Pecan growers expecting a variety of results for 2001 crops

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

September 6, 2001 -- It's early September and pecan producers as well as home gardeners are watching their trees to get some idea of what kind of a crop it will be.

Some have decided that the trees are shedding more nuts than usual, mostly due to the hot, dry conditions. Some believe it is nature's way of "culling" to insure a good nut set.

Last spring, Dr. Larry Stein, extension horticulturist for Texas A&M University out of Uvalde and Dr. Bill Ree, extension entomologist from College Station, presented tips for insuring the best crops, this fall.

"The latest research shows us trees that are in an 'on' mode...that will have a big crop this year...use nitrogen at two critical times," said Stein.

He suggested applying the nitrogen supplement in the late spring and around August. Those producers who heeded his advice and had their nitrogen applied before the recent rainfall began should see the nuts starting to fill on their trees.

According to a report to the Texas State Network, Dr. George Ray McEachern, extension horticulturist at A&M said that if we have good rains in August and September, the pecan crops across Texas should be good.

In some areas, producers have complained of grasshopper and casebearer problems, as well as webworms.

Benard Mitchell, Colorado County Extension Agent, said that commercial producers in his county are "looking fairly well," although some home owners with pecan trees have called about webworm problems. He believes that the webworms are due to the hot, dry conditions which provide the eggs laid with an ideal situation.

Mitchell said that the "natives (pecans) are on the short end, again."

Donnie Montemayor, Bee County Extension Agent, said that "...the dry weather has really hurt" the pecans in his region, although most pecan growers in his area are private citizens.

Steve Bridges of Kimas Tejas Nursery outside of Bastrop believes that the production will definitely relate to the heat and dry conditions.

"Over the last three years, we started getting rains in November, but up until then, it was three or four years of drought. We have a lot of customers coming in having problems with oak trees, pine trees...even cedar trees dying.

"I think it takes a while for drought situations to start showing up in trees, because it stresses them out. The trees are big, slow growing things, and it takes a while for them to show that stress," said Bridges

He does believe that the recent rains will help a lot and expects that it will be a good fall for most trees.

Producer Lloyd Goldrich of Schulenburg has about 14 acres of pecans, and said that the "drought hurt them severely," and that the "rains are about three weeks late."

"I'm very happy...lucky...to get good crops two years in a row," said Goldrich.

He said most of the trees produce on an "every other year" basis, although the Choctaw and Cheyenne pecans usually produce every year.

In 1999, most areas around him had an outstanding crop, then, in 2000, with the heat and drought, crops were smaller.

Some of Goldrich's neighbors in Lavaca have complained of grasshoppers invading their orchards, but he hasn't had that problem. He expects to have an average crop on his land.

Rachel Bauer, Bastrop County Extension Agent, said that some people in her county have complained that casebearers have "totally wiped them out," while there are "areas that were doing great."

In a couple of months when the pecans are ready, producers will be able to compare notes, again, and decide on what changes need to be made for 2002.