AAFC Bud Hardiness Report 4 Season 2023-2024

This is the 4th bud hardiness report of the 2023-2024 season, prepared by Jeff Franklin and Dr. Harrison Wright at AAFC.  You can find the information below. 

Link:  Report 4 (February 12-13, 2024)

Direct Hyperlink: 
https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bud-hardiness-report-4-Feb-12-13-2024.pdf

Perennia Website Pathway:
https://www.perennia.ca/ > Agriculture > Production Information > Fruit Crops > Grapes > AAFC Bud Hardiness

Viticulture Events in March 2024

Grape Pruning Workshop

Register Here: Grape Pruning Workshop 2024 – Perennia

Saturday, March 9

9:00 AM - 2:45 PM

Session One: Pruning Hybrids

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Ellslea Farms Ltd. (925 Bains Rd, Canning, NS, B0P 1H0)

Session Two: Pruning Vinifera

1:00 PM - 2:45 PM Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards (11143 Evangeline Trail, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R1)

Join Perennia and the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia for a hands-on grape pruning workshop on Saturday, March 9!  At two sessions during the day, attendees will learn to prune hybrid cultivars (Session One) and vinifera cultivars (Session Two) and deal with the aftermath of the 2023 Polar Vortex. 

Please bring your own pruners, as this is a hands-on practical workshop. 

Lunch will not be provided. 

CEU's are available for this session. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Monday Webinar Series

Vineyard Nutrition 2024 - Soil and Tissue Sampling and Interpreting the Results for Nova Scotia

Monday, March 11, 2024

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Register Here: Vineyard Nutrition 2024 – Soil and Tissue Sampling and Interpreting the Results for Nova Scotia – Perennia

Join Perennia’s Soil Specialist, Caitlin McCavour and Perennia’s Viticulture Consultant, Dr. Kevin Ker, on March 11 for a virtual session on vineyard nutrition.  Topics for this session include how to take proper soil samples and interpret the Nova Scotia soil test report, as well as how to interpret tissue sample results for Nova Scotia. Participants will have access to factsheets on general soil sampling and soil report interpretation and an updated version for petiole results to reflect Nova Scotia soils and target values applicable to Nova Scotia conditions.

CEU's are available for this session. 

Early Season Vineyard Weed Management 

Monday, March 18, 2024

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Register Here: Early Season Vineyard Weed Management – Perennia

Join Perennia’s Berry Specialist, Sonny Murray and Perennia’s Viticulture Consultant, Dr. Kevin Ker, on March 11 for a virtual session on early season vineyard weed management. Topics for this session include reasons for good weed control, herbicide rate calculations, understanding herbicide labels, product choices and weed species controlled, optimum timing of herbicide use, dealing with new vineyard establishment, young vines and established vineyards (including interplanted vineyards). 

CEU's and Pesticide CEP's are available for this session.

Early Season Vineyard Pest Management

Monday, March 25, 2024

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Register Here: Early Season Vineyard Pest Management – Perennia

Join Perennia’s Viticulture Consultant, Dr. Kevin Ker, on March 25 for a virtual session on early season vineyard pest management. Topics for this session include a review of early season pests when they are first active (identifying activity with vine growth stage) and timing of control along with product selection, and resistance management strategies. Product choices will include registered materials along with organically approved options. A summary chart of pest activity will be part of the presentation. 

CEU's and Pesticide CEP's are available for this session.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Perennia Viticulture Events happening in March 

Stay tuned for details!!!

Lecture Series: The Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) 

Taking place weekly on Wednesdays at 3:00 PM (AST).  Please take note of the three lectures highlighted below.  Click on the link to view the full lecture series and how to join virtually:

CCOVI Lecture Series – Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (brocku.ca)

The Nova Scotia Grape and Wine Industry – After the Polar Vortex February 2023
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Kevin Ker, CCOVI Research Associate, Brock University

The Importance of Clean Plant Program for Grapevines
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Sudarsana Poojari, CCOVI Principal Scientist, Grapevine Virology

Understanding Vitis Vinifera Cold Hardiness in Ontario After a Decade
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Jim Willwerth, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University

Webinar Series: Agriculture Resiliency - Growing after a Challenging Year

Nutrient Uptake in Adverse Weather Conditions

Thursday, February 8, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (AST)

For more information and to register, visit our website.

Pesticide Tank Mix: How to Get it Right

Thursday, February 15, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (AST)
For more information and to register, visit our website.

Practical Use of Weather Stations in Agricultural Production

Tuesday, February 20, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (AST)
For more information and to register, visit our website.

Cultural Practices to Improve Disease Control

Wednesday, February 21, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (AST)
For more information and to register, visit our website.

Nova Scotia Climate Smart Farming Forum

Register Here:  Nova Scotia Climate Smart Farming Forum – Perennia

February 29, 2024
9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Best Western Glengarry, Truro

This one-day event will provide insights into current Nova Scotia climate change projections and what this will mean for NS farmers. Participants will delve into discussions about climate change adaptation, regenerative agricultural practices and technologies to enhance resilience, and discover program and funding opportunities to support adoption of climate-smart farming practices in Nova Scotia.

Pesticide Information Impacting Horticulture and Field Crops

March 5, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Virtual

Register now on our website.

During this annual session, crop specialists will discuss pesticide products that are being discontinued, announce new use patterns, and share new products that are registered. They will also discuss how to improve management with tips on integrated pest management. They cover all of this information to highlight important changes that growers should be aware of going into a new spray season. 

This webinar is a complement to the pesticide product guides that Perennia publishes each year for crops. The focal crops during the session are apples, wild blueberries, cranberries, vegetables, berries, cannabis, and field crops.

Pesticide Information Impacting Horticulture and Field Crops is NS Environment course T2417 and is worth 1.0 point in Pest Management. You must attend the entire session to receive points.

We're Rooting for You: Insights from the Field on Nematodes and Soil Health 

March 7, 2024
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Berwick Fire Hall, 300 Commercial Street, Berwick

Registration coming soon - SAVE THE DATE

Perennia specialists have completed a multi-year project in horticulture crops to better understand the presence of parasitic nematodes and to inform your management practices. Join us on Thursday, March 7, as we share the key project findings and hear from guest experts. Topics will include: 

• Regional results about the primary plant parasitic nematode types and their distribution 
• Efficacy of pre-plant and post-plant strategies, including cover crops and nematicides (focusing on orchard trials)
• Insights into nematode population fluctuations observed throughout the growing season and tips for taking effective samples 
• More on nematodes and soil health from guest experts 

Join us on March 7 at the Berwick Fire Hall for a free day of learning about integrated approaches to managing nematodes. Refreshments and lunch are provided.

Agenda to be determined. Speakers will include Michelle Cortens (Tree Fruit Specialist, Perennia), Matthew Peill (Molecular Biologist, Perennia), Caitlin McCavour (Soil Specialist, Perennia), Dr. Tom Forge (Nematologist, AAFC), Dr. Aaron Mills (AAFC) and more.

Introducing Perennia's Online Pest Management Guides

Tuesday, March 26, 2024
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Virtual

Register Here: Introducing Perennia’s Online Pest Management Guides – Perennia

Perennia has created an online pest guide to streamline your pesticide selection process and help you access information more easily.  Join us on March 26 as we show you how to maximize its usefulness to your farm.  Some of our 2024 updates include:

• A mobile friendly format so you can access it in the field
• Filters and searches to quickly find answers to your questions
• Sort functions to target categories of interest (RIE, PHI, etc.)
• Faster update times and more resources to help you

Join our presenter Michelle Cortens to learn how we can help you optimize your pest control options through this new tool.