UW Cooperative Extension Service April 2010 Page 3

Wyoming residents grow grapes for wines, jellies

By Sandra Frost Bucking horses, coal mines, gas wells, and high, cold desert are images that come to mind first when asked about Wyoming. Grapes and wine are not near the top of the list. Grapes are successfully grown in Wyoming, though, at both the homeowner and commercial scales. Grape varieties may be suitable for juice, jams, and jellies, table grapes, or wine production. Grape variety research was done at the University of Wyoming Sheridan Research and Extension Center (SREC) over several years (www. uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/Sheridan.asp). Colorado State University bhas also conducted grape variety trials under conditions similar to Wyoming and makes variety recommendations (www.coopext. colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/fruit.shtml).

Photo courtesy of South Dakota State University Site and variety selec- tion are the most important factors for growing grapes in Wyoming. A site on the sunny south side of a house that provides protection on the north and west sides from snow and wind is ideal. Winter hardiness is Farm bill disaster aid programs available an important variety char- By James Sedman and John Hewlett must have a minimum of cata- of the smaller of either the monthly acteristic since grape vines Past federal farm bill legisla- strophic coverage (CAT) crop feed cost for the total number of may live many years. tion dealt with disaster aid on insurance policy for all insurable livestock covered or the monthly Taking soil samples a case-by-case basis requiring crops and Non-Insured Disaster feed cost calculated by using the and having them tested special votes and appropriations Assistance Program (NAP) cover- normal carrying capacity of the for grape production is each time a disaster payment was age for all non-insurable crops. eligible grazing land. This program a good idea. Soil testing deemed necessary. A producer’s actual production requires a producer to carry either information sheets can be The 2008 Farm Bill makes history (APH) is used to help de- Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Frontenac, a red wine grape, which is obtained at any University very vigorous and hardy, can be grown disaster relief semipermanent by termine the extent of any losses. or NAP coverage to be eligible for of Wyoming Cooperative in Wyoming. pcreating the Agriculture Disaster Crop losses must be judged at assistance. Extension Service county Relief Trust Fund. Several new least 10 percent due to a natural office in the state or online at http://ces.uwyo.edu/Forms/CES_Sub- For More Information disaster relief programs have been disaster in a county declared a disas- ject_Forms.htm. There is a $20 fee for the standard fertility test at the Payment limits of $100,000 created as part of this fund. Some ter or at least 50 percent due to a UW Soil Testing Laboratory (http://ces.uwyo.edu/Soil_Main.asp), per person and $500,000 maximum are triggered by a disaster declara- natural disaster in an adjacent, which includes pH, salts, organic matter, phosphate-phosphorus, gross income apply to any program tion while others may be available non-disaster county. nitrate-nitrogen, lime, and texture. Specify that the site will be payments as part of the new farm on a continuing basis to crop and used for grape production on the questionnaire mailed to the lab Livestock Indemnity bill. Producers should keep in livestock producers. Counties ad- with the sample. There is a fee for additional tests. The lab is on the Program mind that, for the most part, these jacent to those declared a disaster UW campus in Laramie and can be reached at (307) 745-4825 or The Livestock Indemnity Pro- programs require enrollment in also qualify. [email protected]. gram (LIP) was designed to assist some type of crop insurance policy Depending on the details for Grape growers and winemakers have formed the Wyoming livestock producers who have to qualify. individual operations, these pro- Grape and Wine Association (www.WyoGrape.com ) to promote experienced losses due to adverse For more information on this grams may be a good fit for farm interest and success in the industry. Growers in Wyoming harvested weather at higher than normal and other risk management top- or ranch risk management plans. nearly 45 tons of grapes in 2009. The association has a list of pre- mortality rates. This program does ics on the Web, including three ferred wine grape varieties that do well in Wyoming. Association Supplemental Revenue not require a specific disaster dec- recently completed bulletins on members also share information on resources, getting started in the Assistance Program laration and was intended to cover disaster assistance programs for industry, and sources of nursery stock. The Supplemental Revenue losses due to extreme weather such Wyoming, visit the Western Risk Winter hardy varieties recommended by the association in- Assistance Program (SURE) is as blizzards, tornadoes, and heat Management Library online at clude: funded by the Agriculture Disaster waves. Losses are paid based on 75 agecon.uwyo.edu/riskmgt. Grapes for wine: Relief Trust Fund to provide crop percent of the fair market value of For more information on what Frontenac (red) disaster assistance payments to the livestock. crop insurance policies will qualify Marquette (red) eligible producers on farms and an operation for these programs, Livestock Forage Marechal Foch (red) ranches in counties declared a consult a crop insurance agent. Assistance Program LaCrosse (white) disaster who have experienced Agents can help tailor a policy to The Livestock Forage Assis- Elvira (white) production losses (excluding graz- fit specific risk management needs. tance Program (LFP) is designed Frontenac Gris (white) ing), crop quality losses, or both, A list of insurance agents may to assist producers experiencing LaCrescent (white) during the crop year. be found at the RMA Web site at losses of forage and pasture associ- Crop disaster payments to www.rma.usda.gov under “Agent/ ated with extreme drought. Grapes for dessert and jams and eligible producers will be made company Locator” in the upper A county disaster declaration jellies that have grown well at SREC at 60 percent of the difference right sidebar. is not necessary for qualification; include: between the disaster assistance however, U.S. Drought Monitor Beta (blue-black) program guarantee and the total James Sedman is a consultant to information is used to determine Valiant (red) farm revenue for the farm. The the Department of Agricultural and if the area qualifies as extreme Concord (blue-black) disaster assistance program guar- Applied Economics in the University drought. Producers in a severe Kay Gray (white) antee for a crop used to calculate of Wyoming College of Agriculture and drought will receive one month’s Natural Resources, and John Hewlett Worden (blue-black) the payments for a farm may not payment, extreme drought quali- is a farm and ranch management Bluebell be greater than 90 percent of the fies for two months, and an ex- specialist in the department. Hewlett sum of the expected revenue for ceptional drought merits three may be reached at (307) 766-2166 or Sandra Frost is a University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension each of the crops for the farm. To months. The payment is 60 percent [email protected]. Service educator based in Powell serving northwest Wyoming. She can be qualify for SURE, crop producers contacted at (307) 754-8836 or at [email protected].