By Brad Haire
University of Georgia

Georgia’s pecan harvest this year could be the smallest it has
been in more than a decade, says a University of Georgia
specialist.

“This year will certainly be an off year for pecans. There just
aren’t many nuts on trees right now,” said Lenny Wells, the UGA
Cooperative Extension state pecan specialist. “But the quality
of what is harvested should be good, provided we have adequate
soil moisture in September.”

Georgia growers are expected to harvest about 35 million to 40
million pounds, he said, only 40 percent of last year’s 90
million pounds.

This year’s crop could be the lowest since 1992, when the state
produced only 30 million pounds. The state’s largest crop was
the following year, producing 150 million pounds in 1993,
according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service.

Georgia had a good pecan crop last year. But that good crop and
several periods of dry weather are why this year’s crop will be
low.

This year was already going to be an “off” year, Wells said.
Pecan, hickory and walnut trees normally produce a strong crop
every other year. Statewide weather conditions such as cloudy
or sunny summers put most orchards on the same on-and-off
cycle.

But even on an off year, he said, Georgia usually musters
around 50 million pounds statewide.

Though Georgia has had drought conditions this summer, a dry
spell last August through September is contributing to the low
production expected this year, Wells said.

“The crop for the following year will be determined at this
time,” he said. “Stressed trees such as in a drought will
create chemical signals that stimulate the cells to grow more
vegetation, and less goes to production.”

Last year’s crop was good, but it still fell a little short of
expectations. And the 2004 crop was an off year with about 45
million pounds. Because of this, there are few pecans in
storage, he said. Prices to farmers should be good this year.

For a while last year, growers got as much as $2 per pound, a
good price. Wells expects farmers to receive good prices again
this year because Texas, which usually vies against Georgia for
top-producing state, is having an off year, too, and is plagued
by drought conditions.

Georgia growers harvest pecans from late October through
November.