After planting, watering, trellising, pruning, tying, weed control and other maintenance was preformed so the vine could establish themselves in order to be ready for the sulfur applications in the spring and summer of 2005. After the sulfur applications have been administered, evaluation of overall health and vigor of the vines as well as the amount of leaf damage the sulfur has caused. Ed Swanson of Cut Hills Vineyard, one of Nebraska’s most knowledgeable grape growers will assist us with the evaluations. Once the data has been collected, Charles Shapiro and the Center for Rural Affairs will be called on again. They will help us in documenting and charting the data we collected. After the documentation and charting is done, we will; then analyze the data and determine how sulfur tolerant each variety is, and it’s potential for organic production. This will give us and any other future organic producers an actual in the field test and a good ides which varieties will work for organic production and which will not. A field Day is scheduled for the summer of 2005 so other vineyards can see for themselves how the vines reacted to the sulfur applications. Handouts and other information will be distributed to those in attendance. Press releases and articles will be summated to the Nebraska Wine and Grape Growers and NSAS newsletters. A press release will also be sent to local newspapers inviting the general public.
As fall is wrapping up another growing season we are looking forward to next spring. The plans for the spraying applications have been made, the sulfur has been ordered and the Field Day’s agenda is coming together nicely. Now we have to be patience, as old man winter needs to do his thing.
