In a Nutshell: The Pecan Podcast

From the University of Georgia Department of Pathology, Dr. Clemen Oliveira joins the podcast to discuss his 2025 on-farm pecan scab research trials, a basics in the scab fungus biology, and proper rotation of fungicides. Hosts Dr. Lenny Wells and Andrew Sawyer talk with Dr. Oliveira on the challenge in managing scab in the Southeastern U.S. What is a good scab management program for low-input cultivars? What is the difference between resistance and sensitivity to fungicide? And finally, is there an opportunity for a new fungicide in pecan?

In this episode, Dr. Patrick Conner from the University of Georgia Department of Horticulture takes us inside the UGA Pecan Breeding Program. Dr. Conner discusses pollinating procedures, the breeding process and development of a pecan cultivar. How long does it take to develop a cultivar? How many crosses are made in a year? How are desired pecan traits determined?The episode closes with a short discussion on the three released pecan varieties under the UGA Pecan Breeding Program.

With pollination complete, Georgia pecan growers are determining how to manage pecan nut casebearer.  Dr. Apurba Barman from the UGA Department of Entomology joins this week's podcast to answer early insect management questions. Has casebearer reproduction been established across Georgia? Should all varieties of pecan be treated the same? Why are the western and eastern pecan growing regions so different in terms of casebearer damage?  Do trap captures of casebearer correlate with damage?Additionally, UGA Horticulturalist Dr. Lenny Wells and Dr. Barman discuss an historical context of aphid management from Texas to Georgia. What should pecan growers do if adult black pecan aphids are present in the month of May?Finally, Dr. Barman addresses his new research on prionus root borer to determine a new way of control and if young pecan trees may also be susceptible to its damage.

This episode separates the planning process from the planting process of establishing a pecan orchard. Hosts Andrew Sawyer and Dr. Lenny Wells of University of Georgia Cooperative Extension cover the necessity of site selection, pollinator placement, and tree spacing. This episode continues with proven planting techniques involving root protection, hole depth, at-plant pruning and deer management. The hosts include a season update for Georgia pecan in April of 2026.

In the second episode, Dr. Lenny Wells of the University of Georgia Department of Horticulture, provides pecan growers a strategy for overcoming the greatest challenge in growing and producing pecans -  the continued increase in the costs of production. The episode also entails an interesting history of both domestic and international pecan markets as well as the development of the current grower and sheller industry.

The first episode serves as an introduction to the podcast. UGA Extension Horticulturalist Dr. Lenny Wells talks with host, Andrew Sawyer, about the new podcasts, upcoming episodes, the 2025 pecan crop, and finally, a brief synopsis of subjects covered during county production meetings.