STRICTLY BUSINESS: SEARCH IS ON TO FIND A BETTER PECAN

The search is on for a better pecan in Southeast Missouri.

And, in the process, a pecan grower can emerge with a $25 to $100 award because the University of Missouri is sponsoring a contest to help identify the best native pecans.

Pecan specialist Dr. William Reid, of Kansas State University, is working with the University of Missouri in the quest for better pecans. The area has the potential to become a major pecan-producing region, he said."Pecans grow best in the deep fertile soils found in the Mississippi River flood plain and surrounding river flood plains," said Reid. "With farmers searching for new, more profitable crops, pecan growing may offer a viable alternative to traditional row cropping."Outstanding native pecans could provide the area with new, well-adapted pecan varieties, said Reid.

Pecans have been grown for commercial production in Missouri for more than 75 years. Approximately 12,000 acres of pecans are managed commercially in three areas of the state, the southeast lowland, southwest and central areas of the state.

More than 90 percent of these commercial trees are native varieties.

Pecans in Missouri are noted for inconsistent production. There are two reasons for this -- alternate bearing and inadequate management of insects and disease. Growers can overcome these problems with better management techniques such as improved varieties, optimal tree spacing, irrigation, fertilization and pest management.

Now, more about the search for the "better pecan."Pecan tree owners can take nut samples into their local county agent's office before Dec. 3. All the pecans will be brought to the Cape Girardeau County Extension Center at Jackson for the Dec. 10 judging.

All pecans must be from the 1999 crop and collected from a single tree, with only in-shell nuts accepted. At least 30 nuts must be in each sample, and they must be packed in paper bags labeled with name, address and telephone number.

Judges will be looking for large, thin-shelled nuts.

First place gets $100, second $50 and third $25.

Entrants are urged not to mix nuts from different trees."Delinquent tax list"paying off for Illinois.

Public Act 90-753 provides that the Illinois Department of Revenue may publicly disclose a list of delinquent taxpayers including the names, addresses, tax type and amount of delinquent tax liabilities. Taxpayers with a Final Tax Liability, for any tax collected by the department (including penalties and interest) will be included on the list if the final Tax Liability totals $10,000 or more and at least six months have passed since the date the taxes were assessed or became final."-------The Illinois Department of Revenue has made good on its promise to publish a list of delinquent taxpayers who have been notified by certified mail.

A state law that became effective Jan. 1, 1999, authorized the publication of the list, and the department has made a diligent attempt to contact each taxpayer prior to the publication of such a list, which made its appearance on the department's Web site last week.

The taxpayers on the list were notified by certified mail at their last known address at least 90 days before publication and given an opportunity to bring the account into compliance within 60 days of the certified letter.

Compliance is considered to be payment in full or entering into and remaining compliant with an approved payment agreement.

The department, says director Glen Bower, has gone well beyond the notification requirements and has searched its records to determine the taxpayer's last known address. In addition, the department has searched public record information and other available sources for addresses in every instance."The success of this program is not the publication of the list on Nov. 9," said Bower. "It shows in the 712 taxpayers who paid more than $7.5 million, and the 161 taxpayers who have agreed to payment plans that will yield another $8.7 million."After receiving the notice, another 244 taxpayers supplied information that reduced their tax and allowed the department to remove $2.8 million in debt from its books.

Every taxpayer listed on the published list owes a large amount of taxes, said Bower. And they were given every opportunity to come into compliance before publication.

A total of 611 individuals and businesses, who together owe more than $6.8 million in state taxes, were on the list.

The names which appeared last week were the first of several lists which will be made. The current list included taxpayers who owed more than $10,000 for at least six months.

Bower says he know the program is working because "several taxpayers have called me who did not want their names published."Bower told them to pay their taxes.

Some samples of the program's success:* A Chicago pharmacist paid more than $33,000.* A Central Illinois insurance agent paid $13,300 and is making payments on another $5.8 million.* A Cook County physician paid $15,000 of a $23,000 income tax debt and is making payments on the balance.

Names from Cairo to Chicago appear on the list.

The bulk of the delinquencies range from the $10,000 to $40,000, but a number of the charges were between $100,000 and $200,000. Some of the names on the list no longer live in Illinois. In fact, one of the highest charges listed was $602,000 owed by a person who now lives on the east coast.