By Clint Thompson
Alabama pecan quality and quantity was down this year. The prolonged drought is the main reason why, says Bryan Wilkins, Auburn University research associate.
“Numbers are way down. That drought hurt us pretty good. They were as small as they’ve been in a long time. Wasn’t a good year,” Wilkins said. “We were wet, but when it got dry, it got dry. We finished the year out more than five inches below normal. It got dry, and it stayed dried.”
The drought started near the end of summer and hasn’t improved very much since then. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire state of Alabama is experiencing some level of drought. Extreme drought is seen in the eastern part of the state, while severe drought is concentrated in Southeast Alabama. In pecan-producing areas like Mobile and Baldwin counties, moderate drought is mostly observed.
“We finished the year five inches or better below normal, and there are some spots that are even worse,” Wilkins said. “I know there were some spots a little bit north of us that were really dry. Toward Andalusia, and all they’re dry. I think one of the buyers over there normally ships out four tractor-trailer loads a week. They shipped out one.
“The yard trees weren’t there. The people that didn’t have irrigation just really got hurt. We had real problems with stink bugs, too.
“The drought hurt us, it hurt us bad.”