In Missouri the harvest for grapes began earlier than normal throughout the state. This is due in part to the decreased production due to frost-related events during the spring preceding, according to Dean Volenberg, interim director of the University of Missouri Grape and Wine Institute. Despite the less quantity however, the quality of the wine grapes is said as being exceptionally good and suggest a great season for the year’s harvest.

The growing season for grapes that began around June 2023, is still susceptible to the effects of nature until burst of the bud in April 2024. Volenberg observes a similarity in the weather patterns of Missouri and Colorado which is characterized by hot autumns, followed by substantial decreases in temperature into December. The majority of grape varieties performed good into January however, the Chardonel cultivar particularly suffered the negative consequences of intermittent spring frosts that occurred post-bud break resulting in possible crop loss. Certain grape varieties have demonstrated resilience in the face of frost, and certain cultivators have experienced normal yields that are not affected by frost.

The early harvest can be because of the quick development of secondary clusters that emerge after the destruction of primary buds caused by frost. This has been seen even while several Norton grape varieties are awaiting to be harvested, with cases where the yield is full to 5 tonnes per acres. For the coming years, positive environment conditions are anticipated for the grape harvest in 2025 as irrigation methods are used by the growers as a response to the dry conditions in specific areas. Following harvest, the main focus is on the maintenance of a healthy plant canopy over a long period of time for the health of the crop in cold snaps that can occur in the early days.

Source: Extension