Evaluating the 2018 A&M Pecan Variety Quality
In my 49 years with pecans, my most frequent question has been: “What variety should I plant?” It is a tough question because there are so many variables—climate, soil, irrigation, and management—that influence each variety. Add to those variables, the fact that it takes 15 to 20 years or longer to recognize the potential of...
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APC 101 Series: Strategic Planning
The pecan industry is at a critical stage. Trade pressures, volatile market prices, and natural disasters have created uncertainty for many during a time when the industry has only just recently unified under the Federal Marketing Order. Under our remit through the FMO and as the largest and broadest organization for the pecan industry, the...
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Stressed Trees Subject to Insect Attacks
Overall, pecan producers strive to provide the best care they can to their trees in order to achieve the production needed for their operation; unfortunately, there are events—generally climatic—that are out of our control that can be detrimental to tree health. Events such as hurricanes, excess rain, drought, and late spring freezes can all create...
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Handling Herbicide Drift in Pecan Orchards
Southeastern pecan orchards are often found growing adjacent to fields of annual row-crops. As a result, the tree canopies of these orchards are often vulnerable to injury from herbicide drift from the adjacent row crop fields. This normally occurs from April through June as weeds are eliminated from fields in preparation for planting or soon...
Read moreLetter from the Editor— “April: Spring, Budbreak & a Hope for Good Pecans”
A fresh start, April marks the start of the growing season as our pecan trees reawaken. This month, leaves will sprout up and fill out our trees, and budbreak will officially begin. It’s a moment of hope as we imagine the success of this year’s crop and a strengthening of the market. Although we should...
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What happened to my 2018 pecan crop?
Pecan production is never an easy or guaranteed venture. Even before the 2018 pecan season started out, most areas had high expectations for a good crop. Crop production was lower the previous season, and for most of us we, had good soil moisture over the winter. However just as the 2018 season started with some...
Read more3 Steps to Diagnose Unknown Disorders in Your Orchard
I’m sure every single one of you has come across one of those “mystery problems” in your pecan orchards. I’m not talking about the simple, everyday stuff that you already can easily diagnose. I’m talking about those trees that just aren’t growing normally. Or maybe that corner of the orchard where all the leaves are...
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