Chronicle Online e-News
Cornell begins 'new era' in grape research in Lake Erie region
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec06/Erie.grapes.aw.ht
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Dec. 22, 2006
By Aaron Goldweber
asg43@cornell.edu
Nearly 100 years ago, the New York Legislature appropriated $10,000
to the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station to establish a
grape research laboratory in Fredonia, N.Y. Now, with more than $5
million of state funding, Cornell is poised to break ground on 53
acres of recently purchased land in Portland, N.Y., for a new
laboratory to support innovative research and extension programs to
serve grape growers in western New York and beyond.
"This state-of-the-art facility will begin a new era in Cornell's
rich history of commitment to the grape and wine industry in the Lake
Erie region," said Susan A. Henry, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of
Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The facility, whose groundbreaking will be spring 2007, will provide
expanded field research; modernized laboratory space for research on
juice and wine quality; additional office space for research and
extension staff and visiting scientists; and meeting space for grower
education and training.
Rick Dunst, manager of the current laboratory, said Cornell
researchers have made major advances in the areas of vineyard
mechanization, grapevine physiology, development of economic
thresholds and effective control programs for insect and disease
pests of these grapes. Researchers have increased yields, improved
quality and lowered production costs of grapes grown in the Lake Erie
region, especially Concord and Niagara.
"The new facility will be the foundation for the development of new
technology that will be transferred to grape producers throughout New
York state and enable them to successfully compete in today's global
marketplace," said Tom Davenport, director of viticulture for the
National Grape Cooperative.
"Cornell has provided premier research and services through the
vineyard lab for many years, not only to local farmers, but to
growers across the state and the Great Lakes region," said New York
State Sen. Catharine Young (R-Olean), chair of the Senate Agriculture
Committee, who led the recent effort to secure state funding for the
project with major support from New York Assemblyman Bill Parment
(D-Jamestown), who has been working to find funds to modernize the
laboratory for more than 10 years.
Added Parment: "The key to success for the grape industry has been a
combination of hard work on the part of our growers with applied
research and extension coming from the grape experiment station. A
new facility will give the industry a basis for productivity gains
going forward. I'm pleased that we have reached this important
milestone."
Since 1961, Cornell has conducted research and extension programs on
the 30-acre vineyard and converted potting shed in Fredonia. The
current laboratory and field research acreage will be sold, and
proceeds will be invested in the long-term operations of the new
facility in Portland.
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