Back in the Game: China Resurfaces as Purchaser of U.S. Pecans

Jim Rogers Pecan

By Clint Thompson Harvest season is well underway for pecan producers in the Southeast. Growers of pecans are harvesting or are about to harvest the earliest varieties like Pawnee, Elliott, Oconee, Creek and Caddo. Farmers can be encouraged that market prices should not dip below the levels they are currently at. That is due in large part to a familiar …

Pecan Harvests Commencing Across Southeast

Jim Rogers Georgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Pecan harvests are commencing for early varieties across Georgia and Alabama. Growers should be mindful of last-minute spray applications that might be needed moving forward during this production season. Lenny Wells, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension pecan specialist, provides producers a checklist of what they should be wary of heading into harvest season. “Scab sprays have pretty …

Pecan Specialist: Idalia Impact ‘Pretty Severe’ on Southeast Georgia Crop

Jim Rogers Georgia, Pecan, Weather

By Clint Thompson Southwest Georgia is not the only area in the state with a substantial amount of pecan acres. The southeastern part of the state has grown tremendously over the past two decade, says Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. That is why Hurricane Idalia’s trek through the region on Aug. 31 left a devastating impact on …

Georgia Ag Commissioner: Agriculture Took Pretty Significant Hit During Idalia

Jim Rogers Georgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson It did not take long for Georgia Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper to determine the impact Hurricane Idalia had on his state’s No. 1 industry, especially the pecan crop. His group was in Southeast Georgia the day after the storm moved through the region on Aug. 30. They surveyed damage and spoke with farmers impacted by the natural …

USDA Survey to Help Forecast 2023 Pecan Crop

Jim Rogers Pecan

Pecan producers in Georgia, Alabama and other producing states will receive a survey in the mail in late September from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Information generated from the survey will help forecast pecan production for the upcoming season. “The pecan industry is an important part of U.S. agriculture, especially in Georgia, and it is …

Root System Development Should Be Key Focus of Pecan Tree’s Early Years

Jim Rogers Georgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Georgia pecan producers need to avoid “pushing their trees so hard” during the early years. The tops are too large to be supported by their root systems, said Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist. Wells wrote in his UGA Pecan Extension Blog after assessing the damage from Hurricane Idalia last week. The storm led to …

Hurricane Sally Aftermath: Alabama Pecan Crop Down

Jim Rogers Alabama, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Southwest Alabama’s pecan crop is still feeling the effects of Hurricane Sally in 2020. That is a big reason the crop is expected to be down this year, according to Bryan Wilkins, Alabama Extension research associate. “We’re probably somewhere around 2, 2.5 million pounds, maybe a little more, if we make it through this drought,” Wilkins said. …

Georgia’s Pecan Crop Estimate Remains a Question Mark

Jim Rogers Georgia, Pecan

By Clint Thompson Estimating this year’s pecan crop in Georgia is easier said than done. That’s why Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, steers clear when making such predictions. Various factors can impact the crop between now and harvest time. It is compounded by the expected increase in the number of young trees coming online this year. “Giving …