SEGUIN, Texas – The ongoing drought combined with a down year for pecans, means smaller and fewer pecans can be expected from the Texas crop.
"Well, there's just not that many here," said John Pape, as he inspected a Pecan tree.
Pape, whose family has long run Pape's Pecan farm and Pape's Pecan House in Seguin, said this year's Pecan crop is not ideal.
"(The pecans) are usually larger, and it's because of a shortage of rain," said Pape.
A drought stricken summer means fewer, smaller nuts as the pecan season nears.
According to Pape, it will likely be a down year for the Texas pecan crop.
"Overall, (in) the whole state; we will have probably a 10 percent to 15percent yield," said Pape.
Even if good rains were to arrive soon, it would likely be too late to help this year's pecan crop.
However, it could benefit next year's crop.
According to Pape, pecan yields alternate every other year. Last year's crop was good and he predicted next year's crop would be good too.
For now, though, the combination of a down year and a drought has already taken a toll.
As for demand, Pape said there will not be a shortage. Georgia, the nation's leading producer of pecans, has had a banner season, and there are still many pecans in cold storage.
"They'll be plenty of pecans for everybody," said Pape.
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