The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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September 19, 2008

Southwest Center begins experiments with grape varieties

By Mike Surbrugg

msurbrugg@joplinglobe.com

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — A grape war of sorts has started between the University of Missouri and Missouri State University.

A visible point of contention is the University of Missouri’s two-acre vineyard at its Southwest Center near Mount Vernon. It was planted this summer to study methods to grow Chambourcin grapes. It is under the direction of R. Keith Striegler, director and viticulture program leader in the university’s Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology (ICCVE) in Columbia.

At the UMC annual Field Day on Sept. 12, Striegler said the two schools share information about diseases and more.

“We will compete for dollars,” he said.

Missouri State has a campus in Mountain Grove that is home of the State Fruit Experiment Station, where years of grape studies have been done on everything from rootstock evaluation to marketing wine, said Anson Elliott, head of the Missouri State agriculture department, which oversees operations at Mountain Grove.

Funds for planting at Mount Vernon came in part from a state wine tax to be used for research and promotion. That fund is administered by a board appointed by the governor. Other money came from businesses.

For 18 years, Missouri State has obtained money from the wine tax for some grape projects. Most are funded with a combination of federal grants and Missouri State funds, Elliott said. But two years ago, the wine board pulled support from Missouri State and gave it to the new project at Mount Vernon in a move to have two centers for grape research and extension, Elliott said.

Elliott also said work at Mountain Grove is extensive to evaluate and certify rootstock and other help for growers. The school produces varieties of wine that have received honors at commercial wine industry shows, he said. Missouri State also is developing on-line classes in grape studies tied to certification and degrees, he said.

At Mount Vernon, Striegler said the two-acre is “not great for vineyards” because of heavy clay and fragipan near the surface. Grapes were planted on mounds or ridges and will require careful management in the fall for four or five years to protect graft unions on plants from winter kill.

Tubes are around the base of each plant to protect them from chemicals and predators.

The goal is to have the plants in full production within three years.

In response to questions, Striegler and extension grape specialist Andy Allen said it could cost a minimum of $8,000 to $15,000 an acre to establish a vineyard and that does not include the cost for land or equipment.

An established vineyard can generate an annual return of $1,000 to $2,000 an acre when marketing quality grapes in varieties wineries want.

“Do not always plant what you like, but check wineries and plant for a market,” he advised.

Mike Surbrugg is The Joplin Globe farm editor.

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