Iowa Specialty Producers Conference

The Iowa Wine Growers Association (IWGA) holds its annual conference in partnership with the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association. Six program tracks are offered: viticulture, enology, fruit, vegetable, business/marketing, and specialty crop. Speakers will include Annie Klodd, University of Minnesota, on the best bird control strategies for vineyards; Terry Bockenstedt, Nutrien Ag Solutions, on grapevine trunk disease and the best practices for pesticide applicators; and Dr. Suzanne Slack, Iowa State University, on integrated pest management in grape canopies. Enology sessions will include Jasha Karasek, Enartis, on wine tartrate stabilization using Zenith; Kristy Walker, Jenny Lovetinsky and Ben Weber, Walker Homestead Farm & Winery in Iowa City, IA, on converting from bottled wine to bottling wine on demand from onsite kegs; and Matt Brennecke, Defranceschi, speaking about equipment needs for a growing winery.