Sen. Tuberville Urges Biden Admin to Help Farmers Impacted by Natural Disasters

WASHINGTON—This week, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined colleagues in sending two letters opposing the slow rollout of the Biden Administration’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP 2022), which implemented payment limits that may harm producers who have undergone significant losses. Yesterday, Sen. Tuberville joined Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to…

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USDA announces 2022 Census of Agriculture data release details, preliminary return rate, and upcoming special studies

WASHINGTON—The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release the 2022 Census of Agriculture data on February 13, 2024. NASS concluded the data collection this summer with a preliminary national return rate of 61%. The ag census, conducted once every five years, was mailed to more than 3 million producers…

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USDA Invests Nearly $28M to Support Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced an investment of $27.9 million across 45 organizations that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers, including programs for U.S. veterans who are entering into agricultural careers and starting new farming businesses. “The next generation of farmers and ranchers hold the promise for…

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El Pecán Argentino—Cada Vez Más Cerca de Entrar a China

Representantes de la Administración General de Aduanas de China (GACC por su nombre en inglés) visitaron la Argentina la semana pasada para realizar el análisis de riesgo de plagas (ARP) a partir del cual se definirán los términos del protocolo fitosanitario para exportar frutos secos a este país. Lee más aquí.

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U.S. Customs & Border Protection Confirms Date for Pecan Import Fee

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office responded to a letter that Senator Lujan sent on our behalf regarding the Pecan Import Fee. This response confirms in writing what the American Pecan Promotion Board has been told to date on the timing and cost of implementing the Pecan Import Fee. “Barring unforeseen circumstances, the…

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APPB Mails Out Ballots for Nominations

Western producers, central producers, and importers—please check your mailboxes in the coming days, ballots are on their way. In the mail, you will receive voting instructions, eligibility requirements, and a ballot with the nominees listed. Please read the voting directions carefully and submit your completed and signed ballot in the enclosed envelope. To be valid,…

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Remembering Marie Cox Storey

Former Texas Pecan Growers Association secretary, pecan supporter, and wife of the founder of The Pecan Quarterly. Marie Cox Storey, mother to Mark Storey and Lisa (Storey) Olivieri, passed away on March 3, 2023, after a long battle with severe dementia. Her final moments were spent peacefully at Crestview Memory Unit in Bryan, Texas, surrounded…

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Following Sen. Ossoff’s Months-Long Push, India Cuts Tariffs on U.S. Pecan Exports by 70% in Major Win for Georgia Farmers

Last year, Georgia pecan farmers asked Sen. Ossoff to take action Sen. Ossoff met seven times during the last year with India’s Ambassador to the United States and personally led a trade mission to India Georgia produces about one-third of all American pecans Washington, D.C. — Today, following Sen. Ossoff’s push, the Republic of India…

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2022 Census of Agriculture due next week Feb. 6

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds our nation’s farmers and ranchers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Feb. 6. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. Learn more about completing the Census of Agriculture here.

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USTR Tai Discusses Pecan Trade Issues at Ag Roundtable

National Pecan Federation (NPF) Executive Board Member Marianne Brown recently attended a roundtable discussion with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA). Also attending was newly sworn-in USTR AG Ambassador Doug McKalip. At the event, Georgia commodity leaders were given the opportunity to voice their concerns and priorities as…

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NMSDC Announces First Cohort of Black Farmers Equity Initiative

NEW YORK—The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is excited to announce the first cohort of the Black Farmers Equity Initiative. The joint venture from NMSDC and Cargill is aimed at advancing agricultural supply chain access for Black farmers. This collaborative initiative aims to create a pathway for emerging Black farmers to achieve parity in…

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USDA ARS Announces New Administrator

The USDA Agricultural Research Services announced on Jan. 4 the appointment of Dr. Simon Y. Liu as Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, effective immediately. Dr. Liu has served as Acting Administrator since June of last year, and prior to that served as Associate Administrator for Research Management and Operations since February 2015. Dr. Liu…

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Pecans Grown in Multiple States; Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

In a notice to the U.S. Federal Register on Nov. 18, 2022, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service announces its intention to request “an extension for and revision to a currently approved information collection for Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma,…

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Opportunity for Public Comment on the Inflation Reduction Act

On Aug. 12, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. It provides investment and opportunity for the agricultural communities USDA serves. The IRA provides additional funding levels for several programs which the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) currently implements. Increased funding levels will begin in fiscal year 2023 and build over…

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Remembering Billy Jim Pollard of Texas Pecan Nursery

With a heavy heart and deep condolences, Pecan South announces the passing of Billy Jim Pollard, the president of Texas Pecan Nursery, Inc. He passed on Oct. 12, 2022. Read more about Mr. Pollard’s life in his obituary. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Methodist Church…

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FDA Releases a Proposed Update to Define “Healthy”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Sept. 28, 2022, that it is updating the definition for the content claim “healthy” on food packages to be more consistent with current nutrition science and Federal dietary guidelines. According to industry representatives, the updated version is very positive for nuts. However, FDA is seeking comments on…

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Texas Pecan Board Schedules Election for 3 At-Large Members

Bryan, Texas—The Texas Pecan Board will hold elections Oct. 28, 2022, to elect three board members in adherence to Chapter 41 of the Texas Agriculture Code. The Board was established in 1998 after pecan growers throughout Texas voted into effect a pecan assessment of $0.005 per pound to provide funds for promotion, education, and research….

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Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture Hosts First Research Workshop

On Aug. 1 and 2, the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, IHA, held its first workshop to engage stakeholders from the food-agriculture value chain. The workshop enabled production agriculture groups to further understand priorities, gaps, and opportunities in precision nutrition, responsive agriculture, and social and behavioral research. Bringing together more than 50…

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USDA to Issue First Pecan Forecast for 2022 Crop

ATHENS, GA – During the last week of September, pecan growers will receive a survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Information from this survey will be used to forecast pecan production for 2022. This year producers will have the option to respond securely online via a Respondent Portal. Read…

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In Memory of Donald Paul Mayo, owner of OMC

A photo of an older white man with white hair and a white goatee.

Pecan South remembers Donald “Don” Paul Mayo, owner of Orchard Machinery Corporation. Don, 78, of Live Oak, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Aug. 26, 2022. Don was born Feb. 16, 1944, in El Cajon, California, to Herb and Irene Mayo. Don was living a full life—traveling and enjoying business, family, and his…

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USTR Rep. Tai responds to letter about India’s pecan tariffs

U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai on Aug. 16 responded to Senator Raphael Warnock’s letter on India’s tariffs on American pecans. In the letter, Ambassador Tai acknowledged the “economic importance of the Indian market to U.S. pecan growers and the challenges posed by these tariffs.” “As I prepare to chair a Trade Policy Forum Ministerial…

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