Grape Conference at SUNY Fredonia Williams Center

FREDONIA, N.Y. (March 8, 2019) – LERGP will host the annual Grape Growers’ Conference on March 13th 2019. The Conference takes place on the SUNY Fredonia campus at the Williams Center. The annual gathering of area growers provides a great opportunity to network as well as update growers on current research and extension programming to improve vineyard sustainability.

Guest speaker Brian Brown will speak on alternative weed management strategies as resistant weeds and troublesome perennials have local grape growers looking for innovative ways to reduce weed competition in vineyards. William Ellsworth, a senior horticulture inspector with NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, will be on hand to discuss the NYS response to spotted lanternfly. The invasive species is well established in south east Pennsylvania and Heather Leach, Department of Entomology with Penn State University will discuss current research and management strategies of the pest as well.

The Efficient Vineyard project continues. This project has resulted in the acceptance of updated and new sensor technology in vineyards. Project members have created efficientvineyard.com as a resource to educate growers on how to use this sensor technology. The roll-out of this instructional web-based information will be showcased at the LERGP annual conference.

As always the conference will feature programming for integrated pest management that allows growers to control pests sustainably and inexpensively. These educational and research based presentations also provide growers with ample opportunities to obtain recertification credits that area growers need.

The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated March 8, 2019