Walnut successes

When you think about agriculture in Southeast Missouri, do you think about walnuts?

Maybe you should.

Mark Nussbaum, a walnut tree farmer from Cape Girardeau, was named the 2010 Tree Farmer of the Year by the Missouri Walnut Council. And he's not the only successful walnut farmer in the area. Nussbaum saw his business take off after using seed nuts obtained from Dr. Richard Martin, who has a walnut tree farm south of Gordonville.

Last weekend, the state walnut council meeting was held in Cape Girardeau County.

A lot of work, and perhaps just a little bit of good fortune, went in to making these farms so successful. But the walnut farmers have some challenges ahead, including a growing threat called Thousand Cankers disease, the result of a 3-millimeter-long beetle and a fungus that can damage the trees. That was one of the topics discussed at the meetings here.

Southeast Missouri is known for its agriculture versatility. From cattle to cotton, to corn to soybeans, there's a little bit of everything here. Walnuts are yet another example.

Congratulations to Nussbaum and Martin for their tree farming success. And thanks for bringing the meeting back to Cape Girardeau.