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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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...
Read more‘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...
Read moreThe 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
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...
Read morePecan 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
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...
Read moreTexas 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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