The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Land Grant University workplace changes necessitate a more systematic, efficient approach to meeting client needs that includes web-based, nationally coordinated programming. Science-, experience- and regulation-based organic agriculture information must be integrated to produce accurate information of the greatest utility to farmers and agricultural professionals. eOrganic is the organic agriculture Community of Practice for eXtension, the national web initiative for Cooperative Extension and the Land Grant University system. eOrganic works to fill information needs and become an important national source of organic agriculture information by: 1) convening a national community of researchers, extension and other agricultural professionals, farmers, and certifiers at eOrganic.info; 2) facilitating project management, networking and co-learning; 3) supporting collaborative development and publication of peer-reviewed articles, FAQs, and videos at eXtension.org/organic_production; and 4) facilitating engagement with farmers and agricultural professionals through webinars, short courses, Ask-an-Expert, and other interactive tools and activities.  eOrganic uses a variety of media to reach its members and public audience. Since its web debut in 2009, eOrganic members have published 227 articles, 50 webinars, and 107 videos. eOrganic’s content at eXtension.org/organic_production has seen more than 750,000 views and its videos at youtube.com/eorganic have been viewed more than 500,000 times. Experienced farmers, researchers and extension professionals evaluated eOrganic's articles in winter 2009–10; overall, 92% agreed that the article or video was “very relevant to important farming problems or issues” and 84% that it was “useful and practical and could be applied in real farming practice.” A survey distributed to eOrganic members (29% response rate) in 2011 strongly reaffirmed eOrganic’s core mission of education and communication.