Free vineyard sprayer workshop scheduled April 14 in Cat Spring
CAT SPRING â€" Wine-grape growers as well as winery owners and managers will benefit from the free April 14 Sprayer Calibration Workshop presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, said an AgriLife Extension viticulture expert.
The workshop will be held from 2:30-5 p.m. at Austin County Vineyards, 13302 FM 1094 in Cat Spring.
(Media-Newswire.com) - CAT SPRING – Wine-grape growers as well as winery owners and managers will benefit from the free April 14 Sprayer Calibration Workshop presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, said an AgriLife Extension viticulture expert. The workshop will be held from 2:30-5 p.m. at Austin County Vineyards, 13302 FM 1094 in Cat Spring.
"Austin County Vineyards owner Jerry Watson has offered the use of his vineyard and spray equipment for demonstrating proper calibration techniques," said Fritz Westover, AgriLife Extension Gulf Coast viticulture advisor. "In this workshop we will calibrate a 70-gallon airblast sprayer, herbicide sprayer and backpack sprayer."
Moisture-sensitive cards will be used to show spray coverage, he added.
"Almost all vineyards in the Gulf Coast region are at some stage of bud break, and many vineyards in southern and central parts of the region are showing the first true leaves on vines," Westover said. "Now is the time to start gearing up for the first vineyard spray of the season."
The standard first spray of the season on all wine-grape varieties can be applied to one-inch shoot growth up to six inches of growth, depending on disease pressure, Westover said.
"Mancozeb ( Dithane ) applied in 40 to 50 gallons of water per acre is an appropriate first spray on young, tender shoots," he said. "Nozzles can be limited to spray only the foliage area present in the early season, and those spraying need to follow label instructions for proper application and application rates."
The workshop also would be useful to those unable to attend AgriLife Extension's Pre-Season Disease and Pest Management Workshop presented in Houston in March, Westover noted.
"The Extension Viticulture Team will be hosting many other vineyard workshops and tailgate meetings in 2010," he said.
For information and resources related to wine-grapes and viticulture-related programs and activities, go to: http://www.winegrapes.tamu.edu .
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