Outreach or reach out: Observations on the "Walnut Alert" experience

Thousand cankers disease (TCD), caused by a fungus (Geosmithia morbida) vectored by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis), is a deadly disease of black walnut. This disease was first found in the native range of black walnut in 2010 and has since been found in six states throughout the eastern U.S. An outreach program titled 'Walnut Alert' was developed to educate walnut producers, growers, land owners, consumers, and the general public about this new disease and its potential impact to black walnut and the industry. This poster will describe our outreach program and discuss lessons learned from three years of reaching out to walnut producers and endusers, as well as the general public. 'Outreach' is more effective when we 'reach out'.