QAP, Council Member elections, and revised Standards— oh my!

We are halfway through 2022, and it has already been such a busy year for the pecan industry. Some recent developments have included finalizing the drafted voluntary Quality Assurance Program (QAP) and opening the comment period for the revised U.S. pecan industry inshell and shelled meat standards. On top of that, voting for the American…

Pecan South June 2022 advertisers share their products and services between the pages of this issue. Below, we present a full list of our June 2022 advertisers and their contact information.

It’s that time! Have you seen them? Most of you reading this probably so, but I’ll bet that the majority of the world has not seen pecan flowers. I used to think those long “tassels” hanging from the trees were somehow just part of the leaves. Those “tassels,” or to botanically correct the catkin, are…

We have made it through another winter, and the pecan trees are growing catkins and nut clusters as we impatiently wait to see who will be happy with their crop and who will wish they had more. The first crop estimate will take place this month. It has been a typical spring, with questions on…

Dear Readers, Conference season picks up again this month, with industry groups meeting in the central and southeast regions. In the coming weeks, pecan growers will gather for the TriState Pecanference and the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Conference for orchard tours, educational programs, and camaraderie. Then in early July, the Texas Pecan Growers Association hosts its…

This month, we highlight three major successes for the American pecan industry with data pulled from Information Resources, Inc. (IRI). You may be wondering, “What is IRI data?” IRI is retail-based scanner data collected from a large sample of grocery stores across the United States. Through our subscription purchase of this data, we are provided…

The June 2022 Classifieds feature available equipment, property, trees, services, and more from industry members. These classifieds can also be viewed at the back of the June 2022 issue.

Pecan bacterial leaf scorch is caused by the bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa, a plant pathogen that can infect at least 655 different plant species. Pecan bacterial leaf scorch (PBLS) is a chronic disease that can occur year after year and cause significant disease symptoms in susceptible cultivars. The disease is widespread across the southern pecan-growing region…

Like it or not, a new pecan “growing” year is well in hand, despite the continued numerous challenges faced by growers, including rising production costs and labor. Of utmost concern in my mind, though, is the ongoing drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, this drought engulfs about 89.5% of Texas and 44.38% of the…

A late October 2020 ice storm destroyed many pecan orchards in central Oklahoma, including an experimental orchard belonging to Oklahoma State University located in Perkins, Oklahoma. The average canopy loss in the experimental Orchards was about 50% (Fig 1. a, b). Ice damage is typically more severe in pecan orchards than in other orchard crops…

The Crop Corner provides seasonal updates for readers on pecans throughout the industry and continues in Pecan South’s June 2022 magazine. Created and published by Pecan South editors, The Pecan Newsletter provides weekly harvest and market updates from September through January by compiling reports from growers and market information from reliable sources worldwide. The Crop…

 WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports welcomes the results of a recent econometric study indicating that public-private U.S. agricultural export market development programs remain highly effective and generate a substantial return on investment.  In letters sent April 27, 2022, members of the Coalition and additional organizations asked U.S. House and Senate agricultural appropriations…

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses. “For…

May 4, 2022. Over 1,100 industry professionals from more than 60 countries will gather under one roof for the 39th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress from May 11-13, 2022, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, organized by the International Nut & Dried Fruit Council (INC). The INC Congress is the only international event purely dedicated…

In previous issues, we have analyzed the evolution of pecan production throughout South America and several countries’ efforts to develop markets and position themselves as pecan suppliers to global consumers. Today, it’s Uruguay’s turn. The second smallest country in South America, Uruguay borders Brazil, Argentina, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its location near the Argentine Mesopotamia…

The pecan industry in the United States has gone through many organizational changes within the last decade. A group of meetings at the end of March represented another pecan industry landmark. The American Pecan Council (APC), representing the Federal Marketing Order, and the American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB), representing the Research and Promotion Program, held…

My first job in the field of horticulture was selling plants, fertilizer, seeds, and lawn and garden supplies at a retail garden center in Lubbock, Texas, in 1985. Retail sales in the springtime boomed from the customer interest in the beautification of West Texas landscapes. I sold many bottles and bags containing diazinon, malathion, carbaryl…

Pecan South May 2022 advertisers share their products and services between the pages of this issue. Below, we present a full list of our May 2022 advertisers and their contact information.

Walter Williams was a pioneer and national leader in the U.S. pecan industry; he passed away on March 24, 2022. Walter and Velmalene, his wife, owned and operated 325 acres of improved and native pecans on the lower Guadalupe River at their home in Concrete, Texas. Walter was an avid student of pecan growing and…

The American Pecan Council (APC) has seen a growth in export activities and funding in the last three years as the U.S. pecan industry’s unified efforts bear fruit. APC has been working hand in hand with USDA to create an international marketing strategy to further develop consumer-focused marketing efforts in China and Germany. Thanks to…

The term “supply chain” describes the organization of participants that produce, process, and distribute goods to consumers. Supply chains, especially those associated with food and fiber, have seen increased interest over the last several years and even more in the last several months. Many factors, including weather-related issues, issues associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic,…

A father once told his son that a person should never miss an opportunity to keep their mouth shut. Sage advice I should consider more often, and I’ll add to it—one should keep their eyes and ears open. Whether we realize it or not, each of us uses a somewhat unique learning style, usually relying…

Dear Readers, This month leaves expand and pecan pollination begins, signaling the onset of nut production and another crop. We’re in that transitional phase between spring and summer, between what could be and what is.  In this in-between time, we still face the worries and concerns of yesterday, but we also harness great hope. And…

NPF Washington, D.C. Fly-in The National Pecan Federation (NPF) recently held a Washington, D.C. board meeting and fly-in. The fly-in included board members and affiliated organizations. Issues discussed with the Administration and members of Congress included India’s tariff on U.S. pecan imports, pecan research funding, and the 2023 Farm Bill. NPF participants met with senior…