Agroforestry

Pecan harvest

I want to purchase pecans in Butler County. When would be the best time to go there for this year's harvest, October or November?

November is better than October to get this year's fresh cracked pecans. There is a risk in October pecans being from last year's supply. It doesn't hurt to ask before purchasing whether they are last year's crop. If it is, ask how they stored the nuts. If they can tell you they were kept frozen, then the quality should be pretty close to fresh pecans. Also, if you are quite familar with the difference in taste of a fresh pecan compared to pecans that havent been stored properly, then you could ask for a taste test before buying to confirm.

Kenneth L. Hunt
Forestry Research Scientist

Chinese chestnut source

I'm interested in planting chestnut trees on my farm. Where can I buy 200 or more grafted trees below nursery prices. Are there any state programs or trees available through the University?

AF1007, Growing Chinese Chestnuts in Missouri includes a list of nurseries and recommended Chinese chestnut cultivars for Missouri.

The state nursery does not produce or sell Chinese chestnuts. They are exotics. We do not have trees for sale. Our trees are used in our research programs.

To my knowledge, the only way to buy below nursery prices is to do your own grafting. You can buy Chinese chestnut seed or seedlings (ungrafted), buy a small number of trees of the cultivars you wish to plant, and use these trees to take cuttings from and graft the cuttings from the cultivar(s) onto your rootstock in the field. That takes a bit more time (maybe 2 years total) compared to purchasing grafted stock, but it would be far cheaper in dollar outlay.

For the serious grower, we definitely recommend cultivars and not seedlings.

Chestnut Market Analysis Producers’ Perspective, PDF, contains completed research on the chestnut market.

Michael A. Gold
Associate director
University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry

Updated 8/15/08