INTRODUCTION

Growers are increasingly challenged to find qualified workers to do the many necessary jobs at all levels of a vineyard operation. As the current workforce ages and people retire, the challenge of finding qualified workers only becomes more difficult. CAWG is working with the Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL) to provide growers with opportunities to either develop the skills of current employees who have interest in and the potential to be promoted into higher-skilled jobs, or find and train high-quality applicants to fill those positions. Your participation in this brief survey will help us in our work with CLBL.

The Center for Land-Based Learning is a non-profit focused on agricultural education. In 2017, CLBL launched a registered apprenticeship in agriculture to train farm and ranch managers. Commonly used in the building trades, this model is slowly emerging for agriculture as it combines paid on-the-job training and related coursework.

The purpose of this survey is to better understand growers’ labor needs at various skill levels, and whether an apprenticeship program would be useful in advancing training. 

This survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!
If you are interested in taking this survey on your phone, open up your camera app and point the camera at the code below:

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* 1. Please use the following definitions in the context of this survey:
Management position = Farm or Ranch Manager, Supervisor, Foreman
Mid-level position = Tractor driver, Crew leader, Harvest Coordinator, Irrigation Technician, etc.

Are you concerned about your vineyard employees in management or mid-level positions retiring or leaving within the next five years? (please check all that apply)

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* 2. If you answered yes to the previous question, please list the job titles of the position(s) you anticipate may need to be filled.

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* 3. Would you be interested in a program that offered employees in your operation, who have the greatest potential to advance into positions of higher responsibility, opportunities to improve their professional skills and knowledge?

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* 4. What knowledge or skills do you believe the individuals whom you would consider promoting into mid-level or management positions most need to develop to successfully do their job? (Select all that apply)

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* 5. When you consider the overall skills, certifications or knowledge level of your current vineyard workforce, which skills, certifications or knowledge areas would be most valuable to you to further develop?  (check all that apply)

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* 6. In which county or counties do your vineyard workers primarily work? Please list no more than 5 counties.

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* 7. How many acres do you own and/or manage?

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* 8. Would you be interested in utilizing an apprenticeship program or training courses to improve the knowledge and skills of current employees or new hires to fill key positions in your operation? Learn more about apprenticeship models here. 

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* 9. If you said Yes or Maybe, may we contact you after harvest to discuss the apprenticeship program and see if it might be a good fit for your operation? If so, please provide the following contact information:

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* 10. Please use this box for any additional information, questions, or comments you may have:

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