Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers Association Fertilizer Grab Bag Vaughn Goodman PIBU Regional Plant Nutrition Specialist Wilbur-Ellis Co Feb. 6 th, 2009 Three Rivers Convention Center

Rule Number #1  The first thing that we have to remember is that premium wine grapes require premium nutrition programs

How do we do this?  You have to have provided the proper soil nutrients as efficiently as possible. –The right blend of dry applied products –The right blend of applied liquid products if your relying on an irrigation system  You may choose to do both to get the best out of both of these types of fertilizers

Supplementing the Soil Applied Fertilizer  To supplement the soil applied products we need to use a strong sound foliar program  The foliar programs properly used can take production efficiencies to another level

Supplementing the Soil Applied Fertilizer  A high quality foliar fertilization program can help augment the soil applied fertilizers because of: –Soil Limitations  No soil is perfect –Climatic Conditions –Crop Development Stages-Large demands on the plant –Stress periods

How to know when and what to use  Use diagnostic tools to know where you at in your approach to plant nutrition  Soil Sample-Get that soil inventory  Tissue Samples-Tissue reveals the actual crop status –These will change through the season with what is going on

How to know when and what to use  Take Petiole Samples at Bloom and Verasion-  Stay ahead of peak demands for certain nutrients to avoid deficits  Remember with micronutrients small amounts can do big things

When Using Fertilizers  Ask what you are using  What or how effective will it be  Is it a high efficiency product  Can you put more than one product with it

Develop An Approach  Set yield goals for your production –Monitor aggressively to make sure you stay on target –Develop a strategy with your Crop Advisor to meet or exceed the goals  Use Diagnostic Tools  Balance Soil and Foliar Programs  Keep notes on what has and hasn’t worked in the past on certain situations

If you remember anything remember this  From the man who introduced me to the Wine Grape Industry-Doug Snyde  Fertilizer Properly Managed=Quality+Production

Thank You For Your Time Have A Great and Fruitful 09