Strategically Thinning a Pecan Orchard and Use of the By-product for Sustainable Management

2000 Annual Report for FNC00-304

Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2000: $5,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2002
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $4,453.00
Region: North Central
State: Missouri
Project Coordinator:

Strategically Thinning a Pecan Orchard and Use of the By-product for Sustainable Management

Summary

Producers' use of agroforestry practices can realize profits in the early years of a tree-farming business, a time that normally goes without profit.

Objectives: 1) To plan for the long-term sustainable management of this pecan farm and 2) to provide short-term economic support by finding a market for the farm's current resources.

As a necessary project, the producer thinned out dead or crowded trees to allow room for healthy trees in his pecan patch. She accomplished this through a GIS database and GPS unit by tagging the trees to be thinned and mapping the field. She then chopped this harvested trees into chunks and sold the advertised smoking product to a barbeque business.

Results: At first, the producer found the GPS unit to be inefficient, inaccurate, and time-consuming. She now relies on the GIS and GPS systems to manage her tree farm.