November 2014

Crop is good but varmints lurk

Whew! Looks like we are going to make it! Yes, as harvest begins it appears that the crop is going to be good despite the weather challenges. Many growers related that they were not sure they could make another season if it didn’t rain soon last year (2013) and even though there has been a...

Cold storage carry-in totals 171 million lbs.

The latest USDA cold storage report was released on Oct. 22 and indicated that 171 million pounds of pecans, in-shell basis, were in cold storage at the end of September 2014. This number is used by the industry as the carry-in supply for the 2014/2015 season. The cold storage number at the end of August...

NPGC sponsors pecan nutrition seminars in China

The National Pecan Growers Council sponsored a multi-city seminar series on the nutritional and clinical value of pecans in the human diet in China. The program was a FAS/MAP initiative funded by U.S. pecan grower contributions. Dr. Ronald B. Pegg, Associate Professor of Food Science, University of Georgia, and Dr. Randy Hudson, Vice President of...

Jimenuez 2014

Georgia congressman advocates with India for reduced pecan tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, advocated for Georgia’s pecan industry during a brief meeting with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New York City on Sunday. After a private conversation, he gave Prime Minister Modi...

Louisiana loses stalwart pecan supporter Meadows

The Louisiana pecan industry lost a great friend, a mentor, a leader and “prime mover” with the recent passing of Dr. Warren Meadows, according to pecan grower Ben Littlepage. Meadows’ contributions to the pecan industry in the state were huge, Littlepage said, particularly with regard to the Pecan Research Station near Shreveport. Meadows took the...

OSU gets endowed pecan research position

Oklahoma pecan growers took a giant step forward to ensure future support for the industry they love. A total of 36 different individuals, farms or companies donated to create the endowed professorship. Donations were received from producers in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Contributions totaled $250,000 and were matched by a donation from T. Boone Pickens...

Pineapple Spinach Salad

Ingredients: For the Dressing 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 cup olive oil 1/3 cup white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar ½ teaspoon salt Pepper to taste 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard (optional) For the Pecans 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup pecan halves 2 tablespoons brown sugar For the Salad 10-13 ounces spinach 1 pineapple,…

The new cost of pecan production in the Southeast

I recently attended the National Pecan Shellers Association Annual Meeting where New Mexico State Pecan Specialist Richard Heerema and I gave a joint presentation on “The Cost of Pecan Production”. While compiling this information for the southeastern production costs, I was a little surprised at how our costs have gone up only within a couple...

Pecan harvest woes and uncertainty

Many years ago, a long-time pecan grower told me: the entire season is practice, the game begins with harvest. He was correct. Harvest is everything – good, bad and unknown. The 2014 first ‘Pawnee’ harvest at the Texas A&M orchard is now complete and the nuts are at the sheller. Our Oct. 2 harvest was...

NPGC considers export strategies for 2015

The Oversight Committee of the National Pecan Growers Council (NPGC) met on Oct. 13 in Dallas to prioritize marketing plans for 2015. National Pecan Growers Council is receiving Market Access Program funding from USDA to promote pecans in export markets. NPGC received slightly over $500,000 in MAP funds in 2014 and will be notified in...