By Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar and Mike Reinke
Michigan State University Extension and Parallel 45 Vines & Wines invite grape growers and agricultural professionals to attend Spray Smarter: Pesticide Efficacy and Precision Sprayer Technologies on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, from 3–5 p.m. The free hybrid workshop will be held at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center in Traverse City, Michigan, or participants may join online through Zoom.
The program will be led by Michael Reinke, MSU Extension viticulture specialist, and co-presented by Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar, MSU Extension viticulture educator. Effective pesticide application depends on more than selecting the correct product. Spray coverage, equipment setup, canopy structure, application timing and vineyard conditions can all influence pesticide performance. This workshop will provide practical information to help growers evaluate and improve their spray programs.
Topics will include:
- Factors affecting pesticide coverage and efficacy.
- Benefits and limitations of precision and autonomous spraying systems.
- Vineyard row spacing, turning space and equipment access.
- Practical considerations for incorporating new technologies into commercial operations.
- Opportunities to improve application consistency and efficiency.
The program will also include live demonstrations of a spray drone and an autonomous airblast sprayer. Participants will have an opportunity to observe the equipment and discuss how these technologies may fit into Michigan vineyard and specialty crop production systems.
The workshop is intended for grape growers, vineyard managers, pesticide applicators, crop consultants, tree fruit growers and other agricultural professionals.
Source : msu.edu