UCONN IPM: Integrated Pest Management:UConn Grape IPM Message

This will be the start of messages from the UCONN Grape IPM Program. This year Dr. Philippe Rolshausen and I will be working together to get timely information to you. I have a lot to report, but I wanted to get the attached information to you before it is very old news.

This has been a mild winter so my soil temperature data is not as interesting as I had hoped, not withstanding various technical challenges along the way. Weather stations were relocated to various sites with the idea of sampling a wider range of extreme temperatures in Connecticut. Weather stations were placed at Woodstock and North Canaan and one in Ledyard. Soil probes were attached to these loggers and the logger in Shelton. In 2007 we had a single site reporting from Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston and the Jim Baker at Hopkins continued to provide me with the data. During the 2008 growing season, I will be relying on weather information from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Stations in New Haven and Windsor to represent sites in Central Connecticut. In December soil probes were attached to the data loggers and buried to a depth of 4 inches next to a grapevine and 4 additional inches were mounded on top the soil level for a total depth of 8 inches for the probe. The idea was to simulate soil temperatures that covered graft unions might experience. You will see from the graphs that I had problems getting a complete set of data from some sites, but the temperatures in 2008 were very mild, yet if you compare the graphs closely you can see how areas such as North Canaan and Woodstock are more challenging than along the Sound at Stonington. I have also attached the report from 2007 from Hopkins as a comparison between the two years.

Also attached you will find a 24 hour summary of temperatures during our recent state-wide freeze. There is one startling data set from Goshen and I will have to investigate further to make certain that it is not logger error. However, my scouting at every site revealed the most serious damage in North Canaan, but only to the less than 5% most advanced buds that were breaking at the time. No injury was observed in Goshen which is my closest monitoring site to North Canaan. A little frost damage, but nothing serious was also observed at Woodstock.

You will be receiving my growing degree day summary and phenology summary from the data I collected last week shortly.

Richard Kiyomoto
Department of Plant Science
1376 Storrs Road Unit 4067
Storrs, CT 06269-4067
Telephone: (860) 429-0589 (Home)
Fax: (860) 486-0682
email: richard.kiyomoto@uconn.edu

Information on our site was developed for conditions in the Northeast. Use in other geographical areas may be inappropriate.

The information in this material is for educational purposes. The recommendations contained are based on the best available knowledge at the time of printing. Any reference to commercial products, trade or brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended. The Cooperative Extension system does not guarantee or warrant the standard of any product referenced or imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others which also may be available.All agrochemicals/pesticides listed are registered for suggested uses in accordance with federal and Connecticut state laws and regulations as of the date of printing. If the information does not agree with current labeling, follow the label instructions. The label is the law.Warning! Agrochemicals/pesticides are dangerous. Read and follow all instructions and safety precautions on labels. Carefully handle and store agrochemicals/pesticides in originally labeled containers immediately in a safe manner and place. Contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for current regulations.The user of this information assumes all risks for personal injury or property damage.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kirklyn M. Kerr, Director, Cooperative Extension System, The University of Connecticut, Storrs. The Connecticut Cooperative Extension System offers its programs to persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and is an equal opportunity employer.