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September 7, 2001

Recent rains benefit pecans

Scattered rainfall across Texas is benefiting the pecan crop during the crucial moisture period, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

Dr. George McEachern, Extension horticulturist, says rain is important during the months of August and September when pecans are developing their inner fruit. However, dry weather is needed for harvesting.

"Pecan growers have only about 60 days to harvest their crop from mid-October to mid-December," McEachern said. "They need rain now, but they want it to stop around mid-October so they can have dry weather for harvest."

Cindy Wise, executive vice president of the Texas Pecan Growers Association, agrees that current rains will be beneficial to this year's pecan crop.

"The rain we are receiving right now will be helpful," Wise said. "Even though we've been without rain for quite a while, August and September rains are critical, so this is going to help."

Pecans are grown throughout Texas. They are produced commercially in almost 200 counties, Wise said.

"We have some commercial pecan production everywhere in Texas, except for the very lower tip of the Rio Grande Valley and the Panhandle," she said.

Wise said pecans have reached their full size for the season and are now at the stage where the trees are using all available moisture in order to help the kernel fill out. Some harvesting will begin in south Texas in mid-September, but the majority will begin in mid-October, she said.

"This year's pecan crop looks really good," Wise said. "Everyone is looking forward to this year's crop because last year's crop was a small one."

Neil Alexander, San Saba County Extension agent, agreed that this year's pecan crop should be a good one and attributes it to the excellent weather conditions in the winter and spring.

"When it rains for six months of the year, it's going to give you a good crop," Alexander said about this year's wet winter and spring.

The dry weather during the late spring and summer have also benefitted the pecan crop indirectly.

"The dry weather hasn't necessarily helped the pecan crop directly, but it has helped control the pest problem because weevils won't come out of the ground when it's dry," he said.

However, recent rains have alerted producers and caused them to set out weevil traps. This is a preventative measure being taken in case weevils begin to appear, Alexander said.

"When the weevils get in the traps, then you can get a count and know where you are and what your population is doing," Alexander said. "Then you know when to spray and when to treat your trees for the weevil."