Mercy Olmstead

Extension Viticulture Specialist

I began my higher education at Michigan State University, and had the opportunity to intern in the Napa Valley, as an assistant enologist. I went on to pursue a master’s degree in viticulture at Washington State University with Dr. Robert Wample, where I concentrated on evaluation of cover crops for drip-irrigated vineyards in Eastern Washington. From there I went back to Michigan State University to pursue my Ph. D. During this degree, I expanded my knowledge base from viticulture and enology with a research program in cherry rootstocks and tree physiology under the guidance of Dr. Suzanne Lang. All of these experiences have aptly prepared me for a career in extension.

My husband, Jim, has his Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics from Michigan State University(2006). His project focused on the genetics of fruit size in domesticated sweet cherries. We will eventually be taking over our family farm which has approximately 70 acres; 30 in wine grapes and the rest in cherries, plums and apricots.

Goals

My main goal is to further the sustainability of the grape and wine industry though education and the delivery of research results conducted not only by Washington State University, but also by other institutions as appropriate. I hope to disseminate this information through traditional methods, but also using new technologies via distance delivery and the development of web pages.

Specifically, there are a number of areas that I would like to address in order to ensure the success of the Washingon State viticulture industry:

Cover crops can be of benefit to many vineyard managers - but how are the best established in a drought-prone environment, and what are the optimum species?
Mechanization of vineyard practices is offering vineyardists additional options for management; however we need to figure out optimum water, nutrient, and crop load optimums to maximize grower profit.
There are a number of growers considering increasing their diversity with new varieties - where do they get them and what is the best way to transition the existing vineyard over to a new variety?
Economic sustainability must remain at the forefront of improving production methods.

Research Projects

Currently, I have numerous projects that I am involved in; including cover crop impacts on beneficial insect populations, berry shrivel, efforts to improve funding for research and extension in viticulture and enology through the National Grape and Wine Intiative, and I have an interest in the application of sustainable practices in viticulture production to improve efficiency.

Publications

Olmstead, M.A. Cover Crops as a Floor Management Strategy for Pacific Northwest Vineyards. EB 2010. (2006)
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb2010/eb2010.pdf

M.A. Olmstead, C. Daniels, J. Davenport, G. Grove, R. Parker, N. Rayapati, E. Riga, R. Stevens, and D. Walsh. Pest Management of Grapes. EB 0762. (2006) http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb0762/eb0762.pdf

Olmstead, M.A., N.S. Lang, G. Lang, F. Ewers, and S. Owens. Examining the Vascular Pathway of Sweet Cherries
(Prunus avium) Grafted onto Dwarfing Rootstocks. (2006) HortScience. 41: 673-679.

Olmstead, M.A., N.S. Lang, F. Ewers, and S. Owens. Xylem Vessel Anatomy of Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium L.) Grafted Onto Dwarfing and Non-Dwarfing Rootstocks. (2006) Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences. 131(5):577-585.

M.A. Olmstead, J.R. Davenport , and R. Smithyman. Blackleaf of Grapes. EB 0745 (2005)
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb0745/eb0745.pdf

Olmstead, M.A., R.L. Wample, S. Greene, and J.M. Tarara. Non-destructive Measurement of Vegetative Cover Using Digital Image Analysis. (2004) HortScience. Alexandria, VA. Vol. 39(1):55-59 .

Olmstead, M.A., N.S. Lang, G.A. Lang, F. Ewers, and S. Owens. Characterization of Xylem Vessels in Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium L.) on Dwarfing Rootstocks. (2004) Acta Horticulturae. Leuven, Belgium. 636:129-135.

Spayd, S.E. and M.A. Olmstead. WSU Grape and Wine Publications 1963-2006. (2004) http://winegrapes.wsu.edu/index.html

Olmstead, M.A., R.L. Wample, S.L. Greene, and J.M. Tarara. Evaluation of Potential Cover Crops for Inland Pacific Northwest Vineyards. (2001) American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. Davis, CA. Vol. 52(4): 293-303.

Olmstead, M. and J.M. Tarara. Physical Principles of Row Covers and Grow Tubes with Application to Small Fruit Crops. (2000) Small Fruits Review. Auburn, AL. Vol. 2(3):29-46.