(Wines&Vines) - For the first time in several years, the major weather problem for growers in the Finger Lakes was not the temperatures experienced during the winter, but a severe lack of rainfall beginning this past May. According to Hans Walter-Peterson, viticulture extension specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Finger Lakes region since April 1 has received 40% of their normal rainfall. He commented that “in June, we usually get 3.5” but this year we had 0.65 inches. July we get slightly under 3” of rain, but we got one inch.” Walter-Peterson noted that the rain they have had has been spotty–one vineyard will get a half inch, but half a mile away, another vineyard may have none.