What Can WSU Do to Help You?
As we at WSU are harvesting our research plots and looking forward to next year, we find ourselves looking through the long tunnel of winter into grant application season. I, like my other colleagues are planning our next growing season and proposing research with the ultimate goal of increasing the production efficiency of the Washington State Grape and Wine Industries. However, we don't often have the opportunity to quiz the industry on research and extension efforts that we have done, and ones that still need to be addressed.
Over the years, WSU has addressed several industry concerns, such as:
- Grape variety and rootstock selection
- Soil nutrition
- Grapevine nutrition
- Water management
- Wine quality
- Wine microbiology
- Sensory attributes of Washington wines
- Organic grape production
- Disease and virus management
- Clean plants for new and existing plantings (NorthWest Grape Foundation Service)
However - there are emerging issues that are garnering more attention such as evaluating carbon or environmental footprints, sustainability, and climate change.
What do you see as the next big topic that WSU should be addressing in viticulture and enology research and extension efforts? Send us an e-mail to let us know!
HAVE A SUCCESSFUL HARVEST!
Mercy Olmstead, molmstead@wsu.edu, Extension Viticulture Specialist
Kerry Ringer, kringer@wsu.edu, Extension Enology Specialist
