By Clint Thompson
Pecan production is down this year across the Southeast; mostly due to adverse weather conditions. Steady summer rains led to scab disease development, while the current dry period led to lighter pecans than expected.
Also disappointing this year are the uneven market prices growers are receiving for this year’s crop. Georgia pecan farmer Randy Hudson discussed the pricing situation that producers are encountering this harvest season.
“In some cases, you’ll get a little higher offer if somebody’s looking for some really good stuff. We’ve had some pretty good offers on some high-quality Pawnees,” Hudson said. “The Desirable prices have been really suppressed above what we thought they would be. But we’re also seeing, particularly with regards to large nuts, the grades are not coming in the range they should be coming in. The nuts are not as bright as they should be. There’s a lot of off grade colored stuff.
“We’re seeing some quality issues we’re having to deal with in regards to what we thought would be our best nuts. We produce more Desirables than anything else on our farms, and the yields are not what they should be, and quality is not what it should be.
“We’re going to be real pushed to pay all of our bills this year. We break even, we’re going to consider that a win. But that’s the nature of farming.”