OSU’s pecan management course geared toward seasoned and novice growers

Friday, February 14, 2014

Whether you are a seasoned grower, new to the industry, or simply wanting information about it, the 2014 Fundamentals of Pecan Management course offered by Oklahoma State University will offer participants a wealth of research-based information.

The goal of the course is to provide an in-depth experience, both in the classroom and hands-on in the orchard, for current and prospective pecan growers, said Becky Carroll, OSU Cooperative Extension assistant specialist, fruit crops and pecans.

The class will meet one Tuesday per month beginning March 11 and continue through Oct. 21, with the exception of June. The meetings will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cimarron Valley Research Station near Perkins.

A registration fee of $250 per person is due by Feb. 28. For more information, please call Stephanie Larimer at 405-744-5404, or email her at stephanie.larimer@okstate.edu. Participants may register online at http://orangehub.okstate.edu/ustores/web/index.jsp. Click on the Horticulture/Landscape store, and then select “Short Courses and Schools.” Click on “2014 Fundamentals of Pecan Management.”

“We will focus on the prioritization and practical application of major management practices according to the pecan growing season,” Carroll said. “The topics scheduled for each session coincide with what is actually happening during the pecan growing season.”

The meetings will combine traditional classroom learning with hands-on experiences, as well as an optional web-based study component.

“The pecan industry is big in Oklahoma and continues to have a positive impact throughout the state, especially on our economy. Oklahoma’s pecan harvest averages about 18 million pounds each year,” Carroll said. “We’ve offered this course for a number of years and participants indicate the information they receive is very beneficial to their operations.”

There will be a number of industry professionals, as well as specialists from OSU and the Noble Foundation, who will be on hand to share their expertise with the participants throughout the course.

Each of the monthly workshops will cover subjects dealing with pecan management during that particular part of the growing season. Some of the topics covered throughout the course will include management overview, fertilization, planting bareroot trees, grafting, pesticide application, insect management, Mesonet tools, pruning and training, weed control, pecan cultivars, disease management, crop load estimates, nut thinning, preparation for harvest, equipment needs, orchard floor management, sanitation, marketing, harvest, quality evaluation and graftwood collection, just to name a few.

“We’re excited to offer this course to those with an interest in the pecan industry as a way to help them make the most of their production efforts,” Carroll said.

Participants also may attend the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association meeting in Tulsa in lieu of the June workshop. The fee for attending this meeting is not included in the registration fee for the pecan management course.

Those who would like more information about the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association may visit the group’s website at www.okpecangrowers.com.