Finger Lakes Grape Program

‘Compost Use In Vineyards’

Handouts and Photos

December 9, 2009

Hector Fire Hall/Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
Text Box: Jean Bonhotal, Cornell Waste Management Institute (left) discusses different composting methods and feedstocks with growers at the Hector Fire Hall. John Santos with Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards (right) talks about his experience using compost in his vineyards. Text Box: After the “classroom” portion of the workshop, we went next door to see how John Santos manages his compost piles. Text Box: Instead of turning his piles, John lays drain tile covered with a sock in a shallow trench and piles wood chips on top of that to allow air to penetrate the compost pile from below. The ends of the tile (visible above) are exposed at both ends of the pile. Text Box: Two spreaders were demonstrated at the meeting. Bill Dalrymple’s Millcreek spreader (left) discharges from the side to allow compost to be banded under the trellis. John Santos uses a manure spreader (right) that has been modified with an adjustable rear gate to allow him to adjust the amount of material that it applies. Text Box: Compost applied under the trellis (left) and in the row middle (right) by the two spreaders above. Both spreaders were calibrated to apply about 3.6 tons/acre.

The following links are to .pdf versions of the handouts from the workshop.

Presentations/Speaker Materials:

Compost Use in Vineyards - Jean Bonhotal (CWMI)

Nutrient Value of Compost in Vineyards
Hans Walter-Peterson (FLGP)

Study of Compost Use on Pulteney Vineyards
Matt Doyle (Constellation Brands)

2007 & 2008 Compost Application Spreadsheets (.pdf versions)
John Santos (Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards)

Other Resource Handouts:

Testing Compost Fact Sheet
Cornell Waste Management Institute (CWMI)

Composting Grape Pomace
Fritz Westover (VA Tech)

A few other resource links:

Cornell Waste Management Institute Composting Resources

            CWMI Compost Facility Search

Practical Guide to Application of Compost in Vineyards (Penn State)