Technology Plays A Key Role In Northwest Viticulture

Technology for Northwest farmers is more than just a cool toy or gadget.  Russ Smithyman, with Ste. Michelle said new technology helps them overcome labor shortages, by managing more acres with fewer people.  In addition to that, they can better control quality of fruit, and juice, that to programs like NDVI.  Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, which runs through remote sensors from aircraft, gives workers an idea how much canopy there is in the vineyard, and even how each individual vines look.  Smithyman told the Washington Ag Network NDVI helps with determining irrigation, but the benefits don’t end there.

“The biggest bang for the buck has been differential harvesting, being able to tease out certain areas of quality or differences in quality than a given block, where if that was all harvested together it would produce one style of wine, where if it’s harvested separately, or differently, we’re getting two or maybe three styles of wine.”

He adds a key part of technology, is the research behind it.  That’s why, he says Ste. Michelle, they works with WSU, OSU and USDA in an effort to improve the entire wine industry.

“We like to have that science bases research, before we adopt any new technology, or new management practices.  We feel that’s really the safest way to go, and it really allows us to not only grow ourselves, but to help the industry grow as well.”

For those trying to implement new technologies to their operation, Smithyman says it’s important to keep the technology simple, make sure you understands it, and that it works best for your operation.

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