What does the 2011 drought mean for the 2012 crop?
Most of the pecan belt saw extreme to severe drought conditions throughout much of the 2011 growing season. Although here in the Southeast, we saw nothing like the conditions parts of Texas suffered, but we are still extremely dry. Many wells around the region went dry last year and current groundwater levels across the southern...
Read morePecan Grafting and Varieties
The new Texas A&M pecan planting will be in the fourth leaf this spring and we will begin grafting in early April. Our plan is to use the Texas Method Inlay Bark Graft on the trees with a trunk diameter larger than 2 inches and the Four Flap (Banana Graft) Graft on all the smaller...
Read moreCentral Texas Growers Deal with Drought Aftermath
Growers in Comanche County, Texas gathered at the end of February for a drought program put on by the AgriLife Extension office. Charles Rohla from the Noble Foundation spoke about recovering from the drought as well as the future of the industry. Bill Ree spoke about any insect-related problems to expect this year and those...
Read moreUSDA’s pecan crop estimate increases 20 million pounds
USDA’s 2011 pecan crop preliminary summary was released on March 15 and reflects a 20-million- pound increase over its previous crop estimate published in October. This summary report, which includes prices, has been published in January in the past. The report was initially going to be discontinued by USDA but the agency reconsidered and will...
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Working on Field Drainage
Last summer’s searing heat and bone dry conditions are still fresh in the minds of native pecan growers from Texas up through Kansas. However, it will not stay dry forever. The rains will return and we’ll soon be talking about cleaning up after a flood in the pecan grove. The fact is we can do...
Read moreAnother year already?
Bud break on ‘Desirable’ occurred in South Georgia on March 10, a record for earliness as far as I can find out. It has been the shortest winter season I can remember. We just shipped the last of the 2011 crop and we are starting on the new crop already. We are scrambling to get...
Read morePheromone traps, websites are good PNC management tools
It is hard to believe that it is almost that time of year when producers across Texas and other states will need to start focusing their attention on a new season. Fortunately, a good portion of Texas has received significant winter rains so at least we are off to a good start, moisture-wise. Every year is different...
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