Pecan Publication

Pecan Production
ISSN: 2640-0014

Released January 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).

Pecan Production Up 14 Percent From Previous Year
Utilized production in 2019 totaled 265 million pounds, up 14 percent for comparable States from 2018. Bearing acreage
was estimated at 396,000, up 3 percent for comparable States from the previous year. The average yield was
668 pounds per acre, up 66 pounds for comparable States from the previous year. In 2019, the value of the crop totaled
$469 million, up 14 percent for comparable States from the previous season with an average annual price of
$1.77 per pound.
Improved variety pecan production, at 242 million pounds, increased 10 percent for comparable States from the previous
year. Improved variety pecans accounted for 92 percent of the United States total pecan production. Native and seedling
variety production totaled 22 million pounds, up significantly for comparable States from 2018. New Mexico had the
highest utilized production (in-shell basis) at 96.6 million pounds, followed by Georgia at 69.0 million pounds (in-shell
basis). In Georgia, many trees were still recovering from the effects of last year’s Hurricane Michael, including broken
roots and loss of fruiting limbs. In addition, hot dry weather in late August through October negatively impacted the
Georgia yield.
Beginning in 2019, pecan estimates were discontinued in Alabama, California, and Louisiana.

Pecan Production and Value
United States 2010-2019
Million dollars

Million pounds
350

800

300

700
600

250

500

200

400
150

300

100

200

50

100

0

0
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014
Production

2015
Value

2016

2017

2018

2019

Pecan Bearing Acreage, Yield, Production, Price, and Value – States and United States: 2017-2019
State

Yield per acre 1

Bearing acreage
2017

2018

2019

2017

2018

2019

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama 2 ...........................................
Arizona ...............................................
California 2 ..........................................
Georgia ...............................................
Louisiana 2 ..........................................
New Mexico ........................................
Oklahoma ...........................................
Texas ..................................................

8,400
16,000
3,600
120,000
12,300
43,500
86,000
115,000

8,000
17,000
3,500
120,000
13,400
46,000
90,000
112,000

(NA)
19,000
(NA)
129,000
(NA)
46,000
90,000
112,000

220
1,750
1,389
892
650
2,115
163
426

200
1,640
1,057
583
450
1,980
100
300

United States ......................................

404,800

409,900

396,000

753

593

See footnote(s) at end of table.

2

(NA)
1,920
(NA)
535
(NA)
2,100
220
380
668
--continued

Pecan Production (January 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Pecan Bearing Acreage, Yield, Production, Price, and Value – States and United States:
2017-2019 (continued)
State and variety

Utilized production (in-shell basis)
2017

2018

(1,000 pounds)

2019

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

Alabama 2 ............................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

1,850
1,600
250

1,600
1,490
110

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

Arizona ................................................
Improved ...........................................

28,000
28,000

27,900
27,900

36,500
36,500

California 2 ...........................................
Improved ...........................................

5,000
5,000

3,700
3,700

(NA)
(NA)

Georgia ...............................................
Improved ...........................................

107,000
107,000

70,000
70,000

69,000
69,000

Louisiana 2 ...........................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

8,000
3,000
5,000

6,030
2,510
3,520

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

New Mexico .........................................
Improved ...........................................

92,000
92,000

91,100
91,100

96,600
96,600

Oklahoma ............................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

14,000
3,000
11,000

9,000
2,970
6,030

19,800
3,960
15,840

Texas ..................................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

49,000
39,000
10,000

33,600
28,800
4,800

42,600
36,400
6,200

United States .......................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

304,850
278,600
26,250

242,930
228,470
14,460

264,500
242,460
22,040

See footnote(s) at end of table.

Pecan Production (January 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

--continued

3

Pecan Bearing Acreage, Yield, Production, Price, and Value – States and United States:
2017-2019 (continued)
State and variety

Price per pound

Value of utilized production

2017

2018

2019

(dollars)

(dollars)

(dollars)

2017

2018

2019

(1,000 dollars)

(1,000 dollars)

(1,000 dollars)

Alabama 2 ...........................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

1.960
2.030
1.520

1.480
1.500
1.190

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

3,628
3,248
380

2,366
2,235
131

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

Arizona ...............................................
Improved ...........................................

2.500
2.500

1.870
1.870

2.040
2.040

70,000
70,000

52,173
52,173

74,460
74,460

California 2 ..........................................
Improved ...........................................

2.300
2.300

2.000
2.000

(NA)
(NA)

11,500
11,500

7,400
7,400

(NA)
(NA)

Georgia ...............................................
Improved ...........................................

2.400
2.400

1.620
1.620

1.900
1.900

256,800
256,800

113,400
113,400

131,100
131,100

Louisiana 2 ..........................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

1.530
2.000
1.250

0.990
1.250
0.800

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

12,250
6,000
6,250

5,954
3,138
2,816

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

New Mexico ........................................
Improved ...........................................

2.400
2.400

1.900
1.900

1.760
1.760

220,800
220,800

173,090
173,090

170,016
170,016

Oklahoma ...........................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

1.730
2.100
1.630

1.650
2.250
1.360

1.160
1.640
1.040

24,230
6,300
17,930

14,884
6,683
8,201

22,968
6,494
16,474

Texas ..................................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

2.250
2.390
1.680

1.670
1.760
1.120

1.650
1.750
1.050

110,010
93,210
16,800

56,064
50,688
5,376

70,210
63,700
6,510

United States ......................................
Improved ...........................................
Native and seedling ...........................

2.330
2.400
1.580

1.751
1.790
1.140

1.770
1.840
1.040

709,218
667,858
41,360

425,331
408,807
16,524

468,754
445,770
22,984

(NA) Not available.
1
Yield is based on utilized production.
2
Estimates discontinued in 2019.

4

Pecan Production (January 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Definition of Terms
Bearing acreage: An orchard is considered to be of bearing age when it can normally be expected to produce a
commercially significant quantity of pecans. Bearing age is a function of many factors including variety, rootstock, year
planted, etc.
Utilized production: The amount of a pecans sold plus the quantity used at home or held in storage.
Yield per acre: Yield per acre is based on utilized production.
Value: Crop value estimates in this report cover the marketing season or crop year and should not be confused with cash
receipts which are based on a calendar year.
Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: Standardized probability grower surveys are conducted to collect acreage, yield, and production
data. Producers are mailed a survey and telephone follow-up of non-respondents is used to ensure adequate coverage.
Estimating Procedures: Information obtained from the grower surveys along with federal administrative data is used to
establish estimates of bearing age acres, yield, utilized production, price, and value. These estimates are reviewed for
errors, reasonableness, and consistency with historical estimates.
Revision Policy: End-of-season estimates will be published in the Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts – Summary released in May.
Revisions the following year are based on a thorough review of all available data.
Reliability: Survey indications are subject to sampling variability because all operations growing pecans are not included
in the sample. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omission, duplication, imputation for missing
data, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. These errors cannot be measured directly, but they are
minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for
consistency and reasonableness.

Pecan Production (January 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact
for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov
Lance Honig, Chief, Crops Branch ....................................................................................................... (202) 720-2127
Jorge Garcia-Pratts, Head, Fruits, Vegetables and Special Crops Section ............................................ (202) 720-2127
Joshua Bates – Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Asparagus, Carrots, Coffee, Onions,
Plums, Prunes, Sweet Corn, Tobacco ........................................................................................ (202) 720-4288
Jorge Garcia-Pratts – Dry Beans, Garlic, Hazelnuts, Honeydews, Kiwifruit, Lettuce,
Maple Syrup, Mint, Pears, Sweet Cherries, Tart Cherries, Tomatoes ....................................... (202) 720-2127
Fleming Gibson – Cauliflower, Celery, Grapefruit, Lemons, Macadamia,
Mandarins and tangerines, Mushrooms, Olives, Oranges ......................................................... (202) 720-5412
Greg Lemmons – Cranberries, Cucumbers, Pistachios, Potatoes, Pumpkins,
Raspberries, Squash, Strawberries, Sugarbeets, Sugarcane, Sweet Potatoes,
Tame Blueberries, Wild Blueberries.......................................................................................... (202) 720-4285
Dan Norris – Artichokes, Cantaloupes, Dry Edible Peas, Green Peas, Lentils,
Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Snap Beans, Spinach, Walnuts, Watermelons ........................... (202) 720-3250
Dawn Smoker – Avocados, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chickpeas,
Chile Peppers, Dates, Floriculture, Grapes, Hops, Pecans ........................................................ (202) 720-4215
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