Michigan Conference Focuses On Impact Of Climate Change In Grapes

Posted by Christina Herrick|August 22, 2014

With another frigid winter in the forecast for 2015-2016, a one-day conference with a focus on climate change and impacts of the 2014 Polar Vortex on grapes in the Great Lakes Region is quite timely.

The conference will be held Sept. 5 at the Hagerty Center at Northwestern Michigan College – Great Lakes Campus in Traverse City, MI.

Sessions at the conference will cover topics like climate change and potential agronomic impacts in the Great Lakes region, impacts of the 2014 Polar Vortex on grapes, how to manage grapes for a changing climate, and unmanned systems and technology applications in viticulture.

There will be a vineyard demonstration of the application of unmanned systems at Chateau Chantal Vineyard and Winery in Traverse City, MI, and a panel of grape growers who will discuss practical applications of unmanned systems technology in vineyard management.

Experts speaking at the conference include Brian Matchett, MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology; Jeff Andresen, MSU Department of Geography; Imed Dami, Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science; Paolo Sabbatini, MSU Department of Horticulture; Duke Elsner, MSU Extension; Ed Bailey, NMC Technical Division; and Tony Sauerbrey, NMC Unmanned Aerial Systems. The panel will include Ben Bramer, Agrivine; Stan Howell, MSU Department of Horticulture; Mark Johnson, Chateau Chantal; Larry Mawby, L. Mawby Vineyards; James Peters, Staits Area Grape Growers Association; and Coenraad Stassen, Brys Estate Vineyard.