Pecan Sale Price – What is too low?
This month I have had 4 people indicate our price of $10 per pound for shelled pecans is too low. Each grower has to determine a price that works for his orchard. For many or most, the goal is to is sell field-cleaned in-shell nuts with a good percent kernel for the variety. The no-marketing-worry...
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FFA Pecan Project Nets Oklahoma Student National Award
Indianapolis, Indiana recently hosted the 89th annual National FFA Convention where Oologah, Oklahoma FFA member, Jesse Rader, was recognized on stage as one of the top 4 Fruit Proficiencies in the nation. His proficiency qualified for national competition last spring, after winning first place at the Oklahoma State FFA Convention with his Fruit Proficiency for...
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Alternative Thoughts on Thinning Out Native Pecan Bottoms
With the increased interest in pecans, I have received several calls over the past 2 years about how to clear native pecan bottoms to bring them into production and start a pecan enterprise. During these discussions, I normally recommend using heavy equipment to clear these bottoms of undesirable tree species and underbrush, and thinning out...
Read moreAmerican Pecan Council Goes to Work
The newly elected American Pecan Council convened its first face-to-face meeting Nov. 16-17 at the Houston Airport Marriott. Eight USDA representatives and 9 of the Council’s alternate members participated in the 1.5-day session along with the 15 growers and shellers recently elected to the Council. Last month as Pecan South was sent to print, election...
Read morePecan Tree Stress
The 2016 pecan harvest did not end positively for many growers in Texas — especially it seems in the eastern region of the state. In a year of favorable market prices, growers were frustrated to not be able to deliver top quality and receive top prices. Incomplete kernel filling was realized in some orchards. Dark...
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New Pecan Weevil Detection in Texas Raises Concerns
During October of this year, a new Texas county record for pecan weevil was made in Comal County near the Guadalupe River south of Canyon Lake. This new detection raises some serious concerns because the Guadalupe River and the counties within its watershed area are prime pecan production regions. With this new detection, this is...
Read moreAdvancing DNA Fingerprint System in Pecan
ARDMORE, Okla. — Six national institutions have become the first multistate and multidisciplinary study to receive funding specifically to work on pecans. Researchers at The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), University of Georgia, University of Arizona and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, recently...
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Northern Growers Tour Voss Pecans in Illinois
Attracting northern pecan growers from 5 states, Ralph and Karen Voss hosted a fall harvest tour of their farm near Carlyle, Ilinois. For many growers, a visit to Voss Pecans was an opportunity to see a productive pecan orchard and the machinery used to harvest, clean and crack a pecan crop in action. The tour...
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