Providing up-to-date production information to the diverse demographics of the Lake Erie Grape Growing region is a challenge that has been met through the use of a number of electronic information transfer techniques ranging from web sites and electronic newsletters to digital videos. However, the use of electronic information transfer tools has brought about concern over a ‘faceless’ extension program. To ensure that a connection is maintained between the NYS Grape IPM Program, Lake Erie Regional Grape Program Extension team and members of the Lake Erie grape industry, weekly Coffee Pot meeting were held from May through the end of August at a different grower venue each week.

The demographics of growers in the Lake Erie grape industry makes it difficult to plan educational activities appropriate for this diverse audience. Because many newcomers are approaching grape growing as a part-time business venture in the beginning, attending traditional educational events such as meetings during the day or evening is often in direct conflict with their primary off-farm jobs. The type of timely, in-depth information growers need in order to make intelligent decisions during the growing season is not found in the traditional newsletters delivered through the mail. Moreover, some growers off farm work schedules may make contact with extension personnel difficult to schedule. However, established growers and members of the grape processing industry have expressed concern with electronic information transfer taking the place of human contact.

In recent years the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program Extension team has been making a concerted effort in developing programming that can be delivered via e-mail, the world wide web, videoconferencing and short instructional videos. However, even when combined with the team’s conventional information transfer methods of meetings, a conferences, newsletters and publications there was a void in connecting the available information with vineyard practices in the Lake Erie Grape Industry. In response to challenges in crop and disease management during the growing season, weekly small group meetings, Coffee Pot Meetings, were held across the Lake Erie grape belt. The agenda for each meeting was developed through questions by growers which allowed the conversation to be targeted to the concerns of the day, specific to the area where the meetings were held. Due to the large geographical area covered by the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program it is not uncommon for one area to be experiencing drought conditions with the resultant insect problems while other areas are experiencing extremely wet conditions and the disease problems which typically are found with these conditions. Weekly meetings distributed around the grape belt help to keep meeting an appropriate size to ensure good interaction between the extension team and participants as well as between the participants themselves.

A survey conducted after a recent Coffee Pot meeting showed that learning from other growers was an important component of the meetings. Hearing the costs and benefits of a particular practice from those who have implemented the practices into their vineyard operation as well as being able to ask questions is regarded by participants as one of the biggest benefits of Coffee Pot meetings.
Ten participants completed and returned a survey conducted at a dormant season Coffee Pot Meeting recently. In the survey they were asked, ‘Have you changed or implemented any of the following practices after discussions at Coffee Pot meetings?’ Please check all that apply
Response (%) Question
100% Pre and post bloom fungicide applications
40% Spray every row and increase water used per acre
50% Spot spraying for pests (Grape berry moth, weeds, etc.)
80% Adjust nitrogen rates in vineyards
50% Use split applications of Nitrogen
40% Incorporated soil and petiole testing in your nutrient management plan
60% Crop estimation and thinning
50% Managing vineyard operation by block rather than whole farm
Every respondent indicated that they had implemented at least two new production practices as a result of participating in Coffee Pot meetings.

Penn State Cooperative Extension of Erie County

Andy Muza