Project Overview
FNC07-666
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2007: $5,990.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2008
Region: North Central
State: South Dakota
Project Coordinator:
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Fruits: grapes
- Animals: bees
Practices
- Crop Production: cover crops, no-till, application rate management
- Education and Training: demonstration, farmer to farmer, networking, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, workshop
- Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, value added, agritourism
- Pest Management: chemical control, physical control
- Production Systems: permaculture
- Soil Management: soil analysis, soil chemistry, soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, new business opportunities, public participation, analysis of personal/family life, employment opportunities, social networks, sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Newly developed cold-hardy grape varieties are being planted and grown in several Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska locations, but little is known about soil and climate conditions that permit sustainable vineyard operations. We propose to study Marquette (MN1211) grapes and other cold hardy varieties in several South Dakota soils that have been carefully mapped. We will utilize instrumentation that measures and tracks soil moisture and climate conditions, and will monitor foliage using petiole analysis. Finally, we will use the Internet and face-to-face forums to provide information on our study and the results of the tests.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.