The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

The current revolution in electronic communication technologies requires that extension professionals rethink the methods they use to reach and educate their target audience. I created the Northern Pecans Blog to take advantage of the new media format  and provide “real time” information for pecan growers in the northern portions of the pecan belt. The blog format allows me to harness the power of color photography, has no limits on word count, and is easily accessible from multiple platforms.  In developing the blog, I have found it important to both educate and entertain my online audience in order to encourage return traffic to the site. Each post tells a story with words, illustrations and photographs. Posts follow the growing season with field observations and reminders of important orchard activities. The blog is also interactive. After attending a pest scouting school, growers report their pest observations via email; I tabulate the data, and then share the data with the online community. The blog also contains “how to” posts, that provide easily-accessible, online training information.  Online readership for the Northern Pecans Blog has steadily increased each month since the first post was made in September 2010. Growers report that they actively use the blog to plan management activities in their own pecan groves.  The Northern Pecans Blog has developed a national and international following often reaching an audience unaware of Extension or K-State programs.