« Napa Symposium, Winery Marketing People Learn About Their Customers | Main | »
May 04, 2008
Niagara Grape Growers call for Help; Threat of Frost Brings in Choppers
Residents living in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Virgil who were roused from their slumber in the wee small hours to the sound of choppers whirring overhead might appreciate the early-morning wake-up call next time they look for a vintage vino.
The sudden drop in temperatures - not uncommon in April - caused grape growers to call in some reinforcements to protect their tender vines.
"We were out," said Niagara Helicopters pilot Rene Huessy, who joined Ruedi Hafen and Tony Dempsey flying sorties over vineyards in Niagara's grape country this week to protect their plants from frost.
"We get hired by different wineries and farmers because if their plants get frost, they get dehydrated and they die, they have no crop."
One morning they were flying at 3 a.m., while other mornings they were up in the air by 4:15 a.m. and 4:30.
"It's not the time issue, it's the temperature issue," said Huessy. "We're put on standby by the farmer. It's his call. As soon as they hit the temperature where it might frost, we are out there."
Advertisements, (article continues below)
The helicopters simulate the wind action performed by the wind machines - massive windmills - located on many farms.
The rotors whirring about 20 feet above ground circulate the cold air from the ground and push the warmer air down toward the plants. Wind machines can cost large growers millions of dollars just to install and may sit idle in warm seasons.
Using helicopters means farmers don't need to bring in their own equipment. But it's not cheap, either.
"It's a very expensive venture," said Terrence van Rooyen, a professor of applied oenology at Niagara College.
The wet rate - which includes the fuel - for Niagara Helicopters is $1,950 per helicopter per hour, the same fee the company would charge for a one-hour ride.
Source: “Grape growers call in reinforcements; threat of frost brings in choppers,“ Jennifer Pellegrini, May 4, 2008
Posted by fortna at May 4, 2008 10:47 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.avenuevine.com/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/3918