Sustainable Viticulture Practices Workbook

Virginia

30 November 201218January 20113

Preface

This workbookis one stepof a multi-step effortto guide Virginia grape producers who wish to increase the sustainability of their vineyard operations. The workbookwas developed with industry input, and will continue to have input from end-users such as you, and from an industry steering committee.

Please use the workbook in assessing the sustainability of your own vineyard and let us know about your experience. What worked, what didn’t, and what would you like to see that was not included here? We welcome these suggestions and your input will help determine howthis workbook is further developed. Let us know what you would like to see in a future phase of this project.

Tremain Hatch

Research/Extension Viticulture Associate

Virginia Tech

(540) 869-2560 x11

Table of Contents

Introduction...... 1

Pre-plant considerations...... 3

Soil mangment, fertilizer and irrigaiton...... 6

Vine training and crop/canopy mantgement...... 8

Groundcover and weed mangement in established vineyards...... 9

Pest mangement...... 10

Disease management ...... 11
Arthropod management ...... 15
Vertebrate management...... 16

Pesticide safety and management ...... 18

Pesticide storage ...... 18
Pesticide mixing and handling...... 19
Pesticide application technology ...... 22

Grower/employee education ...... 24

References and resources ...... 26

Introduction

This workbook was conceived and developed by a committee that included industry representatives from Virginia vineyards and wineries, the Virginia Vineyards Association, as well as input from viticulture specialists at Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension. The central goal was to provide both existing grape growers and potential growers with a roadmap towards a more sustainable vineyard enterprise. The reader and user should ask, What is sustainable? The workbook committee used the commonly accepted definition of a sustainable agricultural operation as one that strives for three goals or outcomes: minimizing environmental degradation, practicing social responsibility, and achieving vineyard profitability. Minimizing environmental impact can include, but is not limited to, avoiding soil erosion, preventing ground or surface water contamination by pesticides or fertilizers, preventing harm to beneficial or other non-target organisms, and protecting the Chesapeake Bay and other watersheds. Social responsibility includes protecting the welfare of vineyard workers, consumers others, and respecting the rights and property of neighbors as well as abiding by acceptable community standards. Profitability, at its simplest, is gross returns minus all operating expenses. But profitability may also reflect improvements to the environment, health benefits of a physical, horticultural endeavor by owners/management, or other less tangible quality of life rewards.

Each of the nearly 120 questions posed in this workbook was given substantial thought as to how it impacted sustainability and whether there was consensus as to what the desirable response was to achieve increased sustainability. A fundamental requisite for inclusion of a question was that there was good experience, science, or ideally both, to support including the element.

Although the workbook was designed for both beginning growers and experienced growers, most of the listed practices will apply more to established operations which are interested in a sustainability audit and, ultimately, improving the sustainability of their operation.

The workbook should help growers:

•Succeed in growing high quality fruit that is marketable

•Explain concepts important to sustainable wine grape production

•Assess current vineyard practices

•Identify components of vineyard operationwhere improvement will lead to increased sustainability

How to use this workbook:

1.Read though the workbook and pay attention to each section introduction and the section’s“why” components.

2.Complete the workbook by addressing each of the posed questions. Be honest and fairly score each question by marking with a check mark which column most accurately describes your level of compliance for that particular vineyard practice or design decision.

3.The choices, in decreasing measure of compliance, are 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0%. For example, if you felt that the particular question could be answered affirmatively, or without qualification, essentially all the time, then check the 100% column. If a response were true most of the time, check 75%. If it were true or false in roughly proportional measures, check 50%, and so on.

*if a question does not pertain to you or your operation – give yourself a 100 rather than leaving the response blank. However, if the practice is simply not completed – score yourself with a 0.

4.Review the responses:

a.Characterize responses by subsection.

b.Subsections that contain a high proportion 50% or lower compliance scores are areas to focus effort on for incorporating more sustainable practices in future years. We have not assigned acceptable or “passing” scores at this point. Your goal should be to improve your score every year.

c.Identify items which can be implemented in the vineyard.

d.Implement these changes or learn more from a grower already using this practice,a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent or specialist, or with a reputable, private consultant.

5.Repeat this process annually – try using the workbook once in mid-summer, and then again shortly after harvest as a review of the season. Vineyard practices can always be improved to increase ecological, social and economic sustainability. Compliance with the activities described in this workbook should help the operation move towards a more sustainable operation. Annual evaluation of compliance should also identify areas where improvements have been made – celebrate these improvements – you are on the way toward vineyard sustainability.

Pre-plant considerations: Site evaluation, vineyard design, rootstocks and scion, training system, soil analysis and pre-plant soil amendments:

Vineyards in Virginia are challenged by biotic and abiotic threats. The selection of a suitable site, design of the vineyard to match the site and the goals of the operation are essential to the sustainability of the vineyard enterprise.
100% / 75% / 50% / 25% / 0%
1 / Selected vineyard site, in part, for its highrelativeelevation.
Why? High elevation relative to surrounding terrain reduces the likelihood of frost and winter injury to the vines. Higher topography also enhances air movement that can aid disease management.
Vineyard Site Selection Bulletin:
2 / Selected vineyard site, in part, on the basis of low to moderate soil fertility and good soil structure that demonstrates rapid internal soil water drainage and relatively low water-holding capacity.
High fertility and high water-holding capacity soils tend to promote overly vigorous grapevines, which aggravates disease management, increases vineyard management costs and can reduce wine quality potential.
3 / Explore potential implications of site location, proximity to neighbors and any protective covenants on land use; and, evaluate neighboring properties for potential hazards they pose to grapevines (e.g. spray drift into vineyards).
Neighbors, municipalities and property owners’ protective covenants have legal implications as to how land may be used – be aware of how these may influence your vineyard operation or winery. Industrial and other agricultural operations may pose risks to vineyard sustainability – pollutants from industrial facilities or agricultural chemicals i.e. 2,4-D, can damage or even kill vines.
4 / If using a site which previously was farmed with grapes, removed any old, abandoned vines and/or vineyard blocks and allowed a fallow period in those blocks ofseveral years.
Abandoned vineyards may still harbor diseases and pests for years after the removal of grapevines. Establishing a non-host crop such as cereal grains or perennial grass to grow for two or more years will help deplete grapevine pest populations.
5 / Selected site with adequate water sources.
Available water sources may be needed to supply irrigation, spray water needs and other water needs.
6 / Selected varieties less susceptible to major diseases and cold hardiness sufficient predicted wintertime low temperatures of the site.
Varieties which are have increased tolerance to major diseases and winter temperatures will require fewer inputs in the vineyard.
7 / Purchased and planted certified vine stock.
While certification does not guarantee freedom from pests and pathogens, it does generally ensure a healthier vine than what might be obtained from non-certified plant material.
8 / Rootstocks were selected for the scion variety, vineyard objectives and soil conditions.
Rootstocks vary to some extent in the vigor and vine capacity conferred to the scion. Rootstocks may also provide some field resistance to certain nematode-transmitted viruses. Factors to consider when selecting grapevine rootstocks:
9 / Designed vineyard and planted inter-row cover crops to minimize soil erosion during vineyard establishment and operation.
Perennial, inter-row crops prevent soil erosion, reduce soil compaction, and allow movement of machinery in the vineyard sooner after rains; they may also help minimize perennial weeds.
10 / A buffer zone was established between the vineyard and known alternative hosts of grape pathogens.
A 200-yard minimum buffer zone is recommended because wild grapevines can be a reservoir for grape pests and diseases such as grape berry moth and grape root borer.
11 / Constructed soil erosion barriers while installing the vineyard and road systems to prevent topsoil loss.
Soil erosion barriers help to prevent surface water run-off.
12 / Consultedexperienced wine growers, extension educators, or wine grape specialists for advice on vineyard site selection.
Vineyard site selection experts can give advice to prevent future problems and help select the best possible site for vineyard sustainability and grape quality potential.
13 / Analyzed soil for physical, structural and hydrologic propertieswhen designing vineyard.
Soil properties will influence vine size and differences in soil properties will have large implications on vineyard variability.
14 / Analyzed soil for nematode populations before installing the vineyard.
Nematodes are harmful to grapevines; however, they are easily managed before planting. Incorporating a rape seed cover crop will help eliminate nematodes without the need of chemical fumigants.
Pre-plant Renovation and Soil Condition for new Vineyards (pg. 76) Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America
15 / Completed a chemical soil analysis of each vineyard block before installing the vineyard.
It is necessary to understand the pH and nutrient status of the soil so that lime and fertilizer can be applied correctly before the vineyard is established.
16 / Made appropriate soil amendments (and incorporated if necessary) before planting and trellis installation.
It is easier and cheaper to make soil amendments if large equipment can access the field and apply lime and fertilizer in bulk. Incorporating these amendments is also more difficult and costly once the vineyard has been established. Some amendments, such as lime, are not very mobile in the soil and therefore should be applied well ahead of planting. Some amendments, such as nitrogen, are very mobile and should only be applied during periods of active vine uptake.
Pre-plant Renovation and Soil Condition for new Vineyards (pg. 76) Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America
17 / Developed a state nutrient management plan for farm and applied nutrients as prescribed by that plan.
Nutrient management plans are documents that make a site-specific plan for efficient use of plant nutrients to best meet plant needs and minimize negative impacts on the environment.
Department of Conservation and Recreation:
18 / Assessed potential for wild life depredation and implemented exclusion measures as warranted.
Deer and other vertebrate pests can cause substantial damage to the grapes and browsing can severely delay vineyard establishment.
19 / Allowed sufficient headland area to grow windbreaks or hedgerows to help prevent spray drift, at least on leeward side of vineyard.
Minimizing spray drift out of the vineyard helps protect the environment,reduces input costs, and benefits vineyard-neighbor relations.
20 / Allowed sufficient row spacing to permit equipment to move through the vineyard and allowed sufficient headland area for efficiently turning equipment at row ends.
When designing the vineyard think through all the equipment that will be used in the vineyard. Include turning areas for tractor and spray rigs as well as truck and trailer loading area for harvested fruit.
21 / Designed vineyard to allow generous generous buffer zones when applying pesticides near water, neighboring crops, private or public properties, schools, roadways and other sensitive locations or use appropriate drift abatement technology.
Contaminating waterways and allowing sprays to drift into public areas can lead to substantial fines and administrative costs, as well as damaging the environment and creating strife within the community.
Section I Score: Sum the number of responses within each column. Sum of this row should total 21

Soil Management, Fertilization, and Irrigation:

A grapevine requires carbon dioxide, sunlight, water and 16 essential nutrients for normal growth and development. Sustainable nutrient management in vineyards must incorporate understanding of the natural processes of soil biology and plant physiology with the grower’s production goals. Soil is a medium to anchor grapevines and it provides reserves of water and nutrients. Irrigation can be used to supply water to grapevines when rainfall is insufficient to meet grapevine water needs.
100% / 75% / 50% / 25% / 0%
1 / Monitor the nutrient status of the vineyard every year.
Why? Three means to assess the nutrient status of the vineyard are: visual symptoms, soil tests, and petiole analysis. Visual symptoms of nutrient levels in the plant can show up in leaf markings, leaf color and vine growth. Soil tests will reveal the soil pH and quantify nutrient availability. Plant tissue analysis of leaf petioles shows the concentrations of nutrients within the plant tissue; this indicates what the vine is actually taking up. Combining the information from these three indices will characterize the vineyard nutrition.
2 / If required, Nitrogen fertilizer is only applied during periods of grapevine root development to maximize uptake. In the case of large quantities (> 30 lbs. of actual N per acre), split the application into two applications, such as at approximately bloom-time and then one month later.
Matching nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to periods of active uptake of N by the grapevine (post bloom -> leaf senescence) ensures that the vines take up N fertilizerand reduces the possibility of N fertilizer leaching out the vine’s root zone. Splitting the application of nitrogen extends the absorption of N across the most efficient phase of plant nutrient uptake.
3 / Fertilizer application is based on calibrated spreader or other methodology that ensures the appropriate amount is uniformly applied.
While nutrients are essential to grapevine growth they are also expensive; inappropriate application will lead to undesirable vine growth, unnecessary extra cost, and environmental contamination.
4 / Add organic matter to soil to improve structure, drainage, fertility, and water-holding capacity, if necessary.
The addition of organic matter, such as composted leaf litter, trimmings and pomace, can improve both the structure and chemical properties of some vineyard soils. Soil organic matter provides a reserve of nitrogen and, over time, organic material improves soil water internal drainage, soil moisture availability and resistance to compaction and erosion. Optimum values for organic matter in Virginia vineyards generally range from 1.5 – 3%. Excessive organic material coupled with deep, fine textured soils with high water holding capacity will, however, lead to excessive vine vegetative growth.
5 / Record all nutrient additions.
These records will be useful for accounting purposes, to gauge the efficacy of fertilizer applications and for future management decisions.
6 / Know the nutrient leaching/surface run-off potential for your soil/vineyard and correct nutrient application methods as necessary.
Extra care is required to avoid internal leaching or surface movement of applied nutrients.
7 / Have a plan or infrastructure in place to supply water to vines when and if necessary.
Drought can reduce crop potential, reduce cold hardiness and ultimately kill vines or retard vine establishment. Consider drip irrigation or manual transportation of water into the vineyard to avoid drought stress. Do a risk assessment of need for irrigation based on criteria defined in the Chapter 9 of the Wine Grape Production Guide for Eastern North America.
Section II Score: Sum the number of responses within each column. Sum of this row should total 7.

Vine training and crop/canopy management

It is critical that grapevines have a large area of healthy leaves exposed to sunlight. Train vines to promote canopy densities which provide excellent light penetration, air circulation, and spray coverage. Good canopy management is the foundation of disease management, assures the potential to achieve optimal fruit composition and, assures good crop potential in the following growing season.