The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will soon be sending pecan producers a survey to forecast pecan production for the upcoming season.
Growers will have the option to respond to the survey online. Producers who have not responded by Sept. 29 will be contacted for a telephone interview by a NASS representative.
Survey results will be published on Oct. 12 in the Crop Production report. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
“The pecan industry is an important part of U.S. agriculture, especially in southern states, and it is crucial for us to have accurate data about this key sector of the economy,” said Anthony Prillaman, director of the NASS Southern Regional Field Office. “Around 2,600 producers from across the country, including more than 300 in Georgia will be contacted to accurately measure 2021 acreage and production for pecans. The data collected from this survey will help set pecan acreage and production estimates at both the state and U.S. level.”
Call the NASS Southern Regional Field Office at (800) 253-4419 for more information.
According to the USDA, utilized production in 2020 totaled 302 million pounds. That was an increase of 18% from 2019. Bearing acreage was estimated at 402,000, which is an increase of 2% from the previous season. Georgia had the highest utilized production at 147.5 million pounds in 2020. Alabama’s pecan production was decimated last year because of Hurricane Sally and Hurricane Zeta.