Project Overview
Managing vineyards requires the highest input of labor of
all horticultural crops. Texas, being the fifth largest producer of grapes in
the US faces a significant problem in continuing production. Small acreage
grape producers seek mechanized options to address a chronic labor shortage. Vineyards
producing less than 20 acres cannot economically sustain the costs of replacing
labor through single ownership of high-cost vineyard machinery. Over 800
commercial vineyards in the south and southeast are less than 20 acres, facing
a reduction in workforce, and looking for options in reducing vineyard
management costs.
This project provided grape producers the opportunity
to learn and assess their particular labor and equipment limitations for deciding the best
course of action at reduced risk by laying out labor and cost-sharing options. There are many moving parts to sharing labor and/or equipment. Implementing a course of action involves in-depth examination of one's own financial, legal and human risks. This project provided grape producers the opportunity to interact with presenter and each other and proved to be powerful. Presentations with the accompanying workbook are scheduled to continue further than this project's end date. Distribution of the workbook and the presentation will be available to extension agents in other counties, regions, and southern states through https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/. It also lays the foundation for an online version.
Number of Participants: 296
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
There are no promotional materials available for this project.
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
There are no educational materials available for this project.
REPORTS & EVALUATIONS
There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.