By Clint Thompson
Georgia’s bearing pecan acres in 2023 was 146,000 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number might continue to rise as more young orchards come online with a crop.
“According to the satellite survey that the American Pecan Council did, and this has probably been four or five years ago, we were approaching total acres, bearing and non-bearing, we were up there around 200,000,” University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells said. “I’m sure we’re at that now.”
This year’s total bearing acres is comparable to 2022 but about seven thousand more than the 2021 figure of 139,000. The increase could eventually stall if producers start downsizing their operations amid the low prices. Wells indicated he has already started hearing some farmers do just that.
“I’m hearing a lot of rumblings of people giving up leases and that kind of thing on some of these older orchards. That may bring things back down a little bit,” Wells said. “A few years ago, every orchard in the state, regardless of size, was being brought back into production. You’ll probably see some of that change.”
Georgia’s pecan production netted around 88.3 million pounds in 2023, a huge decrease from the 131,000 recorded in 2022.
Despite the challenging market prices and excessive amount of pecan crop already being produced throughout the state, Wells says new growers are still expressing interest in producing new trees.
“When we do that beginner’s class, you see some new faces in there. I don’t know how much longer that will continue. I can’t imagine it’s going to continue a lot longer, at any large numbers any way,” Wells said.