The Noble Research Institute is preparing to host its annual Pecan Strategy Research workshop from Wednesday, May 5, to Friday, May 7, at its campus in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Farm Director KC Sheperd recently sat down with Laura Putman of the Noble Research Institute to discuss the ongoing Pecan Strategy Research and the collaborative nature of this upcoming event, which brings together producers and industry experts.
Researching Soil Health and Productivity
The workshop is the culmination of ongoing research that tracks approximately 22 producers across a 600-mile range, stretching from South-Central Texas to Northern Oklahoma. Putman explained to Sheperd that the project aims to assess soil health, ecosystem resilience, and profitability through a variety of management practices.
Regarding the core mission of the research, Putman mentioned, “Our aim is to assess soil health, ecosystem resilience, and profitability through a continuum of management practices. Specifically, in a pecan orchard”. She noted that the study seeks to answer a fundamental question: “Do healthier soils contribute to healthier trees and in turn make healthier nuts?”.
Putman, who has a background in research, noted that industry variability has been a primary takeaway. “One thing I can learn just by contributing both those worlds into one is that not one situation is the same as the other,” Putman said. “So, it all depends on what’s going on, as you said, with the weather and in your world. So, you learn something new every day. You can’t have a prescription for everything”.
Workshop Highlights and Expert Panels
The three-day event is designed to foster a closer collaboration between producers and scientists. Putman explained to Sheperd that the goal is to bridge the gap between field observation and scientific data. “This event is basically fostering a collaboration with producers and scientists,” Putman said. “So we’re really trying to connect the questions that these producers have about how we can give them the science behind what’s really happening”.
The schedule includes:
- Producer Panels: Featuring Troy Swift of Swift River Pecans, Shannon Ivey of Rio Bravo Farms, and Eric Perner of Double P Ranch and REP Provisions.
- Expert Presentations: Insights from specialists at Noble, Texas A&M, Texas State University, and Auburn University.
- Orchard Tours: A tour of Noble’s managed orchards to see demonstrations of management principles in action.
Key Topics for Growers
The workshop will address several critical areas of orchard management and economics:
- Data-driven orchard management: Utilizing soil testing, leaf sampling, and nut nutrient analysis to guide decisions.
- The science behind soil moisture: Understanding the water cycle and how it contributes back to the tree.
- Pecan grower economics models: Reviewing marketing strategies specifically for regenerative producers.
- Livestock integration: Exploring the benefits of incorporating livestock into pecan operations.
Putman told Sheperd that because the study range is so wide, the environmental pressures vary significantly. “The people in the southernmost part of our study are going through the most severe drought, and then, you know, we’re just getting five or six inches on top of us right now. So it can vary very badly,” Putman said.
Expanded Educational Opportunities
Beyond the Pecan Strategy Workshop, Noble Research Institute continues to offer a variety of educational opportunities for those in the agricultural industry. Putman highlighted that the research being conducted feeds directly into the broader curriculum provided by the institute.
“We are doing a lot of this research, you know, to help feed into some of the courses that Noble provides, and I think that’s also a great place to check out some things that other people might be interested in or might not know that we offer in terms of education,” Putman said. She noted that Noble frequently hosts events in which experts in livestock, soil health, and water management share their knowledge.
