The Nuts and Bolts of ‘Walnut Alert’: Using Outreach to Keep the Nuts in the Trees

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 initiated in 2012 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 early program focused on educating Tennesseeans; however, the program was later expanded regionally because this problem affects black walnuts throughout their native range (the eastern U.S.). This poster will describe our outreach program and focus on the tools that were developed to enhance its effectiveness. In other words, what are the ‘nuts and bolts’ that help keep the nuts on the trees?