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74 WINES&VINES January 2018 VINTAGE 2017 mm early ripening varieties with softer and thinner skins. Demand remained high as more and more new wineries come on- line, but prices were stable from 70 cents per pound ($1,400 per ton) to the highest in-demand varieties reaching to or slightly above $1 per pound ($2,000 per ton). MISSOURI Dean S. Volenberg Viticulture and winery operations extension specialist University of Missouri Grape and Wine Institute Yields were at or below average, depending on location within the state. Fruit quality for whites, espe- cially Vignoles, was excellent com- pared to the previous two years. Fruit quality for red varieties Norton and Chambourcin was excellent. Weather conditions for harvest were excellent for most cultivars. The be- ginning of harvest in mid-August was on average dry for some early maturing white cultivars. This was followed by a very dry September that resulted in excellent harvest conditions. Monthly temperatures were above the 30-year average for most months during the April- through-October growing season. Most notable was the month of July, which had nine days above 90° F. Disease pressure was greatest during the early growing season of April and May, when most parts of the state received above-average precipitation. Combined rainfall for the months of April and May was approximately 13 inches. Although early season vine growth encoun- tered numerous precipitation events, disease outbreaks were minimal. Sour rot was noticeably absent in Vignoles this season, likely the result of dry conditions in the latter half of August and dry conditions in September. Pestaloti- opsis spp. disease symptoms were apparent on leaves of Chambour- cin and on Vignoles to a lesser ex- tent during the month of May. Japanese beetle pressure was high starting in mid-June and lasting through late August. Demand for grapes was high in most areas of the state. Some vineyards experienced extreme herbicide drift that resulted in re- duced yields. Symptoms of herbi- cide drift from growth regulator herbicides was apparent in most vineyards in 2017. In 2017, more than 132 acres of vineyards (or 8% of our total acres) were reported injured due to di- camba herbicide exposure or drift. With each acre of vineyard produc- ing an average of 3-4 tons of grapes, the damage has a significant impact on the annual production levels. Bob McClenahan p h o t o g r a p h y www.bobmcclenahan.com If yields were reduced, which of the following had the most effect? YIELD REDUCTION REASON Frost or freezing conditions Vine disease CENTRAL Excessive rainfall Poor fruit set