Disease Management - Botrytis
Botrytis is a major disease threat as harvest approaches. Botrytis cinerea is a fungus that affects many plant species, especially wine grapes, where it is commonly known as Botrytis bunch rot or gray mold.
Downy Mildew Management
Downy mildew is now a year-long challenge for grape growers in the East. Downy mildew is often difficult to manage because it requires specific weather conditions to become a serious threat, but it can develop into an epidemic very quickly in favorable weather.
Nitrogen Fertilization in the Vineyard
The annual goal in the established vineyard is to have the vines fill their allotted trellis space, top out vegetative growth just above the top wire at veraison, and produce a crop that is in balance with the vegetative vigor. Regretfully high water availability and high nitrogen (N) content of Mid-Atlantic soils typically leads to excess vigor and extended vegetative growth.
Early Season Insect Management: Flea Beetles
Identification and BiologyGrape Flea beetles, Altica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), are small (4-5 mm), oval shaped, metallic blue-purple beetles that jump when disturbed.Grape flea beetles overwinter as adults and become active on warm April days when grape buds begin to swell. Adult beetles are most numerous following mild winters.
Early Season Insect Management: Climbing Cutworms
This general term applies to the larvae (caterpillars) of a large number of butterfly/moth species (Lepidoptera) in the noctuid family that feed on buds, young shoots and leaves. Cutworm damage most commonly occurs in vineyards with weeds under the trellis or mulch, and in sandy or light colored soils.
Capturing the Bounce; Surviving the Dip
Mastering Marketing - April 2020As we move through the realities the Covid-19 protocols, many are experiencing first hand its effect on their business’s viability.
You’re Going to Need a Different Marketing Plan
Mastering Marketing - March 2020According to online sources, "May you live in interesting times" is an English expression which purports to be a translation of a traditional Chinese curse. Everyone can agree that these are indeed “interesting times” and feels like every day brings more negativity. The actions taken to curtail the viruses spread will have long ramifications.
Can SMART Ever Be Dumb??
Master Marketing - January 2020December is often a “Slam” month for most direct marketers. Holiday sales, year-end inventories to conduct, annual profit projections, and the final push of multiple last quarter marketing initiatives that were often launched even before Halloween. The major goal is to end the year in the financial black. Other goals now take a back seat.
2019 USDA Direct Marketing Summit
Master Marketing - October 2019Earlier this month I attended the 2019 USDA Direct Marketing Summit held in Chicago, IL. I had the opportunity to display one of the 22 poster presentations featured at the summit. My poster featured the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center’s Website, its modules, and its client impact.
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