Update on International Tree Nut Council Health Research
The pecan industry contributes at least $50,000 annually to the International Tree Nut Council’s Nutrition Research and Education Foundation. These funds are provided by the National Pecan Shellers Association, Georgia Pecan Growers Association, Texas Pecan Growers Association and Western Pecan Growers Association, and have been for a number of years. The mission of INC NREF...
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Jimenez Pecan Growers Gather for Fifth Conference
Mexico’s Jimenez Pecan Growers Association hosted its fifth “Jimenuez” conference in September under sunny skies and with a promising harvest on the horizon. The trade show and educational program were again held in the Las Palmas orchard owned by the Uriona family. Growers from throughout the state of Chihuahua participated and pecan buyers were out...
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LeRoy Olsak of San Angelo, Texas, Mar. 24, 1923-Oct. 5, 2015
Long-time Texas pecan grower and industry supporter, LeRoy Olsak, 92, passed away on Oct. 5, 2015, in a San Angelo, Texas nursing home. Olsak only farmed 40 acres of pecans in Schleicher County but he made a large impact on the state’s industry. His orchard, planted in the early 1970s, steadily turned out prize-winning pecans....
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Jimenez Grower Aims for Top Quality Crop
José Juan Fuantos grows pecans in the Mexican state of Chihuahua west of the city of Jimenez, along the Parral River. His quest is for top quality nuts and, as he cut pecans in late September so that visitors could assess the nut fill, he was not quite satisfied with what he saw — which...
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Stored-Product Insect Pheromones, Traps Provide Warnings
Well, it is that time of year and time for me to re-run this article as a reminder about post-harvest insect monitoring tools. With harvest underway and pecans being cracked, shelled, processed and stored, I feel that this is a good time to address stored-product pests. As producers, processers, wholesalers and retailers strive to produce...
Read morePecan Heaven to Hell in 2015
Our 2015 crop at the Texas A&M orchard is in dire stress and needs water. We have/had a great crop on ‘Pawnee’, ‘Desirable’, ‘Kanza’ and some USDA hybrids. All other varieties have a zero crop. Our season started great with more spring rain than ever. The early season foliage was great. We learned how beneficial...
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Thinking About Scab at Harvest Time
By mid-September, the limbs of our native trees were bending down under the weight of an excellent nut crop. But it wasn’t until the leaves fell in early November that I could really see the size and quality of the 2015 crop. Back in 2012, extended drought shrank the size of our native nuts causing...
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Jimenuez Snapshots
JIMENUEZ — On the road approaching the Jimenuez conference, on the outskirts of Jimenez, Chihuahua, one gets a glimpse of the impressive cleaning plant that is nearing completion, above. Several growers have partnered to invest in the facility, which was operational for cleaning last season. Significant, secure storage space is also available for growers who need...
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Linwood Nursery Celebration
LINWOOD NURSERY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS — Linwood Nursery of LaGrange, California marked its first 100 years of service to the pecan industry with a Grower Appreciation Day on Oct. 16. Attendees were treated to breakfast, an educational program, lunch and tour. In top photo, Jason Hall, left, and Joel Hall were presented with resolutions from...
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U.S. Pecan Growers Council Travels to Turkey
U.S. PECANS IN TURKEY — U.S. Pecans were represented at World Food Istanbul in September. Turkey has a great deal of interest in pecans and will continue to be focused on in next year’s export promotions, funded with MAP (Market Access Program) money from USDA. The Turkish child pictured below was a walnut fan and...
Read moreLeaf Scorching of Young Pecan Trees, Part 1
There is a myriad of things that can cause leaf scorch on a young pecan tree including drought, water-logging, nutritional deficiencies, fertilizer burn, herbicide injury, bacterial leaf scorch, nematodes, anthracnose and other minor foliar diseases, etc. It can be and often is difficult in many cases to sort out the problem. Isolated incidents are usually...
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Nut Consumption Can Help Cardiometabolic Health, Experts Say
At the recent European Nutrition Conference in Berlin, organized by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, 4 international researchers presented the latest findings on nuts and health to the media. They have shown that the consumption of nuts can prevent Metabolic Syndrome (a group of metabolic abnormalities that includes abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood...
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