August 2013 Archives - Pecan South MagazinePecan South magazine | The pecan industry's leading publication, published monthly for pecan producers, processors and all others involved or interested in the pecan industry.

by Lenny Wells Southeastern Shakings

Bot canker on pecan

Young pecan trees are a big investment and we hate to see them get weak, decline, or up and die. I’ve seen a lot of young tree die-back this year. While much of this has been related to cold damage, some trees are feeling the effects of a subtle problem that often goes unnoticed until...

A watermark sensor datalogger station sits next to a pecan tree in a row at the orchard. The station is attached to a tall wooden pole and has yellow wires running out of a blue box.

by Monte Nesbitt Southeastern Shakings

Wanted: High-Quality Pecans (Part 1 of 2)

A message delivered to pecan growers throughout the pecan belt in 2012 and 2013 is the pecan market, domestic and foreign alike, wants high-quality pecans. Millions of pounds of pecans grown in 2012 were either left in the field or remain stockpiled in barns, sheds or cold storage today, because they had quality problems and...

by Bill Ree IPM Report

Grasshoppers plaguing many Texas pecan producers

The hot, dry, dog days of summer are upon us here in Texas and the grasshopper calls just keep on coming in. Over the past month, I have received more calls on grasshoppers than in any previous year and I’m sure more calls are on the way. These hot dry conditions we are experiencing favor...

by S. Scott Nadler Market

Marketing Pecans 101: Agricultural products impacted by unique constraints

Last month I introduced readers to the concept of target markets and discussed some of the pros and cons associated with each market segment. This month I will provide readers with a discussion of the 4 “P’s” of the marketing mix: product, price, place (physical distribution) and promotion, and their counterpart the 4 “C’s”: customer,...

by Pecan South Staff Events

Shellers host meeting Sept. 5-7 in Austin, TX

The National Pecan Shellers Association will hold its annual meeting Sept. 5-7 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas. Golf, registration and a reception will comprise activities on Sept. 5. The program lineup on Sept. 6 will feature “Trends in Health, Snacking and Opportunities for Nuts on the Menu,” “Pecans in Gluten-Free, Diabetic Friendly Baking”,...

The wind has ripped out one half of a narrow-angled branch connection from a large native tree.

by William Reid Native Timbre

Identifying causes for trunk injuries

It’s mid-summer and there’s not much to do in the native grove except for clipping the ground cover. The other day I noticed a large limb had been ripped out of a native tree by the wind (Fig. 1). I thought to myself—“now that mess will be a hot job to clean up”. If you...

by George Ray McEachern Southwest Notes

Roundup-Resistant Pigweed

Pecan industry: we have a problem. Since our first trials with Roundup (glyphosate) in 1973, we have had a near miracle cure for weed control in pecans. The happy days are over. We now have a rapidly growing, tall weed with a base over 1 inch in diameter that is both hard and fiber-filled. One...

Portrait of USDA entomologist Walker Louis Tedders

by Pecan South Staff Remembrances

USDA’s Louis Tedders passes away July 6

Well known USDA entomologist Walker Louis Tedders, 78, passed away on July 6, 2013, at Heart of Georgia Hospice Inpatient Care after an extended illness. Funeral Services were held July 8 at Perry United Methodist Church, Perry, Georgia. Louis Tedders was born in Albany, Georgia, to the late Walker Louis Tedders Sr. and Thelma Wallace...

by Tom Stevenson From the Farm

Part 1: Varieties Worth Considering

For some time I have been considering what varieties to plant in some new orchards we are establishing. I have read and studied many of the new releases and, while interesting to me in some cases, long-term field data is missing on these. True performance can only be assessed after the variety is in a...