October 28, 2023 Issue, Page 8 of 10

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8 - The Elk City News October 28, 2023 Pecan projection looks promising for the fall harvest Don’t forget fall By Trisha Gedon the past couple of years, and some growers are still recover- ducer in Okfuskee County, cleanup in the garden that I have the opportunity to said she is looking forward to carry on and do this job is an STILLWATER. - Wind ing from the freezes in 2021 a fruitful harvest this year at honor and privilege.” storms earlier this year, cou- and 2022 and recent drought Haydon Farms. The past two Josh Grundmann knows By Trisha Gedon scape, but what should gar- pled with a late spring freeze conditions. Carroll said trees years have been especially something about a family busi- deners do with them in the in 2021 and an early fall freeze ness. He has worked with his in 2022, have wreaked havoc tend to shed a lot of pecans be- challenging for her operation. STILLWATER - With the winter? parents at Valley View Pecan arrival of colder weather, gar- Hentges said both annual on Oklahoma’s pecan crop the fore they mature in a drought, “This year we're recover- Company, a business estab- past couple of years, but the and those that do mature are ing from last year’s freeze, and lished in 2001, since finish- deners should spend some and perennial grasses should 2023 outlook is good with har- typically smaller. we've also been dealing with ing graduate school at OSU in time tidying up their garden be left in the garden for now. vest on the horizon. “If they're too small, com- pecan nut scab,” she said. “Be- 2009. He purchased the com- spaces in the off-season. “Annual ornamental grass- What stays in the garden Becky Carroll, Oklahoma mercial shellers don’t want to ing a native orchard, we tend mercial shelling and candy and what goes? Casey Hent- es can be removed, orifa gar- dener chooses, can remain State University Extension purchase them,” she said. “It not to spray as much as they company located near Shaw- ges, Oklahoma State Univer- senior specialist, fruit and pe- doesn’t affect the taste, but do in the improved variety or- nee from his parents in 2022. sity Extension specialist and until late winter and then Valley View Pecan Com- host of OSU Agriculture's be dug up and removed,” she cans, said the National Pecan it takes a lot more pecans to chards.” said. “Leave perennial grasses Shellers Association predicts make a pound, which is more During the freezes, Ray- pany is one of two commercial “Oklahoma Gardening” televi- shelling companies in Oklaho- sion show, said most annuals in place and plan to trim them this year’s crop estimate at work for the shellers.” bourn said they had bonfires back in late winter just before 22 million pounds, which is Carroll said the pecans were burning in the orchard, but ma. Grundmann said he shells and tropical plants should be for 40 to 50 growers and aver- new growth emerges. The above the average of 17 million late ripening in 2022 because when it’s that cold for that ages about 150,000 to 200,000 pulled up from the garden. great thing about ornamen- pounds in Oklahoma. of the drought, and the early long, there wasn’t much else pounds of pecans each year. tomatoes“Vegetable plants such as tal grasses is gardeners get and peppers can be “Pecan production is big in freeze in October took out she could do to save the crop. While the average load is 2,000 removed, roots and all,” Hent- a fourth season out of them Oklahoma. It may not be as much of the crop. The pecans Raybourn’s 600-acre pecan pounds per producer, the busi- ges said. “When removing the due to the visual interest and big of acommodity as wheat or froze in the shuck and weren't grove is part ofa 1,600-acre op- ness does shell down to 300 plants, try to leave as much movement they provide in a cattle, but according to the Na- viable. In 2021, the late freeze eration her grandfather, Gro- to 500 pounds for small retail soil as possible. If gardeners winter landscape.” tional Agricultural Statistics damaged buds growing on the ver Haydon, started in 1915. stores. didn’t experience any pest or Perennial grasses like Service Census of Agriculture, trees. Her parents, Paul and Maxine “Being in the shelling and disease problems, this plant monkey grass should remain Oklahoma has 1,878 pecan “Pecans need about 54 Haydon, made substantial im- candy business, I didn’t really material can be added to a in place and then mowed in in a season, and provements to the farm for 70 think about being involved in compost pile. Nice, rich com- the spring to prepare for new farms that total 96,000 acres inches of water growth. and she now manages it agriculture until we had a bad post will be a great addition to of land dedicated to pecan pro- we might average 35 inches to- years, with her sister. There also are crop,” Grundmann said. “With your garden next spring.” Hentges also suggests rak- duction,” Carroll said. “About tal in central Oklahoma,” she 60 acres dedicated to Stuart the projection of a good crop However, if pest and/or ing leaves from cool-season 75% of the pecans grown here said. “Last summer's drought pecans that were grafted by this year, I'm looking forward disease issues occurred, those lawns, such as fescue; the are native pecans, but the was brutal for producers. Most her grandfather. to seeing our customers again plants should be removed and grass is still actively growing, improved varieties are gain- orchards right now don’t have “We will be ecstatic to be and catching up because that thrown away. They are not and removing the leaves helps ing ground due to large new irrigation, but many people gathering a more typical har- means they're thriving.” good candidates for the com- ensure the grass receives as plantings and to urban sprawl planting new orchards are in- vest this season,” she said. During the past two lean post pile because that gives much sunlight as_ possible where native groves are being stalling it. Irrigating native “Harvest at Haydon Farms will harvest years, he said he had the pests a place to overwinter over the winter, replaced by housing and com- groves is not economically fea- likely continue through mid- to purchase pecans from out and become a problem again Payne said the fall season mercial businesses. With the sible.” January.” of state to maintain the retail next year. is a good time to do a soil large turnout at the pecan field The wind storms earlier Pecan production is more side of his business, which of- Laura Payne, OSU Exten- test. Learning what the soil day recently featuring native this year also caused problems than“It’s a business for Raybourn. fers a variety of homemade sion horticulture educator in my heritage,” she said. candies along with several Payne County, said gardeners may lack now gives gardeners plenty of time to prepare for pecans, landowners are still for growers because they had “The trees have been nurtured kinds of nuts. should consider leaving some spring planting by amending interested in learning how to to clean up the orchard floor in by my family for multiple gen- “The shelling side of the plant material to serve as hab- the soil with organic material. manage our wild, natural pro- preparation for harvest. erations, and I get to live in the business is seasonal, but our itat for beneficial insects dur- Gardeners can layer about duction, too.” Susan Haydon Raybourn, home my grandparents built retall shop is open year round,” ing the cold, winter months. an inch of compost on top of Producers have struggled a third-generation pecan pro- and that I grew up in. The fact “If gardeners remove ev- the soil. A thin layer of leaves erything from the garden, also works, but be careful not that takes away shelter and ato pile them too high. A thick Money Saved Through Cost Effective place to overwinter for many layer of leaves can impede beneficial insects,” Payne said. rainfall from reaching the soil. “Leave some plants in the General gardening mainte- Feeding -Part 1 garden for shelter and those nance can then be cleaned up in the Disconnect the water hose spring. A good rule of thumb from the spigot and drain the Mark 2. Johnson, Okla- program it is imperative to de- tein supplementation of cows = $.625 and $475/1,400 Ibs. = is to remove annuals, but hose. Store it in the garage or homa State University Ex- termine the objective of why grazing warm season grass $.34 leave perennials unless’ they garden shed. Keep in mind tension Beef Cattle Breeding we are feeding or supplement- this fall, either of these protein are diseased, dead or damaged that evergreen plants will ‘The 20% Cubes from insect infestation.” need to be watered periodi- Specialist ing. After defining our goal, we supplements could meet our At a cost of $350, one ton If the garden contains cally. can minimize input costs and needs, but which is the more of 20% cubes contains 400 Ibs. plants that reseed, leave them Clean and sharpen garden From a nutritional stand- maximize our profit potential cost effective alternative? Ata in place to start over in the tools. of CP and 1,400 lbs. of TDN: point, cattle basically need by evaluating feeds based on glance, $350/ton strikes most spring if desired. Gas-powered garden tools protein, energy, vitamins, nutrient content as opposed to of us as a more cost effective For example: 2,000 Ibs. x “If it’s more of a weed or should run until they're out minerals and water. Assuming just looking at the price per ton feed. But what are we actually .20 = 400 lbs. and 2,000 x .70 nuisance plant, pull it out of fuel. If fuel remains in the free choice vitamin/mineral or bag. getting? Some “Cowboy Math” 400 Ibs. carefully and bag it, so the tank, add a stabilizer. and water is in adequate sup- Evaluating Feeds on a Cost yields the following answers: The cost per unit of CP is Remove soil from planters. seeds don’t get distributed,” ply, most nutritional supple- per Unit of Protein and Energy ‘The 38% Cubes $.875/Ib., the cost per unit of Payne said. “Throw these plant If it is a wet winter, the soil materials in the trash. Gar- can freeze, expand and possi- mentation and feeding focuses Basis At a cost of $475, one ton TDN is $.25/lb. deners don’t want to put them bly crack the planter. primarily on the crude protein At the time of this writing, of 38% cubes contains 760 lbs. For example: $350/400 = in the compost pile.” (CP) and energy (TDN) needs 38% CP, 70% TDN range cubes of CP and 1,400 lbs. of TDN: ‘Trees and shrubs Planters containing hardy of cattle. Furthermore, nutri- are available at a bulk price of For example: 2,000 Ibs. x $.875 and $350/1400 = $.25 In addition plants that will remain out- to clean- So, we have determined the side can be wrapped in bubble ing up plant material, some wrap tional needs of cattle vary by $475/ton, the same commer- .38 = 760 Ibs. and 2,000 x .70 to add a layer of insula- more cost effective source of may want to prune trees and age, size, stage of production, cial feed mill has 20% CP, 70% 400 Ibs. shrubs. While pruning can tion to help protect the roots environmental conditions and TDN cubes priced at $350/ton. ‘The cost per unit of CP is CP is the 38% cubes and the done any time of the year, of the plant. weather, gender, breed and Protein and TDN content are $.625/Ib., the cost per unit of more cost effective source of be different plants have recom- Cover water gardens with other factors (like level of milk onan “As Fed” basis. If we are TDN is $.34/Ib. energy is the 20% cubes. What mended pruning times, Payne netting to help keep out de- production). In any nutritional in a situation requiring pro- For example: $475/760 lbs. is the most cost effective feed? said. bris throughout the winter. Depends on our nutritional ob- “Pruning should be done Seal cracks in doors and when it results in the least windows in the home to pre- jective. What we are we feed- damage to the plant. Con- vent insects from coming in- Providing comfort and Supportfor End of Life chotces ing/supplementing and why. Mark Johnson, OSU Ex- tinual improper pruning re- sults in damaged or weakened side. OSU Extension offers ad- tension beef cattle breeding plants,” she said. “The best ditional gardening informa- specialist, discusses the im- time to prune plants is dur- tion. Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- portance of hay testing on ing late winter or early spring sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer SunUpTV from September 17, before growth begins. How- OSU Extension uses re- ever, deciduous trees can be search-based information to or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical 2022. Cow-Calf Corner - Sept. pruned now. 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