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Vineyard Pest Management Workshop – Western Washington
March 9 @ 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
This event has been cancelled.
Join us for this all-day, hands-on workshop on vineyard pest management and sprayer calibration!
Location: Langley, WA
WSDA Pesticide Recertification Credits Offered: 6 Credits
Agenda:
8:30 AM Check-In
8:45 AM Introduction of the Day
9:00 AM Principles of Pest Management
In order to effectively manage a pest, we have to know their biology. This talk will cover key environmental factors that influence how the powdery mildew and Botrytis bunch rot fungi develop. We will also cover basic disease management principles, including when to do cultural and chemical intervention, and why timing is so important for disease control. Finally, we will cover the basics on how fungicide resistance can become an issue in production viticulture, how to approach designing a fungicide spray program that optimizes both disease control while maintaining the longevity of currently available products. Presented by Michelle Moyer, Viticulture Extension Specialist
10:15 AM Break (Coffee and snacks included in registration)
10:30 AM Designing a Spray Program – Group Activity
This hands-on activity will divide workshop participants into teams. Each team will be tasked with designing a powdery mildew fungicide program. First, teams will be asked to read a series of fungicide labels (provided to them) and develop their “fungicide inventory list”. This process will teach participants how to read a label, and information is important to record when designing a management program. Teams will then design a generic fungicide program for powdery mildew based on historical average dates or key developmental stages for wine grapes in western Washington. After building their base program, teams will share with the group to talk through their decision process. This process will help emphasize biological information and fungicide stewardship practices presented in the first part of the morning. Presented by Michelle Moyer, Viticulture Extension Specialist.
12:30 PM Lunch (included with registration)
1:00 PM Sprayer Calibration and Optimization – Principles
This presentation will go through the basic steps to ensuring your spray rig is off to the right start for the season. We will discuss routine sprayer maintenance, calibration, and other tools needed to properly apply pesticides in the vineyard. We will discuss what happens when these things are not working properly (e.g., product over-application, worker exposure, drift). A special emphasis will be placed on understanding how nozzles work, how to properly select them based on the job (herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide application), and what it means when nozzles are worn. Presented by Gwen Hoheisel, Tree and Small Fruits Extension Specialist
1:45 PM Sprayer Calibration and Optimization – Practices
A hands-on demonstration will be conducted that will show how nozzle wear-and-tear, nozzle type (air-induction vs. standard), and pressure all influence spray deposition and drift risk. We will also have a demonstration on how to calibrate a backpack sprayer. Presented by Gwen Hoheisel, Tree and Small Fruits Extension Specialist
3:45 PM Workshop Conclusion and Surveys
Anyone attending this program who requires auxiliary aids or services, please contact Michelle Moyer at 509-786-9234 or michelle.moyer@wsu.edu. Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.
