Hello and Welcome,
Ernie sees Unidentified Farming Objects all the time. If it looks like a dirt
clod, but hops away, most likely a bunny. If it flies away, most likely a
quail. No big deal.
Situational Review
The recent rains in the Willamette Valley helped bring cool temperatures to
slow down the vines’ rate of growth. The vines respond to the growing
conditions, but in the end they will not be denied. Excess soil moisture in
June, followed by seasonal heat is going to supercharge the vines’ growth. And
it is our job to catch that growth in our 3 sets of handy dandy trellis catch
wires. And then we gain the upper hand by hedging off the excess growth.
June growth in Pinot Noir, already above the line post!
The longest day of the year, meaning the day with the most sunlight hours was
June 20th. From here on the daylight hours decrease until we reach
the winter solstice on December 21st. The vines will be asleep by
then, but they will start to notice the reduction in daylight hours RFN (right
farming now).
Summer is officially here and we expect very little if any rain and low
humidity through the month of August. It’s a nice time to visit wine country.
Farming is taking center stage and it’s time for the annual parade of farm
equipment maintenance. Change my oil, tighten my belt, grease my zerk, change
my filters – the usual clown show. And a specialized form of farm equipment
maintenance is called percussive maintenance.
Percussive maintenance is employed when a piece of FARM EQUIPMENT is performing
below its specified service level and recommended adjustments, or approved
repairs have not corrected the deficiency. This form of maintenance borrows
heavily from the unofficial office motivational handbook. To wit: The beatings
will continue until performance improves or the equipment in question is no
longer serviceable. Having arrived at this juncture, it is time to go shopping
for NEW FARM EQUIPMENT.
Ask a Farmer: Trellis Design and Implementation - DEEP DIVE!
It seems we created some confusion during our last communique regarding trellis
catch wires. This highlights the fact we don’t get off the farm enough in the
summer. We are working the vines every day, and sometimes lose sight of the
fact that not everyone is as deeply versed in the ways of viticulture as we
are. We will try and be less careless.
Ernie working in the vines, June 2021.
The question centered around the catch wires and specifically how we designed the
trellis to function. Note that while we designed the trellis system to be
efficient, functional and easy to use, it is the field labor crew that actually
implements the strategy. And here it is worth pointing out that a good strategy
well executed, is better than a great strategy that no one can understand, nor
implement. That is what you learn in Farming 101. And just a little bit about
percussive maintenance.
The trellis catch wires are a permanent fixture in the vineyard. We run the
catch wires after we plant the vines and pound the end posts and line posts.
The catch wires are permanently attached to each end post.
Catch wires permanently attached to an end post.
What we do is move the catch wires vertically up and down the line posts
(spaced every 20 feet in the row) to catch the vines’ growth. Hence the term
catch wires.
Notched line post in the VSP trellis design.
Winter pruning starts in November after harvest. At that point in the growing
season, the catch wires are in their up position. After pruning, the canes are
pulled out of the catch wires and laid in the grass rows for mowing. This
clears the trellis so we can reposition the catch wires to catch the next
year’s growth.
First wire dropped so Ernie doesn't catch it in the rototiller.
We run 3 sets of catch wires. After pruning, the two upper sets of catch wires
are clipped into the upper most position. The lowest catch wire set is on the
ground. As the vines wake up and the shoots begin to grow, we lift the first
set of catch wires off the ground and clip them into the line posts capturing
about 12 to 15 inches worth of growth.
During this pass, we also lower the second set of catch wires to the ground.
The idea is to raise the catch wires from below and catch the shoots. Please
note, the galvanized steel line posts we use are only 2 inches wide. They are
pre-notched with catch wire positions spaced 4 inches apart.
Line post with notches 4" apart for catch wire positions.
While it would be ideal if every shoot grew into this 2 inch opening, they
simply refuse to comply. So, we lower the catch wires before the shoots are
tall enough to reach the catch wire position on the line post. Otherwise, the
shoots grow into the catch wires and get all tangled up and attached with their
tendrils. That is a time-consuming mess to untangle, so we try to avoid it.
Catch wire set with 2" opening.
Then when the shoots are about 3 feet long, we come along and raise the second
set of catch wires and clip them into the line post. At the same time, we lower
the top catch wire to the ground. Once the vines reach beyond the top of the
line posts at 5 feet, we come back and raise the third set of catch wires and
clip them into position.
Catching the vines growth at the right time makes all the difference. If they
are too short, you miss the shoots and the tractor tires take them off – and
their goes your wine berries. If they are too tall, they are unwieldy and
difficult to tuck into the wires.
This is the essence of a Vertical Shoot Positioned trellis system. At about a
minute per vine, per set of catch wires, it is also quite labor intensive. But,
if you want to grow the best wine on this planet, you have to do your part.
Mount Hood keeping a watch on the growing vines.
We are not too sure what the other galaxies are doing, but for now we are the
only planet that grows wine. But things being what they are, maybe that will
all change and we will start to see intergalactic trade in the Adult
Recreational Beverage biosphere.
We have often wondered what Romulan ale tastes like.
Probably best to avoid the Ferengi wine. Most
likely counterfeit anyway.
Will you be in our area? Amalie Robert Estate is open all summer by
appointment for vineyard tours and tastings. Select your preferred day and time
with the Big Red Button.
Kindest Regards,
Dena & Ernie
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