Northern Grapes Project
Project Advisory Committee and Team Meeting
February 23, 2012
The Northern Grapes Project is funded by the USDA’s Specialty Crops Research
Initiative Program of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture,
Project #2011-51181-30850
Our Vision
From Proposal
“…To develop grape production, winemaking,
and marketing practices suited to the unique
characteristics of V. riparia-based [Northern
Grape] cultivars marketed through retail tasting
rooms and their niche in the US wine market.”
Vision for a Successful
Cold-Climate Wine Industry
Soil Health/Quality
Community Vitality
Plant Quality
Fruit Quality
Business Success
Wine Quality
Optimized
Vineyard
Practices
Optimized
Winemaking
Practices
Marketing
& Sales
Customers
Buy Wine
Repeatedly
Business Practices
Quality Product and Consumer Experience
Inputs and Activities
Outcomes
The Project is:
Specialty Crops Research Initiative Coordinated
Agriculture Project (CAP)
• 3 areas: production, winemaking,
consumers/markets
• Integrated research and extension
• Multi-disciplinary
• Incorporates Advisory Group and Industry
organizations
• 5 Years, currently funded for 2 @ $2.5 M
• Matching funds 1:1
SCRI Review Panel
Summary of Panelist Comments
“The proposed work is addressing multiple challenges faced by a small but
important emerging industry. The team has done an exceptional job in
planning for this proposal, articulating the results from the planning process
and presenting the proposed work. All the elements of a CAP have been met
with identification of advisory board, engagement of extension at roughly
30% and the inclusion of a management plan. The project is comprehensive,
is stakeholder driven and objectives are aligned with the goal. The proposed
work has engaged a diverse and substantial team.”
“Two areas should be addressed early in the project - importance of
complementary tourism activities and methods to sustain impacts past
project term.”
“The application is very comprehensive and could serve as a model for other
grant writing teams.”
- Tom Bewick and Dan Schmoldt, Program Directors SCRI
Partnering Industry Associations
Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Assn.
Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Assn.
Iowa Wine Growers Assn.
Lake Champlain Wines
Massachusetts Farm Wineries and
Growers Assn.
Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council
Minnesota Grape Growers Assn.
Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Assn.
New Hampshire Winery Assn.
New York Wine and Grape Foundation
Northern Illinois Wine Growers
Northern New York Wine Grape Growers
Scenic Rivers Grape and Wine Association
Iowa & Illinois)
South Dakota Specialty Producers Assn.
Upper Hudson Valley Wine and Grape Assn.
Vermont Grape and Wine Council
Western Iowa Grape Growers Assn
Wisconsin Grape Growers Assn.
• 34 Research/Extension Staff from 12 Universities
• 18 Partnering Industry Associations
Project objectives
• The Vines: Document cultivar performance and
resulting fruit composition in variable climates.
• Viticulture: Develop management practices to
produce high quality fruit
• Enology: Optimize winemaking to produce
distinctive wines.
• Consumers: Marketing and consumer needs to
support sustainable businesses.
Goals for Today
• Introduce Scope of Project to Team, Project
Advisory Council
• Plan Grant-related activities for Year 1
• Introduce project to public at NG Symposium
• Feedback and input from PAC
Morning Activities
8:30 – 10:00 AM
• Project Team
– Policies, procedures (Martinson, Particka)
– eXtension/eViticulture training (Stafne, Greer)
• PAC Members
– Baseline Survey Discussion (With Gartner/Lasley/Econ)
10:00- Noon
• Both Project Team and PAC
– Extension ‘products’ discussion (NG Webinars, Newsletter,
‘Enterprise Workshops’
– Subgroups: Planning for upcoming field season
Afternoon
1:00 – 3:00 PM
• Northern Grapes Symposium
– Public presentations
• 3:00 – 4:00 ‘Bar Camp’
– 5 groups, informal small group format
4:00 – 5:30 PM
• Bar Camp Debriefing (Luby)
• The Project Advisory Committee Speaks (All)
– Feedback, impressions, opportunities
Administration
•
•
•
•
•
Funding
Match Commitments:
Teams and Exec Committee
Reporting
Communication
– Internal, to clientele, with partner groups
• Events/Evaluations
• Graphic Identity/USDA Acknowledgement
Administrative Details
• Funding
– Subcontracts OUT of Cornell by 2/14/2012
– First year’s budgeted amt released.
– Term: Sept 1, 2011 to September 31, 2012
– Do it again starting in August.
• Match Commitments:
– As written in revised budget
– Salary Match: Effort Certification – back to Sept 1
– In-Kind Match: Letter certifying match.
Subcontracts/Match
Budget 5 vs 2 Year
7% reduction Yr 1-2
ND
2%
NE OK
VT
IL
MA
2% CT 1% 1% 1%
0%
2%
SD WI
NY
8% 6%
25%
MI
9%
MN
20%
Original 5 year
$6,152,850
IA
23%
IL NE OK
MA
VT
CT 1% 3% 0%
ND
0%
WI
3%
2%
3% 3%
NY
SD
24%
7%
IA
MN
MI
22%
20%
12%
Awarded 2 year
$2,513,300
Appendix B is your bible:
• Governance Plan
• Project (Research)
timeline p5-6
• Extension/outreach
p.7
• Table 1-2. Logic
Model
– Evaluation Metrics for
each sub-objective
Executive Committee
Anne Fennell
Tim Martinson
Fruit Comp. &
Genetics
Eric Stafne
eXtension,
eViticulture
Project Director
Paul Domoto
Paul Lasley
Viticulture
Evaluation
Jim Luby
PAC Liaison
Anna Katharine
Mansfield
Murli
Dharmadhikari
Enology
Chrislyn
Particka
Extension/ PAC
Liaison
Bill Gartner
Project
Administration
Consumers/Markets
State Extension Reps
• Report Extension Activities in State
• Organize & Publicize
• Work/Communicate with the industry groups
– Surveys and participation
Reporting
• CRIS Report required
• Annual report valuable
(next year’s PAC mtg).
• Rosbreed is a model
• Quarterly reporting
through ‘team’
Project Evaluation
• Have a “generic” evaluation form that you will
modify for each event associated with the NGP
• Essential that the evaluation team receives this
feedback
• Report event, numbers, evaluation to Chrislyn
Communication
• Will evolve with the project as we figure out what
works best for us
• Have established a Dropbox account
– Will send invites to the entire team next week
– Goal is to keep working documents in here
• Email
• Website
– Park past presentations, etc. on the Members Only
section
Graphics and Templates
• Everything is currently in the Dropbox account
• Need to better-organize it
Website
• Went live on Monday! Already getting some
good response
• Wordpress
• HostGator
Home
About
Northern Grapes Webinar
Series
Publications & Presentations
Contact Us
Project Members Only
password-protected
Extension Deliverables
• Everybody Participates
–
–
–
–
–
Write Article
Hold Field Day
Speak @ Webinar
Host Workshop
eXtension contribution
• Venues
–
–
–
–
–
NG Symposium
NG Enterprise Workshops
NG Webinars
NG News
NG Owner’s Manual
Extension Deliverables
• Symposium
– 2013 MGGA and NY
• Enterprise Workshops:
– 2012-2013 Vineyard sites
– 2012-2013 Basic Wine Production
– 2013 Branding Workshop
• Webinars
–
–
–
–
–
J: Managing acidity
F: Nuts and Bolts of Canopy MGT
M: Economic impact and Collaboration
A: Winery Sanitation (Worobo – tentative)
M: Disease Mgt (McManus & Berkett)
• Northern Grapes News (discuss)
• Owners Manual
– Working edition drafted??
Northern Grapes
Webinars
• 70-100 each
broadcast
• Interactive
• Creates community
• For Presenters:
– Key is to practice
ahead of time
– Sign up sheet will
be passed around
Northern Grapes News
• 4 issues each year
• What regular features
– Member profiles (Q &
A, try to make it fun)
– Topic-based articles
– Briefs
• Sign up sheet will be
passed around