Be Aware of Edge Effects
The other day I was up at our local pesticide distributor to pick up some chemicals when I got into a conversation with a neighboring row-crop farmer. The topic of deer damage came up, and he mentioned that every year deer create the same unique browse pattern along the edges of his fields. That simple...
Read moreWill rising pecan acreage cause the sky to fall?
I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked about or heard someone comment on the great potential for the pecan market to bottom out a few years down the road thanks to all the new acreage being planted. Make no mistake, anything that goes up is bound to come down at some...
Read morePecans—Over-Cropped and Under-Watered
The recent TPGA meetings in San Marcos, Texas were great and we learned how the Texas crop is shaping up for 2016. The crop from Brownwood to El Paso looks good and could be 15 to 20 million pounds. The rest of the state has 35 million bringing the best guess at this time to...
Read moreUSDA Tags 2015 Pecan Crop at 254 Million Pounds
USDA released its final report on production and prices regarding the 2015 pecan crop on July 8 (see chart), stating that the U.S. produced 254.3 million pounds of pecans in 2015, in-shell basis. USDA did not issue a preliminary summary of the 2015 crop in January as has been done in past years. On July...
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TPGA Presents Diverse Program to Large Crowd
Approximately 600 people gathered in San Marcos, Texas, for the annual conference hosted by the Texas Pecan Growers Association. Opportunities abounded for interaction with vendors from throughout the country, education for novice and experienced growers, and valuable information exchange among fellow producers. The popular Embassy Suites venue with hotel and conference center under one roof...
Read moreGoodbye to a Good Friend
I lost a good friend in the pecan industry on the 28th of June. Mr. Jim Graves, 91, passed away of natural causes on that day. Jim came to the pecan industry late in life after a successful career in the tunnel construction industry. Jim was a naval officer in World War II in the...
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Scorch Mite a Summer Pest That Cannot be Overlooked
As the growing season enters the hot dry months of mid and late summer, pecans can be subject to infestations from several potential serious foliage pests that may need to be controlled. Insects such as black pecan aphid, yellow pecan aphid, walnut caterpillar and scorch mite can all cause premature foliage loss, which can/will impact...
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