Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Evaluation of integrated pecan production management systems (Doña Ana County)

Plan Goal

Dona Ana County is the largest producer of Pecans in the southwest. Labor and water issues have become an increasing burden to the pecan farmer. New management practices will be assessed to demonstrate enhanced profitability.

Situation Statement

There are approximately 35,000 acres of pecans in New Mexico and, in 2005, New Mexico pecan sales were valued at a record $112 million, accounting for a substantial percentage of the state’s agricultural economy. With declining profitability in many of the state’s other agricultural sectors in recent years, there has been much conversion of crop land to pecan orchards. At the same time, however, production costs (e.g. land, nursery trees, fuel, and fertilizers) are rising, irrigation water is becoming scarcer and international competition is increasing. Thus, for pecan operations to be profitable, it is more critical today than ever before for growers to maximize production efficiency. The research and extension activities in this plan of work will make the New Mexico pecan industry more competitive in the world market in the long term by making growers better able to make informed management decisions.

Target Audience and Actions

The target audience for this program includes large and small scale pecan growers in New Mexico. Experiments will be conducted, targeting the issues surrounding alternate bearing in particular. Results will be disseminated via one-on-one visits with growers, an annual shortcourse, an annual conference, field days, extension publications and trade journal articles.

Short-Term Objectives

New Mexico pecan growers attending presentations or reading published materials will, on average, report a 50% improvement in their ability to make well-informed orchard management decisions.

Medium-Term Objectives

Forty percent of pecan growers attending presentations or reading publications will adopt those management practices demonstrated to enhance orchard profitability.

Long-Term Objectives

Of New Mexico pecan growers adopting practices promoted by this program, 75% will report reduced alternate bearing intensity, higher yield/quality or reduced inputs as a result of adopting these practices.

Evaluation Plan

Short-term objectives of this program will be evaluated through questionnaires, while longer-term objectives will be evaluated through surveys, personal observations and interviews.