Final Year for the Vineyard Improvement Program

PORTLAND, NEW YORK (March 22, 2024) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is preparing to wrap up the Vineyard Improvement Program at the end of this year. The Vineyard Improvement Program is provided by New York Ag and Markets and is funded by the Southern Tier Agricultural Industry Enhancement Program. It is available to the Southern Tier of New York which for this program includes the following counties: Chautauqua, Erie (NY), Niagara, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Steuben, Schuyler, Tompkins, and Tioga.

This was a proposal from the Concord Grape Summit held in April 2018 aimed at assisting Concord grape growers in their efforts to respond to the challenges they faced through processor closings, contract reductions and overall reduction in demand for grapes. These challenges initially led to a significant number of acres that had essentially been abandoned due to the cost prohibitive nature of removal. Since then there have been improvements in the industry which have led to a slower use of the available funding. An extension had been granted due to that fact, as well as the decreased activity during the height of the COVID pandemic, so the money is still available for abandoned/underproducing/unwanted Concord vineyards until the end of 2024.

VIP is a reimbursement program that offers 50% of removal costs up to $1,500 per acre and 25% of replant costs up to $1,500 per acre, with a maximum reimbursement of $50,000 per applicant. Ultimately the goal of the program is to improve the economic viability of the applicants’ production operations and to decrease pest pressure to the surrounding commercial vineyards.

Applicants are able to hire someone to do the work and then submit invoices for reimbursement or complete the removals/replants themselves as long as an accurate record is kept of the work done. The process would begin by submitting an application to the program via the form found at https://lergp.com/vip-application. Once that is completed, verification is required that it is a Concord vineyard through existing maps or contracts provided by the applicant, and the application and documents are reviewed. An initial site visit is made to verify the vineyard is still there and pictures taken for documentation. After that the applicant is free to begin the removal process which includes removing the vines along with the roots, posts, wire, and anchors. After some ground prep, the replant will need to be established. This can be as simple as a hayfield, field crops, or even an orchard or vineyard. The land is required to remain agricultural in order to participate in the project, and if you have an idea that hasn’t been listed please contact us to see if it is reimbursable. A final site visit will be completed once the crop and appropriate trellis are established without the presence of grapevines from the removed Concords, as well as having sufficient weed control. After that the invoices, receipts and work logs are turned in to determine the reimbursement amount. Once all parties are content with that number it is submitted to be reimbursed.

If you have any questions about this project please contact Kim at ksk76@cornell.edu or visit our website at https://lergp.com/about-vip. Time is running out for this grant, so it you have been considering using it to help with your project please act soon!

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 subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. 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 22, 2024