2010 Annual Report for ENC08-103
Technology Transfer for the Burgeoning Midwest Grape Industry
Summary
Traditionally educated Extension professionals have been educated through this project to be able to better meet the needs of the rapidly developing Midwest grape and wine industry. Participating Extension professionals are becoming more knowledgeable about viticulture and the grape industry as a whole and are beginning to become more effective in assisting new and prospective grape growers with initiating vineyard enterprises. They also have begun to gain resources that will enhance their effectiveness in communicating with their clientele and the public. Extension professionals are rapidly becoming a locally available resource for people considering establishment of a commercial vineyard enterprise and can provide useful advice for more effective management of both new and established vineyard operations. The overall result will be more effective service to the emerging Midwest grape and wine industry, an excellent example of a sustainable value-added agricultural industry.
Objectives/Performance Targets
1. To conduct regional in-service workshops to educate Extension Professionals (Extension Educators, Extension Assistants) about the fundamental viticulture information required to respond to questions presented by the developing grape and wine industries in their assigned areas. Hands-on vineyard opportunities will assure that participants will gain familiarity with the characteristics of the grapevine.
2. Because poor site selection is one of the most common causes of vineyard failure, to involve Extension Professionals in evaluating various site characteristics in order to better advise people wishing to establish commercial vineyards.
3. To provide Extension Professionals with resources critical to their ongoing viticulture education (books, bulletins, websites, other electronic media).
4. To encourage Extension Professionals to communicate effectively with the public about the economic impact of vineyards and wineries on the local economies, especially those in rural communities.
5. To involve Extension Professionals in development of communication tools appropriate for ready use in their future viticulture educational programs.
Accomplishments/Milestones
A workshop entitled Viticulture for Extension Professionals was held in 2009 at the Kimmel Education and Research Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Approximately 25 Extension Professionals from four states (NE, MO, SD, IA) received background information on the grape and wine industry, including history of the Midwest industry, and were encouraged to extend themselves in gaining knowledge about the industry. Topics included structure of the grapevine, pruning, disease management, understanding vertebrate pest problems, trellis design and construction, site selection, soils and nutrition of the grapevine, irrigation and weed management. An Advanced Viticulture field day was also conducted on July 20, 2010 at the Armstrong Research Station and Black Squirrel Vineyards in Iowa in conjunction with a multi-state field day. Hands-on opportunities were provided to the 35 participants on subjects including summer pruning, canopy management and resolving frost dam,age problems in the vineyard. Participants in these educational programs received useful resource materials that will be helpful as they respond to queries from clientele in the future (books, CDs). Advice from participants was compiled that will be helpful as the final stages of this educational program conclude in 2011. Plans for a final workshop and assessment of the project are ongoing with the goal of concluding by April, 2011.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
Extension Professionals in all four states and beyond have indicated that they are better equipped to respond to questions from clientele about establishment and management of vineyard enterprises. Additional impacts will be assessed by evaluation instruments that will be employed in early 2011.