PECAN NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2004

VICTORIA COUNTY PECAN SHOW -- ENTRIES DUE OCTOBER 22nd!!

The Victoria County Pecan Show will be held again this year during the South Texas Farm & Ranch Show. DEADLINE for show entries is October 22nd at the Extension office, 528 Waco Circle. Please see enclosed rules flyer for set-up and Show schedule. Note we will be in the ANNEX and will be sharing room with the Victoria County Master Gardener Association members and their GARDEN EXPO.

Read our pecan show schedule thoroughly and see the numbers in the ( ). These numbers reflect the number of volunteers we need to put on the show. Please call Don Stockbauer our 2004 Pecan Growers' President at 572-0092 and volunteer the times you can work.

Also enclosed on the back of the pecan show rules find the GARDEN EXPO rules. It is similar to a Vegetable and Plant Show we urge you to support them in this EXPO. Bring entries for the various classes, i.e. vegetables, fruits, nuts (no need to bring additional pecans), cut flowers, container plants, etc. NOTICE: There is a class for homemade beer and wine too! Many of you make some - bring your samples. This will be a great Farm & Ranch Show!

WHO WANTS $250???

That is the prize again offered for anyone from Victoria County that raises and enters a Victoria County native pecan that wins Grand Champion in the State Pecan Show. This prize was initiated in 1991 and no one has claimed that distinction yet. For fourteen years this $250 has been on the table waiting for the best native pecan entry. Get out and collect some natives before the squirrels and birds do. You know, they know where the best ones are, so don't wait. They'll beat you to it and you'll find only hard shell, fair quality natives.

In past year's shows, nearly 40 native pecans entries were received. Remember, each native tree is a genetically different tree, thus a different entry. We've had some good entries in the past too but those years the Regional and State Shows were tough to beat. Don't let that discourage you though. Go out and promote the native tree entries. We need to find new varieties and what better than to start with a new native - one that is already adapted in our area.

Encourage your friends or neighbors to search out their native trees for the best entry of nuts. Enter several different native trees. Collect at least 100 nuts off each tree and then pick out the best 45 nuts to enter. Our objective is to get more natives into the show so we can identify superior quality nuts and increase our genetic breeding pool, thus higher quality nuts. Go search! Don't delay!

TRI-COUNTY PECAN FIELD DAY

The annual Tri-County Pecan Field Day will be held in Victoria County this year on Friday, November 19, 2004.

It will be held at the Officer's Club located south of the Extension office (333 Bachelor Dr.)

Topics will highlight "Texas Health Restrictions on Home Processed Pecans," presented by Davonna Koebrick from the Texas Department of Health; "Corrective Pruning & Grafting on Wind Damaged Pecan Trees" as well as "Other Pertinent Pecan Production Topics" by Extension Horticulturist, Dr. Larry Stein; "Pecan: New Health Food" speaker to be announced; "Pecan Market and National Production and Outlook" and "Economics of Small Farm Pecan Production: Native/Improved" given by Dr. Larry Falconer, Extension Economist-Management.

SOUTH TEXAS FARM AND RANCH SHOW

Notice!!!

CALL (361) 575-4581

IF ATTENDING ANY OF THE PROGRAMS SO WE CAN PLAN FOR AMPLE SEATING, BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHEONS.

PURCHASE LUNCHEON TICKETS BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25.

Luncheon tickets are $7.00 per person and are available until October 25th at Victoria Farm & Ranch Supply, Victoria Farm Equipment, Dierlam Feeds, Northside Ranch Pet and Garden Center, Victoria Ag & Ranch, Vic-Cal Grain, First Victoria National Bank main bank in the Agriculture department on the Mezzanine floor and also at the Victoria County Extension office located at 528 Waco Circle at the airport area.

See you at the (Pecan Show) South Texas Farm & Ranch Show.

AGRICULTURE WASTE PESTICIDE COLLECTION TO BE HELD IN JACKSON COUNTY

Do you have unwanted pesticides, home chemicals or used motor oil you would like to dispose of, don't dump them, bring them to the Texas DOT Maintenance Facility located at 1025 S. Wells Highway (Hwy. 111) in Edna for the Agricultural Waste Pesticide Collection, Household Hazardous Collection and Texas Cleanup from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on October 29, 2004.

This collection is open to ALL Texas residents and is free of charge, voluntary and confidential. No wastes will be accepted from chemical dealers.

For information of what can and cannot be accepted, please contact the Jackson County Extension office at (361) 782-3312 or the Victoria County Extension office at 575-4581.

TEXAS PECAN SHORTCOURSE

The Texas Pecan Shortcourse will be held January 24-28, 2005 on the Texas A&M campus. This meeting covers all topics related to pecans and provides everyone with the opportunity visit with many different speakers. Registration is $150.00 and parking is $10/day. For more information on this meeting please contact Ms. Jacque Hand at 979-845-7692 or by email at jhand@uc.tamu.edu. This is a full 5 day pecan course and I urge anyone seriously interested in getting into pecan production, whether large or small, to attend. Too many times I see mistakes made by growers that were covered at the pecan course.

Sincerely,

Joseph D. Janak, Jr.

County Extension Agent - Ag

Victoria County

JDJ:vaf

cc: Darrell Dromgoole

Note: Should any product(s) be listed in the above newsletter it (they) are not endorsed by the Texas Cooperative Extension and is (are) listed for your information only.

Special Notice: Provisions from the American Disability Act will be considered when planning educational programs and activities. Please notify the Victoria County Extension Office if you plan on attending any Extension Education Program and need specialized services. Notification of at least two weeks in advance is needed, so that we may have ample time to acquire resources needed to meet your needs.

Educational programs of the Texas Cooperative Extension are open to all people regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origins. The A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.