While many might think that growing grapes and running a winery sounds like a perfect way to live, the fact is that these are businesses that require good information to make decisions about production practices, labor, marketing, and more. The Finger Lakes Grape Program works with experts from Cornell, Penn State, and the private and non-profit sectors to bring this kind of information to growers. 

FLGP Virtual Tailgate Meeting

June 9, 2020
4:30 - 6:00 PM

Join FLGP viticulturist Hans Walter-Peterson (and the occasional guest speaker) for any or all of this year's Tailgate Meetings, held every other Tuesday afternoon during the 2020 growing season, starting on June 9 and ending on August 18.

Extension Answers Questions from the Field

June 16, 2020
4:30 - 5:30 PM

Regional viticulture extension staff will answer grower questions about what's been happening in the field and all things viticulture.

Register at: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAuf--tpjgiGdQdY3QLFP1g2FHWDfxCbkkp

FLGP Virtual Tailgate Meeting

June 23, 2020
4:30 - 6:00 PM

Join FLGP viticulturist Hans Walter-Peterson (and the occasional guest speaker) for any or all of this year's Tailgate Meetings, held every other Tuesday afternoon during the 2020 growing season, starting on June 9 and ending on August 18.

State Guidance for Farms Regarding COVID-19

New York state has released official guidance specific to farms addressing COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). You can find the document titled "Interim Guidance for Prevention and Response of COVID-19 at Farms" at this link: https://agriculture.ny.gov/interim-guidance-prevention-and-response-covid-19-farms. The document covers: cleaning and disinfection, face coverings, social distancing, high-risk locations, coordination with local health departments, employee health screening, quarantine/isolation, and farm-provided employee housing.

A companion document is a helpful checklist for farms to be sure they have covered every required item: https://agriculture.ny.gov/covid-19-operator-checklist-farms.

Also included is a tipsheet intended for farm workers (https://agriculture.ny.gov/covid-19-prevention-tips-farmworkers). This document is presently in English but should be available in more languages soon, and I recommend that you distribute it to all employees. Please carefully read the last section of the document titled "Empower Yourself," this section informs workers about how to file complaints. Make sure that your business is in full compliance with all federal and state COVID-19-related sick leave and paid family leave requirements and that you are communicating this information to employees, see this post (https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/2020/04/01/covid-19-employee-leave-and-farm-employers/) for more information.

Virtual Viticulture in 2020

Because of the current restrictions on public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our grower meetings have transitioned to an online format. Take a look at the Calendar of Events (http://flgp.cce.cornell.edu/events.php) for information on dates, speakers and topics. The FLGP's Tailgate Meetings will have 0.75 pesticide credits available when they begin (see the Calendar of Events for our schedule). The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program's weekly Coffee Pot meetings, held every Wednesday, are eligible for 1 NY and 1 PA pesticide credit.