After fifteen years of being hosted in Appling County, the Southeast Georgia Pecan Field Day came to Pierce County. Sponsored by Clough Pecan Company, Shiloh Pecan Farms Nursery, Savage Equipment, Carden and Associates and the UGA Extension, the day was all about the pecan orchard business.
The event started with an equipment viewing and, giving any stragglers time to arrive, an official welcome from UGA Extension Agent James Jacobs.
Informative talks by several subject matter experts followed, including presentations by Area Pecan Agent Andrew Sawyer, Dr. Laurel Dunn of UGA Food Science, UGA Pathologist Dr. Tim Brenneman, UGA Entomologist Dr. Apurba Barman and a talk about grafting and pruning by host Chris Clough.
Nor were all these discussions, sit down chats. Several took place during a driving tour of Clough Farms, a 50 acre pecan orchard that provided opportunities for some speakers to give on the ground examples.
“My goal is to take this event to different counties around the area each year,” said Area Pecan Agent Andrew Sawyer.
When asked why Pierce County was his first choice for the first year outside Appling, Sawyer said, “Because of this farm right here. The Excel variety of pecans, which got its start right here and is sold all over now, started at Clough Farm.”
Sawyer also said that like others, Clough had seen recent storm damage, which gave a good opportunity to talk about how to prepare for it and to cope with it afterward “because people will have to learn how to deal with that.”
Following the tour and talks, the attendees returned to the shaded area for a lunch before leaving.
A vendor demonstrates to a gathering of onlookers how to use a special riding mower attachment to gather pecans and then drop them into a waiting container.
A group of attendees enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as a chance to catch up with friends and fellow farmers.
Dr. Laurel Dunn discusses when and how federal processing laws come into play.
James Jacobs welcomed the guests to Pierce County and recognized his admin assistant Julie Walker for helping make a lot of things happen.
Area Pecan Agent Andrew Sawyer gave talks 0n weed control and storm damage.
