Midwest Vineyard Labor Calendar (2011)

Abstract

This publication aims to help grape producers develop appropriate management plans and reasonable financial expectations by providing information on: (1) operations that are generally advised for commercial vineyards and when they should be done, and (2) the estimated number of labor hours required to complete them. Labor requirements are provided on a per-acre basis, unless otherwise specified, and assume manual execution of most tasks by laborers skilled in vineyard work. Producers using unskilled labor will need to budget for higher labor-training expenses and labor requirements due to lower productivity. Seasonal and climatic variability across the Midwest will require producers to adjust the timing and perhaps sequence of operations according to a vineyard's location and observed weather conditions. Tasks included in this timeline assume conventional or sustainable management practices because of their prevalence in the Midwest region.