Raw Pecan Nut Monthly Update (United States) 2026-01

The USDA announced a $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program to support specialty crop and sugar producers facing market disruptions, high input costs, and unfair trade practices. This one-time bridge payment program targets a wide range of specialty crops and requires farmers to report their 2025 planted acres by March 13, 2026, to be eligible. Payments will be based on these acreage reports, with commodity-specific rates announced by the end of March 2026. The program does not require crop insurance linkage but encourages producers to utilize new risk management tools under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The ASCF aims to stabilize the specialty crop sector and improve market opportunities for nutritious fruits and vegetables across American institutions and consumers.

The USDA announced a $263 million purchase of dairy and agricultural products to support nutrition assistance programs and food banks nationwide under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935. The procurement aims to aid both producers and communities in need by providing essential staples such as milk, cheese, legumes, nuts, and fruits. Key allocations include $75 million for butter, $32.5 million for cheddar cheese, $25 million for dried beans, and $15 million for fresh pears and walnuts. This initiative is designed to stabilize farm incomes, protect rural jobs, and strengthen the agricultural economy while addressing food insecurity.

The USDA is accepting nominations for seven members and seven alternates to serve on the American Pecan Council from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2030. The council seeks nominees representing pecan growers and shellers across Western, Central, and Eastern U.S. regions, with specific acreage and production volume qualifications for large and small growers and shellers. The council, which includes 17 members representing growers, shellers, accumulators, and the public, oversees marketing programs authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to support pecan industry marketing efforts. Nominations must be submitted by March 31, 2026, with further details available through the USDA and American Pecan Council contacts.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to purchase up to $263 million in dairy and agricultural products from American farmers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs nationwide. Utilizing authority under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935, the purchases include butter, various cheeses, milk, chickpeas, dried beans, fresh pears, lentils, pecans, split peas, and walnuts. This initiative aims to stabilize farm income, support rural economies, and strengthen the national food supply by converting harvests into meals for communities in need. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will facilitate these purchases, reinforcing agriculture as a key component of economic resilience and food security.

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is co-hosting a roundtable in Washington D.C. to urge Congress to make permanent the recent interim final rule changes to the H-2A program's Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). The coalition, comprising 39 organizations from nine states including state farm bureaus and specialty crop groups, advocates for codifying the AEWR methodology based on the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey to provide stability and predictability for agricultural labor costs. Temporary fixes have caused planning difficulties for growers facing volatile wage increases, sometimes up to 30% over three years, impacting contract negotiations with retailers. The coalition emphasizes that a market-based, sustainable AEWR process is essential for both employers and employees in the specialty crop sector.

The USDA has announced a $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program to support specialty crop and sugar producers affected by market disruptions, high input costs, inflation, and unfair foreign trade practices. This one-time bridge payment program targets a wide range of specialty crops and is based on 2025 planted acreage, with farmers required to report their acreage by March 13, 2026. The program, authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and administered by the Farm Service Agency, does not require crop insurance linkage but encourages use of new risk management tools. Payment rates by commodity will be announced by the end of March 2026, aiming to stabilize the specialty crop market and ensure continued availability of nutritious fruits and vegetables for American consumers.

The USDA announced a $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program to support specialty crop producers and sugar growers not covered by the Farmer Bridge Assistance program. This one-time payment aims to address market disruptions, high input costs, inflation, and unfair foreign trade practices affecting exports. Eligible specialty crop farmers must report their 2025 planted acres to the Farm Service Agency by March 13, 2026, with payment rates to be announced by the end of March. The program covers a broad range of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries, and does not require crop insurance linkage, although USDA encourages use of new risk management tools. This initiative seeks to stabilize the specialty crop sector and ensure continued supply of nutritious foods to American consumers.

The 2024 pecan harvest in Georgia concluded with significant regional variability, as East Georgia producers experienced notably light yields, largely due to the impact of Hurricane Helene. Other parts of the state faced a mix of challenges including heavy rainfall that increased scab disease pressure, prolonged cloudy weather limiting nut development, and a late-season drought from mid-August through November that severely affected kernel filling. Irrigation efforts were insufficient to counteract the drought's effects during this critical period, resulting in either very good or very poor outcomes for growers, with few experiencing moderate results.

The University of Georgia Extension is conducting its annual pecan meetings across South Georgia to review last season's harvest and discuss management strategies to improve efficiency and reduce input costs. Key topics include addressing pecan scab issues, with insights from a new plant pathologist. These meetings aim to help pecan producers optimize their practices amid ongoing disease challenges. Sessions are scheduled through March in multiple pecan-producing counties, with varied meal arrangements depending on location.