Nov. 16—The late fall sun had already gone down recently as heavy machinery labored along Route 6, seeking to harvest crops in Cherry Valley.
Big lights provided illumination for the task, which involved getting the latest crop from the fields.
Normally, too much rain is the problem for Ashtabula County farmers, especially in the spring. A lack of rain was a big of a challenge for some farmers this year, but agriculture operators benefitted greatly.
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Ashtabula County farmers faired better than many throughout Ohio that suffered through a bad drought, especially in the southern part of the state, said John Patterson, state office director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Ohio Farm Service Agency.
He referenced a map that showed how little rain was spread throughout the state, with many counties in drought or near-drought conditions. Throughout the summer and early fall, Ashtabula County hovered just above the drought range, but received more rainfall than most of the state.
Patterson said some of the employees at the Ashtabula County Farm Service Agency worked with people in the southern part of the state that were in need of assistance.
Wet fields and vineyards also mean the harvest isn’t finished until Thanksgiving, but farmers were ahead of the game this year with warm, dry weather dominating the landscape.
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The opportunity for area grape growers was extremely strong regarding the quality of grapes available in 2024. Ohio Wine Producers Association Executive Director Donniella Winchell said a small freeze in the spring led to the crop being ready early, with the warm dry weather.
“The best in probably a decade,” she said of the quality of the grapes harvested this year. There were fewer grapes, but ther quality was excellent, Winchell said.
“A little less, but better,” she said.
Winchell said the sugar content is very good and the acid is balanced, providing good conditions for the making of wine.
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The conditions for the creation of ice wine are, however, up in the air. “The ice wine is still to be determined,” Winchell said.
She said plants need time to get healthy. When cold temperatures dip below 17 degrees for several days, winemakers will determine whether ice wine will be good this year.
The timing of the cold temperatures will hold the key to the ice wine harvest, Winchell said.
She said the quality of local wines will be very good, and she is hopes local wineries will enter national contests to show the quality of wine in Ashtabula County.
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