Letter from the Publisher: “The Pecan Rabbit Hole”

Dear Readers, Well, I fell down the rabbit hole and landed in a pecan orchard. After almost 20 years in the pecan industry, my husband and I took the leap and purchased a small place in Central Texas. The land currently has both native and improved variety pecan trees on it, and we are in…

USDA Announces Section 32 Purchase for Pecan The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced a solicitation for 6.2 million pounds of pecans for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Purchases will be made under the authority of Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, with the purpose…

Driving export opportunities is a significant area of focus for the American Pecan Council. In particular, India presents a great opportunity to reach a growing, heavily vegetarian country where general awareness about pecans is low, but interest in nuts, especially U.S. nuts, is high—not just for cultural holidays, weddings, or gift-giving, but for nutritious snacking…

Of the many tasks a grower must manage throughout the year, proper nutrient management is a must for a successful pecan orchard or grove. A balance of proper nutritional levels will provide the best conditions to produce a consistent crop. Management not only impacts the production of a high-quality crop but is closely associated with…

The March 2024 Classifieds feature available equipment, property, trees, services, and more from industry members. These classifieds can also be viewed at the back of the March 2024 issue.

As the dawn of a new pecan season rises, there is a bit of a reason for optimism. Of course, every farmer, especially pecan farmers, is an eternal optimist, but it appears the weather pattern may be changing a bit. Areas have received rain and the landscape looks better, but lakes, rivers, and wells are…

We are rapidly coming upon spring. And for many in the pecan industry, that means zinc. Pecans are uniquely sensitive among nut crops in their susceptibility to zinc deficiencies. This might be a consequence of a higher zinc requirement than some other plant species. Or perhaps it’s due to the kinds of soils that we…

The American Pecan Council, the federal marketing order working to increase the demand and value of U.S. pecans, is pleased to invite nominations for new members to serve a four-year term of office beginning on Oct. 1, 2024. Seats are currently open for five growers, three shellers, one accumulator, and one public member, as well…

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected directly from producers…

WASHINGTON—The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing final Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments totaling approximately $306 million to eligible commodity and specialty crop producers who incurred losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin issuing these additional payments to eligible producers this week. “In the natural disaster…

I often get asked if we can manage pecans regeneratively and still be productive and profitable. My answer? Yes, we can, but regenerative management will be different for each producer. Each producer will have unique circumstances that will require individualized management practices. Many producers have been seeking ways to reduce input costs while maintaining or…

Dear Readers, I am excited to announce the winner of our Annual Harvest Photo Contest: “Pecan Alley” by Susan Jeter. Congratulations, Susan! Thank you for sharing this photo with us. Readers, you can spot the winning picture on our cover. We received entries from around the world. Pecan growers and industry members captured the beauty…

If you haven’t already, now is a good time to evaluate your goals for 2024 and develop a financial plan that can adapt to what lies ahead. The profitability of orchards will be impacted by several external variables going into the spring season, including variable market conditions and pressures from pests and diseases, which are…

Once a small, regional crop within the southern United States, pecans are now a globally marketed and, indeed, a globally produced crop. Pecans are produced in significant volume in the United States, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Australia, and China. The pecan industry is also being developed in European countries, with commercial…

The February 2024 Classifieds feature available equipment, property, trees, services, and more from industry members. These classifieds can also be viewed at the back of the February 2024 issue.

Pecan South February 2024 advertisers share their products and services between the pages of this issue. Below, we present a full list of our February 2024 advertisers and their contact information.

According to a recent survey from Forbes Health/One Poll, improving fitness, improving mental health, losing weight, and improving diet were four of the top five resolutions among Americans for 2024. Unfortunately, the survey also finds the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months. Not very long and likely not surprising. However, since it’s February, a very…

We had so many fantastic entries for our 6th Annual Harvest Photo Contest that we couldn’t help but share them all with you. Participants were able to submit photos from October 15, 2023, to Jan. 11, 2024. The winning photo—featured at the top of this article—appeared on the cover of our February 2024 magazine. Thank…

Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced today a solicitation for 6.2 million pounds of pecans for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Purchases will be made under the authority of Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, to encourage the continued domestic consumption of these products…

Fort Worth, TX – In an effort to grow the industry’s global relationships to drive exports, the American Pecan Council (APC) conducted its first reverse trade mission with Indian nut importers in key growing regions. The mission gave importers an up-close, educational look at the U.S. pecan industry and how the full value chain can…

When I tell people that I am a plant pathologist, they always ask how I ended up in this career. The truth is I had no idea that I would find my life’s work in agriculture. My dad was a navigator in the United States Air Force, and my mom was a nurse. We bounced…

The January 2024 Classifieds feature available equipment, property, trees, services, and more from industry members. These classifieds can also be viewed at the back of the January 2024 issue.

As the only native tree nut in the United States, pecans are uniquely American. However, the fact that they’re a nutritional powerhouse that has essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants makes them uniquely qualified to meet consumers’ growing demands for delicious and nutritious snack options—particularly abroad.  In fact, consumers in Europe—specifically Germany and the United Kingdom—are…

Dear Readers, I’m writing you from the past. While you open this magazine well into 2024, I’m preparing for Christmas and hurrying to get this issue to print. It’s an odd fact about magazines that to get each issue to you in the proper month, we prepare it the month before. Sometimes it feels like…