Bob Schindelbeck, Director – Cornell Soil Health Lab, Cornell University

Bob has gained considerable field experience in the arena of soil health at Cornell University during the past 20 years. He is the Director of the Cornell Soil Health Lab where he oversees the operations. His Extension presentations discuss soil health testing from soil sampling strategies through to the suite of soil analyses offered. A Soil Health Management Planning example is given to demonstrate how growers and researchers can best use the soil health information to enable field planning.

Thijs Verschuuren , Director of Vineyard Biology / Biodynamic farming, H.J. Wiemer

In the Summer of 2014, Thijs Verschuuren, who had previously studied viticulture/winemaking and biodynamic farming in the Loire Valley (France), joined Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard. Thijs has gained experience working for some of France's most well-known estates in the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, and Alsace.

Jennifer Phillips Russo, Viticulture Extension Specialist, Cornell's Lake Erie Regional Grape Program

Jennifer Phillips Russo is the Cornell Viticulture Extension Specialist for the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program.  Her appointment responsibilities include 20% applied research and 80% extension efforts to provide commercial grape growers/producers with the knowledge and resources necessary to assess production and management practices that will enhance their profitability and sustain the growth of the juice and wine grape industry in the Lake Erie region.  Her research projects are direct results from grower/processor input and inquiries.  Jennifer’s extension work brings local experience and research-based solutions together to provide projects aimed at increasing yields, product quality, diversity and improvement of cultivars, efficiency of production, profitability, and adoption of environmentally sound cultural management strategies with emphasis on soil and grapevine health, site selection, growth control, nutrition and water management, and harvest management.  There are approximately 31,500 acres of vineyard in the Lake Erie region of New York and Pennsylvania grown on 582 farms, making this the largest grape growing region in the eastern US.  Jennifer was the 2022 B.E.V. Unity Researcher of the Year Award Recipient.

Bob Betts, Owner/Partner, Betts Vineyards

Bob Betts started his farming career back in 1977, when he purchased 14 acres of grapes from his grandfather. Throughout the years, Bob and his wife, Dawn have grown their farm to 180 acres through purchasing established vineyards and planting their own.

With over 40 years of experience, Bob has learned that the soil is the heart of the farm. In 2008, he started to experiment with building up organic matter and improving the soil health within the vineyard. Learning the different natural benefits between the plants used in cover-cropping and how they feed the soil and vines, truly fascinated Bob. After countless books, articles, classes, and YouTube videos, Bob has turned a hobby into a true passion that has benefited the farm in endless ways.

Currently, Bob and Dawn have partnered with their son, Thom in Betts Farms LLC and has implemented cover cropping in every acre of vineyard.