FREDONIA — The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program will host its annual Grape Growers’ Conference on Wednesday in the Williams Center at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

The annual gathering of area growers provides a great opportunity to network as well as update growers on current research and extension programming to improve vineyard sustainability.

Guest speaker Brian Brown will speak on alternative weed management strategies as resistant weeds and troublesome perennials have local grape growers looking for ways to reduce weed competition in vineyards. William Ellsworth, a senior horticulture inspector with the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, will be on hand to discuss the state response to spotted lanternfly. The invasive species is well established in south east Pennsylvania and Heather Leach, department of entomology with Penn State University, will discuss current research and management strategies of the pest as well.

The Efficient Vineyard project continues. The project has resulted in the acceptance of updated and new sensor technology in vineyards. Project members have created efficientvineyard.com as a resource to educate growers on how to use this sensor technology. The roll-out of the instructional web-based information will be showcased at the LERGP annual conference.

The conference will feature programming for integrated pest management that allows growers to control pests sustainably and inexpensively.

The educational and research based presentations also provide growers with ample opportunities to obtain recertification credits that area growers need.

The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is one of the programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County. For more information, call 664-9502 or visit cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua.