The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Water scarcity will always threaten agriculture in the western US, and growers require ever evolving tools to confront this challenge. Our team has initiated research needed to sustain table, juice, wine, and raisin grape production by developing and extending practical near term solutions for decreased water quantity and quality issues important to vineyards across western growing regions. This multidisciplinary research project combines the resources and expertise of industry stakeholders, federal scientists, university researchers and extension specialists. We aim to specifically deliver the following: 1) recommendations for sustainable water management in wine, table, raisin, and juice grape production using limited and impaired water supplies; 2) recommendations for sustainable water and soil management to minimize the impacts of salinity on grape yield and quality; 3) assessment of the effect of recommended water and salinity management strategies on quality, sensory, and yield parameters for table, raisin, juice and wine grapes and their commercial products; 4) development and expansion of commercially available grapevine rootstocks that better resist drought and tolerate salinity; 5) quantification of the economic sustainability of implementing these new strategies in viticulture; and 6) dissemination results and recommendations via outreach, extension and educational training to grower and academic audiences via presentations, publications, Web-based learning and tailgate gatherings. Our poster will present a detailed overview of our project team, objectives, methods, and progress to date.