A team of researchers at Michigan State University are soon launching a study to investigate ways to help farmers protect their wine grapes from rotting diseases.
According to the Michigan Craft Beverage Council, over two million pounds of Michigan fruit are used each year to create beverages like wine and hard cider.
Since Michigan has a cool, humid and wet climate, grapes are sensitive to diseases, especially wine grapes.
"That is our number one challenge in growing grapes, in the Great Lakes and northeastern United States region. We have cooler climates, which plant diseases really like," said Mike Reinke, a viticulture specialist with MSU.
Reinke added that rising temperatures are also factoring into wine grapes suffering from rotting diseases.
Adding sprays and fungicides to the grapes can help, but Reinke said there still needs to be a better understanding of how insect and disease management can work together.
"If this cluster rot gets in and is not very well managed, you could theoretically lose the entire crop," said Reinke.
Reinke is part of a research team recently awarded a research grant from the Michigan Craft Beverage Council to investigate these wine grape issues.
According to a recent study from Wine America, in 2022, the Michigan wine industry generated over $6 billion of economic activity across the country.
