Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers Association Fertilizer Grab Bag

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Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers
Association Fertilizer Grab Bag

• Vaughn Goodman
• PIBU Regional Plant Nutrition Specialist
• Wilbur-Ellis Co
• Feb. 6th, 2009
• Three Rivers Convention Center

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Rule Number 1

• The first thing that we have to remember is that
  premium wine grapes require premium nutrition
  programs

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 hasnt worked in the
  past on certain situations

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If you remember anything remember this

• From the man who introduced me to the Wine Grape
  Industry-Doug Snyde
• Fertilizer Properly ManagedQualityProduction

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Thank You For Your Time

• Have A Great and Fruitful 09