A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report has forecast a 37% rise in Mexican pecan production in 2011-12, as more trees mature and the country enters the high end of the alternate bearing cycle.

The USDA Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report said the 2010-11 season was a low-year in the alternate bearing cycle with estimated production of around 76,627 metric tons (MT), which is set to rise to 105,000MT in 2011-12.

"New trees are coming into production and industry sources report there have been continued improvements to tree-care inputs: better fertilizer applications, timely pruning, etc that will continue to strengthen production in future years along with area expansion that is being developed and planned for new groves in key production areas like Chihuahua," the report said.

"However, plant diseases and pests continue to be a problem and hamper production in some areas.

The Mexican pecan season starts in October and continues through to December, with the majority of the harvest collected in November.

Many farmers havereported increased yields and nut quality through cultivation practice changes and increased input utilization, but there have been concerns amongst government officials that some are planting more trees than there is water available.

Photo: The Nut Factory

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