June 2018

USDA 2018 Noncitrus Fruits & Nuts Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its annual non-citrus fruits and nuts report today. Pecans are included in this report, and you can see the annual summaries of acreage, yield, production, use, price, and value by state for the 2017  crop. You can review the USDA 2018 report here. Below you can compare the...

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What’s the Scoop on Nitrogen?

Nitrogen is a “building block” of a vast array of plant biochemicals. To farm pecans successfully, you probably don’t need to know the names of all of these, but you’ve definitely already heard of some of them: – amino acids and proteins: including enzymes that make all of the biological processes in the plant actually...

Before the Drop, Pecan Crop Estimates for 2018

The 2018 Texas pecan crop at pollination and pecan nut casebearer (PNC) stage looks outstanding. At this moment, it appears that the crop is going to be big, very big, possibly the largest crop ever. However, we can easily lose the entire crop to a number of sources. Every pecan grower in Texas and the...

Scab Battle Heats Up, Watch for These 3 Factors

Planting resistant cultivars, planting on elevated land, and improving the orchard’s airflow are three key factors in managing pecan scab. However, for existing orchards, it is too late at this point in the season to do much about these variables. So, we are left with the most direct line of defense—fungicide application. Regarding this route...

Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant Control in Agricultural Use Sites

Several years ago, I submitted an article on leafcutter ants and thought it was a good time to remind growers of this pest that can be found in Texas, Louisiana and the northeastern states of Mexico. Overall, leafcutter ants are not a big issue, but if they’re in your orchard they become one. For this...

U.S. Pecan Growers Council Continues Promotional Effort in China

This is the second of a planned bimonthly series of articles describing the mission and operation of the U.S. Pecan Growers Council (USPGC) and its work in developing overseas markets for American pecans. Following an article in the April issue, this article will dive into the Council’s work in China. For more than a decade...

June Recipes

Superfood Pecan Tacos From Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN with the American Pecan Council Ingredients 1 cup raw pecan halves or pieces (or lightly toasted) 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil 1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/2 cup) 1 tablespoon coconut aminos (or low sodium tamari) 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon oregano 1/2 teaspoon chili powder...

Acclaimed pecan breeder Darrell Sparks named UGA inventor of the Year

Darrell Sparks’ legacy at the University of Georgia spans more than 50 years and includes the release of eight patented pecan cultivars and research focused on the development of new and improved pecan varieties. For his contributions to Georgia’s pecan industry, Sparks is the 2018 recipient of the University’s Inventor of the Year Award. A...

A Happy, Healthy Native Tree Makes for a Potentially Prosperous Crop

Texas has many, many native pecan trees. In fact, we like to claim that the pecan originated in Texas! These trees are located on some of the very best pecan soils in the world—deep, well-drained, fertile and typically with a static water table at about 20 to 25 feet. However, in the grand scheme of...

Making Adjustments to Your Pecan Operation

No two years are the same. I heard this statement growing up, and now that I have lived a little life I can say I’ve seen this play out in my own life. It’s certainly a versatile saying with many variables, but perhaps its meaning is most applicable to farmers and small business owners. For...

Breaking Out of the Pie Shell: Behind the Scenes of the American Pecans Consumer Brand Launch

The final week of National Pecan Month ended with a flurry of marketing and promotional activity as the pecan industry’s first-ever consumer-facing brand made its debut. Consumers coast to coast, along with our industry, have been introduced to American Pecans, The Original Supernut—a new brand identity and consumer education initiative created by the American Pecan...

It’s Time to Get Your Costs Under Control

It’s no secret that pecan growers have benefited from higher than normal prices for the last several years. As a result, many growers have increased their pecan acreage and replaced less productive trees and varieties with more productive ones. Unfortunately, the laws of supply and demand dictate that the natural outcome of high prices is...

Letter from the Editor: “Write to Us”

Back in October, I opened the door to article submissions and pitches. Here at Pecan South, we’re working hard to meet all our readers’ needs and wishes. Our staff has been connecting with new potential contributors, and we’re hoping to bring even more pecan-related content to you soon. But the thing about Pecan South is...