SustainableSustainable ViticultureViticulture inin NewNew YorkYork TimTim MartinsonMartinson SeniorSenior ExtensionExtension AssociateAssociate inin ViticultureViticulture

CornellCornell UniversityUniversity The Finger Region

Source: Ithaca Journal, January 19, 2007 Finger Lakes Has ‘Arrived’ SmallSmall WineriesWineries

• 80 in Finger Lakes • 10-20% growth per year in 90s • 40,000 visitors/year • $14.50 Average sales/customer

Heron Hill Not by chance!

Viticulture Enology –Canopy Management – Fermentation temperatures –Disease Management – Yeast Strains West Coast Sustainable Viticulture Programs • California – Central Coast ‘Positive Points’ – Lodi/Woodbridge – California Code (statewide) • Oregon – LIVE program • Washington – ‘Vinewise’ Winter Injury - 2004 Downy Mildew Downy Mildew Black Rot Crown Gall Drought Stress NitrogenNitrogen DeficiencyDeficiency AssociatedAssociated withwith waterloggedwaterlogged soilssoils Powdery Mildew Grape Production

Thousand Islands (Watertown)

Lake Ontario Plain (Orleans, Monroe, Champlain Wayne) (Willsboro) Sustainable Viticulture: What does the industry want? • Profitable 3 “E’s” • Low Environmental risk Of • Safe, healthy workforce Sustainability

• High quality products

Recognition from neighbors, consumers Sustainable Viticulture

• How do you know if you are practicing it? –Define it – Measure it

-C. Ohmart, Lodi-Woodbridge Commission Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Program • NY’s ‘Nonpoint Pollution’ control program • State Soil and Water Cons. Committee • Terminology – Tier I: Basic Farm Data – Tier II: Worksheet Assessment – Tier III: Action Plan – Tier IV: Implementation • Best Management Practices (BMPs) Keuka Watershed Project 1996-1999

Peter Landre CCE Water Quality Specialist

Soil and Water Cons. District AEM Viticulture Worksheets 1997-1998 – Site Characteristics – Soil Erosion/ Floor Management – Nutrient management – Pest and Pesticide Management (30 questions) – Action Plan (Tier III & IV) NY AEM Worksheet

Nutrient Management for Vineyards Vineyard Agricultural Environmental Management Worksheet

POTENTIAL CONCERN LOWER HIGHER 1 2 3 4 NITROGEN (N) MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Timing of Nitrogen All nitrogen is applied All nitrogen is applied Nitrogen applications Nitrogen Application during the period of during the period of made in early spring applications made maximum vine uptake maximum vine uptake while vines are in early spring while (pre-bloom to fruit set) (pre-bloom to fruit set) dormant. vines are dormant. AND Split applications of AND AND AND nitrogen, with 1/3 to 1/2 applied prebloom and ½ Split applications not Nitrogen application Soils are coarse- to 2/3 applied postbloom used not split. textured are used

Long Island Sustainable Practices Workbook 2001-2002

– Vineyard Management – Pest Management – Nutrient Management – Soil Management Alice Wise – Weed Management Grape Program – Pesticide Management – Action Plan (50 Questions) Long Island Sustainable Viticulture Workbook 2002 Draft

Nitrogen (N) Management Practices

Desirable Acceptable Undesirable YOUR (1) (2) (3) RANK

When is N fertilizer soil- N is applied at least one week N is applied between one week N is applied >1 week prior to applied in spring? after budbreak. Subsequent prior and one week after budbreak. applications in spring and budbreak. summer should be done following guidelines in this manual.

Sustainable Viticulture Project 2005-2008

Jamie Hawk Tim Weigle Alice Wise Libby Tarleton Finger Lakes Long Island Long Island Program Elements

• New York Sustainable Practices Workbook •Outreach – Workbook completion – Action Plans • Sustainable Viticulture in the Northeast Newsletter Industry Steering Committee

• National Grape Cooperative • Centerra Wine (Constellation) • New York State Winegrape Growers • Long Island Technical Vineyard Group • Finger Lakes wineries • 3 Extension programs (LE, FL, LI) • 2 State Soil and Water Conservation Specialists The Workbook

• 8 Sections • 140 Questions The NY Sustainable Practices Workbook

Nitrogen (N) Management Practices

1 23 4YOUR RANK

When is N fertilizer N is applied during All N is applied N is applied up to N is applied >2 soil-applied in the period of during the period 2 weeks prior to weeks prior to bud spring? maximum uptake – of maximum bud break when break. bud break to fruit uptake – bud break vines are still set. to fruit set. dormant. AND AND OR Split applications Split applications All N is applied in are used with 30- are not used. the period between 50% of the N fruit set and applied pre-bloom veraison. and the remainder applied post- bloom. There is little absorption of N by roots prior to bud break. The soil is cold and roots are inactive. Early vine growth depends almost entirely on N stored in the woody parts of the vine. It is unclear whether pre-bud break application of slower release organic fertilizers confers an advantage in terms of N availability to the vine. What Practices Promoted?

• Vineyard Management – Canopy management practices – Yield management • Nutrition Management – Nutrient use efficiency – Tissue and Soil Sampling • Pest Management – Scouting & economic thresholds – Weather, variety-driven disease management programs • Pesticide Management – Mixing, loading & storage practices – Worker Protection Standards What Practices Promoted? Continued • Soil Management – Leaching & runoff potential – Preplant site preparation – Cover crops & organic matter • Weed Management – Post- vs. pre-emergent herbicides – Integrated tillage/ weed management • Irrigation Management – System design & maintenance – Water use efficiency • Continuing Education Grower Outreach

• Regional Community Educators – Finger Lakes (Full-time) – Lake Erie (50% FTE) – Long Island (50% FTE) • Complete Workbooks – Individual – Groups • Develop Action Plans – Address ‘3s and 4s’ – Work with Soil and Water Cons. Specialists Outcomes Early 2007

• 28 growers completed workbooks • 1,500 Vineyard acres • 60-80% of responses in ‘1 or 2’ category • 3 Action plans complete • Completion qualifies growers for ‘cost sharing’ with NRCS/SWCD Cost Sharing

• NYS Agricultural Non-point Source Abatement and Control Grants Program •EQIP • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program • Conservation Security Program Pesticide Mixing and Loading Facilities Diversion Ditch Vineyard Mulching Drainage – Tile Design Sustainable Viticulture Newsletter

•Environmental Impact •Sustainability Concepts •Best Management Practices

•Background/Science •Management Issues

•Grower Sidebar Nitrogen use • Avoid ‘blanket’ rates • No more than 50 lb/acre maximum • Adjust for soil organic matter content • Adjust for cropping level, vine vigor • Delay first application until after budburst • Use split applications (especially on coarse soils) Farm Level Impacts N Application Practices

Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer

Old Consensus Rate: 300 lb per acre New Consensus Rate: <150 lb per acre

100 acre farm = 7.5 Tons not applied ($2000-2500)

10K acres in Finger Lakes = 750T ($400,000) Motivators

• ‘Credit’ for what they have been doing • Road map for doing it better • Neighbor relations • Access to technical assistance (cost-share) • Regulatory issues • Marketing the industry Marketing the Program

• Many Audiences – Major purchasers (WalMart/Sysco) – Tasting Room consumers – Neighbors (lakeshore, suburban, drinking water consumers) – Regulators Marketing the Program

• Program identity • Education – www.VineBalance.com – Tasting room ‘point of sale’ • Establishing credibility? –3rd Party Certification? – Endorsements? –Pledge? – Green Labeling? Immediate Benefits

• Benchmarks for vineyard managers • Guidelines for improving quality • Accessible way to incorporate research-based management practices • Integrates IPM, nutrient management, soil conservation, viticulture into one framework www.VineBalance.com