Texas’ War Against Feral Hogs Heats Up
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller will be announcing approval of a major new weapon in the ongoing war against feral hogs in Texas. Commissioner Miller has approved a rule change in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) that classifies a new warfarin-based product as a state-limited-use pesticide for control of feral hogs. State-limited-use pesticides...
Read moreUnique Winter and Early Spring Weather
The dawn of a new growing season is upon us once again; it really seems like we just finished the last season and here we go again. What a unique winter and early spring it has been—hardly cold in some areas, but still those areas had two arctic blasts and the cold from those spells...
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Warm Winter May Spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E
The last couple of weeks have been busy, beginning with a trip to Mississippi for the Southeastern Pecan Growers Association Conference. That was followed by a trip to Las Cruces, New Mexico, for the Western Pecan Growers Association Conference. While both educational programs provided information on a wide range of topics, the meetings also allow...
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APC elects at-large members, continues set-up duties
The American Pecan Council convened in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Feb. 23, prior to the Southeastern Pecan Growers Convention and took several more steps toward being fully functional. The remaining two seats on the Council were filled: J.B. Easterlin of Easterlin Pecan Company in Montezuma, Georgia, was elected to the Accumulator seat on the board, while...
Read moreNew Pecan Tree Insurance has May 15 Deadline
Pecan growers now have a new risk management tool beginning with the 2018 crop year, which runs from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. AgriLogic Consulting of College Station, Texas completed the development of the program in conjunction with a number of state and regional pecan grower associations and by working with industry representatives...
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SEPGA Gathers for Annual Conference in Biloxi
Sunlight and clear skies have a significant impact on pecan production. At the recent Southeastern Pecan Growers conference in Biloxi, the University of Georgia’s Lenny Wells explained that the 70-80 percent clear skies enjoyed by growers in the western U.S. and in Australia paves the way for different management approaches versus the typical 60...
Read moreTransitioning from flood to micro irrigation
Recently I gave a presentation on transitioning to micro-irrigation at the Western Pecan Growers Association conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I thought I would present the same information here so that I can expand further on some of these considerations and reach some growers who may have missed the conference but are considering this...
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WPGA Event Draws Big Crowd, Tackles Diverse Topics
The annual Western Pecan Growers Conference, March 5-7 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, drew participants from around the globe this year. A contingent of 25 or so growers from South Africa were on hand, as well as an Australian grower and numerous attendees from Mexico. They joined U.S. growers from across the pecan belt for...
Read moreHow to Prune to Hedge
Congratulations to the Western Pecan Growers Association for an outstanding conference March 5-7. One of the main topics was a grower panel on hedging led by Mike Kilby, and it was very good. Pecan hedging has been with us for a long time, or at least since growers began planting more than 27 trees per...
Read moreNow is the Time to Prepare for Pecan Nut Casebearer
Red buds in bloom, bluebonnets are out and mesquite trees in leaf so spring has arrived early for many of us and all of this earliness has already led to some questions on pecan nut casebearer (PNC) management. As with many insects, PNC develops according to temperature and not a calendar schedule so knowing when...
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