Las Cruces Digest has identified three major events that have the potential to roil the market for pecans, making small local producers take notice of their “little” patches previously thought of as merely supplemental income.
A Las Cruces Digest Report
By Levi Gwaltney, Editor
Pecans are currently produced in fifteen states in the southern United States. Of the three largest producing states (Georgia, New Mexico and Texas), Georgia tops the list accounting for about one third of the entire U.S. crop. Globally, the United States produces nearly 80% of the world’s pecans. (Source: Farm Bureau Georgia)
The recent damage from Hurricane Helene has yet to be fully assessed, but it is still uncertain if Georgia will be able to hold on to the title of largest pecan producing state, and a shock like this to U.S. pecan production has global consequences. Las Cruces Digest has identified three major events that have the potential to roil the market for pecans, making small local producers take notice of their “little” patches previously thought of as merely supplemental income.
Damage to Georgia Pecan Orchards: Hurricane Helene
In a September 29, 2024 article, University of Georgia professor and extension specialist Lenny Wells reported “preliminary damage”:
"We’ve seen a lot of hurricanes over the last several years, but I don’t think its an exaggeration to say that this one is by far, the worst we have experienced. Wind speeds in Valdosta topped 100 mph. In Douglas-91 mph, Vidalia-77 mph, Augusta-65 mph. Those counties East of I-75 from Valdosta all the way to Augusta have experienced significant damage, some on a level we have not seen until now."
Well’s early estimates pegs damage to 23% of Georgia’s pecan acreage; however, he is cautious to provide more definitive information given the massive efforts underway to clean up in the wake of this latest damaging hurricane. He encourages pecan growers to contact their local FSA as soon as possible to report and document their damage to apply for clean up funds and other assistance available.
Other media local to Georgia has reported substantial losses. One grower reported to CBS affiliate WMAZ a loss of 80% of their 800 acre orchard. “I don’t know how many acres we’ll have if we’ll have any acres, if we’ll still be in the business,” one Georgia grower said. Of the 20% that were not uprooted, only time will tell if the stress the trees have been under will prove to be salvageable. Only time will tell, and it will take 2 to 3 years to know for sure. Some Georgia growers simply will not have the resources to wait that long to find out.
Flooding in and Around Roswell, New Mexico
While New Mexico ranks fourth in the nation in pecan acreage, it stands second only to Georgia with regard to production. This is due in part to the maturity of trees in New Mexico’s orchards. While farmers in Doña Ana County take pride in being the largest pecan producing region in New Mexico, there are other regions that produce pecans. One of them is Roswell.
Just over one week ago, the Roswell area was hit with biblical levels of rainfall, flooding the region and wreaking havoc in the eastern part of New Mexico. Most of the reporting out of Roswell concerns top-line concerns of damage to the region; however, it is unlikely pecan producers in the area will escape without consequences. Las Cruces Digest is monitoring the pecan situation in eastern New Mexico for any word on damage to the established and burgeoning orchards there.
Stahmann Farms Storage Warehouse Fire
Las Cruces Digest reported on the days-long fire at Stahmann Farms, and the eventual destruction of 380,000 pounds of storage pecans in the warehouse that went ablaze. While the fire was contained to the warehouse early on, it continued to burn for days, eliminating the equivalent of twice the poundage of all unshelled pecans imported last week (or 25% of the the poundage of shelled pecans imported last week).
The type of pecans destroyed in the fire (shelled or “in-shell’) has not been disclosed.
What Does This Mean to Local Producers?
These events, taken as a whole, mean there will be a recognizable shift in the supply curve of pecans this season, and potentially for several seasons to come. It does not automatically follow that prices will be higher since price is dependent on both supply and demand, and demand is much more tricky to ascertain. Despite the eventual market price, this is certain. Some who typically purchase pecans from Georgia will have to source their pecans elsewhere, and there is no reason why the small producers in our broader community cannot pick up the slack.
Now is a time to pay attention to our pecans, and keep an eye on the pecan market.
How to Monitor the Pecan Market
The USDA publishes the “National Pecan Summary” twice a week. It is published twice weekly (on Tuesday and Thursday). This report provides prevailing prices and an overview of how many pounds of pecans are being sold and at what prices. It also provides an origin. The most recent edition of this publication can be viewed HERE.
Las Cruces Digest will begin publishing each new edition as published along with a multiple part series, “How to Read the Pecan Report”. Subscribe to the Daily Las Cruces Digest to ensure you don’t miss anything in the constantly changing pecan market.
Quick Tip to Small Scale Pecan Producers
One local market expert made the following suggestion: Harvest your pecans at your earliest convenience. While it may be more difficult this year to secure the proper equipment or service provider to get your pecans harvested in a timely fashion, it is likely to be in your best interest to do so. The longer mature the nuts remain on the tree, the longer they are exposed to crop risks such as disease, vermin and weather.
These are uncertain times, especially where the environment is concerned. A missed opportunity to harvest your crop might be a missed opportunity to harvest a crop at all.
Where to Turn Should there be Questions
The Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Service should be the first stop for any agriculture-related questions. The “Master Gardener Hotline” is available on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am to noon, and is a great resource with experts immediately available to address your questions. The hotline number is: (575) 525-6649.
For more general questions, and questions for which you migh not be sure where to begin, call the operators at the Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Service. If there is a related area of expertise associated, they will point you in the right direction. The general information number is the same as above: (575) 525-6649.
They can also be reached via email at: donaana@nmsu.edu
Their homepage is: https://donaanaextension.nmsu.edu
