Register for the Michigan grape spring kickoff meeting

Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar<nasroll2@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - March 30, 2026

Practical research updates, grower-focused discussions, and seasonal insights to help you start the 2026 vineyard season with confidence.

Michigan State University Extension is excited to invite you to the 2026 Michigan Grape Spring Kickoff Meeting on April 16, an annual opportunity to reconnect, learn and get ready for the growing season ahead. This year’s meeting is hosted by Michigan State University Extension in collaboration with Parallel 45, bringing together research, industry insight and grower experience in one place. Whether you choose to attend virtually or join us in person at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center, 6686 S Center Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684, the program is designed to deliver practical, timely information you can use in your vineyard.

The day will feature a mix of research updates and applied sessions, including vineyard floor management, biofungicides, sprayer technology, and new tools like AI-based disease detection. You’ll also hear about a new Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education integrated pest management project and have the chance to share your input.

We’ll take time to connect throughout the day with coffee breaks, a catered lunch, and a relaxed social hour to wrap things up. If you’re attending in person, feel free to bring a bottle of wine to share.

Participants attending in person will earn five restricted use pesticide credits.

Agenda

8:00 AM Registration Opens

Moderator: Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar

9:00 – 9:45 AM Non-chemical weed and floor management in vineyards

Joshua Miranda (MSU)

9:55 – 10:35 AM Launching a New SARE IPM Project: Goals, Timeline, and Grower Input
Rufus Isaacs (MSU)

10:40 – 11:00 AM Coffee Break

11:00 – 11:30 AM AI-integrated spectroscopy for early powdery mildew detection in Michigan vineyards
Vahid Rahjoo (MSU Extension)

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM Lunch (Boardman Valley Hospitality Catering)

12:50 – 1:25 PM Biofungicides in grapes: options and integration strategies
Timothy Miles (MSU)

1:30 – 2:45 PM Panel: Biofungicides

Steven Merchant, Dave Bos, Mike Formisano Moderator: Ryan Chlebek

2:50 – 3:10 PM Coffee Break

3:15 – 3:50 PM Next-generation sprayer systems for grape growers

Michael Reinke (MSU Extension)

3:55 – 5:30 PM, Social Hour Bring a wine to share and connect

Registration

For those planning to attend virtually, register at 2026 Spring Kickoff Meeting - Virtual Attendance Registration.

For those planning to attend in person, register at 2026 Spring Kickoff Meeting - In-Person Attendance Registration.

This meeting is all about practical information, good conversations and starting the season on the right foot. We hope to see you there.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).