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Arizona Statewide Commercial Viticulture Needs Assessment

Extension Education

Matt Halldorson
Associate Programmatic Agent: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Prescott

Abstract

Although vinifera grapes have been cultivated in Arizona since at least the early eighteenth century, recent decades have ushered in a renaissance for the state’s wine industry. From 2012 to 2021, the industry has roughly doubled in both planted acreage and wineries. One of the missions of University Extension is to support emerging industries with objective, science-based information which will enable them to grow to their full potential. The inception of any good Extension program requires direction. While an Extension agent may have extensive experience working in a specific program area, every community is different and faces a unique set of challenges. Often, an agent’s  best resources of information are the community members themselves, and there are two principal sources of community information. The first is the Advisory Board, a group of individuals appointed with the express purpose of consulting with local Extension to ensure that programming is applicable to the stakeholders. The second is the needs assessment, a survey designed to help the agent understand the community and its priorities, in order to develop impactful programming. The Statewide Commercial Viticulture Program began in July of 2022, and the first step in program identification and planning was the rollout of the statewide viticulture needs assessment. Growers responded by stating that having a programmatic area agent for viticulture was their top priority for Extension/Technology Transfer and that top programming priorities included irrigation, pest and disease management, soil fertility, weather and weed management. 

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Matt Halldorson, Jeremy Weiss, Josh Sherman, Valerie Rauluk
  1. Halldorson, M. Associate Programmatic Agent: Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Arizona, 86305
  2. Weiss, J. AZMet Program Manager, University of Arizona, Arizona, 85721
  3. Sherman, J. Agent, New Mexico State University, New Mexico, 87031
  4. Rauluk, V. Principle, Venture Catalyst, Inc, Arizona, 85721