Final report for ONC24-137

ONC24-137 (project overview)

Project Type: Partnership

Funds awarded in 2024: $49,988.00

Projected End Date: 03/31/2026

Grant Recipient: Iowa State University

Region: North Central

State: Iowa

Project Coordinator:

Dr. Sarah Al-Mazroa Smith

Iowa State University

Co-Coordinators:

Suzanne Slack

Iowa State University

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Project Information

Summary:

This project addressed a growing need for education and stewardship related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), and antifungal resistance management in the grape and wine industry. Shifting disease pressures, and evolving pesticide regulations have increased concerns about maintaining the long-term efficacy of fungicides and antimicrobial tools in grape production systems. However, there has been limited producer-focused educational programming specifically addressing AMR and AMS in viticulture. To address this gap, this project developed and pilot-tested an educational curriculum for Iowa grape and wine producers through a collaboration among Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa grape and wine industry stakeholders. The curriculum emphasized disease management, FRAC, and sprayer technology principles designed to improve long-term vineyard resilience and fungicide efficacy.

The educational approach we ended up using was a need assessment that lead to two hands-on learning opportunities and four online products. The needs assessment was conducted with four participating Iowa grape growers and winery stakeholders to identify priority educational topics. Although one participating grower exited grape production during the project period, the remaining stakeholders identified hands-on activities, improved disease identification, and sprayer technology education as high-priority needs for the industry. These findings guided curriculum development and workshop planning.

We completed two educational workshops during the project period. The first workshop was hosted at a participating winery and included seven participants where we were able to get in depth with discussion of disease management and stewardship practices in a vineyard setting. The second workshop was delivered during the Iowa Grape and Wine Growers Conference and reached 20 participants from across Iowa and Nebraska. In addition to in-person programming, the project produced three bulletins and one newsletter article focused on disease identification, and sustainable fungicide practices. Collectively, these Extension materials received 861 views.

Research conducted through this project was primarily educational and needs-assessment based rather than hypothesis-driven experimental research. The conclusions from the project include: (1) Iowa grape and wine producers recognize antimicrobial and antifungal resistance as emerging concerns for the industry; (2) producers strongly prefer practical, hands-on educational programming focused on disease identification and sprayer technology; and (3) there remains a need for continued Extension programming related to stewardship and sustainable disease management practices in viticulture systems. The project additionally demonstrated that integrating AMR and AMS concepts into existing grower meetings and conferences can increase stakeholder engagement and awareness.

This project also strengthened communication between Extension personnel and grape producers regarding emerging disease management concerns and stewardship strategies. While widespread long-term adoption outcomes will require continued programming and follow-up education, this project established foundational educational materials and identified clear industry priorities that can guide future mivrobisal programming efforts in Iowa and the Midwest in general.

Despite some coordination challenges, including a mid-project co-PI transition, the project successfully delivered educational programming, generated Extension materials, and established a framework for continued stewardship education within the grape and wine industry.

Project Objectives:

The overall goal for this project is to create an educational curriculum for grape and wine producers about antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from the vine to the wine. The objectives to achieve this goal include: 1) Identify challenges that grape producers are facing in the industry as it relates to AMR and AMS, 2) Determine competencies that need to be included in a new curriculum, 3) Create and pilot test a new educational curriculum, 4) Disseminate the information and offer the curriculum to industry members.

Cooperators

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Dr. Ben Smith
Dr. Suzanne Slack - Technical Advisor (Researcher)

Research

Involves research:

Materials and methods:

Needs Assessment- Interviews were conducted with 4 producers and experts in the field to identify current needs for educational resources. In addition, a roundable discussion was completed at 2025 Specialty Crop Conference with a group of producers. Needs were identified that resources about basic identification of fungus and bacteria, FRAC Code, and sprayers were needed. In addition, it was identified that in person along with factsheets that producers could take in the field were needed.

Curriculum Development- Curriculum was created for a in person hands on workshop. The workshop included basics of FRAC codes, identification activities along with sprayer 101. Activities were reviewed and improved based on feedback from producer collaborators. In addition, factsheets were created for producers. Iowa State University team created the factsheets with producers reviewing and ensuring that the factsheets were appropriate and aligned with the needs.

Pilot Delivery- Two workshops were delivered. The first workshop was held at a Winery vineyard and had 12 producers attend. The second workshop was held at the Iowa Wine Association conference and had 20 producers attend.

Factsheets- Three factsheets were published on the ISU Extension and Outreach store.

Research results and discussion:

Needs Assessment- The data was then combined and analyzed for common themes. The interviews allowed the research team to come up with a curriculum structure to start to build out the summer field day. In addition, it allowed the team to design resources that will be built to assist producer during and after the field day.

Workshop- From the workshop, the participants who filled out the post workshop evaluation 100% of them improved their skills about: identifying grape berry diseases, diagnosing key grape berry diseases, managing key grape berry diseases, describing the relationship between particle size and efficacy, and describing the impact of microbial spoilage in the winery. 86% of the participants who filled out the survey improved their skill of calculating application rate.

In addition participants were asked their motivation level to apply the concepts. 100% of the survey participants stated they would apply the following skills from the workshop: identifying grape berry diseases, diagnosing key grape berry diseases, managing key grape berry diseases, describing the impact of microbial spoilage in the winery. 86% of the respondants shared they were motivated to apply the following: describing the relationship between particle size and efficacy and calculating application rate.

Participation summary

15 Farmers/Ranchers participating in research

2 Ag service providers participating in research

Educational & Outreach Activities

3 Curricula, factsheets or educational tools

1 On-farm demonstrations

1 Published press articles, newsletters

1 Tours

2 Webinars / talks / presentations

2 Workshop field days

Participation summary:

36 Farmers/Ranchers

2 Agricultural service providers

Education/outreach description:

We completed a interviews for a needs assessment for the new curriculum that we are building. The topics identified included identification of fungus/bacteria, sprayers, FRAC codes. In addition, it was requested to do an in person workshop along with paper factsheets that could be taken out to the field. Producers did not want a online module but instead they wanted time to interact with the material at a workshop and have resources they could go back to.

We create a workshop that address the three topics that were identified. In addition, we created and published 3 different factsheets and 1 newsletter. All products received 861 unique views as of April 2026

Learning Outcomes

27 Farmers/Ranchers gained knowledge, skills and/or awareness

Key changes:

identify key grape berry diseases (skill and motivation to apply)
diagnose key grape berry disease (skill and motivation to apply)
manage key grape berry disease (skill and motivation to apply)
describe the relationship between particle size and efficacy (skill and motivation to apply)
calculate application rate (skill and motivation to apply)
describe impact of microbrial spoilage in the winery (skill and motivation to apply)

Project Outcomes

Project outcomes:

As described in the research results section, producers who attended the workshop improved their overall skill and motivation to apply those skills from what they learned in the workshop. By improving knowledge and skill about grape diseases and spray application, will improve overall sustainability due to the cost savings of producers being effective in their spraying and getting ahead of the disease, environmental due to spraying exactly what they need and rotating to ensure efficacy of the product and provide social benefits as farmers will see their return on investment of these actions in a positive manner.

PIs of the grant have a follow up grant and a pending grant:

Enhancing Grapevine Health in Iowa: Pathogen Identification through Vineyard Surveys and Subsequent Management Options (2024- present)

Pending: Exploring Fusarium Trunk Decline, an Emerging Threat to Cold-Hardy Grapevines in the US

3 New working collaborations

Information Products

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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.