By Clint Thompson
Rainfall is important this time of year for pecan production in the Southeast. On the heels of another harvest season, trees can use the rain during the winter months – just like what occurred across the region on Tuesday – to sustain high production during the following season.
Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist, speaks about the importance of growers receiving rains and overcoming the drought-like conditions that were present during the fall time period.
“In the wintertime it’s not bad; it’s not a bad thing at all. It helps with the planting as far as getting those new trees off to a good start. It helps re-establish the water table and the aquifers,” Wells said. “Winter rain doesn’t bother us that much. It’s when it comes during the summer that it hurts us the most.”
The rain events increased in the Southeast in December following a prolonged drought that blanketed all of the Southeast and offered little to no moisture for multiple months.
According to the UGA Weather Network, Tifton, Georgia, received 6.96 inches of rainfall during December, compared to 1.45 inches in 2022 and 2.79 in 2021. Moultrie, Georgia, received 7.48 inches during December, compared to 1.28 in 2022 and 4.28 in 2021.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor that was released last week, most of southern and eastern Georgia remains drought free.