July 2023 Letter from the Editor: "Another Reason to Love Pecan Trees" - Pecan South MagazinePecan South magazine | The pecan industry's leading publication, published monthly for pecan producers, processors and all others involved or interested in the pecan industry.

Back to July 2023

July 2023 Letter from the Editor: “Another Reason to Love Pecan Trees”

Letter from the Editor graphic with a pecan background

Dear Readers,

There’s an excessive heat warning for Texas. Currently, it is 101 degrees Fahrenheit with a feel-like temperature of 111 degrees F. Please note—I’m writing this the second to last week of June. We haven’t even reached August yet! I’ve told the rest of the Pecan South staff that Midwestern winters sound pretty good right about now.

While I’m holed up in my office with the AC blasting, I’m thinking about all of you. Growers from Georgia to Arizona are experiencing extreme heat right now, and just as we work to protect trees from heat stress and drought this summer, we must protect ourselves from heat-related illness. Water, breaks, protective clothing, and sunscreen—all are necessities if we’re going to make it to harvest and through this oppressive heat.

Mature pecan trees offer some relief; thick, green foliage provides shade to protect us from the sun and a place to take a break. That glorious canopy is one of the beautiful things about our favorite tree. And you can learn more about the leaf in this issue of Pecan South, where Monte Nesbitt explores the science behind leaves and the importance of this pecan tree organ. Additionally, Ted Cottrell shares information on leafminers—a minor pest of pecan but one that can wreak havoc on your trees’ canopies.

Our other articles include industry updates, an analysis of the pecan price cycle, and a look at how Pecan Geneticists breed the perfect pecan tree. So, I hope you’re taking a moment to cool off, hydrate, and beat the heat this month. While you do, you can learn another reason to be so thankful for your trees.

Until next time,

Catherine Clark

Managing Editor

Catherine Clark

Catherine Clark is the managing editor of Pecan South. She has her M.S. in Journalism from the University of Southern California, and her B.A. in Communication and Spanish from Trinity University. For questions, comments or concerns, she can be reached at cclark@pecansouthmagazine.com.