On Saturday, June 11, 2022, approximately 35 Maryland growers met at Love Point Vineyard and Winery on Kent Island for our annual MGGA/UME Summer Field Day. The audience included new and established growers. Presenters were Dr. Joe Fiola, Dr. Menjun Hu, and Dr. Kelly Hamby of the University of Maryland Extension program, Pat Isles of MGGA and Mark Sultenfuss of Nagel Crop Insurance. There was a welcome and introduction by MGGA President Wick Dudley and Love Point Vineyard owners Tim and Karen Seppi followed by a presentation on crop insurance options for grape growers, then a scouting tour of the Love Point vineyards.
Lunch from Love Point Sandwiches and Wraps and an onsite food truck was generously provided by Tom Walsh of Nutrien who provides pesticides through the MGGA Pesticide Purchase Program. Following lunch there was a presentation on grape root borer issues by Pat Isles and a talk on their control by Dr. Kelly Hamby. Dr. Hamby also updated attendees about Spotted Lanternfly prevalence and control. Dr. Mengjun Hu provided updated guidance for fungicides use and control of common grape diseases, and summarized best management practices for late and sour rots. Dr. Joe Fiola followed with a discussion and update of bird and deer control in the vineyard and demonstration by Time Seppi of bird call deterrents and a propane noise cannon used to deter deer at Love Point Vineyard.
The day concluded with a tasting of a popular dry red wine from Love Point Winery and of research wines from Dr. Joe Fiola.
Daniel Larason, MGGA Research and Education committee chair, is submitting forms to the Maryland Department of Agriculture to support eight pesticide applicator license CEUs awarded for participation at this event.
Links to six speaker presentations are included below.
Vertebrate Pest Management Fiola 0622