SPECIALISTS SEEKING GOOD PECAN SPECIES

JACKSON -- Dr. Bill Hunt and Dr. William Reid spent the morning cracking and hulling pecans Friday.

Reid, a pecan specialist from Kansas State University, and Hunt, of the University of Missouri, are looking for pecan species that are suited for production in the Southeast Missouri area.

"We have pecans of all sizes here, ranging from small and medium to very large," said Reid, who is working with the University of Missouri on the project.

The two men were going through more than 90 bags of pecans at the Cape Girardeau Extension Center at Jackson.

The pecans had been submitted to the extension service by pecan growers from throughout the Bootheel in response to a pecan contest.

Each farmer submitted a bag of 30 pecans in the contest to help identify the best native pecans. Contest winners will be determined and announced in the near future. Three cash prizes will be awarded $100 for first, $50 for second and $25 for third.

"Farmers along the Mississippi Valley have a great opportunity to get into raising pecans," said Reid. "With farmers searching for new, more profitable crops, pecan growing may offer a viable alternative to traditional row cropping."

The area, said Reid, has the potential to become a major pecan-producing region. "Pecans grow best in the deep fertile soils found in the Mississippi River flood plain and surrounding river flood plains."

Outstanding native pecans could provide the area with new, well-adapted pecan varieties, say Reid and Hunt.

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.

Farmers can get into pecan growing in a couple of ways, said Reid.

"They may already have pecan trees, and with some fertilization and tree management, they can get into the business in a hurry," said Reid.

For those who have to plant an orchard, it takes a lot longer.

Reid explained that it takes six to seven years to get pecan-producing trees. "You can figure on 13 years before breaking even," added Reid. "But within 20 years, a person can be making good money."

The average net return for pecans is about $500 to $600 an acre.

Reid and Hunt is looking for pecans that can grow and produce good crops.

"There are more than 1,000 pecan specials," Reid. "We are looking for one that will adapt to the climates here and produce high quality nuts every year."

Pecans don't have to be jumbo to be good, said Reid. "But we'd like to see a medium-size pecan which can be adapted to the area."