Grape Management Course to begin March 2

Thursday, January 26, 2017

As you travel across Oklahoma, it is not uncommon to see wheat and cotton fields. However, over the years, folks passing through the state are likely seeing more vineyards.

For those wanting to learn more about one of Oklahoma’s up-and-coming crops, Oklahoma State University is once again offering an educational opportunity geared toward both new and seasoned grape growers.

The 2017 Grape Management Course is an effort to familiarize current and potential grape growers with information vital to becoming successful producers, said Becky Carroll, OSU Cooperative Extension assistant specialist, fruit crops and pecans.

“We’ve offered this course for about 16 years and the interest in growing grapes continues across the state,” Carroll said. “The number of wineries has increased significantly since 2001.”

The 2017 Oklahoma Grape Management Course is slated to begin March 2 and will meet one Thursday per month through Sept. 7. Classes will take place at the Cimarron Valley Research Station near Perkins and each class will meet from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Registration is $250 per person and the course is limited to the first 70 registrants. Preregistration is required and is due by Feb. 16. Registration information can be found online here. A detailed brochure for the 2017 class also is available on the website. For more information, contact Stephanie Larimer at 405-744-5404 or email at stephanie.larimer@okstate.edu.

“Participants really get a great amount of information that’s beneficial to those who are seasoned growers with established vineyards, novice growers, as well as those who are considering grape production and are simply seeking more information,” Carroll said.

Participants will experience both the classroom learning environment in addition to hands-on activities during each class. The hands-on lessons will take place in the demonstration vineyard at the Cimarron Valley Research Station.

Carroll said each class will cover a variety of topics such as site selection and vineyard establishment, pruning and training, soils/water, insect and disease management, irrigation, weed control, economics, fertilization, propagation, rootstocks, canopy management, harvest preparation and petiole sampling.

Each meeting correlates time wise with what is actually happening in grape production. For example, the first meeting will explore the dormant vine stage, which occurs in March.

There are a number of industry professionals, as well as OSU experts, who will be on hand during each of the classes to share their expertise and research-based information.

Because of the growth in the grape-growing industry in Oklahoma, Carroll said OSU researchers believe it will continue to have a significant impact on the state’s economy, as well as provide those who are interested with another agricultural outlet.

“One of the nice things about growing grapes is you don’t have to own hundreds of acres to do so,” she said. “Growing grapes is a great agricultural opportunity for those landowners whose property encompasses just a few acres.”