Season 2022: Weather update, bloom and tissue sampling

Jeff Franklin, from AAFC Kentville, is untiringly bringing weekly updates to understand how the growing season changes and comparing with previous ones. Last week, like the last couple of weeks, brought an important amount of rain, filling the soils of water and leaving a good moisture for grapevines. Mentioned in the previous publication, hybrids, such as Baco noir or Frontenac started bloom last week, while others, like Geisenheim or L’Acadie blanc were slightly behind, which might depend on the vineyard location. On the other hand, vinifera varieties are behind hybrids, which is normal for these varieties in our province.

Season 2022: Weather update, starting bloom and tissue sampling

Jeff Franklin, from AAFC Kentville, is without any doubts the best weather contributor bringing every week updates to understand how the growing season progresses and the comparison with previous years. Last week brought an important amount of rain and the temperatures decreased, which impacted vineyard activities. Despite that, the season has similarities with the previous one, 2021, in terms of phenological stages. Early Hybrids, such as Baco noir or Frontenac are starting bloom this week, depending on the area it might be possible to see this since the end of last week. While others, like Geisenheim or L’Acadie blanc are slightly behind and they might be starting at the end of this week or beginning of the next, again, it might depend on the area as well. On the other hand, vinifera varieties are still behind the hybrids, and they can start bloom at the end of next week or the beginning of the following one.

On-Farm Climate Action Fund for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador is Open

A new funding program will help farmers receive up to $75,000 in funding when adopting and implementing beneficial management practices (BMPs) that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, specifically in the areas of::

• Improved nitrogen management 
• Cover cropping, and 
• Rotational grazing 

The On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is part of the Government of Canada's Agricultural Climate Solutions, a multi-stream program to help farmers tackle climate change. Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. is implementing the fund to help farmers adopt these practices in Nova Scotia and in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Training for farmers and agronomists will also be offered over the two-year program, which ends in March 2024. 

 

For more information on the program or to apply please visit the website ofcaf.perennia.ca.  Deadline for the first intake of applications is July 31, 2022.  

Best Practices session 2

Last week we had the session 2 of this season! At this time Jeff Wentzell from NSDA presented a Cost of Production Tool, Jeff Franklin from KRDC presented the weather information and linked it with the vineyard physiology and Francisco Diez presented the vineyard activities for the next couple of weeks. The session finished with a discussion between the panelist and Steve Ells, owner of Ellslea farm and president of GGANS, about his observations and management strategies in the vineyard.

Season 2022: Weather update, vineyard growth and protection

As every week, Jeff Franklin from AAFC Kentville is bringing the weather update, with positive news in terms of temperature for the last week. Like previous weeks, plants are growing in a good rate, especially the ones with earlier bud burst and on locations with warmer conditions. Hybrids, such as Lucie Kuhlmann, Frontenac, Geisenheim or L’Acadie blanc have been growing steadily, currently in shoot thinning process and even tucking the shoots. Meanwhile vinifera varieties, the early ones are in shoot thinning process as well and others slightly behind depending on their location.

Season 2022: Weather update, shoot thinning and Best Practices session 2

Jeff Franklin from AAFC Kentville is bringing the weather update, which is quite positive to keep grapevine growth in a proper way. Currently, the plants are growing in a good rate, especially the ones with earlier bud burst and on locations with warmer conditions. Mentioned last week, grapevines like Lucie Kuhlmann and Frontenac have been growing steadily and are already in shoot thinning process and in some cases even starting to tuck. In the case of vinifera varieties, the early ones are in shoot thinning process as well.

Best Practices Session 2

In the weekly climate updates, we have seen an increase of temperatures throughout May, this change has increased the plant growth and more action is coming to the vineyards. Shoot thinning, first spray applications, weed management, the first wire movement, etc. are coming in the next couple of weeks and it’s important to be at the top of the activities from the beginning. Moreover, it’s time for the Best Practices session 2!

Season 2022: Weather update, shoot growth and Weather Station Apps and Website Training Session recording

Jeff Franklin from AAFC Kentville is bringing the update from last week temperatures, which is quite positive as the last couple of weeks. At this time most grapevines have bud burst, depending on the locations and varieties the development can be slightly lower, for example in Pinot noir and Riesling. On the other hand, L'Acadie blanc and Frontenac have been growing steadily during the last couple of weeks with a good shoot development.