Environmental
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An early budbreak just prior to last weekend’s freezing temperatures has caused damage to the developing buds of early pecan varieties. Below are some photos of budbreak on Cape Fear pecans taken in Crisp County on Friday afternoon. Elliott buds in the same orchard were also open. Budbreak occurs from the bottom up, so most…
Posted in: Environmental -
After a couple of weeks of 80 degree temperatures we are facing low temperatures in the mid 20s this weekend. Forecasts call for temps anywhere from 25 degrees to 28 degrees from middle Georgia down to Valdosta. Temps further north in the Athens area may get down to 23 degrees. What does this mean for…
Posted in: Environmental -
The never-ending array of challenges each pecan crop presents continues with the 2021 pecan crop. From the beginning this year’s crop has appeared late and short. The intermittently cold spring pushed budbreak back and greatly slowed the progression of foliage expansion, and thus flowering and crop development by at least 10 days. This may have…
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As predicted we are seeing a banner year for water stage fruit split. We are currently seeing nut drop from water split even on varieties on which we don’t normally see it (such as Desirable). It has been abnormally wet this growing season and especially through the late water stage and early shell hardening phase…
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We’re into late summer and seeing some leaf scorching out there. The two most common types I have had calls on this week have been from the scorching of young trees from heat stress. On older trees we are seeing a fair amount of terminal die back (Neofusicoccum). I went back and looked at the…
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The article found at the link below describes the hard time Western pecan growers are having getting enough good-quality irrigation water this year. This emphasizes the importance of managing the water we have here in the Southeast wisely. You should be at 45-50% of your irrigation system’s full capacity in July for nut sizing. If…
Posted in: Environmental -
Temperatures later this week are predicted to be pretty warm for this time of year. We are coming off a pretty cool spring and are diving right into summer. The trees have not had much chance so far to be conditioned for temps in the upper 90’s. This may lead to a few issues you…
Posted in: Environmental