What Is the Pecan Scab Disease?

One of the most well-known diseases that can harm a pecan tree is a fungus known as 'pecan scab'. It is also the most damaging. The reason for this is because pecan scab can infect the shuck, or pod of the pecan, stems, and leaves. What also makes this disease particularly prevalent is the fact that it can attack anytime during the season and will lay dormant in the leaves during winter waiting to kill your crop.

The cause of pecan scab is water. Too much water will allow the fungus spores to develop and thrive. This can be particularly difficult to control in the southern states where pecan trees are common. Mid to late afternoon rains are typical and those are the worst for spore development because the leaves can stay wet overnight. The longer they're wet, the more likely it is that the spores will develop and turn into tree-killing pecan scab.

The primary indicators that your trees may be infected are splotches that appear on the leaves in various sizes. These lesions are indicative that the pecan scab has killed that part of the leaf and can lead to early drop of the stem. Also, because the splotches are dark brown to black, photosynthesis cannot occur causing the leaf to wither and eventually fall off of the tree.

To prevent pecan scab, there are a variety of fungicides to use to kill the spores. The key is to spray the tree prior to getting it. If you're expecting a heavy rainfall, that's a good time to be preventative since that's when pecan scab tends to develop. However, if you're unwilling to use a fungicide or if it's not economical for your few trees you can still prevent pecan scab by removing dead leaves, pruning infected leaves and clearing the tree and area around the tree after the harvest season.

Pecan scab can be very serious, infecting entire orchards and ruining an entire harvest season. And the fungus is particularly stingy. There are some types of pecan trees that are more resistant than others like the Oconee and Houma varieties. But these may not be the type of tree that will grow in your area so you have to be careful. The truth is that nearly all farmers who grow pecan trees will most likely have to contend with some sort of fungicide and possibly pesticide at some point. It pays to be preventative otherwise fungi and pests have the potential to ruin your entire pecan season.

This article was written by Al Pearson of Pearson Farm, a fifth-generation family-owned business dedicated to growing Georgia Peaches and Georgia Pecans on thousands of acres in Fort Valley GA.

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Posted in: Disease,Pecan

The Pecan Tree: Where Does It Grow?

Many people always assume that pecans are a southern nut. This is most likely because first of all, Georgia grows a large amount of Pecans, and secondly because pecan pie is such a distinctly southern dessert. Not many holidays go by without at least a pecan dish of some kind gracing the table. Most learn that pecan trees are a tough tree that can grow in over half of the United States and as far north as southern Canada.

The pecan tree actually originated in Texas and Oklahoma and spread outward from there. Native Americans found the pecan nutritious, easy to store, and easy to trade with. It wasn't until recently, though, that pecan trees were discovered deep in the wilds of places like Wisconsin and Illinois. This is heartening because it means that if the rugged pecan tree can withstand the weather shifts of those states then it's likely it can be adapted to grow in even colder climates.

There are actually over 500 species of pecans in existence so it's not terribly surprising that some species of the tree would be able to withstand cruel northern winters. In fact, the tree itself can produce nuts for well over 100 years. The only difference between the varieties of pecans is the shape and a slight flavor difference. This is to be expected given different soil compositions, sunlight and heat availability, and access to a water source. The pecan you eat has everything to do with where it was grown.

However, if you're going to attempt to grow your own pecan tree, it's important to buy the right one. Because there are over 500 species, picking the tree that's best for your particular climate can be a challenge and is definitely a game of patience. For instance, the "Desirable" pecan tree species is native to Mississippi so it will thrive and produce best in warm, humid climates like that of Georgia or Florida. But the "Wichita" variety grows best in western and central Texas because it thrives best in arid environments. But be prepared to wait. Even the most precocious of pecan trees, the ones that bear nuts of the fastest, still take about five years.

The fact that the pecan tree originated in Texas makes it easy to believe that this is a sturdy tree given the climate variety of the Lone Star State. Recent discoveries of the tree in harsh, cold environments lead one to believe that what is known about the pecan tree is only getting started. All of this is great news because it means that no matter where you spend your time eating at the table (especially during the holidays, which is the time of year when pecans sell the best), you'll be able to have some delicious, locally grown, pecan pie.

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Posted in: Pecan,Where

2011 Early Pecan Season Results

With drought conditions spreading across much of the fertile pecan growing regions in the United States, it is looking like it will be a tough year for pecan farmers as well as pecan enthusiasts. With the holiday season quickly approaching (where pecan demand is highest), as well as increased demand from Asia (specifically China), a perfect storm is brewing for this year's pecan crop.

Pecan prices are expected to be 20% higher this year, as compared to last year, because of lower supply and higher demand. Some in the industry are nervous that pecan prices may approach a level that is 55% higher than they were just three years ago.

With countless mainstream groceries store chains, pastry producers, food distributors, baked goods companies and the average consumer all clamoring for their "fair share of the pie" it comes as no surprise that there may be some hurt feelings this year when harvest numbers are turned in.

With the United States accounting for more than 75% of the world's pecan harvest, a down crop will have a trickle-down effect across the world. Many of the top producing pecan states, including Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas are buried in the South experiencing extreme drought.

Healthy amounts of water produce healthy pecan crops, in healthy amounts. While the pecan harvest process has been in full swing, in most places since the early Fall, early results are suggesting that total production will be well off from the past few years. Many pecan farmers are reporting the only word thus far that can be used to describe the overall harvest yield is "terrible".

Pecans are like other crops as they are made up of approximately 80% water. When water doesn't exist, pecans don't exist. This year will surely go down as one of the slowest years for pecan production, and quite likely one of the years where high prices are the only thing that is remembered.

Not all pecan farms are suffering: those that have invested in their own irrigation systems are reporting healthy harvest numbers and prices that are in line with previous years. These farms require a great deal of capital investment to ensure that they can support the irrigation needs of the pecan trees, as the nut itself is made of more than 80 water. This makes the balancing act of producing enough pecans, while keeping cost down, even more difficult.

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Posted in: Early,Pecan,Results,Season

Pecan Production in Georgia

Pecans are a delicious tree nut which have been enjoyed in America for hundreds of years. In 1772, the first pecan tree was planted in the US, and by the 1800's, they blossomed into a lucrative industry. Today, the state of Georgia produces over half of the United States' production due to their hospitable environment for pecan production.

The typical pecan tree grows anywhere from 70 to 100 feet tall and produces 9 to 15 leaflets per sprig. The pecans grow in clusters of 2 to 6 nuts with a shell around each one that splits open four ways at maturity. A pecan tree's production highly depends upon age and type of tree; moreover, many things can attack crops like disease and pests. A good production from a pecan tree could be 50 pounds, but a mature tree is capable of producing onwards of 150 pounds of pecans in one season.

Over the past 10 years, there has been extensive research on the nutritional value of pecans. Having a diet rich in pecans has proven health benefits from lowering cholesterol and blood pressure to weight control. A study conducted at the University of Massachusetts Lowell added pecans to the diet of mice and those with the most pecans in their diet fared best. It is believed the vitamin E in pecans, a natural antioxidant, provided neurological protection against slowing brain cell depletion and fight diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Pecans are also a source of 19 total vitamin and minerals including oleic acid, vitamin B, thiamine, magnesium and protein. Pecans are also one of the top ten foods, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, with the highest amount of antioxidants per serving.

In order to fill supply needs in the US, the pecan industry has become more reliant on imports from Mexico. Because of the high quality pecan Mexico produces, based on improved variety trees and lower humidity, higher prices are commanded than those growers would receive on the Mexican market resulting in Mexico supplying its best pecans to the US. Importation of pecans has risen as a result of progress in Mexico's production and increased international demand for US pecans. Similar to Mexico, though, U.S. sellers are likely following the same process of selling their best quality pecans overseas because they can command higher prices as well.

While pecans are harvested in Georgia in October and November, they are available year round. Many Georgia producers offer their goods online that can be purchased and shipped 24/7. And because of production advances over the past few decades, the volume of shelled pecans per season has increased making availability overall that much greater.

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Posted in: Georgia,Pecan,Production