CAT SPRING – The Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Austin County Grape Growers Committee will sponsor the 20th annual Gulf Coast Growers Field Day on Feb. 10 in Cat Spring, said an AgriLife Extension viticulture expert.
The field day will take place from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. at Cat Spring Agricultural Society Hall, 13035 Hall Road, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.
“This year’s field day will have speakers from both the wine industry and AgriLife Extension,” said Fritz Westover, Houston-based AgriLife Extension viticulture adviser for the Gulf Coast.
“Topics will cover a wide range of viticulture and enology issues concerning the Gulf Coast, plus there will be a session devoted to vineyard and winery employee issues,” Westover said. “There will be lots of useful information for grape growers, winery affiliates and others at the field day.”
Morning field day presentations will include take-home messages from the 2011 harvest, a research update on Pierce’s Disease and cotton root rot, and an employee issues session addressing small-employer insurance benefits and employee injuries, along with a question-and-answer session with employee-issues speakers.
Afternoon activities include a Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association update, a history of Gulf Coast vineyards, a research update on dry Lenior wine, soil-moisture monitoring, and a wine reception and opportunity to visit field day sponsor booths.
Registration for the field day is $30 at the door, and includes lunch, a printed copy of the speakers’ presentations and the reception.
Westover asked those planning to attend to RSVP to him by Feb. 7 via email at fawestover@ag.tamu.edu to help ensure an accurate meal count.
More information on the field day and growing wine grapes in Texas can be found at http://winegrapes.tamu.edu/
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