August 2018

Texas Pecan Growers Conference 2018

The Texas Pecan Growers Association welcomed members and other attendees to its 97th annual conference and trade show in San Marcos, Texas from July 15 to 18. Gathering at the Embassy Resort and Suites, guests kicked off the conference with a welcome reception and raffle, during which they visited with exhibitors and vendors. For next...

Stink Bug Management: a challenge for all producers

First, I would like to refer to an excellent article by Monte Nesbitt from the August 2010 issue of Pecan South titled “Victory or Defeat in August,” where he talks about the difficulty in producing pecans during August. This difficulty not only applies to the horticultural challenges of filling out kernels, but this is also...

The Power of Partnership: Influential Recipe Developers Promote American Pecans

In last month’s issue, we covered the many ways you, as members of the American pecan industry, can use the new American Pecans, The Original Supernut brand—including sharing delicious recipes created through our partnerships with some of the nation’s top food and nutrition influencers. Since well before the consumer-facing campaign officially launched in late April,...

ArkLaMiss TriState Pecanference 2018

Growers from Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana met for their joint annual meeting in Raymond, Mississippi at the Eagle Ridge Conference Center on June 21-22. They were joined by other growers from across the Pecan Belt to network, meet with vendors and learn a bit more about growing pecans. The conference kicked off with a tour...

Remembering Robert Beard Drinkard, a True Pecan Man

Robert Beard “Bobby” Drinkard Jr., 65, of Goshen, Alabama died Friday, June 29, 2018 in Birmingham, Alabama. Bobby graduated from Pike County High School in 1971 and was an employee of Whaley Pecan Company for 37 years. Remembering Bobby Drinkard, friend Greg Hamil said,  “You could always count on Bobby to tell you the truth with...

August Advertisers

As the World Turns, the Marketing Landscape Shifts

Growers that choose to get into the pecan business must love carnival rides, specifically roller coasters. Why would I make such a remark? In a nutshell, if you stay in it for the long term, you are going to go through a lot of ups and downs. If you take a quick look over the...

Preparing for 2019 Pecans, Begins Now

The pecan industry is looking at a very good crop in 2018. In my opinion, Texas should produce over 65 million pounds if no major losses occur. The 2016 Texas crop of 39 million pounds and the 2017 crop of 47 million pounds were less than average, and growers statewide are hoping for better production...

The End of Summer, the Beginning of the Home Stretch

Dear Readers, The thermometer outside my office in Bryan, Texas reads 106 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s sweltering. And luckily, I’m tucked away in the air conditioning, where I will stay until I am forced to make a run through the insufferable heat to my car. There, I will crank the engine and blast my AC as...

Updates From Washington— From Farm Bill to the H2A Visa

2018 Farm Bill Moves Forward The U.S. Senate has completed action on the 2018 Farm Bill with a final floor vote of 86 to 11. The House passed their version of the bill by a vote of 213 to 211. The U.S. House has appointed 47 conferees for the Farm Bill. The Senate is expected...

2018 Crop Estimates

Here are the 2018 crop estimates as predicted at the TriState Conference and Texas Pecan Growers Conference this Summer. This was the first year in a long while to break with tradition. Last year was Kyle Brookshier’s last crop estimate; this year newly appointed  TPGA president Lalo Medina gave the Texas estimate. At the TriState Conference,...

The American Pecan Council—An Important Tool for an Exciting Time

This is an exciting time for the American pecan industry. With the creation of the American Pecan Council (APC) under the Federal Marketing Order, the American pecan industry added a vital tool to their trade. This Federal Marketing Order provides an opportunity to promote the benefits of pecans, educate consumers, conduct vital research, and provide...