Site and Soil Parameters for Northern Grape Production New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference 2015 Statewide Viticulture Extension
Northern Grapes : Integrating viticulture, winemaking, and marketing of new cold hardy cultivars supporting new and growing rural wineries 5 Year Coordinated Ag Project 12 Institutions, 12 states 34 Research/Extension Scientists 23 Industry Associations $2.5M Funded (2 yr) USDA; $3M Renewal (2 yr) Matched > 25 Organizations and Individuals The Northern Grapes Project is funded by the USDA s Specialty Crops Research Initiative Program of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, Project #2011-51181-30850
Multi-Disciplinary Studies Address Varietal performance and resulting fruit and wine flavor attributes in different climates Applying appropriate viticultural practices to achieve consistent fruit characteristics for ripening Applying winemaking practices to their unique fruit composition to produce distinctive wines that consumers will like and purchase Understanding consumer preferences, individual/regional marketing strategies to increase sales and sustained profitability of wineries and vineyards. The Vine The Vineyard The Wines The Tasting Room
University of Minnesota Cultivars Katie Cook, Jim Luby & Peter Hemstad Cultivar Frontenac La Crescent Marquette Frontenac gris Original cross 1979 1988 1989 - Year released 1996 2002 2006 2003 Mid-winter cold tolerance -33 F -36 F -34 F -33 F Pedigree (V. riparia, V. vinifera, V. labrusca) V. riparia 89 x Landot 4511 St. Pepin x E. S. 6-8-25 MN 1094 x Ravat 262 Single cane bud mutation of Frontenac Ave. Soluble Solids ( Brix) 26.0 25.5 26.1 26.0 Ave. Titratable Acidity (g/l) 15.4 13.0 12.1 14.0
Elmer Swenson Cultivars Elmer Swenson Cultivar Brianna Eidelweiss St Croix St Pepin Original cross 1983 1955?? Year released 2001 1978 1981 1986 Mid-winter cold tolerance? -29 F -31 F -26 F Pedigree (V. labrusca, V. riparia, V. vinifera) Kay Gray x E.S. 2-12-13 St. Pepin x E. S. 6-8-25 E.S. 283 x E.S. 193 (MN #78 x Seibel 1000) x Seyval blanc *Pistillate vine Ave. Soluble Solids ( Brix) 18-20 14-16 16-20 20 Ave. Titratable Acidity (g/l) 7.3-9.0 10.0-12.0 9.0-11.0 10.0-12.0
New York Grape Production Lake Erie /Niagara 13,000 HA Finger Lakes 4,000 HA Hudson Valley 250 HA Long Island 1,000 HA
Novice Growers and Winemakers Project clientele Vineyards 5,900 acres (2,460 Ha) 40% Non-bearing (2011) 80% planted since 2002. 70% < 2 HA Wineries 300 1000-3000 cases 80% established since 2002. Tuck, B. and Gartner, W. 2013. Vineyards and grapes of the north: a status report. Univ. Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality. http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/economic-impact-analysis/reports/docs/2013-vineyards-grapes-north.pdf Tuck, B. and Gartner, W. 2013. Wineries of the north: a status report. Univ. Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality. http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/economic-impact-analysis/reports/docs/2013-winery-north.pdf
Main points Site selection is an economic decision Five key points about site selection Climate trumps soil Air drainage is EXTREMELY important Many Northern Grape cultivars prone to early budburst (V. riparia heritage) Well drained soils are important Soil attributes can be improved before planting
Economics: Grapes and Wine How much land does it take to grow wine? 3000 case winery = 7200 gallons of wine 60 cases per ton = 50 Tons of grapes At 3.5 T/acre =14 acres of grapes If you grow grapes + make/sell wine How much land does it take to make money growing grapes? Machinery + Land + development costs Probably >> 14 acres
Vineyard Development Costs How much $$ to develop a vineyard $18,792 per acre to Yr 4 (2010) $9,897 per acre in machinery & equipment (assuming costs spread over 50 acres) $28,609 K total investment per acre. 50 acres = $ 1,430,450
Investment Machinery/equipment $151,825 Buildings $69,000 Total $220,850 Investment per acre 20 acre vineyard Land $5,400 Machinery/Equipment $7,591 Buildings $3,450 Vineyard development $18,792 Total per acre $35,233 20 acre = $704,660 investment
Economic Impact of Site Selection Over 25 year lifespan of vineyard: Each 0.1 T/acre in additional yield = $900 Net Present Value ($1200/T) You can afford to spend more on an excellent site A poor site costs you money Source: G. White, Dept Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University
Site selection and pre-plant site preparation Climate- Large scale, regional Climate- micro scale Soils and site preparation Not Changeable Can be Modified Major Theme: Pay now or pay later! Good sites and preparation pay off Poor site selection and preparation cost money
Climate Macro & Meso Winter Low Temperatures Spring/Fall Frosts (Length of Growing Season) Heat (Growing Degree-days) Topography (Air drainage, light and heat interception)
Climate and Temperature Profile Sets Limits 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0-10 -20 A M J J A S O N D J F M A Heat Units above 50 F MaxTemp Mintemp Frost-free Days Winter Lows 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 390 420 450 480
Winter Low Temperatures If low temperature is higher than Injury hazard is Suitable Varieties 0ºF very low almost any -5ºF low most northern vinifera -10ºF -15ºF moderate high hardy vinifera/moderately hardy hybrids hardy hybrids/most American <-15ºF very high hardy American varieties <-20º very high Cold Climate varieties Source:Site Selection by Bob Pool www.cornellfruit.com
-40-30 -20-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Jan-03 Mar-03 May-03 Jul-03 Sep-03 Nov-03 Jan-04 Mar-04 May-04 Jul-04 Sep-04 Nov-04 Jan-05 Mar-05 May-05 Jul-05 Sep-05 Nov-05 Jan-06 Mar-06 May-06 Jul-06 Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08 Monthly Minimum Temperatures 2003-2008 -30-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Jan-03 Mar-03 May-03 Jul-03 Sep-03 Nov-03 Jan-04 Mar-04 May-04 Jul-04 Sep-04 Nov-04 Jan-05 Mar-05 May-05 Jul-05 Sep-05 Nov-05 Jan-06 Mar-06 May-06 Jul-06 Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Mar-08 Minimum Temperature F Watertown Airport (Thousand Islands) Willsboro Farm (Lake Champlain)
Macroclimate Online Vineyard Site Evaluation Tool Alan Lakso (Cornell) & IAGT www.nyvineyardsite.org
Growing Degree Days Seasonal summation of Average Temperatures above 50 F Minimum > 2000 GDD; Best >2400 Willsboro Herkimer
Length of Growing Season (Frost-Free Days) Minimum 170 or more; Better >180 Willsboro Herkimer
Probability of <-15 F If Temps <-15 F in > 1 winter in 3, limited to Cold-Hardy vines >35% of years with 1 Winter low Below 15F Herkimer
Composite Map >35% of years with 1 Winter low Below 15F <160 Frost-Free Days Herkimer <1900 Growing-Degree Days >2400 Growing-Degree Days
Minnesota Varieties? Minnesota Hybrids and Labrusca Herkimer Labrusca, Hybrids, Vinifera (within limits)
Mesoclimate Lake Effect in the Finger Lakes January 14, 2008
Mesoclimate: Air Drainage Poor Air Drainage
Topography and Air Movement Slide courtesy J. Fiola, University of Maryland
Aurore Frost Injury in a Cold Pocket on 16 Oct 1989 M. Goffinet
Air Drainage
Air Drainage
May 14 Spring Frost May 22, 2015
May 25 May 22: 26 F
Hillside Vineyard - 2015
Aspect = Slope direction Avoid Northerly Slopes SE to SW-Facing Slopes gain more heat
Soil Suitability SOIL DEPTH SOIL TEXTURE/ Water holding capacity Internal Drainage SOIL ph
Soils Affect Vine Capacity and Vigor Soil depth, texture Water Holding Capacity Organic matter/fertility Vigor = Rate of shoot growth Vine Capacity = Sustainable cropping level Diagram courtesy Terry Bates, Viticulture Research Associate Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory, Portland, NY 37
Shoot Vigor
Water Stress Irrigation Drainage Less water availability Auger Heavy clay
Crown Gall Poor Drainage
Vinifera 6.5 Hybrids 6.0 Labrusca 5.5
Soil Survey Information Rte 14 Langford Valois Howard
Langford (Gravelly Silt Loam) Moderately well-drained Hard-pan at 18 Acid surface; neutral subsoil Silt Loam, strongly acid, high in organic matter 0-3 inches Silt Loam, strongly acid 0-18 inches Heavy Silt Loam; Very Little Root penetration 18-50 inches Compact Glacial Till ph 7.5-8 >50 inches
Valois (Gravelly Silt Loam) Well-Drained Medium-textured Acid Gravelly silt loam good water holding strongly acid (0-20 ) Coarse gravelly silt loam Good root penetration Acid to neutral (20-50 ) Gravelly loam, neutral to calcareous below 72
USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/app/ WebSoilSurvey.aspx Have a broadband connection!!!
Google Earth http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/soilweb-apps/
On-site Investigations Soil Pits Rooting depth Soil texture throughout profile Potential problem areas Augered Holes Spring - test drainage Indicate need for tiling
Site Enhancement Climate Winter Low Temperatures No Spring/Fall Frosts (Length of Growing Season) No Heat (Growing Degree-days) No Topography (Air Drainage) Maybe Soils Rooting Depth Maybe (break up hard pan) Water Holding Capacity No - but Irrigation possible Internal Drainage Yes Soil ph Yes
Most important for ph Preplant Soil Testing Target Range (MN): 6.0 6.5 Lime Recommendations Also provides results for: Cations: K, Mg, Ca, P % organic matter Cation Exchange Capacity (related to soil texture, calc. Base saturation) Sample at: 0-8 (Surface) 8-16 (Subsoil) Multiple subsamples. Variable soil = sample 2 areas separately
Lime to adjust ph Incorporate preplant Amendments to increase organic matter Soil Amendments Compost Cover crops, eg Sudex (Long Island) Fertilizers K, Mg, Ca, P most common Mg/Ca from lime.
Tile Drainage installation Laser guided
Extra investments for Site Preparation Cost per acre Breakeven increase in yield Improvement Tile Drainage (every 2nd row) $2,500 0.3 Tons/acre Drip Irrigation $2,000 0.2 Tons/acre Total additional Investment $4,500 0.5 Tons/acre Soil Amendments (ph, organic matter) Often return > 0.5 T/acre
Deer Problems?
Site Selection: Pay now or pay later! Good sites and preparation pay off Poor site selection and preparation cost money http://northerngrapesproject.org/