Dr. Terry Bates, Senior Research Associate at Cornell University (Horticulture) New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, has been granted the first ASEV Extension Distinction Award.

The ASEV Extension Distinction Award recognizes a current extension educator based for their outstanding contribution of (1) information in enology or viticulture through their extension program, or (2) the translation of novel research findings into commercially applicable tools for enologists and viticulturists.

Dr. Bates’ nomination attests to his leadership in the applied research and extension effort in the vineyard mechanization on “Concord” grapes in the Lake Erie region. Based on his research trials, growers now have a new tested tool – mechanical crop estimation and thinning – to adjust cropping levels to seasonal conditions. His presentation will be Concord Fruit Thinning: Using Vine Biology and Mechanized Management to Address Market Demands in New York.

Dr. Bates is a past president of the ASEV Eastern Section chapter and has authored and co-authored more than 20 technical articles for extension and trade publications. He will be receiving the ASEV Extension Distinction Award at the 2014 National Conference in Austin.

For more information about the award and Dr. Terry Bates, click here.