The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation's Agricultural Division will team with Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cooperative Extension Service and Irrigation Mart to present the 2007 Pecan Tree Planting Workshop.

The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, March 20, at the Kruse Auditorium on the Noble Foundation campus in Ardmore. During the workshop, participants will hear brief presentations on topics ranging from planning and orchard design to proper planting and irrigation methods. Attendees will also travel to a local Noble Foundation farm for a pecan tree planting demonstration.

"There are a tremendous number of people in southern Oklahoma and north Texas who plant and maintain pecan trees," said Charles Rohla, horticulturist with the Noble Foundation. "We have people who want to grow everything from 20 acres of pecan trees to those who just want to plant one in their front yard. This workshop will provide valuable information to everyone."

The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. with James Locke, soil and crops specialist with the Noble Foundation, who will provide information about selecting the proper planting location. Locke will be followed by Irrigation Mart owner and agricultural engineer Jackie Robbins, who will speak about proper irrigation.

Mike Smith, pecan researcher with OSU Extension Service, will then cover the process of selecting the right cultivars for planting, as well as managing orchard floors.

For those looking to grow a large number of pecan trees, Rohla will discuss the design and layout of pecan orchards before Eric Stafne, State Extension Specialist, details the actual planting process.

The brief presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Participants will then travel to a nearby Noble Foundation farm to watch a pecan tree planting demonstration. Rohla said transportation will be available for those who do not wish to drive.

"The Noble Foundation has assisted the stewards of our natural resources in southern Oklahoma and north Texas for six decades, and this workshop is just another way we are collaborating to help improve agriculture in our area and our state," Rohla said. "We are thankful for our local and state partners at Irrigation Mart and the Marshal and Love County OSU extension offices, who are helping us provide the best possible information to those who participate."

For additional information or to sign up for the workshop, contact Annie Coble at (580).224.6501 or by e-mail at macoble@noble.org.

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News Release Issued: March 14, 2007

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.