Organic food production is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the American food marketplace and is driven largely by personal health preferences and environmental ethics. Organic food sales in the United States rose from $13 billion in 2005 to $35 billion in 2014. Organic farmers are required to follow an ecological soil management program and are restricted in their use of chemicals. In order for a crop to be marketed as organic, it must obtain organic certification and maintain records of the production practices in use on the farm. See the USDA's organic certification information at the following website: https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic. A three-year transition period is required before the crop can be sold as “organic” and use the USDA certified-organic seal. Pecan production generates unique challenges to organic production methods in the humid Southeastern U.S. because it is an environment conducive to heavy pressure from insects, diseases, and weeds. Therefore, the foundation of any organic pecan production program in the Southeastern U.S. will be based on selection for pest-resistant cultivars.

The most fundamental step in pecan production is the selection of varieties or cultivars to be planted in the orchard. Planting the wrong pecan variety can be a costly mistake, resulting in considerable expense. This publication includes descriptions and photos of pecan varieties suitable for planting in Georgia orchards.

Research conducted on drip-irrigated pecans in Georgia over the past several years has shown that drip irrigation is highly beneficial even in wet years. The objective of drip irrigation is to supply each plant with sufficient soil moisture to meet transpiration demands. Drip irrigation offers unique agronomic, agrotechnical and economic advantages for the efficient use of water.

As pecan trees grow in an orchard, their tree canopies encroach upon one another, causing excessive shading, which can increase alternate bearing intensity and reduce tree health and orchard profitability. Historically, limb pruning and tree removal have been the most common methods of dealing with this problem, particularly in the low-light environment of the southeastern United States. Mechanical hedge pruning has been used successfully in high-light environments to mitigate the effects of orchard shading and has become the standard method used for this purpose in the arid production regions of the western United States. The southeastern United States is a relatively low-light environment, exhibiting significant cloud cover and atmospheric water vapor throughout the growing season, which can further limit sunlight in orchard systems. Mechanical hedge pruning offers a solution to this problem, which can also help minimize issues related to pecan scab, hurricanes/tropical storms, and alternate bearing.

In order for a commercial pecan operation to be consistently successful, the goal of the operation should be annual production of a moderate crop of high quality nuts, rather than the production of a high yield in a single given year. Culturally, there are several basic factors that will help to promote optimum profitability with a commercial pecan orchard.

A well-planned, organized orchard will be more efficient, require less input and offer larger potential returns. Select the orchard location based on its soil type, drainage, water table and land topography. Straight rows in planted orchards make maintenance, irrigation and harvest easier. Tree growth and spacing requirements can also be anticipated for the early planting and subsequent orchard thinnings.

Mouse ear of pecan is a growth abnormality resulting from a deficiency of nickel in the pecan tree. Only recently, the discovery was made that mouse ear indicates a severe nickel deficiency. The disorder occurs most frequently on newly transplanted trees in established orchards, but can also occur on sites where pecan has not previously been grown.

An orchard floor provides a working surface for orchard operations and influences activities in the trees, which produce the crop. An efficient orchard floor cover does not compete heavily with trees for moisture and nutrients and is compatible with orchard insect populations. While weed competition with tree roots is significant throughout the life of the tree, in a newly planted orchard, weed competition can significantly reduce young tree survival and can stunt tree growth. Weed competition can reduce tree growth and yield, as well as promote alternate bearing in mature trees.

Pecan production is considered by many who practice this endeavor to be as much an art as it is a science. Growers must integrate multiple disciplines in order to be successful. This book was created with the goal of being a comprehensive reference text for pecan growers, scientists, and county agents. It addresses pecan culture and management in the southeastern United States. For more information, visit https://pecans.uga.edu/

Individuals who propagate trees have their own personal preferences with regard to propagation methods. As with many practices related to pecan production, timing is important for successful propagation.