Pecans and Pecan People
When the roll is called up yonder all will say, “He was a pecan man” or “that woman really knew pecans.” There are over 1,000 pecan growers in the state of Texas and many more states throughout the South. They work with pecans, they love pecans, and pecans are their life. Profits are nice, but...
Read moreFour Important Tips for Managing Your Orchard Floor This Fall
September brings about harvest anticipation and preparation for pecan growers in the Southeast. Lots of attention is rightfully paid to what is happening up in the tree canopies. Aphids and mites are still a threat to balloon out of control. It is a big month for stinkbugs. Hickory shuckworm can inflict economic injury in the...
Read more
The Fountain of Youth Under a Pecan Tree
When I was a little girl, I remember hearing someone talk about the fountain of youth. I was curious. Was there really something that could help cultivate the look and feeling of youth? And if so, was it really a fountain of water? Maybe it was more like the one I passed by at the...
Read more
Considering Cover Crops for Long-Term Soil Health and Sustainability
The focus on soil health and increasing soil organic matter through the use of cover crops is an evolving trend in agriculture and a potentially important opportunity for the American pecan farmer. Simply put, pecans are a very long-term perennial crop with a lot of soil between the rows and the orchard floor in general....
Read more
Pecan Weevil: a Producer, State and Industry issue
During my time as the pecan IPM specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, I have written several articles for Pecan South on pecan weevil management, but for this month instead of a management focus, I would like to address the potential spread of pecan weevil to new areas. I am probably addressing the wrong audience...
Read more
New Study Links Nut Consumption & Reduced Weight Gain
A recent study published in the European Journal of Nutrition investigated the association between nut intake and changes in body weight after five years of follow-up. Researchers also estimated the risks associated with overweight or obesity after higher nut consumption. Nuts are energy-dense foods; they can provide 160-200 kcal per serving (30g a handful), so...
Read moreScorched
Uncovering why leaves die can be a complicated business. Many symptoms are similar, but they can have very different causes. Is the dead tissue a primary or secondary symptom? Are we talking about a disease, insect, nutrient, or even something entirely different? As Dr. Cary Illinois finds out, diagnosing leaf scorch symptoms can sometimes be...
Read more