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Viticulture

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.

  • Downy Mildew Alert

    Phil Brannen

    Today, I observed downy mildew for the first time this year. It was on Lenoir vines in west Georgia, and this indicates that producers should be scouting for it throughout the state. In addition, if you have not already done so, I would consider incorporating highly efficacious materials such as Zampro, Revus, Ridomil Gold MZ…

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  • Powdery Mildew Alert

    Phil Brannen

    Powdery mildew is just starting to show up on untreated plants in the research vineyard at Blairsville, GA. The photograph below was taken today, but infections likely started occurring some time ago. I hope you will not see it yet in well managed vineyards, but recent rains and other difficulties may have hampered spray programs.…

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  • Fungal Resistance Management Videos

    Phil Brannen

    Much of the wine grape pathology research we have conducted in Georgia over the last 2-3 years has been associated with resistance management of fungal pathogens such as downy mildew, powdery mildew, Botrytis and others. Alternation or tank-mixing of different fungicide classes is critical for prevention of resistance development. Under the direction of Dr. Walt…

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  • Response to Cold-damaged Vines

    Phil Brannen

    Vineyards in many of the northern counties of Georgia have received cold damage on multiple occasions this year.  The most recent damage occurred 10 May, which means that grapes were phenologically more advanced that one would have observed with past frost/freeze events.  In fact, this is the latest event of this nature that I remember…

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  • 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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