Topics include vineyards water stress versus heat stress, canopy cooling, and drought stress.
SEATTLE (May 15, 2024)—Wine grape growers are invited to register for a free webinar focused on recent findings of irrigation research supported by the Washington wine industry. The WAVEx webinar, scheduled for May 30, 2024 from 12:30–1:30 p.m., is sponsored by the Washington State Wine Commission and Washington State University.
Dr. Markus Keller, WSU’s Chateau Ste. Michelle Distinguished Professor, and his research team will share insights from research during the webinar that have application to the current drought impacting some regions of the Pacific Northwest. A lack of snowpack and dry conditions have led to a drought declaration by Washington State officials. Some irrigation districts project delivering 50 to 60% of normal water deliveries and may withhold early summer water delivery to save water use for later in the season.
Webinar topics include:
- Effects on wine grapes from heat stress versus water stress
- Vineyard canopy cooling during heat waves
- Comparison of regulated deficit irrigation and partial root zone drying irrigation strategies
- Managing wine grapes during drought – under severe water limitation, is fruit removal helpful? If so, what is the timing of fruit removal?
The outcomes of these irrigation projects will help growers optimize irrigation practices and better understand how to best manage vineyards under heat and water stresses.
Washington Advancements in Viticulture and Enology (WAVE) is the Washington State Wine Commission’s seminar and webinar series focused on wine research. WAVEx is the condensed, shorter webinar series. WSU is a co-sponsor of the WAVE and WAVEx events.
Register for the free irrigation discoveries webinar here.
About the Washington State Wine Commission:
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, WSWC provides a marketing platform to raise positive awareness about the Washington wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSWC is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987. Learn more at www.washingtonwine.org.
