In Memory of Ross Leslie Burling

Many of you will already have received the immensely sad news that Ross Burling, CEO of Stahmann Farms and Stahmann Webster for more than a decade and a stalwart of the pecan and broader tree nut industries for most of his life, passed away last week after a prolonged illness. Ross’s wife Carissa has asked…

Kathryn Wright Littlepage, 91, a resident of Colfax, Louisiana, passed away peacefully in her home on December 11, 2025. Born in Zwolle to Bessie and Willie Wright, she was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Meek Littlepage; her parents; and her sister, Sharon Ricke. In 1957, Kathryn married Ben Littlepage, and together they raised…

The January 2026 Classifieds features available equipment, property, trees, services, and more from industry members. These classifieds can also be viewed at the back of the January 2026 issue.

Happy New Year, dear readers! I hope 2026 is treating you well so far. I know that pecan prices are up this year compared to last, which is leaving many growers smiling as we head into the new year. With the close of a successful harvest, we now enter a lull as we come into…

Root health is the most overlooked factor in pecan productivity. When trees decline, attention often turns to foliar nutrients, water availability, or soil fertility. Yet the real story begins belowground—within a complex system that most growers rarely see. Healthy soil and healthy roots are not synonymous. A pecan orchard can have biologically rich, well-structured soil…

For years, we have been taught that the way to be more profitable is to increase production. Higher yields per acre lead to a more efficient and profitable operation. In fact, for some, this metric, production per acre, is the bragging rights that validate your success as a producer. However, in today’s agricultural environment, chasing…

Alternate bearing in pecan trees, also called biennial bearing or masting, describes a cyclical pattern in which a tree produces a heavy crop in one season (the “on” year) followed by one or more seasons of light or minimal production (the “off” year). While this inconsistent fruiting behavior occurs in many perennial fruit and nut…

In the Southeastern U.S. production region, profitability depends mainly on two factors (excluding price) — volume of production and scab resistance. These two variables largely determine net profit in a pecan operation. They take into account output by the tree and the cost of production. In doing so, they cover two of the three legs…

Prep Time: 1 h 45 mins Naturally sweet pecans combine with gingerbread and maple caramel in this show-stopping dessert. Poached pears are placed in the middle of the cake for a beautiful presentation when sliced. Ingredients For the poached pears: 2 cups apple cider 1 cinnamon stick 6 cloves 3 small pears, peeled (cored from…

Dear Readers, As we move through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on what an exciting and informative year it has been. As many of you may know, I am relatively new to the pecan and agricultural industries, and I have spent my first year…

The American Pecan industry is closing out the year with strong momentum by capitalizing on the time of year when pecans are in the spotlight on many holiday table spreads around the country. However, the American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB) is doing it in a way that brings new value to the supply chain and…

The December 2025 Classifieds features available equipment, property, trees, services, and more from industry members. These classifieds can also be viewed at the back of the December 2025 issue.

It takes a full growing season, from pollination to harvest, to produce a marketable pecan nut. Compared with the time to produce many crops, much more time needed to produce a pecan nut. Because the time required to reach harvest is longer, the need for oversight and management is longer. For the duration of season,…

Interest in high-density pecan orchards has grown significantly in recent years, driven by the potential to increase yield per hectare and make better use of available space—potentially resulting in a faster return on investment. However, this system also presents significant management challenges that must be carefully considered from the planning stage. Mario Villanueva is a…

Pecan South November 2025 advertisers share their products and services between the pages of this issue. Below, we present a full list of our November 2025 advertisers and their contact information.   American Pecan Promotion Board, 817-916-0020 Bag Supply Company, 800-722-5790 Bergen Ag Innovations, Inc. , +1 432-788-4600 Big Star Hardware Blue Mountain Pecan Eastern Plains Insurance…

Published from September through November, Pecan South‘s Marketing Guide provides a list of pecan buyers from across the industry who are looking to purchase nuts from the 2025 crop. Download the Full Marketing Guide for 2025 from our November issue here.  

The November2025 Classifieds features available equipment, property, trees, services, and more from industry members. These classifieds can also be viewed at the back of the November 2025 issue.

Dear Readers, We at Pecan South want to take a moment to say thank you. We’re so grateful for your continued support and for all the amazing readers, contributors, researchers, and industry members who make this publication possible. Your passion and dedication help us keep sharing helpful information and stories that support learning and growth…

Well, it is that time of year and time for me to re-run this article as a reminder about post-harvest insect monitoring tools. With harvest underway and pecans being cracked, shelled, processed and stored, I feel that this is a good time to address stored-product pests. As producers, processors, wholesalers and retailers strive to produce…

The American Pecan Council (APC) recently wrapped up a series of hands-on culinary training seminars across India, introducing one of America’s most distinctive tree nuts to the country’s rising culinary talent. Conducted through the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) grant from the USDA, the initiative partnered with top hospitality and culinary institutes to teach students how…

Trade, food safety, grades and standards, research, food service; all touch points and topics of discussion during the National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA) Annual meeting earlier this fall in Chicago, Illinois. As the pecan industry across the globe has developed and changed, so has NPSA and its members. Under new staff management, the organization has…

This fall, folks from across the pecan industry gathered in San Antonio, Texas, for an in depth culinary experience hosted at the American Culinary Institute (CIA). The event featured a pecan forward live cooking demonstration and multicourse meal, followed the next day by an orchard tour at Swift River Pecans, and concluding with a Texas…

Dearest Readers, Harvest is bustling and as busy as ever. Growers in some areas of Texas began harvesting in early September and each day more producers across the U.S. and Mexico begin shaking trees and collecting the new crop. During this time, Pecan South is here to support you. Our office is always available to provide resources…

Pecan South October 2025 advertisers share their products and services between the pages of this issue. Below, we present a full list of our October 2025 advertisers and their contact information. American Pecan Promotion Board, 817-916-0020 Bag Supply Company, 800-722-5790 Bergen Ag Innovations, Inc. , +1 432-788-4600 Big Star Hardware Cromwell Commercial Group Eastern Plains Insurance Corp….