The Texas Pecan Short Course is a comprehensive class aimed at preparing individuals to enter the pecan business. All aspects of commercial pecan production are covered from basic botany to tree planting, integrated pest management,marketing, etc.

The class setting is the Department of Horticultural Science’s HortTREC facility, a field laboratory located in the Brazos River Bottom and near the Texas A&M University teaching and research pecan orchards. Class instructors will engage participants in the most current information for Texas pecan orchard development and management, including hands-on instruction of orchard establishment, sunlight management, tree training and grafting.

Participants should wear warm clothing, because of the winter season during which this class is taught. Outdoor field trips to the pecan orchards will be taken, so appropriate footwear should be part of participant attire as well.

The registration fee includes lunch each day. Register here.

Monday, January 27, 2020 – HortTREC

  • 7:45 Sign In
  • 8:30 Welcome – Dan Lineberger
  • 8:40 Pecan History – George Ray McEachern
  • 9:30 Pecan Tree Anatomy – Dave Reed
  • 10:30 Break
  • 10:45 Pecan Tree Physiology & Photosynthesis – Leo Lombardini
  • 12:15 Lunch – provided onsite
  • 1:00 Site Selection and Soil evaluation – Monte Nesbitt
  • 1:45 Water, Salinity and Irrigation Scheduling – Larry Stein
  • 2:30 Break
  • 2:45 Orchard Design & Spacing George – Ray McEachern
  • 3:30 TAMU Orchard Visit – Soil evaluation & tree spacing
  • 5:00 Adjourn

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 – HortTREC

  • 8:00 Planting & Establishing Pecan Orchards – George Ray McEachern
  • 9:00 Pecan Insect Management – Bill Ree
  • 9:45 Pest Control Options – Pesticides – Bill Ree
  • 10:45 Break
  • 11:00 Pecan Diseases & Prediction Systems – Monte Nesbitt
  • 12:00 Lunch-provided onsite
  • 12:40 Orchard Sprayer Demonstration/Discussion
  • 1:00 Orchard Floor Mgt & Weed Control
  • 1:45 Orchard Fertilization, Zinc Sprays, & Leaf Tissue Analysis – Larry Stein
  • 2:30 Break
  • 2:45 Earth-Kind, Organic & Sustainable Production – Monte Nesbitt
  • 3:30 TAMU Orchard Visit Tree Planting & Pruning
  • 5:00 Adjourn

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 – HORTREC

  • 8:00 Native Pecan Management – Larry Stein
  • 8:45 Pecan Crop Insurance Program – Nicole Gueck
  • 9:15 The Pecan Market & Price History – Blair Krebs
  • 10:00 Break
  • 10:15 Pecans As A Health Food – Rosemary Walzem
  • 11:00 Grading & Selling Pecans – George Ray McEachern
  • 12:00 Lunch provided-onsite
  • 12:40 Pecan Varieties – Monte Nesbitt
  • 1:30 Specific Variety Management Techniques – Larry Stein
  • 2:20 Break
  • 2:30 Pecan Variety Board – Workshop Staff
  • 4:45 Introduction to the Texas Pecan Growers Association
  • 5:00 Ask the Experts Session

Thursday, January 30, 2020 – HORTREC

  • 8:00 TAMU Orchard Visit Nut Harvesting/Cleaning
  • 10:00 Break–return to classroom
  • 10:30 Crop Load Management – Larry Stein
  • 11:15 Crowding, Tree Thinning, & Hedging – George Ray McEachern
  • 12:00 Steak Lunch onsite
  • 1:00 Overview of Pecan Propagation – George Ray McEachern
  • 1:15 Graftwood Collection & Storage – George Ray McEachern
  • 1:35 Four Flap Grafting – Larry Stein
  • 1:55 Inlay Bark Grafting – Monte Nesbitt
  • 2:15 Patch Budding – Monte Nesbitt
  • 2:30 Question/Answer Session
  • 2:40 Break
  • 3:00 Pecan Income Projection Exercise – Monte Nesbitt
  • 4:00 Pecan Calendar
  • 4:30 Graduation & Evaluation
  • 5:00 Program Concludes
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