Mississippi pecan growers are reporting varied harvest outcomes as dry summer conditions and widespread disease affected production in parts of the state.
Eric Stafne, fruit and nut specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, described the 2025 season as mixed. He said yields depended largely on the varieties planted and growers' ability to manage disease pressure. A dry August and higher-than-usual levels of pecan scab are expected to influence both nut quantity and quality. Pecan scab, a fungal disease exacerbated by wet conditions, can cause premature leaf and nut drop and can eliminate a crop under severe infection.
© Mississippi State University
James Callahan, president of the Mississippi Pecan Growers Association, said growers across the state reported challenges linked to limited rainfall during key months. He noted that northern Mississippi saw adequate rain early in the season but very little from July through September. "Scab was worse than usual throughout the state, even in the northern part of the state where we had no rain," he said.
Stafne added that some orchards may still be experiencing delayed effects from the drought conditions of 2023 and 2024. He said irrigated orchards are less likely to show long-term stress, but others may be dealing with reduced nut production or tree decline.
Mississippi expects to harvest about 1.5 million pounds of pecans in 2025, although Callahan said the figure is likely an underestimate because many smaller producers do not report yields. The state has an estimated 18,000 acres (about 7,285 hectares) of commercial pecan production, and the Mississippi Pecan Growers Association has roughly 50 members.
Callahan said fewer younger producers are entering the sector. He cited lower-priced imports, low market prices, high input and equipment costs, and labor shortages as contributing factors. As a result, more growers are selling part or all of their crop directly through local outlets such as farm stands and farmers' markets.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, the average price for 50-pound sacks of improved varieties between January and October 2025 was US$149.98, down from US$174.31 in 2024 and US$167.36 in 2023. Native varieties averaged US$145.83 in 2025, compared with US$151.19 in 2024 and US$148 in 2023.
Extension agricultural economist Elizabeth Canales Medina said prices typically peak in November and December, meaning the overall 2025 average may end higher. She also noted that prices in 2024 were supported by lower supply in Georgia following reduced production after Hurricane Helene.
For more information:
Dr. Eric Stafne
Mississippi State University
Email: [email protected]
www.extension.msstate.edu
