ASHS 2024 Conference

Within the State of Texas the grape (Vitis vinifera) and wine industry has an economic impact of over $20 billion. Currently there are more than 3,700 ha of vineyards within the state, and greater than 80% of Texas vineyards are within the Texas High Plains American Viticultural Area (AVA). High Plains AVA grape growers are blessed with beneficial soil conditions, low biotic stress factors, and a generally favorable climate. However, geophysical challenges within the AVA include dangerous winter temperature extremes, late spring frosts, high wind speed events, thunderstorms, damaging hail, drought, and herbicide volatility and drift concerns. Despite these challenges, the Texas High Plains AVA has gained a reputation for producing high yields and fruit with exceptional quality. This presentation will focus on recent (past three years) research efforts performed by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension and Texas Tech University personnel: investigating grape grower concerns associated with vine water requirements, avoiding grapevine hail damage, estimating vine cultivar bud dormancy traits, and quantifying herbicide drift and volatilization into vineyards. Presented research results benefit Texas High Plains grape growers and give growers additional insight into production practices and management methods suited for grape production within the unique Texas High Plains AVA environment.