The Washington State Wine Commission wants wine grape growers and wineries to fill out a survey aimed at identifying the top viticulture and enology research priorities in the state.

The Wine Research Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of the Washington State Wine Commission, will use the survey feedback to fine-tune its priority list, which guides the Committee’s funding recommendations of viticulture and enology research that are part of the statewide Grape and Wine Research Program. The program, administered by Washington State University, combines funding support from the Washington State Wine Commission, Auction of Washington Wines, WSU’s Agriculture Research Center, and state taxes collected on all wines sold in Washington. The program will fund projects totaling more than $1 million in 2017-18.

A similar survey, administered by the Washington State Wine Commission in 2016, resulted in the addition of several new topics to the 2016-17 priority list by the Wine Research Advisory Committee. This new survey will also measure first-year outreach efforts of the Washington State Wine Commission’s amplified research program.

Past research outcomes have provided significant economic value to grape growers and wineries, including irrigation water savings of up to 50 percent in red wine varieties, reduced pesticide usage, improved wine quality, and more. WSU and industry officials estimated that an innovative spray technology developed by WSU to control cutworms and widely adopted by growers, annually saves the industry $35 million in reduced pesticide costs, improved worker safety, and improved yields.

The Washington State Wine Commission encourages all Washington wine industry members who would utilize viticulture and enology research to participate in the short survey.

Read More at source: Wine Industry Advisor