Prevent the Spread of Pecan Weevil

Shipping or moving shelled pecans?  Joel Arce, EA-IPM El Paso and Hudspeth has some IPM practices you need to follow.  If you have questions, contact Joel Arce at his cell phone number 806-789-5665 or email Joel.Arce@ag.tamu.edu 

(Letter shared below was provided by Joel Arce,Texas A&M AgriLife Extension,Integrated Pest Management- El Paso & Hudspeth Counties, Cell: 806-789-5665, Office- 915-771-2354.)

Here's a link to the Facebook page with more information: Untreated Pecans found in the El Paso Area

Thanks Joel,

Blayne

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 T e x a s  P e c a n  B o a r d


December 9, 2020


Open Letter to the U.S. Pecan Industry,


Ten days ago, the Texas Pecan Board was alerted to the potential for loads of pecans (63)
coming from Georgia to a shelling plant in the El Paso area. This would mean the movement of
pecans through a quarantine area for pecan weevil to a non-quarantine area, that being the 5
western-most counties of Texas. Those loads were found at the shelling plant on the lot and
they had not been inspected or treated according to Texas regulations. We were also alerted
that more loads would be coming through Texas from Georgia to El Paso over the next few
weeks and we have stopped some from entering the non-quarantine area.


The State of Texas has laws in place that restrict the movement of pecans grown in Texas
quarantine counties (249) to non-quarantine counties (5) unless inspected and treated for
pecan weevil. Rules require pecans in quarantine areas to be treated either in freezer storage
or with hot water, (specifics are available if you need them) before moving into a nonquarantine
area. Pecan growers and buyers in Texas have been made aware of the Texas law
on multiple occasions and even though it is causing an economic hardship for growers in
quarantine areas they are complying. But we don't have the ability or resources to reach
outside the state to other production areas.


The Texas Pecan Board is the state commodity board for pecans and is elected and funded by
Texas pecan farm families. We work under the auspices of the Texas Department of Agriculture
and have worked closely with TDA on the pecan weevil issue in the state and are appreciative
of the cooperative relationship we have with them. Also, the Texas Pecan Board is funding and
working cooperatively with USDA-ARS (Dr. Charles Suh) to develop a pecan weevil pheromone
to help monitor insect movement and infestation. Also, through a TDA Specialty Crop Grant,
we are developing and implementing a pecan weevil monitoring, education, and research
program in the border areas to the non-quarantine area of Texas.


So, you can see that the Texas Pecan Board is trying to do what we can to prevent the spread of pecan weevil further west and in fact we are working hard to push the pecan weevil back from
the non-quarantine area. We also know that the New Mexico Department of Agriculture has
been working on their own pecan weevil monitoring, education and research programs and has
even done some eradication efforts in several areas of New Mexico.


Because Texas has laws in place it is the gatekeeper for pecans moving from the East to the
West. As a result, pecans from Louisiana to Georgia can and do move through Texas to shelling plants in far West Texas, New Mexico and even to shelling plants in Mexico. These pecans are
all from pecan weevil areas and these pecans do contain pecan weevil. What that means is that no matter what we do to try and educate consumers about pecan weevil problems, no matter
what we do to help growers eliminate pecan weevil in orchards and no matter what we do to
help counties become a non-quarantine county, they can be infested from pecans shipped here
from eastern US pecan orchards moving through the state.

At this time the pecan weevil issue is simply called a “Texas problem!” I would point out that
this issue is international since Mexico is using it as a trade issue. And further point out that
this is a regional issue since it has the potential to devastate pecan production in Far West
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Lastly, I would point out that this is a national issue
as more and more pecans are moving from Eastern pecan production areas through all of Texas to Western shelling plants with many truck stops along the way!


So, why am I writing this open letter to the U.S. pecan industry? This small commodity board
with a total budget of about $75,000 and the Texas Department of Agriculture with one El Paso
inspector working on many diverse agriculture issues is all that is standing in the way of this
pecan production problem, especially as it concerns the future of western U.S. production. It is
my hope that this letter will bring this issue to the forefront for all pecan organizations. It is not
a Texas issue alone, US pecan organizations, east to west, need to be discussing this issue, what it means for their membership (treatment is not cheap) and what needs to be done to help
eliminate spreading pecan weevil infestations further west. USDA as the agency responsible for
plant pests, especially invasive pests should help with interstate pecan traffic problems and the
international trade problems with Mexico generated by pecan weevil. Lastly, APC as the
Federal Marketing Order could officially recognize the problem and put emphasis and resources towards resolution of this broad U.S. pecan issue since it reaches into every state and county
where pecans are produced.


Please pass this letter along to interested individuals in our industry and as we continue to deal
with this issue, the Texas Pecan Board welcomes your comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,
Bob Whitney
Executive Director

 2 0 1 S. H o u s t o n  •  D e L e o n, T X  7 6 4 4 4  •  www . T e x a s P e c a n B o a r d . c
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