In this episode of Vineyard Underground, host Fritz Westover welcomes Dr. Katie Gold, Assistant Professor of Grape Pathology at Cornell University, for a deep dive into how research drives informed spray program decisions in the vineyard. Dr. Gold brings her extensive expertise in grape disease management to the conversation, shedding light on how growers can use scientific data and field research to refine their fungicide strategies and protect their crops more effectively.

Fritz and Katie explore the critical role of disease forecasting models, including how they are developed and validated, and why it’s important for growers to go beyond the “calendar-based” approach to spraying. Dr. Gold emphasizes the value of using weather-based decision support tools and highlights ongoing research aimed at improving the precision and sustainability of vineyard disease management.

Listeners will gain a better understanding of how academic research translates into real-world applications, from identifying pathogen resistance patterns to making timely fungicide applications. Katie also discusses the impact of underutilized research, how misinformation can spread in farming communities, and why continuous learning and outreach are essential for successful vineyard operations.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Research-based spray programs outperform calendar-based models

• Disease forecasting tools help optimize fungicide timing and efficiency

• Growers should verify the reliability of sources when seeking vineyard advice

• Understanding fungicide resistance is key to long-term vineyard health

• Practical research translation is essential for sustainable vineyard practices

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Resources:

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Today’s Guest:

Dr. Katie Gold is an Assistant Professor of Grape Pathology at Cornell University, where she holds primary research and extension responsibilities for grape disease management in New York State.

Connect with Katie: https://cals.cornell.edu/kaitlin-gold

View her research work: https://blogs.cornell.edu/goldlab/

Episode Sponsor:

Today’s episode was brought to you by Clemens Technologies.

Clemens Technologies is the market leader in machinery for all elements of vineyard management. Visit https://www.clemens-online.com/us/ and provide the code UNDERGROUND to receive 5% off your order of in-stock machinery. Or reach out to Thomas Clemens directly at thomas@clemens-america.com with any questions.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.