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UGA Extension Viticulture Blog

Phil Brannen

Phil Brannen

Phil Brannen is a Professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate degree in Plant Protection and Pest Management, where he also received an M.S. in Plant Pathology, followed by a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Auburn University. He has extensive experience with disease management programs in numerous cropping systems. He serves as the extension fruit pathologist for Georgia – conducting research and technology transfer for multiple fruit commodities. His efforts are directed towards developing IPM practices to solve disease issues and technology transfer of disease-management methods to commercial fruit producers. He also teaches the graduate level Field Pathology Course, the History of Plant Diseases and their Impact on Human Societies Course, team-teaches the IPM Course, coordinates the Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Region Course (Cortona, Italy), and guest lectures in numerous other courses throughout the year.

  • COVID 19 Assistance for Farmers

    Phil Brannen

    See below for a message from our Associate Dean relative new funds that are available for helping farmers. I am not sure whether wine grape producers could benefit from these funds or not, but I am sure that muscadine producers for fresh market consumption could benefit. At a minimum, I would follow up to ask…

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  • Time to Tissue Sample Grapes for Nutrient Analysis

    Phil Brannen

    It is time for tissue sampling in grapes.  Student workers were taking samples today in our research vineyards, as we are in full bloom in the Athens area.  I suspect that the bloom will vary by variety and location, but all of us are close.  I am providing more information than you might want for…

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  • Webinar with Abby Snyder (Cornell), Beth Chang (VT) and Anna Katharine Mansfield (Cornell) on COVID 19 and Winery Operations

    Phil Brannen

    Mark Hoffman, viticulturist for NCSU, sent me the following information this morning. There will be a pertinent webinar on responding to COVID in winery operations. The webinar will take place on Monday, May 18th from 12-1:30 PM, and is titled “Re”wine”ing the Clock in a Post-COVID World: ensuring personal safety & production efficiency as winery operations…

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  • Powdery Mildew Resistance Article

    Phil Brannen

    Brooke Warres, a graduate student in the Plant Pathology Department of the University of Georgia, has been researching powdery mildew resistance to QoI and DMI fungicides. The attached is a news article that she composed, and it will be distributed through various outlets. However, you can have a look at it through the attached. I…

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  • Grape Spray Program Design Workshop Cancelled for Ellijay, GA

    Phil Brannen

    The Grape Spray Program Design Workshop for March 17, 2020 at Cartecay Vineyards in Ellijay GA has been cancelled due to Coronavirus issues. We are sorry to announce this, but it is necessary in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. We will reschedule at some point, but please contact your local county agent…

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  • Grape Spray Program Design Workshops Reminder

    Phil Brannen

    UGA Extension Viticulture Blog | Grape Spray Program Design Workshops Disease and insect control are critical components of an IPM program for grapes. Vineyard managers ask questions yearly relative how to set up and administer an efficacious program for management of diseases and insects. In these workshops, vineyard managers will be given the skills and…

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  • Topsin WSB Special Local Needs Label Approved for GA

    Phil Brannen

    Thanks to UPL, we now have a Topsin label for pruning wounds in Georgia. Please see the attached approved SLN label for Topsin WSB control of Eutypa Dieback in Grapevines. Note that Botryosphaeria dieback is more prevalent in Georgia, but you will get suppression of Botryosphaeria when you spray for Eutypa dieback. As always, follow…

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  • Grape Spray Program Design Workshops

    Phil Brannen

    Agenda: 9:30 Registration 10:00 Disease management considerations for developing a spray program 10:30 Insect management considerations for spray program development 11:00 Group work 12:00 Lunch 12:30 Group work 2:00 Group presentations 3:00 Wrap up and final questions with experts   Workshop dates, registration contacts and locations are below (maximum of 20 participants per location, so…

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  • Survey for Grape Growers and Consultants Relative Disease Management Decisions

    Phil Brannen

    We are involved with a group of scientists who are reviewing several aspects of grape disease management, especially powdery mildew management (the FRAME Network).  If you have time, the FRAME Network wants to hear how you approach disease management decisions.  If you are a grape grower, or a consultant for grape production, please take the…

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  • Powdery Mildew Fungicide Resistance Survey

    Phil Brannen

    The following message is from Brooke Warres, a graduate student in the University of Georgia Plant Pathology Department. “Now that we are at harvest and spray programs may be halted or reduced, powdery mildew will likely be popping up.  As mentioned previously, we are conducting a survey of fungicide resistance in powdery mildew. We are…

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