Listening to Podcasts Improves Learning Outcomes among California Orchard Growers

Podcasting is a relatively new extension format with little published information as to its efficacy. Growing the Valley , an extension podcast directed toward California orchard growers, consultants, and other agricultural professionals, has been produced since 2018, with more than 280 episodes to date. Nitrogen and irrigation-specific episodes were adapted for use as on-demand continuing education units for a California State certification program. Participants were asked to rate their knowledge with a post and retrospective-pre questionnaire and to share whether they would adopt any practices discussed in episodes. An analysis of the survey data revealed that listeners gained knowledge after listening to Growing the Valley episodes. A qualitative analysis of the comments revealed two-tiered learning, with the first tier of listeners gaining foundational knowledge on nitrogen and irrigation management and the second tier of listeners finding ways to fine-tune management. The survey results show that podcasting can be an effective addition to an extension program.