By Clint Thompson
Georgia pecan growers, like Justin Jones in Lee County, are hopeful that weather conditions stay drier for the rest of October. It will help the crop avoid quality issues that might arise following the wet weather conditions to begin the month.
“If it stays like this or if it stays like a dry October, like we’re kind of used to having, then we should be okay,” Jones said. “If it turns around and starts raining, we’re going to lose some to rot and that’s going to be a problem.”
Hurricane Isaias’ trek through the Southeast on Oct. 9-10 was the second straight weekend where heavy rains drenched parts of South Georgia. According to the University of Georgia Automated Weather Network, Albany, Georgia, received 6.06 inches of rainfall from Oct. 1 to Oct. 10. Tifton, Georgia, received 7.14 inches of rain during the same timeframe.
Historically, October is one of the driest months across the state. That’s the weather conditions that pecan producers need right now, especially after the hurricane’s winds knocked pecans to the ground, including about 30% to 40% of Jones’ crop.
“The ground is covered with pecans. They’re good pecans. That’s one good thing about everything. All the meat yield in them looks really good. We’re trying to harvest one time this year with fuel prices and everything, but I just don’t see where we’re going to be able to do it,” Jones said. “What we can’t stand is another flooding rain with a couple of inches, or heavy downpour.
“This sun will definitely help dry them down to where they won’t germinate, stuff like that. So that’s good.”