Across parts of south Georgia temperatures dipped into the freezing range resulting in earlier budding pecan trees to suffer damage. 

 

On 13-Mar-2022 temperatures dropped into the freezing range in various parts of Georgia and Alabama. Early budding pecan trees have experienced damage across the southeast. In Albany Georgia the world’s largest pecan producing region, temperatures dropped down to 30°f through nightfall. 

 

 

Temperatures dropped as low as 26°f in parts of Alabama. Dr. Lenny Wells with the University of Georgia has been out scouting damage in areas of Georgia and has made some interesting finds. 

 

Dr. Wells noted the damage to the earlier buds that have already broken through, and even looked at some of the buds that had not yet broken out showing little to no damage on some, but others did show damage. 

 

The images here were taken on our farm in Colquitt county Georgia. Dr. Wells has even more detailed images of damage he has found just north in Crisp county, Georgia. Some crop loss is expected from the damage but as Dr. Wells wrote, hopefully the damage will not be widespread and contained largely to the lower buds on the trees. 

 

 

Dr. Wells also mentioned the unseen damage that has likely occurred in young orchards, that may become more prevalent in June and July of this year as the water requirements for the trees increases. As trees continue to bud out growers will continue to monitor the trees and the extent of the damage, while hopefully temperatures stay above freezing. 

 

With a shorter crop this past season, a larger crop is needed to stabilize inventories for supply. As marketing dollars grow, supply will need to keep up with the hopefully steadily increasing consumption of pecans and pecan products.