Grape growers in the Lake Erie region of Western New York and Northwest Pennsylvania have expanded access to NEWA grape models and resources thanks to the recent addition of new weather stations throughout the region where LERGP collaborators have been working to expand NEWA coverage for grape growers along the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario growing regions.

NEWA and University at Albany’s NYS Mesonet entered into a new agreement this spring to provide high-quality weather data from Burt and Fredonia locations. National Grape Cooperative, Constellation Brands, and Walker’s Fruit Basket also funded the purchase, installation, and maintenance of 9 additional Rainwise weather stations.

There are now 26 active NEWA locations in the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario grape growing regions of NY and PA.

Tim Weigle, NYS IPM Statewide Grape IPM Specialist, reports that 70% of respondents to a 2018 NY vineyards survey already use NEWA. Many participants who don’t currently use NEWA indicated that lack of access to model results from nearby weather stations was the primary limitation to greater usage. Addition of these 11 new stations to the network in Western NY will help reduce this barrier for growers interested in using NEWA grape disease and insect models.

Do you NEWA?

Watch this YouTube video that features Tim Weigle as he discusses many more details of recent NEWA expansion in Western NY.