October 2000

2000 VICTORIA COUNTY PECAN SHOW -- ENTRIES DUE October 23rd!!!

Entries for the 2000 Victoria County Pecan Show are due by Monday, October 23, 2000. YEP!, you read it right!! This year the Pecan Show will be held in conjunction with the South Texas Farm and Ranch Show being held October 25th and 26th. I know it's early, but let's give it a try this year. Start collecting your tree nuts.

Due to the earliness of the Show, late entries will be accepted at the Victoria Community Center (dome kitchen) up until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday October 24th. If you have early maturing entries, please bring these before October 23 to aid us in entering them.

Due to the extra exposure at the Farm Show, let's exhibit any and all pecan related items such as: pecan crackers of all types, pecan art, crafts, shellers, etc. Bring these to the show at set-up on Tuesday. See the schedule!

Please see rules enclosed with this newsletter for more information.

LATEST USDA RELEASE - "Nacono" Pecan Suitable for Most Pecan Growing Areas

"Nacono" is a new pecan cultivar released July 18, 2000, by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and the Agricultural Experiment Station of Texas. When compared to other protogynous cultivars, "Nacono" has superior nut quality, high resistance to scab, and is suitable for planting in most areas of the U. S. pecan production area. "Nacono" pecans are large enough to be sold inshell, or they can be shelled to produce a high proportion of intact halves and large pieces of very high quality.

USDA conducts the only national pecan breeding program. Crosses are made at Brownwood and College Station, Texas. Seedling clones are established on their own roots or budded to pollarded trees for the initial testing at College Station for about ten years. Superior clones then enter NPACTS (National Pecan Advanced Clone Testing System), where they are tested across the southern United States. After 10-15 years, the best clones are given Native American tribe names and releases to nurseries.

"Nacono" is the 24^th cultivar released by this program in cooperation with various state agricultural experiment stations. All USDA cultivars (with the exception of "Barton") have Native American tribe names. The Nacono tribe was part of the southern Caddo Confederacy, and lived near the Neches River in East Texas (near the Lufkin area). This name was chosen to associate the cultivar name with a geographic region were we think this new cultivar will perform well, an area that includes the humid southeastern region of the United States.

"Nacono", tested as selection 74-5-55, is a progeny from a 1975 cross between the "Cheyenne" and "Sioux" cultivars made by E. J. Brown at the USDA Pecan Worksite, Brownwood, Texas. "Cheyenne" is a USDA cultivar released in 1970. It is known as the producer of the highest quality of kernels of any cultivar. It is resistant to scab, but very susceptible to the yellow aphid complex of pecan (damage caused by either or both the blackmargined aphid and the yellow pecan aphid). "Sioux" was released by the USDA in 1962. It is also known for high nut quality and scab resistance. "Sioux" is not as precocious as "Cheyenne", and the nuts are slightly smaller. "Nacono" was released based upon the extensive testing in the replicated NPACTS test at College Station, Texas. It was also sent to cooperators in Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia; as well as many other locations in Texas.

Concerning the yield potential of "Nacono", it has precocity similar to "Pawnee" and "Desirable", but out yields these cultivars after about the eighth season. The 10^th year would convert to about 1,700 pounds per acre with the spacing of 35 X 35 feet. Uniformity of production of "Nacono" across years is largely unknown.

NPACTS-B was essentially an unirrigated test since we did not have the capacity to water it adequately, especially during high water requirement periods. Trees experienced a severe drought during the latter part of 1993, and then we had an early devastating freeze of 29 degrees F. on October 31, 1993. The trees were still foliated and fully susceptible to freezing. Carbohydrate reserves were also extremely low due to drought and heavy nut load, so freeze damage was severe on many trees of other clones. Limbs of "Nacono" were not freeze damaged, but this resulted in almost no yield in 1994 for any trees in the test. We do know that throughout this test period, "Nacono" excelled in producing a large quantity of quality nuts, even considering these environmental challenges.

When nuts per cluster and percent of terminals with clusters is compared to "Pawnee" and "Desirable, "Nacono" appears to be intermediate in number of nuts per cluster, and to have fewer terminals with clusters than either of these comparison cultivars. How these two measurements affect uniformity of production from year to year and nut quality is largely unknown.

"Nacono" produces a large nut of exceptional quality. Nut shape is oblong with acute apex, and an acuminate (pointed) base. Nuts are round in cross section. Dorsal grooves are wide, allowing easy removal of packing material. The dorsal groove and basal cleft of "Nacono" are almost absent, comparable to that of the "Sioux" parent.

Nut weight is about 10.3 gram (44 per pound), and larger than "Pawnee", "Desirable", or "Stuart". Nuts have about 56 percent kernel, between "Pawnee" and "Desirable". These statistics mean that kernel half weight is outstanding. "Nacono" is an easy shelling pecan, and produces a high proportion of complete or near complete halves. Kernels are cream to golden in color.

"Nacono" trees are vigorous, with a branched central leader form (similar to its "Sioux" parent). "Nacono" develops strong limb angles and has a wind-resistant tree structure. "Nacono" grows fast, compared to other cultivars. The leaves are large, similar to those of the "Sioux" parent and other members of this cross family (74-5-60 and 75-5-6).

Time of spring budbreak is similar to "Desirable" and "Cheyenne". "Nacono" is protogynous (Type II), with early pistil receptivity and mid-season pollen shed. "Nacono" should be a good pollenizer for, and well pollenized by "Pawnee", Time of nut maturity is mid-season at College Station, Texas (October 11-21), or about eight days before "Desirable".

"Nacono" is resistant to scab disease and adapted to all pecan growing areas where "Desirable" can be grown, especially under a typical chemical scab control program. In extensive testing at College Station, Texas, "Nacono" appears to be less scab susceptible for both leaf and nut scab than "Pawnee" and "Desirable", but more susceptible than "Stuart".

"Nacono" has medium susceptibility to blackmargined aphids. At College Station, Texas, "Nacono" demonstrated similar resistance to this insect as did "Stuart", but was less resistant than "Pawnee" and "Desirable". Since resistance to one species of aphids in pecan seems to indicate resistance to another species, growers should monitor black aphid susceptibility in this new cultivar.

Budwood and graftwood will be supplied in 2001 only to nurseries. All requests should be directed to Tommy E. Thompson (979-272-1402 or RR 2 Box 133, Somerville, TX 77879). The USDA does not have any trees for distribution. Some budded or grafted trees should be available from nurseries for planing in early 2002.

PECAN FIELD DAY - NOV. 9

DeWitt, Lavaca and Victoria Counties are again conducting a multi-county pecan field day to be held on November 9, 2000. The field day will start at 1:00 p.m. with registration and begin at 1:30 p.m lasting until 6:00 p.m. Field Day will be held at the Bohuslav Farm near Komensky outside of Hallettsville, Texas.

Topics on the field day will include:

Pecan Nut Casebearer Bill Ree, Ext. Agent

Fungicides/Diseases Dr. Chip Lee, Ext. Pathologist

Harvesting Techniques Dr. Larry Stein , Ext Hort.

Nutrition Aspects of Pecans Dr. George McEachern

History of the Prilop Pecan Robert Steffek

Pecan Variety Quality & Taste Dr. McEachern

A total of three (3) CEU's will be offered at the Field Day.

The following are two sets of directions (depending where you are coming from) to the at Bohuslav Farm:

(1) From the traffic light at the intersection of Hwy 90A and Hwy 77 in Hallettsville, go 9 miles north on Hwy 77. Take a left on FM 532 and go 8.1 miles to Komensky (Bohuslav Feed Mill). Take a left on FM 1295 and go 1.2 miles to CR 1295 A. Take CR 1295 A to the Franklin Bohuslav Residence.

(2) From Hwy 90A west of Hallettsville, take FM 340 (directly across from Migl Feed & Grain). Go 8.4 miles to Witting. In Witting, take a right on FM 1295 and go 3.6 miles to CR 1295 A which will take you to the Franklin Bohuslav Residence.

PECAN SEASON OPENS TO STRONG MARKET AS EARLY FORECAST INDICATES PECAN & TREE NUT PRODUCTION DOWN

After last year's record pecan crop of 406 million pounds which significantly weakened the market, the pecan season opened in South Texas in late September to a relatively strong market for gift pack quality early pecans going to retail outlets. USDA's initial U.S. pecan production forecast for 2000/2001 season will not be released until mid-October 2000. Early estimates, however, indicate that pecan and total tree nut production will likely decline significantly this season from last season's record and may improve markets. While reduced pecan and tree nut production may help improve the market, record large carry-in pecan stocks and imports may increase supplies to over 465 million pounds making a major market recovery difficult. As of the end of August 2000, only slightly over 300 million pounds of last year's record large 526 million pounds of total pecan suppliers have been sold. While most of the record large 225.5 million pounds of carry-in stock will likely go to the processed industry, the market will have to contend with potential supplies of about 240 million pounds of new crop production and imports. Producers are encouraged to fine tune their market plans as the pecan harvest begins in Texas.

According to USDA's September 25, 2000 fruit and tree nut report, total production of tree nuts will likely decline this season from the record set at 2.6 billion pounds in-shell last season. While pistachio production forecast are higher than last year, lower estimates of almonds and walnuts and significantly smaller crops of hazelnuts, macadamias and pecan are likely in 2000. Pecan production in 2000 is estimated between 190-220 million pounds, down to about half the size of last year's record crop of 406.1 million pounds. All pecan-producing States, except California, are forecasting a substantially smaller pecan harvest compared to last year.

Up until two years ago, the initial pecan production forecast was released in early September. USDA suspended this first new crop pecan production estimate until October at the request of the industry. Industry estimates placed this year's crop at 190 million to 200 million pounds during July 2000. The National Pecan Shellers Association pegged the new crop at 219.5 million pounds during their conference in Colorado in September 2000. The shellers estimated the crop in Georgia at 90 million pounds, down 25 percent from last year's harvest of 120 million pounds. This forecast was based on estimated made prior to the recent hurricane which has deposited a substantial amount of rain in Georgia's pecan belt. The actual crop may be much lower.

In Terms of the crop in Mexico, USDA's Foreign Agricultural service is forecasting close to a 100 million pound crop in Mexico. Pecan imports from Mexico have averaged 40 million pounds during the past three years. A 100 million pound crop indicates that U.S. imports from Mexico will likely approximate the 40 million pound three year average.

Carry-in stocks, as of the end of August 2000, for the 2000/2001 marketing year stand at a record high 225.5 million pounds, up 182 percent from last year at the same time and up 21.2 percent from second highest carry-in stock level of 186.1 million pounds two years ago.

While pecan prices declined significantly last year, it was refreshing to see that pecan prices did not crash to the 1993 or 1996 level when total supplies were much lower that last year's supply level of 526 million pounds. Last year, grower prices in Texas averaged $1.00/lb for improved varieties and $0.60/lb for natives compared to $0.80 and $0.50, respectively, when the market collapsed in 1996. Composite grower prices across the U.S. pecan belt averaged $0.81 per pound, in-shell basis, compared with 77.4 cents per pound in-shell in 1997 and 64.1 cents per pound in 1996, when the market collapsed.

Record high carry-in stocks of 225.5 million pounds and an estimate of 40 million pounds of imports together with the current production estimate of 219.5 million pounds will place the estimate of total supplies at about 465.5 million pounds, down 11.5 percent from last year's record total supply level of 526 million pounds but up 23.7 percent from a total supply level of 376.5 million pounds in 1998 when prices improved.

As mentioned above, the crop in Mexico is currently estimated at about 100 million pounds in-shell. The amount of imports from Mexico will be directly related to price. With relatively large U.S. supplies, demand will be largely satisfied from domestic supplies. Imports from Mexico are projected to approximate the average of the last three years of 40 million pounds.

Sincerely,

Joseph D. Janak, Jr.

County Extension Agent - Ag

Victoria County

JDJ:vaf

cc: Lin Wilson

P.S. Don't forget to come by the Extension office to get your noon luncheon tickets for Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets are $5.00/person pre-sale and $6.00/person at-the-door.