Texas Pecan Drought Continues

All of Texas agriculture, landscape horticulture, and home yards are in trouble. We have had only two rains in 2011 and last year was a dry year. As one drives across the state, the severity of our statewide drought is obvious. Pastures are grazed to the soil or dead gray, ponds are dry and cattle...

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Rambling on and Pondering Pecan Nuts

As an Extension specialist, I need to be pretty good at observation. I must be able to look at a problem, diagnose it, and file it in my memory for the next opportunity. I also watch people and observe their habits. For example, I listen to what someone talks about, even if it has nothing...

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Program Announced for Arizona Grower Meeting

The Arizona Pecan Growers Association will meet for its annual meeting Friday, Sept. 16 at the Palo Verde Holiday Inn in Tucson. A block of rooms at the hotel has been reserved for attendees. For reservations, call the Holiday Inn at 520-746-1161. AGENDA Sept. 16, 2011 7:30 a.m.            Registration – (Refreshments courtesy of Kelly Pope,...

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Stressing Out

No doubt a few of us have experienced firsthand how a “stressful” lifestyle — maybe worries about the economy or the kids — is bad news for our own health. Horticulturists and orchard managers also often speak about minimizing “stress” in our orchards so that we can maximize tree performance (and hopefully lower our own...

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Accountability

A few months ago I remember writing about how excited I was with all the new things going on in the industry with U.S. Pecan being formed, an industry-wide coordinated research effort spearheaded by OSU’s Mike Smith, and more research projects by the shelling industry, etc. Growers were excited about a decent profit and more...

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Texas Pecan Board Sponsoring Holiday Recipe Contest

For the second consecutive year, the Texas Pecan Board is sponsoring Texas Co-Op Power magazine’s annual holiday recipe contest. Winners will receive $5,000 in total prizes and their recipes will be published in the December 2011 issue of that publication. This year’s competition invited entries in two different categories — savory and sweet, with the grand prize...

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Tough to Treat Pecan Insects This Year!

This has been one of those years to top all years for Texas agriculture. Most commodities are enjoying a time of all-time-high prices but here in Texas few producers are able to take full advantage of the increased value. Unseasonably high temperatures throughout the spring and summer combined with the lingering effects of drought and...

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Alabama Readies for Upcoming Annual Meeting

The Alabama Pecan Growers Association will host its 51st annual conference on Sept. 15 at the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center in Fairhope, Alabama. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for attendees at the Holiday Inn Express in Fairhope. Group rate is $89. Call the hotel at 251-928-9191 for reservations. The evening prior...

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2011 Full Of Entomological Challenges

With the above average temperatures, extreme drought and light crop, to say that 2011 has been a difficult year would be a gross understatement. In addition to these environmental problems, we have also seen several entomological challenges and changes —such as pecan nut casebearer being very early this spring, an almost complete absence of fall...

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