Pest Management and Production Information Sources

Producers have gotten their crop in, and we are entering the start of another growing season. During this off-season, I usually get requests for information on various pest problems; so for this month, I would like to point out some information sources, through which growers may browse for articles or information during their downtime or…

Since coming on board as the Executive Director of the American Pecan Council, I have received numerous questions as to the abilities of the Federal Marketing Order (FMO). Simply put, what can the FMO do? What is the function? Are we really a government body or an industry body? Can FMOs really do research, domestic…

Pecans are very difficult to graft. The first success was at Oak Alley Plantation a few miles north of New Orleans in 1846 by a slave gardener known as Antoine. His technique was most likely a cleft graft which was common in propagating other mature fruit trees at that time. If so, he made what…

Formed in 2010, the U.S. Pecan Growers Council (USPGC) has supported pecan growers in the United States and continues to position them as leaders in the global marketplace. Since its inception, the organization has brought in more than $5 million in federal funds to grow business in international markets. The USPGC’s mission is to develop…

Back in October, we announced our first-ever Photo Contest. Over the next few months, the submissions rolled in from across the Pecan Belt. Each photo we received brought a smile to my face and to those of my coworkers and took us on a journey to familiar scenes across the industry—orchards at sunrise, changing seasons,…

The cleanup from Hurricane Michael is on-going here in Georgia and many growers have reached the point where they have a lot of the debris cleaned out of the way but have to decide what to do with mangled trees that remain standing. The answer will depend on a number of factors, including tree density…

As we stand on the threshold of the 2019 growing season, it would be easy to be discouraged after the challenges we have had the last couple of years, but we all know that if it was easy, anyone could do it and we also know that growing pecans is a lot of hard work!…

At the top of some pecan producers’ minds right now is the preparation for new orchard plantings. It’s probably a little late now to change this year’s order for nursery trees, but here are some important considerations when you’re deciding on a cultivar mix for your new plantings in the western growing region. History  …

Each January, people throughout the southern United States prepare to plant a new pecan orchard. For many, it’s a first-time venture, perhaps even their first agricultural endeavor. Others may be expanding or renovating an existing orchard by planting trees on new ground or within their present boundaries. Some people may be planting ten trees, while…

We all know that the wood from pecan trees is great for barbecuing and smoking meat. Along with adding flavor to your meats, pecan wood makes unique furniture, flooring, and paneling. It is also used in producing pallets for transportation of goods. After pecan wood is cured, it is extremely durable. Pecan wood has also…

As usual, I turned onto I-49 driving south from Shreveport. I got off at exit 99, turned left and took the bridge over the Red River, driving northeast on Highway 8 toward Colfax. At McNeely Crossing, I would normally turn right at the farmhouse with the cannon sitting out front, but today, I continued on…

The pecan industry has received several severe blows in 2018. First, we had the Chinese tariffs go from 7 to 47 percent and consequently the virtual loss of this valuable market. Next, Hurricane Michael ripped through the Southeast and destroyed some of the best pecan orchards in the world, along with two-thirds of the Georgia…

By the time you’re reading this, we’ll have entered a new year. And like every year before it, 2019 seemed to appear before we were fully prepared. But unlike some years, we are welcoming this one with open arms. Last year started off with a bang. Industry members across the United States were excited to…

This month’s column deals with the issue of black pecan kernels, which I have seen throughout my entire career. This problem is not the same as stink bug damage which is localized black spots on the kernel. This black kernel issue as shown in the pictures can have different degrees or levels of blackening. Some…

The coming of the New Year marks a time for renewal and possibility. By now, most of you have finished or are wrapping up harvest operations, and thinking ahead to the growing season. Perhaps you’re planning to expand your orchards, are looking forward to seeing the first fruit from trees planted nearly a decade ago,…

This new year, we’re all trying to stick to our resolutions, especially our efforts to become healthier. These sweet, spicy, salty candied pecans will help you satisfy every craving and still give you a nutrient boost. Sweet, Spicy, Salty Candied Pecans Recipe by Jenn Segal from Once Upon a Chef Makes 2 servings | Prep…

If you eliminate the other environmental factors (i.e., water, light, temperature), it could be agreed that growing an optimum crop with maximum yield potential is ultimately limited by the health and condition of the soil. This is especially true when your crop is a perennial crop like our pecan tree. After all, a healthy soil…

The 2018 pecan production season is now complete and harvest is well underway, over, or abandoned. All growers are now wondering how much they will be paid for their hard work and investment in this year’s crop. In an effort to stop China’s unfair trade practices, President Donald Trump made the market season interesting by…

Jon Krueger has been Executive Director of the National Pecan Shellers Association for around 5 months now, and while things across the industry may have settled a bit, he still has a lot of work ahead, especially as the association begins to focus on new projects and increased industry-wide collaboration. Shortly after Krueger came on…

The American Pecan Council met at the Hyatt Regency at the DFW International Airport on Dec. 18 for its last meeting of 2018. In this meeting, the council addressed a proposal for revised grades and standards for kernels, revised forms, and a funding request from the U.S. Pecan Growers Council. Chairman Mike Adams opened the…

By now, everyone is familiar with the havoc wrought by Hurricane Michael on the Georgia pecan industry back in October. Half the Georgia crop was lost along with over 740,000 trees, resulting in a loss equivalent to approximately 17 percent of Georgia’s pecan acreage and an estimated total of $560 million in losses to the…