Regeneration is a Fact of Life

native pecan tree estimated to be 200 years old

Regeneration in the present context will be defined as ‘to restore to original strength’ or ‘to restore to a better, higher or more worthy state’. A pecan orchard must then, by definition, be regenerated because a pecan tree will not produce forever. In the mid-1970s after we initially purchased some land along the Verdigris River,…

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New food safety regs on the horizon

As I sit down to write this article for Pecan South, we’ve just finished up the holiday season and the kids have started school again. It’s a new year and I was pondering the idea of actually choosing a new novel to read over the next few weeks, something I haven’t had the time to…

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Time for a Change

It is with some sadness that I am announcing that I will no longer be writing a regular column for Pecan South. While I expect that I may continue to contribute something to the magazine from time to time I really feel that it is time for me to give way to some new blood….

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Pecan investments

For the first time in 120 years, pecans are priced high enough for consideration as a sound investment. Interest in pecan orchards is at an all-time high. From the mid-1960s until the late 1990s, investors purchased pecan orchards because of great IRS tax advantages. One could purchase a bearing orchard, then use tax credits and…

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Texans urged to lookout for unwelcomed visitor

For this month’s article I am submitting a news release that was prepared by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Steve Byrns and distributed to news outlets urging people to be on the lookout for the new invasive brown marmorated stink bug.  Although I wrote on this subject for the June 2011 issue of Pecan South, given…

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‘Same old things’ won’t work in a changing industry

I’ll start this article off by telling you I’m not quite sure where its going. I’ve got a lot that I want to discuss and I’m not sure it will all tie together but I’ll do my best. The year 2012 has been an interesting one for those who grow pecans. It began with an…

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The Diverse World of Hickory

If you are reading this then I assume you know that pecans (Carya illinoensis) are in the hickory family. Pecans are also the “high point” of the family in terms of economic importance. However, there are several other species that might have some value as well if some time and effort was put into their…

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Winning Texas Pecan Show for 2011 no easy task

Pat and Marguerite Baggett took home the Grand Champion Commercial Pecan award in the Texas State Pecan Show held in July. At right is their Washington County Extension agent Larry Pierce. (Photo by Monte Nesbitt)

The year 2011 will be stamped in history books as one of the worst drought years in Texas. “Difficult” doesn’t begin to describe the growing conditions that pecan growers throughout the Lone Star state struggled with, taxing their irrigation systems just to keep trees alive. The combination of drought, scarce production over most of the…

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Pecan Grading on a Bad Year

Wow, what a year for pecans. Great start with a big crop in an “off” year and good rain to get the season going. In July at the Texas Pecan Growers conference we all knew the crop was big and we had to shake. Nut thinning for reducing crop size in July and early August…

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Pecan graft livability not affected by early stock limb removal

Pollarded pecan trees to be grafted.

Abstract. Inlay bark grafting is a major technique used to establish pecan orchards and propagate improved cultivars on established trees of inferior cultivars. The standard technique is to remove stock limbs immediately before grafting. It would be a major advantage if growers could get this labor intensive process accomplished earlier, since grafting season is short…

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Texas Shortcourse coming up Jan. 28 in College Station

The annual Texas Pecan Shortcourse is set for Jan. 28 – Feb. 1, 2013 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The 5-day class is a comprehensive look at establishing and managing pecan orchards. Cost to register is $150 for growers, $50 for Extension agents, $50 for spouses or children and $50 for students….

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Dry weather lessons

The nuts produced in the northern portions of the pecan tree’s native range are known for having bright, high-quality kernels that provide the food industry with great tasting ‘topper-halves’. However, northern natives are not renowned for their large nut size. Over the past couple of years, region-wide droughts have had a major impact on our…

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2012 in review

The 2012 crop in the East started a month early and it appears that it will end a month early also. By the time you read this, the crop should be in the bag with perhaps some minor clean up in progress. This has been a different year to say the least. This crop has…

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Pecan Truffle Research Underway in Texas

Figure 1. A whole truffle found in a Texas pecan orchard (a), above. Washing and cleaning the truffles reaveals an orange-brown color of the outer ‘skin’ (b), right Cross section through a pecan truffle shows the marbled pattern of cream and light brown internal tissue (c), bottom left.

The word ‘truffle’ often evokes an image of elegant culinary items including the expensive garnish or flavoring of fine European cuisine. Although the aromatic, edible fungal fruiting structures that are known as truffles are more often associated with European countries, North America has several species that naturally grow in forests across the continent. One such…

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Planting southeastern orchards for the export market

Like it or not, the new dynamic of export marketing, especially to China, is changing the pecan industry. This is true for growers, accumulators, shellers, processors and consumers, and is unlikely to change barring unforeseen circumstances. So, if you are a grower planting a new orchard, you would be prudent to make yourself aware of…

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INC reports plans for upcoming tree nut projects

For a number of years, the pecan industry has been contributing $50,000 per year to the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research and Education Foundation (INC NREF). The pecan industry’s funds have come from the National Pecan Shellers Association, the Texas Pecan Growers Association, Western Pecan Growers Association and the Georgia Pecan Commodity Commission. Other…

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Carry-in stocks total 123 million

USDA’s end-of-September Cold Storage report puts pecan stocks at 123 million pounds, in-shell basis. This Sept. 30 number is utilized by the pecan industry as the “carry in” for the current season. The 123 million compares to 151 million at the end of August 2012. At the end of September last year, the cold storage…

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U.S. Pecans advances presence in European market

From left, Helen Watts with Young Pecan Co., Marty Harrell with Harrell Pecan Co. and Jeanne Harrell were on hand to help man the U.S. Pecans booth at the SIAL Paris trade show Oct. 21-25. (Photo by Blair Krebs)

The National Pecan Growers Council participated in SIAL Paris 2012, a trade show billed as the world’s largest food industry exhibition, Oct. 21-25. The Paris, France event boasted 140,000 visitors from more than 200 countries; 6,000 exhibitors from 106 countries; 19 product sectors; and 1,500 journalists from 45 countries. This event is held every two…

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U.S.Pecans probes Indian market at Mumbai trade show

Bruce Caris of Green Valley Pecan Company stands in the U.S. Pecans' booth at Annapoorna World Food of India trade show in Mumbai, India in September 2012.

Bruce Caris of Green Valley Pecan Company, Sahuarita, Arizona and James Ditmore of New Mexico Department of Agriculture represented U.S. Pecans at the Annapoorna World Food of India trade show in Mumbai, India on Sept. 25-28, 2012. The trade show and visits to the local retail nut market and wholesale nut markets provided some unique…

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NPSA launches Facebook page

The National Pecan Shellers Association has recently launched a Facebook page. Visit the page at www.Facebook.com/ILovePecans . “Like” the page to get regular updates and tips for using pecans. Also recently, NPSA hosted a nationwide media tour to promote the nutritional benefits of pecans for men. Nationally syndicated morning TV show, The Daily Buzz, highlighted…

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Late-season stink bug activity causes problems for some

Stink bugs swarm in-shell pecans that still hang on the tree. (Photo by Bill Ree)

I think that one of the most disappointing or frustrating aspects of pecan production has to be at harvest when a producer evaluates his/her crop and finds a significant amount of “stink bug” damage. In addition to this frustration, there can be a significant financial loss and a possible loss of a retail market. I…

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The ‘Desirable’ Pecan

Three Texas pecan buyers have stated the 2012 crop is “the year of ‘Desirable’.” It has produced top quality nuts across the river region from Victoria north to Waco. The Texas A&M pecan orchard ‘Desirables’ are the best ever and superior to all other varieties this year. We have 13 large 75-year-old ‘Desirable’ trees, 40…

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Current harvest started early, progressing rapidly

Harvest has moved along at a fairly rapid clip this season after an early start in much of the country. A few Texas growers actually gathered their first ‘Pawnees’ during the last week of August, which they noted was their earliest ever harvest. Most other areas of the country are also reporting early crop maturity….

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Second ‘Jimenuez’ conference a repeat success

The Jimenuez conference, held by the Jimenez, Mexico, pecan growers association took place at the Tomas Uriona orchard. A pathway of crushed pecan shells directed attendees into the exhibit area. (Photo by Cindy Wise)

Mexican pecan growers turned out by the hundreds again this year for the Jimenuez conference in late September. Topping last year’s attendance of 800 with the number of exhibits increasing as well, the conference is the largest in Mexico. This event is hosted by the Jimenez Pecan Growers Association and takes place at a unique…

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