News release issued May 21, 2001, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

Note: This event occurred in 2001. Please see our news releases section for upcoming events.

Pecan producers: Let the hunts begin!

It may not have the prestige of a big game safari, but the "Casebearer Hunt" offered in three areas of Southern Oklahoma on Friday, May 25, may be a lot more important to the pecan producers of the area.

The "hunt" will allow specialists with the Noble Foundation and Oklahoma State University Extension Service to not only show pecan farmers what the pests look like and how to watch for them, but also other information about the troublesome insects, including scouting techniques, anticipated levels of infestation, life cycle, and control measures.

The pecan nut casebearer is a pest that annually destroys Oklahoma pecan crops, said Scott Landgraf, pecan specialist with the Noble Foundation in Ardmore.

"Without scouting for the casebearer in your specific orchard, it is impossible to determine when to apply a control measure or even if their control is necessary," said Landgraf.

Dr. Phil Mulder, OSU Extension entomologist, will be the primary speaker at all three locations. The programs will be the same in content, Landgraf said, but are offered at the different sites to allow easier access to pecan producers across the area interested in attending a presentation.

The different "hunt" sites and directions to reach them are listed below:
• Love County - Noble Foundation's Red River Demonstration and Research Farm near Burneyville. Mike Steele, OSU Extension educator in Love County, will coordinate the first program at 9 a.m. Exit west off Interstate 35 on state Highway 32, then turn south on state Highway 96 through Burneyville and follow the signs.

• Carter County - Keith White property, east and north of Ardmore. Leland McDaniel, OSU Extension educator for Carter County, is coordinating this program at 1 p.m. Travel east of Ardmore on Sam Noble Parkway/state Highway 199 to U.S. Highway 177 at Dickson; turn north and drive five miles. The property is on the east side of Highway 177.

• Pontotoc County - Bryant Pecan Farm, north and east of Ada. Jim Arnold, the Pontotoc County Extension educator, will direct this 3:30 p.m. program. Drive 5.5 miles north of Ada on state Highway 99, then turn right (east) on Main Street in Byng. Go 4.5 miles east through Francis, then two miles more to the pecan farm. If arriving from the east, go 10 miles west of Allen on the Byng-Francis Highway. The Bryant Pecan Farm is on the north side of the road.

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, check out the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release