As we continue to evaluate damage from Tropical Storm Debby, it appears that the greatest impact in the Eastern growing region of Georgia has been the flood waters that are just now recending to the point that growers can begin to get into some of these orchards to evaluate them. The worst hit areas got 8-12″ on top of nearly as much the previous week. It’s hard to say about direct crop loss in that region of the state but I would estimate about the same as reported in the previous blog post for other impacted areas. We have seen that the Pawnee variety was hardest hit in terms of direct crop loss from wind-blow because it was more mature and thus, larger and heavier in size. Estimates are 20% loss of Pawnee nuts in some orchards, with estimates for most other varieties being at 10-15%. The greatest tree loss that I have heard about to date occurred in Brooks, Lowndes, Berrien, and Cook counties. A few of the larger farms in those areas lost as many as 500 trees. This requires significant clean up but on a percentage basis the loss is less than occurred for some of these growers in previous storms. One problem in the areas further to the East (Ware, Pierce, Appling, Tattnall, Toombs, Evans, Bulloch), where flooding occurred is that many of the nuts blown off were carried away by flood waters, making it a little harder to assess. Pecans can handle flooding in the short term (for a week or so) so I don’t think we’ll see a lot of effect from the standing water, but because this is a sensitive time period in the crop’s development and the tree’s determination (induction) of next year’s crop, there is potential for size/quality loss but I am more concerned about the effect on next year’s crop. However, if the water drains off quickly, as it seems to be doing, they should be fine. It also remains to be seen what effect the beating the nuts took in the storm’s wind will have on crop quality, if any.
Given the rainfall growers have dealt with over the course of July and early August, they have done an exceptional job with scab control . There is some scab to be found out there but in spite of the pressure the frequent rains brought, growers have done well in tightening their intervals when needed and rotating Miravis Top with Dodine. Miravis Top is doing a lot to help us with our scab control. Dodine has been a reliable scab material for a long time and remains one of, if not the best scab material we have outside of Miravis Top. We are about done with scab sprays at this point but I mention how important Miravis Top is for our scab control to emphasize to you that it is imperative growers not abuse this chemistry through over-use and poor rotation so that it will continue to remain as effective for years to come. The same holds true for any of our fungicides. You should be finished with your Pawnee sprays at this point as shells have hardened and we are now seeing the kernel meat develop inside. Desirable and any other highly scab prone varieties likely need one more additional spray as we are on the cusp of shell hardening in most varieties.
This time of year also brings with it many insect pests to account for. As shell hardening occurs, control of pests like shuckworm and stink bugs becomes vitally important. Intrepid or Intrepid Edge will provide good control of shuckworm. If you are concerned about stink bugs (especially if in an area surrounded by cotton and peanuts) you should begin to think about spraying for this pest. Bifenthrin will be the best option. Pawnee is actually past due for a stink bug spray so if that slipped by you, go ahead and make that application. Other varieties are due over the next couple weeks. If you have an older orchard, especially where there is a history of weevil, Bifenthrin will also work well on that pest. Spraying Bifenthrin or any pyrethroid will also control shuckworm, so if you do so there is no need to add an additional material for shuckworm. IF YOU SPRAY BIFENTHRIN OR ANY PYRETHROID, BE PREPARED TO COME RIGHT BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO 10 DAYS WITH A SPRAY FOR APHIDS AND MITES. Watch these pests closely after a pyrethroid spray and treat as needed as it usually flares them.
There is some exciting news on the domestic marketing front for pecans! The American Pecan Council/American Pecan Promotion Board has done a great job recently negotiating with Mars, Inc. to produce a Snickers Pecan candy bar. In 2019, Mars made a short run of the candy bars, which sold out overnight on-line. The new Snickers Pecan is now a more permanent addition to the Snickers portfolio and started hitting store shelves nation-wide last week. If you haven’t seen them out there yet, keep looking. They’re coming. Hopefully, this will provide a much-needed boost to pecan sales here in the U.S. and increase awareness of our favorite nut.
