Josh Sherman

As a commercial horticulture agent for Cochise, Graham, and Santa Cruz counties of Arizona, my primary responsibility is to provide leadership in research-based educational programs that have a positive influence on the production of intensively cultivated commercial nut and fruit trees, grapevines, and other specialty cash crops (i.e., organic vegetable, chile peppers, potato). Horticulture requires a focus on a diversity of disciplines, such as plant physiology, pathology (disease), soil science, mineral nutrition (fertilizing), entomology (insects), weed science, sustainable production, integrated pest management, weather, and climate, etc. Through my educational program efforts, I make connections across these disciplines and share and translate university research that will address grower’s questions and increase their profitability, efficiency, and livelihood. Currently, I focus 50% of my time on fruit and nut trees (primarily pecan, pistachio, apple, and peach commercial production), 20% focus on viticulture (commercial wine grape production), 20% on the Cochise County Master Gardeners program, and 10% in small acreage production systems.