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Tag Archives Grapes

Vineyards are shown at the Geilweiler research station in the German region of Rheinland Palatinate.
Crops, News

New grape cultivars to help growers deal with climate change, pesticide rules

Restrictions on crop protections cause concern about the future of vineyards in Germany

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In the German wine-growing region of Rheinland Palatinate, a state in southwestern Germany, both growers and consumers value traditional grape varieties. Cultivars like Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and others have long been grown in the region, but they’re now facing threats on two fronts – a changing climate and regulatory pressure. Why it […] Read more
(Dave Bedard photo)
Crops, Markets

FCC offers new credit line against ‘current economic environment’

Ag lender to waive loan processing fees

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Farm Credit Canada’s recent outreach to specific agrifood sectors hit by unusual environmental conditions has now extended to those hit by the broader “economic environment.” The federal ag lender on Tuesday said it will offer an unsecured credit line of up to $500,000 with loan processing fees waived, “to help producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations […] Read more
Vines can take seven years to develop before planting in vineyards, so virus-free stock is important.
News

Grant to fast-track virus-free grapevine certification pleases wine industry

Grapevine Red Blotch Virus spread driving need for clean vines

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The certification of virus-free grapevine plants is getting fast-tracked thanks to $6.2 million in funding from Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP). “This funding will allow grape growers to rapidly improve the health of their vineyards and boost the domestic capacity in the supply of much needed virus-free grapevine plant material in Canada,” says […] Read more
Agricultural workers gather on Dec. 2, 2020, whilst blocking the Panamericana Sur highway at Villacuri, Peru, during a protest over a long-standing but controversial agrarian law. (Photo: Reuters/Sebastian Castaneda)
Crops

Peru farm protests grip country, turn deadly

'There are no harvests, there is nothing'

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Lima | Reuters — Protests by farm workers demanding better wages in Peru raged on for a fourth day Thursday, spreading north into key agricultural areas of the Andean nation, derailing harvests of some crops, snarling transport of produce and leaving at least one dead. Peruvian interim President Francisco Sagasti called the death of a […] Read more
Wine grapes are seen hanging with remnants of smoke and ash at Hanson Vineyards at Woodburn, Oregon, about 45 km south of Portland, on Sept. 17, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)
Crops

Charred U.S. west’s ‘wet ashtray’ wine grapes left to birds

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Reuters — Heavy ground smoke clouded Hanson Vineyards in Oregon’s picturesque Willamette Valley for more than a week following a Labour Day windstorm that kicked up wildfires across the western United States. Jason Hanson expects his crews may only harvest five tons of grapes, including his Chardonnay and Gamay varieties, down from the 25 to […] Read more
“If there’s one criticism this year it’s for a little more rain, but it’s a fine balance.” – Matthias Oppenlaender.
News

Good quality grape harvest faces uncertain market

Ontario wineries have seen some rebound in local traffic

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A hot, dry growing season that is producing higher -quality grapes isn’t completely good news for Ontario producers and winemakers. Those same conditions are also producing lower yields, and the market demand for wines made from premium quality grapes is declining as consumers quench their pandemic thirst by buying cheaper blended wines. Why it matters: […] Read more
Honeycrisp is a difficult apple to grow, but easy to market due to crispness and taste.
News

Cold climate apples and grapes put University of Minnesota on the map

The work on cold climate fruit will have an effect on cultivars grown in Ontario, including Honeycrisp apples

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As we head into fall, the name Honeycrisp will be on many consumers’ minds. The highly sought-after apple is arguably the most popular among the 27 varieties released by the University of Minnesota apple breeding program since its inception 111 years ago. Less well known, but nonetheless starting to make an impact on tourism and […] Read more
Kiecher Roamio weighs in around 400 lbs and can run for 24 hours off a lithium battery and a generator.
Machinery, News

Niagara College modifying robot for Ontario grape production

Robot created to help better climate detection and disease identification from under the canopy

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Michael Duncan, a research chair with Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and his team are modifying a robot to help grape farmers detect climates within their vineyards, identify diseases and the crop stage for appropriate timing of harvest. Why it matters: Robots are capable of identifying factors in the environment and diseases […] Read more
(Dave Bedard photo)
Crops

World wine output seen at four-year low

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Paris | Reuters –– Worldwide wine production is expected to fall this year to its lowest since 2012, chiefly due to adverse weather that sharply cut output in France and South America, wine body OIV estimated on Thursday. Global wine output is set to decrease by five per cent compared with last year to 259.5 […] Read more
Nova Scotia Finance Minister Randy Delorey lays out the budget for reporters Tuesday in Halifax. (NovaScotia.ca)
Crops

Nova Scotia pledges food donation tax credit in budget

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A tax credit for Nova Scotia farmers who donate produce to local food banks is among the policy plans laid out in the province’s latest budget. Finance Minister Randy Delorey’s budget on Tuesday showed an overall $17.1 million net surplus position on $10.15 billion in total expenses and $10.26 billion in total revenues (minus $110.3 […] Read more

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