**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) CENSUS DATA, CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMS IN ARIZONA STAYED IDENTICAL IN 2012 AND 2017. STILL, SALES INCREASED FROM $54,503,000 TO $97,956,000, RESPECTIVELY (80% INCREASE IN SALES), INDICATING HIGH DEMANDS FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTS BY ARIZONANS. WHILE MISCONCEPTION IS AN ISSUE ABOUT ORGANIC CERTIFICATION PRICING WITH LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AMONG FARMERS, IN 2012 AND 2017, 33% AND 43% OF THE ORGANIC PRODUCERS REPORTED PRODUCTION AS THE MAIN CHALLENGE. ARIZONA SOILS ARE PREDOMINANTLY CALCAREOUS (HIGH ABOVE 7.5) WITH DEFICIENT ORGANIC MATTER, AFFECTING SOIL NUTRIENT CYCLING AND AVAILABILITY WITHIN THESE IRRIGATED DESERT SOILS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE ORGANIC TRANSITION WITH LIMITED ALTERNATIVES FOR ALKALINE SOIL PH, FERTILITY, AND PLANT HEALTH MANAGEMENT. COMBINING GRAPE POMACE (GP)) FROM THE RAPIDLY GROWING WINE INDUSTRIES WITH POULTRY AND HORSE MANURE COULD FILL THE PRODUCTION. WINE PRODUCTION IN ARIZONA SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED FROM 65,413GALLONS (2007) TO 297,145 GALLONS (2017), WITH AN ESTIMATED 354% INCREASE IN GP PRODUCTION, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY ENDS UP IN LANDFILLS. THE GP HAS LOW PH (3.2 TO 3.9), WITH 2% N, 0.5% P, 2% K, AND 2% CA PER TON, MAKING IT AN EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE ALKALINE SOIL. ADDING 5% GP TO SEMI-ARID CALCAREOUS SOIL REDUCED SOIL PH FROM 8.1 TO 5.9, INCREASED MAIZE AND WHEAT GROWTH AND NUTRITION WHILE ADDING 40% POULTRY MANURE IMPROVED GP COMPOST MINERALS AND REDUCED COMPOSTING TIME. THE PROJECT PROPOSED FIELD APPLICATION OF GP TO ASSESS SOIL AND PLANT HEALTH AND ECONOMIC PROFITABILITY COMPARED TO POULTRY AND HORSE MANURE THROUGH FARMER PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAM.