The Sustainable Practices workbook encourages adoption of Integrated Pest Management, nutrient management, and viticulture practices that reduce inputs and are economically sound. A major target has been nitrogen (N) management practices.
Typical 'standard' nitrogen rates were formerly 100 pounds of actual N per acre. The workbook and newsletters recommend
1) Maximum rate of 50 pounds of N per acre.
2) Adjusting rates for soil organic matter.
3) Delayed application to reduce leaching and improve vine uptake.
4) Tailoring rates and timing to individual vineyard blocks and varieties.
Many growers have cut their N application rates in half with no loss of yield or quality. On 10,000 acres of grapes in the Finger Lakes, savings potentially amount to 750 tons of ammonium nitrate not applied and cost savings of $400,000 to $500,000.
Vineyard contribution to environmental problems associated with excess nitrogen in ground water (health effects in drinking water and large-scale effects of N loading in estuaries of the St. Lawrence basin) should be also cut in half.
Other impacts include improved pesticide mixing and loading facilities, canopy management practices that improve quality and reduce disease pressure, and soil conservation practices that reduce erosion and runoff.
To date, 50 growers statewide have completed the workbook. The target is to have 100 vineyards representing 25% of N.Y. acreage completing action plans and practice assessment by 2008.
impact statement issue
Major processors and grower organizations from three New York grape-growing regions identified documentation and adoption of sustainable viticulture practices as a crucial industry goal. Approximately 700 grape producers in Long Island, the Finger Lakes, Lake Erie/Ontario Region of New York, as well as the Lake Erie region in Pennsylvania represent 32,000 acres in production and over 200 wineries.
Grape growers are seeing increased scrutiny of their production practices by neighbors and consumer groups, both of which want growers to adopt practices that limit environmental and health risks. They have a limited understanding of growers' practices. Industry leaders are recognizing that addressing this issue is important to the future profitability of the industry in New York.
This project will provide a way for individual growers to document the best practices that they have been using and understand how to improve upon current practices.
Sustainable viticulture programs adopted in Western U.S. use grower workbooks and action plans to promote sustainable practices. A strong motivator was a desire to mitigate increasing environmental conflicts among producers and their suburban neighbors. By making it an industry-wide goal to produce grapes and wine using practices that reduce environmental impact and are economically viable as well as socially responsible, producers hope to reduce risks and increase public awareness of steps the industry has taken to improve production practices.
impact statement response
An industry steering committee and Cornell grape extension programs have produced and published a "sustainable vineyard practices" workbook whose purpose is to assist growers in identifying and adopting sustainable practices in pest management, nutrition, soil and water management, pesticide management, and viticultural practices.
We have tested and completed this workbook, are providing technical assistance and educational outreach to encourage adoption, and have produced three "Sustainable Viticulture in the Northeast" newsletters to provide technical background for nitrogen management and soil conservation practices.
The Sustainable Practices workbook has been adopted by the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee (New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets) as the 'Tier II' Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) worksheets for vineyards.
To date, 50 growers representing over 4000 acres of grapes have completed the workbook and are developing "action plans".
impact statement summary
The Finger Lakes Grape Program, Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, and the Long Island grape extension program, with industry and grape grower involvement, have developed and are implementing a grower self-assessment workbook for promoting sustainable viticulture statewide.
The workbook, published in 2007, uses 140 questions about all aspects of production to both document sustainable growing practices already used by growers and promote additional 'best management practices' that are economically sound and reduce environmental risks. After completing the workbook, growers devise an action plan for addressing management priorities identified by their workbook responses.
Technical assistance and cost-sharing is then made available through Soil and Water Conservation Districts for addressing problems. The potential benefits to participating growers include:
1) Cost-sharing opportunities from the USDA and New York state programs for farm improvements. 2) Increased product marketability for the grapes and grape products produced with sustainable management practices.
3) Economic and environmental savings through efficient use of fertilizers and pesticides.
4) Improved neighbor relations and industry reputation.
Over 50 growers, representing over 4000 vineyard acres, have completed the workbooks to date.
