James Hawk, who has a master’s degree in biological oceanography and experience in sustainable development and outreach through his work in the Peace Corps, will serve as project director for a five-year federal grant to study the reduction or possible elimination of herbicides in vineyards



James Hawk, who has a master’s degree in biological oceanography and experience in sustainable development and outreach through his work in the Peace Corps, will serve as project director for a five-year federal grant to study the reduction or possible elimination of herbicides in vineyards

Branchport vineyard receives federal funding

By GINA MUSCATO

Times Staff Writer
gmuscato@fltimes.com


BRANCHPORT — Hunt Country Vineyards has been awarded a five-year federal grant to study the reduction or possible elimination of herbicides in vineyards.

The roughly $14,000 Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education grant will go toward the local vineyard’s continuing effort to improve its agricultural practices, said owner Art Hunt.

“As we move forward, we’re looking at ways to grow grapes with less impact on the environment and hopefully, a little more cost effective, as well,” said Hunt. “Being a sixth- going into seventh-generation family farm, looking at the long view is important to us.”

The Sustainable Agricultural program, funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, supports innovative projects that seek to combine environmental and social responsibility with economic viability.

Hunt said his farm will explore eliminating herbicides under the grapevine and instead allow low ground cover plants — often considered weeds — to grow.

By reducing the use of herbicides, the project aims to minimize fuel consumption, decrease soil erosion and increase air and water quality. Other benefits could include reduced labor and fuel expenses, along with improvements to the product itself.

“These are the theoretical goals,” Hunt said, adding that it will take about five years to determine if the practices actually work. “But, it’s a step in the right direction. All of us want to adopt sustainable practices. If some can work, it’ll be good for all of us.”

More than $5,000 will be awarded for the first year ofresearch.

Over the past 30 years, grape growers in general have been looking at more sustainable practices, Hunt said. Because of the grant’s main emphasis on education, he added, the farm will hold public meetings so fellow grape growers can hear the results of their research.

It will likely take about two years to get the ivy established in the vineyards before they can begin monitoring results, Hunt said.

He added that the farm has already started growing the ivy in a greenhouse and that it will be transplanted into the vineyards once the weather turns warmer, likely around the end of April.

Of Hunt’s 50-acre vineyard on Italy Hill Road, a two-acre block is designated for the research area, encompassing about 17 rows of grapevine.

Hunt Country employee James Hawk, who has a master’s degree in biological oceanography and experience in sustainable development and outreach through his work in the Peace Corps, will serve as project director. Regional grape specialist Dr. Timothy Martinson of Cornell Cooperative Extension will serve as a technical adviser.

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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