Viticulture Field Day to be held at Smutko Vineyard

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Fran Benne | Design and Communications Specialist

The University of Nebraska Viticulture Program is hosting a viticulture field day Saturday, June 11. Held at the Smutko Vineyard, located southeast of Blair, Nebraska, the field day program will feature vineyard management. Topics will include trellis and training systems, crop estimation and adjustment, shoot positioning and thinning, fertilizers, nutrition and tissue testing.

“This will be a great opportunity to learn from a grape producer who started small and has progressively grown his vineyard into a productive and profitable operation,” UNL Viticulture Professor Paul Read said.

Bill Smutko will cover topics that attributed to the Smutko Vineyard success. Steadily progressing since its beginning in 1999 and producing three tons of grapes in 2010, the vineyard had its best crop to date in 2015, producing 19 tons. According to Smutko, his vineyard is on track to match or exceed the 2015 vintage.

There will also be a discussion on grower/winery relations, to encourage dialogue and cooperation for the mutual benefit of the grape and wine industry.

“The growers need the wineries and the wineries need the growers, so collaboration is essential,” Smutko said.

This field day is open to the public. The fee is $20 and includes lunch and handouts. To help with lunch plans, please preregister by email or phone to Paul Read or UNL Viticulture Research Technologist Stephen Gamet.

For more information and directions to the field day, go to https://viticulture.unl.edu/field-day-smutko-vineyard.

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An example of a robust vineyard with a full canopy.
An example of a robust vineyard with a full canopy.