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80 WINES&VINES January 2018 Your lender of choice for agricultural capital • Agricultural real estate since 1917 • Long-term fixed or adjustable rate mortgage financing • Real estate secured revolving line of credit • Competitive interest rates • Flexible terms and structuring Rates are attractive —contact us today. www.metlife.com/ag 559.435.0206 Agricultural Finance © 2016 METLIFE, INC. Vineyard Tools Battery Powered Pruning Shears • 1.25-inch and 1.5-inch cutting capacity models • 15,000 pruning cuts per battery charge • Includes lithium battery, harness, holster and carrying case www.zenportindustries.com | 503-524-7289 Gra ing Tools w zenportindustri Tying Tools & Supplies Harvest Shears ineyard T ols Pruning | Gra ing | Tying | Harvest VINTAGE 2017 every three or four days ceased, and vineyards dried out. In Sep- tember, temperatures rose into the 80s and even the 90s during the day and dropped into the 60s (or lower) during the night. The Lake Erie region as the ex- ception to this statewide trend. According to Bryan Hed, research technologist at the Lake Erie Grape Research and Extension Center in North East, Pa., May and June were mostly dry, and July was "dry as a bone." Rain in mid-August lowered the higher than normal temperatures, and the region was warm and dry in September and October. Despite a challenging, wet sum- mer, most growers kept the vari- ous grape diseases to a minimum by managing their canopies and applying sprays appropriately. Some growers reported downy mildew pressure as a result of the wet conditions. Centinari said the biggest problem was the spread of the spotted lanternfly, which was a major issue for the first time in at least eight vineyards in southeastern Pennsylvania by the end of the season. There is in- creasing concern that the insects are spreading to Delaware and New York. To date, there is no spray specifically for the spotted lanternfly. Spotted wing drosoph- ila, hornets and wasps were also numerous. Labor is a problem for everyone across Pennsylvania. VIRGINIA Tremain Hatch Extension associate Virginia Tech For the most part, Virginia grape- growers were happy with the 2017 season. Clear weather during the majority of harvest and full crops on most varieties made for excel- lent quality and quantity for the 2017 vintage. Growers remarked that vines were running up to two weeks ahead of schedule for most of the season. Some sites experienced frost injury in early May. Central Virginia was dry from mid-summer on, while Northern Virginia received more rainfall in August. Temperatures were cooler than normal for a spell in late August, and then tempera- tures rebounded in mid-Septem- ber. Most of the state experienced clear, dry and warm temperatures from mid-September to mid-October. Humid conditions in August caught a couple growers off guard with downy mildew. Grape yields were up. Sometimes growers struggle with low yields with Viognier, but Viognier yields were generally good. Harvest is always hectic in nature. Consis- tent and dry conditions made har- vest in Virginia smoother than most years. If yields were reduced, which of the following had the most effect? YIELD REDUCTION REASON Pests EAST Poor fruit set Weather