Wine-Grower-News #6

June 14, 2007                                                                          .

Information included in this issue includes:
 
Purchase or Build a Hand Held Rope Wick Weed Applicator
17 Year Periodical Cicadas Causing Problems in Muscatine County
Scenic Rivers Grape Growers Association formed in Southeast Iowa
Upcoming University of Nebraska Viticulture Events
7-28-07 - ISU Summer Viticulture Field Day at Horticulture Farm
Tax & Trade Bureau Winery Record Keeping & Labeling Seminar
Debut of “Crushnet” – online winery, vineyard, wine enthusiast, wine making community.
Group Tasting Rooms -  Sounds like a good idea for Iowa!
A Drink A Day Slows Dementia, Italian Study Finds
Neeto-Keeno WWW Stuff
 
Purchase or Build a Hand Held Rope Wick Weed Applicator
 
Rope Wick applicators were created to wipe Roundup on weeds taller than the soybean crop back in the late 70’s.  Farmers no longer use rope wicks in their soybean fields, but the technology did not die.  Rope wick applicators are still being used for weed control in specialty crops, pastures, and home garden & turf use.  Hand held rope wicks work well late in the season to clean up escaped weeds growing under the trellis wire.  The typical rope wick will contain a solution of 1 part Roundup (41% glyphosate) and 2 parts water in a PVC pipe reservoir. The solution is then wicked out through a nylon rope that can be wiped onto weeds. 
 
1. Order a Rosco Weed Wiper for $30 delivered here: http://www.rodgersinc.com/Hand_Wick_Apllicator.htm
2. Several hand held models can be found at Vogels Wick Weeders LTD: http://www.vogelswickweeders.com/index.htm
3. Actual plans to build a hand held rope wick out of PVC pipe can be found on page 7 of this publication:  http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for23/for23.pdf
 
17 Year Periodical Cicadas Causing Problems in Muscatine County
 
I received one report from Muscatine County of 17 year periodical cicadas causing serious damage to 2 year old Steuben vines.  The Frontenac were receiving very little damage. The leaves were wilting on canes where heavy egg laying had occurred. There are 12 counties in eastern Iowa that will see the emergence of 17 Year Periodical Cicadas.  This emergence, considered (Brood XIII) was last seen in 1990.  Experience with this brood will be spotty in nature and most often associated with upland woodlands.  The 12 counties that will be affected in 2007 are:
 
                        Benton             Cedar               Clayton            Clinton
                        Dubuque          Iowa                 Linn                  Jackson           
                       Johnson            Jones               Muscatine         Scott
 
All but a few weeks of the entire 17 year life cycle of this insect is as a nymph feeding on the sap of deciduous tree roots 18-24” in the soil.  The nymphs emerge as adults in late May or Early June and climb up onto trees, grapes, posts, etc.  Once above the ground they escape from their old skin and emerge as adults. The adults live for 6-8 weeks.  Grape damage occurs from the adult egg laying into canes, cordons, and trunks.  Eggs normally hatch within 6-7 weeks.  After hatching, the nymphs crawl down to the ground and burrow 18-24” into the soil to feed on the sap of deciduous tree roots. The nymphs do not consider grape roots as a food source.
 
Mature vines do not receive much damage because most of the eggs are laid on the distill ends of canes.  The trunks, cordons and canes of two year old or younger vines can be seriously damaged by this insect.  Often to the point that complete trunk or cordon renewal is required.  Now is the time to be scouting for this insect. Insecticides can be used to control this insect, but repeat applications every 3-5 days may be required to keep them off of the vines.  Very few insecticides are labeled to control periodical cicadas in grapes.   Sevin would be one good option for someone without  a private pesticide applicators license.  One of the pyrethroid insecticides like Danitol, Baythroid XL or  Mustang Max could also be considered for those who have a private pesticide applicators license.Bug netting can also be purchased to cover the vines. The owner of the vineyard in question was considering the overnight delivery of 8’x 500’ 3/8” diameter netting at a cost of $108.
 
Further information can be found here:
 
1. http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2007/5-2/periodic.html
2. http://everest.ento.vt.edu/Fruitfiles/cicada.html
3. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2137.html
4. http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodicals/viticulture/04marchapril/04marchapril.html
 
Scenic Rivers Wine & Grape Producers Association formed in Southeast Iowa
 
A new winery and grape growers group has been forming over the last 4 months. They are now official.  Membership cost is $10 and meetings are held on the second Monday of every month. No meeting will be held July 9 or during August and September.  One of the first projects of this group has been to put together a wine trail brochure and website of the organization. These will be done soon.  Both Illinois and Iowa wineries are involved with this effort.  More information can be obtained by contacting Mike Pence at Heartland Harvest Winery 319.372.7552,  mike_s_pence@msn.com, or Steve and Becky Tucker at Whispering Pines Winery 319-293-6294,  stevet@netins.net.
 
7-28-07 - ISU Summer Viticulture Field Day at Horticulture Farm
 
Mark your calendar.  Dr. Paul Domoto and staff will be holding the second Annual Viticulture Field day at the Horticulture Farm north of Ames on Saturday, July 28, 2007.   Presentations from campus staff, vineyard tours, and vendor displays are being scheduled.  Details will be out soon. 
 
Tax & Trade Bureau Winery Record Keeping & Labeling Seminar
 
When: 9AM to 4:30 PM, Friday July 13, 2007
Where: DMACC Campus, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny, IA 50021
Agenda: 9 AM   Daily Records & Operational Reports
            10:30 AM  Break        
            10:45 AM Excise Tax & Excise Tax Returns
            Noon – lunch
            1 PM Wine Labeling
            2:30 PM  Break
            2:45 PM Questions & Answers
Sponsored by:  Iowa Wine  Growers Association
Cost:   $20 for members, $25 for non-members
Registration: Please contact IWGA prior to July 6, at 800-383-1682
 
Upcoming University of Nebraska Viticulture Events
 
A rolling vineyard tour will start at 9 AM on Saturday, June 23, 2007 with registration at the George Spencer Vineyard in Gibbon, Nebraska.  Jim Hruskoci will discuss the cluster removal project with Dr. Paul Read. Steve Gamet will discuss vineyard management tasks.  George Spencer personell will discuss their management techniques with new cultivars like Brianna, Traminette and 2006 planting of Marquette.  Lunch will be at Miretta Vineyards in St. Paul.  Cluster removal and trellis systems will be discussed here.  The 3 stop will be at Cedar Hills Vineyard and Gardens where cluster removal will be discussed followed by wine tasting. Contact Donna Michel at dmichel@unl.edu or 402-472-8747 to register.  The cost will be $15.  Further information can be found here: http://agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture/
 
The Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association have obtained a grant to conduct educational programs and has set up the following 4 summer field day events.
 
            July 27,            James Arthur Vineyards, Raymond, NE
            July 28,            Cuthills Vineyards, Pierce, NE
            August 3,          George Spencer Vineyards, Gibbon, NE
            August 4,          South Fork Vineyards, Ogallala, NE
 
Guest presenters will Dr. Carl Rosen, UMN soils specialist (July 27 & 28).  Dr. Paul Domoto of ISU and Steve Gamet and Dr. Paul Read of UNL will discuss harvest parameters, record keeping, crop estimation, and related topics. Contact Ann Rieff, NWGGA Growers Council Chair for further information: 308-380-0610.
 
Group Tasting Rooms - Sounds like a good idea for Iowa!
 
A major part of the Iowa wine industry centers around quaint little wineries located in scenic country areas.  Places were people like to visit, relax and have a good time.  But,. what about the majority of the wine market that resides in urban areas?  Farmers markets, wine events and wholesale sales through wine stores have been our primary way to reach these people.  This type of marketing takes people, time and capital. It is not cheap.
 
Marketing through group tasting rooms owned by several local wineries together may be a viable alternative to reach these urban markets.  Wine tasting, events, wine trail promotion, winery & vineyard tours, etc.. could all be promoted through these tasting rooms.  This is a phenomenon that is happening in California.  Maybe it should be an Iowa phenomenon. Here are a couple of examples:
 
1. Group Tasting Room Opens in Lake County, 6-8-07:     http://www.winesandvines.com/head_jun07_Studio.html
2. The Cellar Door, Sonoma, CA: http://www.sonomacellardoor.com/about_cellar_door.html
 
Debut of “Crushnet” – online winery, vineyard, wine enthusiast, wine making community.

(selected from SAN FRANCISCO, June 12 /PRNewswire/) Crushpad, the consumer-powered winery, today announced that the company has launched Crushnet.com, an online community where consumers meet and collaborate to create their own boutique wines. Wines are produced at Crushpad's new 34,000 square foot winery in San Francisco and can be shared among the community. Key capabilities of Crushnet.com include:     -- Connecting like minded wine enthusiasts     -- Barrel sharing allocations & financial transactions online     -- Real-time Wine planning and Winemaking information     -- User-generated video, pictures, blogs and forums     -- Online wine reviews and competitions     -- Enowiki community-edited winemaking encyclopedia Crushpad is a San Francisco-based consumer winemaking facility whose clients include wine enthusiasts, professional winemakers, wine retailers and restaurateurs. Crushpad specializes in small-lot, luxury wine production from the West Coast's most notable vineyards. Check it out here: http://www.crushnet.com

A Drink A Day Slows Dementia, Italian Study Finds(Wine Spectator, 6-7-07)
 
A new study, conducted by scientists from the Department of Geriatrics at the University of Bari, in Bari, Italy, found that a drink or two per day may help slow the development of dementia. The research, published in the May 22 issue of the journal Neurology, may provide hope for those at risk of dementia and diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the transitional stage between normal brain function and full-blown, irreversible cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's.  Read entire article here: http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,3822,00.html

Neeto-Keeno WWW Stuff
 
            1. “For Sale”  Century House Winery & Vineyard, Lewisburg KY : http://www.centuryhouse.net/
            2. Profession Friends of Wine - dedicated to increasing wine appreciation, wine education,
                wine information, and wine training: http://www.winepros.org/index.htm
            3. Integrated Pest Mgt Database of Grape Pest Resources:  http://ipmnet.org/cicp/fruit/grape.html
 
 
Past issues archived here: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/newsletters/winegrowers.html

Please reply with the word "unsubscribe"  in the Subject Line if you wish to no longer receive this newsletter.