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PEST MANAGEMENT CENTRE NEWS
The Pest Management Centre at Canada's Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has new information available on its website. Visit the PMC website to view the latest information.
Click here to review the status of all Minor Use Pesticides Projects sorted by crop.
Click here to review the document entitled "Identification Guide to the Major Diseases of Grapes".
GRAPE CROP ALERT REPORT
Click here for July 4, 2008 report.
Click here for June 20, 2008 report.
Click here for June 13, 2008 report.
Click here for May 9, 2008 report.
WIND MACHINES FOR MINIMIZING COLD INJURY
For more information on wind machines minimizing cold injury, please click on the latest infosheet.
WINTER INJURY STUDIES 2007/08
GRAPE BUD SURVIVAL
Click here for April 14, 2008 report.
Click here for March 17, 2008 report.
Click here for January 28, 2008 report.
Click here for January 14, 2008 report.
Click here for December 17, 2007 report.
ONTARIO JUICE GRAPE TRANSITION PROGRAM
The Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has established the voluntary Ontario Juice Grape Transition Program to provide qualifying Ontario growers of juice grapes with part of the costs of removing and disposing of their vineyard stock in 2007. NOTE: THE APPLICATION DEADLINE WAS JULY 4, 2007. APPLICATIONS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTED.
Click here for more information.
Click here to read an addendum to the program guidelines.
Click here to download a presentation on the juice grape industry.
WINE COUNTRY ENHANCEMENT REPORT
To view this report entitled "Energizing Niagara's Wine Country Communities", please click here for cover, click here for report.
GROWING FORWARD
Replanting to Optimize Ontario's Viticulture
To view this document, please click here.
GRAPE GROWERS OF ONTARIO - January 16, 2007 Special Meeting
This meeting was held at Governor Simcoe Secondary School. To view the report, please click here.
NEW WINE AND GRAPE REPORTER AT THE STANDARD
Monique Beech is The Standard's new wine and viticulture reporter.
Every Friday, The Standard will be printing a fun and lively column filled with local wine and grape industry news. This is a behind the scenes look at the industry, covering everything leading up to the finished bottle of wine.
Monique is looking for interesting tidbits on everything from who's new and who's leaving Niagara wineries to new innovations in grape growing and wine making. She is also hoping to hear about any noteworthy upcoming events wineries are hosting.
Please pass along any other story ideas/tips you may have.
Monique Beech
Phone: 905-684-7251 Ext. 247
Fax: 905-684-6032
Email: mbeech@stcatharinesstandard.ca
BROCK UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BRING HOME WINE TASTING HONOURS
To view this press release, click here.
The Neo Bio Consulting Report - Recommendations for Grape and Wine Research Fund
To access this report, click here.
Workshop Summary On Topic of Wind Machines
For a summary of the Workshop on Wind Machines held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, December 5, 2006, please click here.
Crop Protection Wind Machines
Questions and Answers for Residents
1. How do wind machines work?
Wind machines can improve survival of tender fruit and grape plants during cold snaps. Usually fuelled by propane or diesel, wind machines pull warm air from 10 or more metres above the field down to the crop level. Wind machines proved their effectiveness after recent cold winters in Niagara: vineyards with wind machines recorded almost full crops and high vine survival rates while some adjacent vineyards without them experienced total crop losses and high mortality of vines. (Note: Wind machines shouldn’t be confused with wind turbines, which are windmills used for generating electricity.)
2. How do growers/wineries know when to start/stop them?
Ideally, growers monitor temperatures at crop level and at 20 metres above ground. They turn on their wind machines when the air at plant level drops low enough to threaten plant damage, yet the air 20 metres above is at least 3°C to 10°C warmer—a situation known as a “thermal inversion.” Thermal inversions appear to occur only when winds are below about 6 km per hour. This combination of factors occurs approximately 25-100 hours over the course of a fall/winter/spring season in this area of Ontario, but varies widely depending on the season and location. It takes very precise and localized monitoring to predict when to turn on, then to turn off, a wind machine.
3. Aren’t some wind machines quieter than others?
Four different types of wind machines are in use in Ontario. Although manufacturers believe there are big differences in the noise levels emitted, third-party sound
tests done locally have not yet demonstrated any significant differences.
4. Why on some nights are wind machines operating some places, but not in others?
Temperatures can vary at different locations around Niagara and even on the same site, depending on elevation, presence of buildings or trees and other factors. So it’s not uncommon for wind machines to be used in one field while not being used in another one nearby. Each grower has a unique set of criteria for using wind machines on their own crops. The decision to use the machines is based on the winter hardiness of the variety being grown, the stage of the growing cycle and local temperature conditions.
5. Are there more wind machines coming to our area?
The decision to install wind machines rests with each grower. The trend over the past two years has been for growers to invest in the machines rather than risk crop loss, and this trend seems likely to continue. Presently about 300 machines are in use in NOTL and it seems likely that number could continue to rise.
6. Is it possible to get advance notice about when wind machines will be used?
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Grape Growers of Ontario and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs are seeking community feedback about whether, and how, neighbours would like to receive notification if operation of wind machines is being forecast. Please watch the Niagara Advance for information about an upcoming Open House on this topic, or email your views to windmachinequery@notl.org.
During January and February, it’s a good idea to assume wind machines will be used on nights when temperatures are expected to be around -18°C to -20°C degrees or colder and there is little wind. In December or March, the critical temperatures are usually a little warmer, at about -10°C to -12°C, because plants are less hardy during these periods. Temperatures that get near 0°C during the beginning of the season in April, or near harvest in October, might also be times when wind machines could operate.
7. Is anyone doing any research work on wind machines?
Yes. A three-year CanAdvance applied research project has been sponsored by Grape Growers of Ontario and Wine Council of Ontario. Slated for completion in 2008, planned outcomes include development of protocols for the most efficient and effective use of wind machines in Ontario, as well as more information on the noise impacts. For information about the study, please visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/tenderfr/tf1002a2.htm
8. Are there any rules about where growers/wineries place wind machines?
Currently, the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake does not have a by-law that establishes set-back requirements for wind machines. Growers have the legal right to place wind machines anywhere on their property. Growers make decisions about wind machine placement based on optimizing each machine’s coverage area, since the machines are costly to install and operate. One wind machine will blow air up to about 375 feet away in all directions, representing an area about 10 acres.
9. Why are grape growers/wineries planting varieties that are so sensitive to cold?
Growers/wineries plant grapes according to local and world demand. There has been a great increase in consumption of popular wines such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, so growers/wineries are responding to the needs of the market by growing these varieties.
10. If wind machines are new here, why are they considered “normal farm practice”?
Whether or not a farm practice is considered “normal” is determined through the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board, a quasi-judicial administrative board appointed by the Province of Ontario and comprised of non-government members. The question of whether wind machines are a normal farm practice for Niagara has not yet been determined by the Board.
11. What should I do if I have a complaint or would like more information?
For information about wind machines or to register a complaint, please call the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300. Your call will usually be returned with in 24 hours.
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