By Clint Thompson The first rule in cultivar selection for pecan growers is there is no perfect cultivar. What may work for one producer may not for another, believes University of Georgia (UGA) pecan breeder Patrick Conner. “The difficulty is we don’t have one way of growing pecans. We have small growers, medium-sized growers; growers with hundreds of acres. We …
2021 Pecan Season: Same Low Price, Diminished Yields?
By Clint Thompson One of Georgia’s biggest pecan crops in recent years is expected to drop significantly in 2021. Georgia’s crop that netted 147.5 million pounds is only expected to produce about half of that this fall, due to pecan’s alternate bearing cycle, believes University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells. That’s not good news for producers who …
Pecan Interest Slows Amid Rising Input Costs, Deflated Market Prices
By Clint Thompson Pecan interest has finally slowed amid rising input costs and a deflated market. Need proof? Just look at the attendance at Tuesday’s Pecan Beginner’s School at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. “The planting of nursery trees over the past year did drop. The number of trees planted, people are still planting, but I think …
Pecan Outlook: Hope for Market Rebound in 2021
By Clint Thompson Pecan harvest season is still at least three months away, but one Georgia farmer has high hopes for the upcoming year. “I hope that we’re looking at stronger prices for the coming year. We’re still a good ways out on that. We’ve got a lot of pecans left to try to make between now and harvest. If …
Scab Disease: UGA Extension Encourages Growers to be Alert After Recent Rains
By Clint Thompson Much-needed rain was received this week across the Southeast. But now there is increased risk for scab disease for pecan producers in Georgia and Alabama. Growers need to be on alert and stay vigilant with their spray programs, according to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia, Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. “It had gotten really dry, but the flipside …
Pecan Crop Looking Better Than Expected
Irrigation Remains Vital During Hot, Dry Conditions By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests are still at least four months away, but the crop is looking better than expected, according to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. “Young trees look really good, most everywhere that I’ve been. Older trees are a little more hit and miss, which we’ve kind …
UGA to Host In-Person Beginner’s Pecan Production Course
The University of Georgia Pecan Team will be holding a Beginner’s Pecan Production Course on June 15 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The course will cover various topics pertaining to pecan production including costs, cultivar selection, fertilization, irrigation, cultural management, insect control, disease management, weeds, equipment and market overview. The event will start …
Irrigation Key for Pecan Producers During These Hot, Dry Conditions
By Clint Thompson Weather forecasts are calling for hot and dry conditions for the foreseeable future. That could have a detrimental impact on pecan trees, believes Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist. “Especially with growers with young trees planted in the last year or two, they need to be really careful about making sure they’re watering these …
USDA 2020 Summary: Georgia Pecan Crop Yields 147.5 Million Pounds
The quantity was there to make Georgia’s 2020 pecan crop one of its best. However, the prices that farmers received per pound were well below average, as evidenced by the USDA Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2020 summary. Georgia produced 147.5 million pounds in 2020; more than double its output in 2019 (73 million) and in 2018 (70 million). The value …
Fungicide Sprays Vary for Various Pecan Varieties
By Clint Thompson It’s that time of year when Georgia pecan producers need to start protecting their trees against fungal diseases, including scab. According to the University of Georgia Extension pecan blog, sprays vary among the different cultivars and their specific level of resistance. Low Input Cultivars Those that are considered low input cultivars include Avalon, Elliot, Excel, Kanza, Lakota …