvest-2010-8.pdf   page 4 

Through this publicity I hope to develop a greater understanding from the public in this valuable crop and the future of it in our economy. This interest will help promote good will and increased sales to all wineries and vineyards and help foster an increased sustainability. 

11. Report Summary 

The purpose of this project was to determine if it is possible to obtain better wine grape quality using a combination of vine training systems and canopy management. Several vine varieties were used in the project and were trained to two training systems each. They were further divided into two canopy management systems of Shoot thinning and Cluster thinning and also included control (check) in the project. Data was collected to give comparisons of each combination for each variety. The data included yield and comparative quality measurements through sugar and acid levels. Based on this year’s results along with the last it seems that an improvement in quality and yield is indeed possible through these systems. Yields up to a hundred percent increase, while maintaining quality, were attained just by changing training systems and canopy management. 

It was observed that the Vertical Shoot Positioning System was the most time consuming of the ones trialed requiring about 40 percent or more time per 4 vine panel. On my medium vigor site, the vines on VSP appeared to have too much vigor for the space and crop they carried making it hard to maintain an orderly open growth habit. It made the fruit more shaded and crowded which led to some rot and unripe fruit. It appears that the 4 Arm Kniffen has an edge in this respect by having twice as much cordon length to spread the same or slightly higher number of shoots on to keep the shoot length down allowing for a more orderly, open and easier to maintain canopy. That translated into a slight to moderate higher yield (up to 100 percent), higher quality fruit ( see tables on pages 8-11) and less required spray material. The Top Wire Cordon was only used with the LaCrosse and this year was very similar in yield and quality to the 4 Arm Kniffen.  It was easier to maintain and pick the TWC although in most cases the 4 Arm Kniffen LaCrosse yielded a bit higher and gave greater net income. 

Based on my continuing positive results this year, I will be expanding the trial to the new vineyard planting established in 2009 to continue matching vine types to training systems for maximized returns. I will likely incorporate these training systems to increase farm viability and prosperity in the near future.

 Richard Lamoy, January 7, 2010