Georgia Pecan Market Update

THOMASVILLE - Feb 7/08 - SNS -- The USDA updated pecan market conditions in the state of Georgia in today's Agricultural Marketing Service report.

Provided by:  Fruit and Vegetable Market News,
              Federal-State Market News Service, USDA.

Phone: (229) 228-1208    Fax: (229) 225-1516

TV_FV140

THOMASVILLE PECAN REPORT

PECANS - PRICES PAID TO GROWERS

GEORGIA   (via Thomasville, Georgia)

   Deliveries by growers were very light from both producers of
non-managed and well-managed orchards. Demand was good.  Prices
paid to growers were about steady. The harvest from well-managed
orchards in both South and Middle Georgia is now very close to
completed except for an isolated grower here or there. The
harvest from yard trees is expected to continue in a very light
way into March with activity dependent on rain and wind to knock
the nuts off the trees. The last week saw a return of warmer
temperatures. Daytime highs over the last week ranged from the
mid 50s late last week to close to 80 earlier this week with
nighttime lows from the low 30s late last week to the near 60
this week. Rain varied from less than an inch to over an inch
from precipitation late last week. Rain late on Wednesday may
have additionally helped knock some of the remaining yard nuts
off the trees. The weather forecast for the next five days calls
for mild but cooler temperatures. Daytime highs are expected to
be in the 60s with nighttime lows ranging between the mid 30s
and mid 40s. Generally dry conditions are expected with the best
chance for rain on next Tuesday.
   Buying interest displayed by end users was good. Trading was
active for overall very light available offerings. The majority
of the buying stations noted very few deliveries of machine
harvested and graded offerings.  Some buying stations were open
for business on only one to three days per week. Some will be
closed for the season after this week while others will continue
to purchase yard tree lots (primarily Seedlings) into March on a
limited basis. Offerings f.o.b. the orchard were very light as
well.
   Purchases of pecans from well-managed orchards were overall
very light as the harvest is now very close to completed.
Purchases on machine harvested blends of Improved varieties
were obtained on a meat cost basis in a wide range according to
meat yield, unit count per pound and lot size.  There were a few
sales of blends of 45-46% meat yield with good unit count. Those
of less than 20,000 pounds sold around $1.90 per point while
those over 20,000 pounds sold around $2.00 per point. Lots of
similar meat yield with high unit count (above 75) sold between
$1.80-1.85 per point depending on the individual specifications
of each lot. Lots with meat yield of 40% or better mostly 40-42%
meat yield with good unit count sold between about $1.80-1.90
per point for lots less than 20,000 pounds with lots over 20,000
pounds between about $1.90-1.95 per point mostly $1.95 per
point. Lots of similar meat yield with high unit count (above
75) sold between $1.70-1.80 per point depending on the
individual specifications of each lot.

Prices paid to growers (Thursday afternoon, January 31, 2008 thru
noon Thursday, February 07, 2008 at buyers delivery point cents
per pound in-shell of generally good quality in lots primarily
less than 5,000 pounds unless otherwise stated.

Schley yard tree lots of generally good quality deliveries and
purchases insufficient to establish a market, fair quality 60-65
Seedling 37% meat yield or better, mostly 40-41% meat yield
including yard tree lots of generally good quality 50-55, lots in
excess of 1,000 pounds 55-60.  Dealer and accumulator lots to end
users in excess of 10,000 pounds 37% meat yield or better mostly
40-41% meat yield purchased on the meat cost basis of $1.75-1.80
per point
Stuart yard tree lots of generally good quality few 65 occasional
high as 70, many fair quality 50-60 poorer low as 25

LAST GEORGIA REPORT FOR THE SEASON

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STAT News Service