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Local pecan crop suffers as drought drags on
Published January 14, 2009
SEGUIN — It wasn’t only fireworks sellers who took a big hit in 2008 because of the hot, dry weather in South Texas.
Commissioners Tuesday heard that the county’s quarter-million pound pecan crop was way, way off of other years, and with the weakening economy, the bottom has fallen out of prices late in the season.
The Guadalupe County AgriLife Extension Office presents a monthly report to commissioners, which Tuesday was offered by Ag Agent Jeff Hanselka. He who told the court farmers and ranchers in this county took staggering losses in 2008 and have reason to fear more of the same in 2009.
“Our farmers and ranchers are in dire straits,” Hanselka said. “If we don’t get some rain, it’s going to be a complete disaster this spring.”
Hanselka said he’d reviewed the weather projections, and none looked promising.
“The long-term forecast is not good,” Hanselka said.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Pat McDonald said the region has seen around 15 inches of rain over the last 13 months — about 20 inches below average — and the outlook for the next several months calls for below average rainfall to continue.
“We’re going to have to hope for something, a front to come down to trigger ... but the way these systems are moving, they haven’t been tapping a lot of Gulf moisture and giving us an opportunity for rain,” McDonald said.
The outlook through next summer shows regions of Florida and California in drought — but not as severe as in South Central Texas.
“We’re the worst place in the United States right now,” McDonald said. “We’re in an exceptional drought.”
The first month weather models predict above-average rainfall, McDonald said, is March — March, 2010.
“That’s the only indication we have for above-normal precipitation, that far out,” McDonald said. “That’s a ways out.”
The promise of scant rain in coming months is little help for the season no in progress or the one to come this spring.
This year’s pecan harvest is winding up at about 250,000 lbs. in Guadalupe County, Hanselka said, which is not good compared to most years, which normally average about twice that amount and sometimes reach 1 million pounds of production.
Normally, a dip in supply raises the price of any commodity, and Hanselka said wholesale pecan prices started strong this past season at more than $2 a pound.
“Now, it’s hard to get a quote,” Hanselka said. “They’re offering less than a dollar.”
But next year, he said, could be worse without rain, and leave the county with poor production from all but those trees that are closest to a good water source, such as a creek or river.
“If we don’t have any rain, 2009 could be a very bad year for pecans,” Hanselka said. “Just pray for rain.”
But it is the same, Hanselka said, for farmers who must raise other crops or ranchers who grow hay to feed stock.
“It’s been dry,” Hanselka said. “Pray for rain.”
County Judge Mike Wiggins asked about this weekend’s livestock and homemakers show, and Hanselka said he believed baking projects had increased a little this year, and livestock projects were possibly down slightly. Next year’s show season — including the local shows — could see some falling off if the weather and economy don’t cooperate a little bit, he said.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Judy Cope said she’d recently taken a trip to Wichita Falls and been struck by how dry all of Texas is.
“I noticed all the way up that it was very, very dry,” Cope said. “Tanks I normally see filled up were very low or empty.”
Hanselka said he’d visited Oklahoma recently, and it was little different.
“It’s pretty dismal,” Hanselka said.
McDonald said he wished he had better news — particularly for agriculture.
“All the ranches and farmers are asking for rain. They’re getting ready for planting, and they can’t throw seeds into dry ground,” McDonald said. “They need good moisture to throw seeds into, and they need follow on rain to germinate in. If we don’t get it soon, they can’t plant this spring.”
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