Savage Newsletter Summer 2014.1
Transcription
Savage Newsletter Summer 2014.1
PECAN COUNTRY NEWS Volume 8 Summer 2014 On the Calendar What a difference a day makes! July 13-16: Texas Pecan Growers Conf.; San Marcos, TX Aug 29: Arizona Pecan Growers Meeting; Tucson, AZ Sep 18-20: National Pecan Shellers Meeting; Seattle, WA Name Change The former U.S. Pecan Council is now known as The American Pecan Board. If you’ve ever wondered what the American Pecan looks like, a photo is provided below. Pretty cool, huh? The American Pecan From deep in the underground research and development vault of Savage Equipment Row harvester update! In our last issue, we broke the news that Savage’s first-ever windrow pecan harvester would soon move from concept to reality. It’s an exciting time here at our facilities in Madill, Oklahoma as we focus on making sure this machine will be something special–the best row harvester on the market, in fact. Draftsmen are drafting, welders are welding, metal benders are bending metal, and our purchasing guys are pulling their hair out trying to make sure all the parts and materials are available when they’re needed for assembly. It’s all coming together beautifully. Finally! Everyone got a peek at it during the Texas Pecan Conference, July 13-16. Next comes field testing and perfecting, followed by more testing and perfecting, and then just a bit more. Exciting times in Pecan Country! The 2014 pecan growing season got off to a rough start for growers in parts of Texas and Oklahoma. Catkins were emerging and things were really starting to look promising, when a late-season chill blew through the region. Temperatures plunged into the upper twenties overnight, and in a few short hours, the 2014 crop potential took a serious hit. Many of you will find Dr McEachern’s article, Pecan Post-freeze Management, an interesting read. You can read a brief summary of his piece on page four of this newsletter. The same pecan branch on April 14th and April 15th. Ouch! 2014 Oklahoma Pecan Conference Tulsa’s Convention Center proved to be a great venue for the 2014 Oklahoma Pecan Growers Conference. On June 13th, experts in a variety of fields dispensed valuable information throughout the day. Subjects ranged from the nitrogen needs of pecan orchards, to the risk of human pathogens, to the potential value of a marketing coop for Oklahoma native pecans. Of course, no Oklahoma Pecan Growers Conference would be complete without the food show event. It’s been a wonderful tradition of the conference since the continued on page 2 Most of Savage’s machines were proudly on display at our home-state pecan show. 866-572-8243 info@savageequipment.com Pecan Pieces Back from Africa (again) Story and photos by Jerry Murrack I recently returned from my second trip to South Africa, and thought our Pecan Country readers might like to hear a little about it. On May 25th, I headed for the airport in Dallas prepared for the 9000-mile journey to South Africa. My primary mission was to commission some new equipment with our Savage agent, Werner Hamman, who lives in Hartswater, in the Northern Cape Province. After my twenty hour flight to Johannesburg, Werner and I drove six hours southeast to Gray Town. The following day we were to help start up a small cracking and shelling plant. We arrived shortly after midnight at the home of Martin Platt. Our 6:00 a.m. wake-up came unusually early. After taking a moment to sort out where I was, we headed to the shelling barn to start dialing in the new plant. Everyone was amazed at how simple the setup of the machines was and how quickly they were performing well. We cracked a fifty-pound sack of three different varieties. Martin thought they would be difficult, but within minutes, we were cracking out a very large percentage of halves on all three varieties. We squared everything away, and by 11:00 a.m. we were back on the road for the long drive to Werner’s home. It had been a year since my last visit, when I first met the wonderful Hamman family, and it was a highlight of the trip to visit with them and see how much the children had grown. The rest of the week we visited pecan farmers in the Hartswater area, viewing their orchards and helping with equipment they were using. The early harvest was already in the barns, and many farmers were waiting on the first frost. We stopped by a friend and customer of ours, named Danny Grover, who was running wide open in his orchard and cleaning plant. The quality of his pecans was impressive. Of course I am partial to the taste of a good Oklahoma-grown pecan, but this was a close runner-up, and every nut I opened was chock-full of meat. Danny uses much of our Redline equipment, and is always a pleasure to visit. We appreciated him taking time out of his busy day to talk with us. When the weekend finally came, we headed southwest for a little fun at a game farm in Ulco. We wasted no time, and by Friday evening we were on the hunt. It was late fall there, so it was getting dark pretty early. I decided to go after a Gemsbok (Oryx) without much luck on the first day; but midway through the second day, I scored a nice trophy. After some fun trying to explain where to find the tenderloin, we enjoyed a wonderful cookout. The weekend was an amazing experience, that included close encounters with Rhinos and a look at Cape Buffaloes. Too soon, we were headed back to Hartswater; and at 4:30 a.m. we departed for Prieska, where we had a large cleaning plant and some crackers Continued on page 3 and shellers to look in on. Pecan Conference continued 1950s. The contestants enjoy the friendly competition, and the Grand-Champion-winning goodies are auctioned off to help fund pecan research in Oklahoma. This year, our own Libby Savage scored a Grand Champion ribbon for her scrumptious pecan fudge. Over 160 of our Pecan Country neighbors attended the conference, and about ninety of them attended the Friday night banquet. It was another great opportunity to renew old friendships and build a few new ones. Chad Selman shares his considerable knowledge of orchard management with growers. Page 2 More Pecan Pieces South Africa continued Green Valley is our customer located on the beautiful Orange River near Prieska. The operation includes about 1500 acres of two-to-three year old trees, and they have in mind doing some custom cleaning and processing while they wait on their trees to mature. Everything was in place, and the electricians were busy powering everything up, so we did what we could to help. They will have quite an operation in the near future. Monday evening we had an amazing supper of wild game, including kudu steaks and springbok back strap with all the trimmings. We spent Tuesday morning dialing in the cracking and shelling equipment. Then it was time to head back to Hartswater for my last evening with the Hammans. They are a remarkable family, and I’m hoping they can make it May and June are the heart of harvest season in South Africa. here to the states for a visit this winter. I dreaded the long flight home, but I was ready to see my family and friends and share with them the wonderful experience I had in Africa. In all, the crop looked good for the farmers in South Africa, and they are expecting around 24 million pounds (about 5 million more than last year). They received their first frost in Prieska June 2nd and were getting ready to be harvesting at full tilt. I will be speaking more about pecans in South Africa at the Texas Pecan Conference in San Marcos on July 15th. The South African pecan farmer is a hard-working, can-do type of person, and I am honored to get to know a few of them. Many of the Northern Cape pecan orchards are young. Battling pecan diseases On Texas A&M University’s Pecan Kernal website, you can find a useful overview of best practices to minimize the impact of common pecan diseases in your orchard or pecan grove. What follows is an abbreviated version of the article. Diseases affecting pecans are caused by bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mycoplasm, and physiological problems. They can be somewhat controlled with a variety of practices. Resistant varieties Use of resistant varieties is one of the most important methods of reducing insect and disease problems. Resistant varieties can reduce the amount of pesticides required to produce a crop. Air circulation Plant spacing is also important in reducing Well, you can’t go to South Africa and not have a little fun. diseases. As plants are grown closer together, the higher the probability of serious disease epidemics. Poor air circulation slows down the drying of foliage and increases the potential infection periods within an orchard. Where possible, the rows should run with the prevailing wind. Pruning Pruning to remove low hanging limbs can also help to reduce disease build-up within an orchard. By removing the lower hanging limbs, air movement is encouraged beneath the trees, and this not only encourages drying but also facilitates better movement of the released spores away from the tree. Crop sanitation Sanitation within the orchard is extremely important because many of the diseases and insects overwinter in old shucks, leaves, leaf petioles, and Continued on page 4 Page 3 Kernals of Wisdom Pecan diseases continued twigs. Shallow disking or removal of the old plant debris will help to reduce the amount of fungal pathogens and insects present in a grove. Last line of defense If used properly, fungicides can prevent significant losses to disease. Total coverage is important to achieving effective control. When spraying, always check to see if you are leaving a moist film on all of the foliage. To learn more, go to pecankernel.tamu.edu. Beware the Witch’s Broom! During the orchard tour at Selman Farms, at the conclusion of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Convention, participants were shown a small section of the orchard that is plagued with “Bunch Disease” also known as “Witch’s Broom”. It is fairly rare, but seems to be cropping up in some U.S. orchards lately. The Texas A&M website describes this disease as “excessive growth of slender succulent twigs from lateral buds that normally remain dormant on the main limbs.” The tree ends up with thick bunches of leaves but few or no pecans. The really bad news is that there is no known cure. You just need to remove a tree that has widespread infection. For isolated occurances, remove the affected branches, pruning the branch two-to-three feet below the infected area. Then, keep an eye on the rest of the tree. During the discussion at the Selman orchard, the experts recommended that tools used in pruning be disinfected afterward with bleach solution or another disinfectant. Here’s how the Oklahoma State University website describes this disease: Causal Agent: A mycoplasma-like organism Symptoms: The characteristic symptom of bunch disease is bushy growths of slender willowy shoots, resulting from an abnormal forcing of lateral buds. Symptoms may appear on only one branch or on many branches. Bunch disease is very conspicuous in the spring and early summer because the diseased roots leaf out earlier than non infected shoots. It is believed that the pathogen is insect transmitted, probably by leaf hoppers. The photo shows how bunch disease is easily spotted in the early growing season. In the fall and winter, infected branches can be identified by the bunched up twigs that resemble an old witch’s broom. Freeze recovery In the May 2014 issue of Pecan South you’ll find a timely article from Texas A&M horticulture professor, George Ray McEachern. He describes the effect of this spring’s very late freeze and how selective the damage was. He tells us, “only 4 foot of elevation difference was enough to escape the freeze in some cases. Some trees had kill on the lower limbs and no damage in the tops.” Dr McEachern goes on to describe proven methods of determining dead tissue in the trees from living tissue. One can determine what is dead or living tissue by making a slant cut through the bark and into the wood. If there is brown tissue, it is dead. If the wood, cambium and bark are white or light green with no brown spots or lines, there is no freeze damage. To check buds on mature trees, a shallow cross-cut can be made through the second and third buds. Again, if there is a brown spot in the middle of the bud, it is dead. If it is white, it is alive and healthy. McEachern tells us that patience is required to know the extent of damage. On mature trees the full extent of damage is sometimes not known until mid summer. The kill may not be as bad as it seems, and pruning too soon can sometimes “do more harm than good.” He recommends waiting at least thirty days before pruning out dead wood. Furthermore, Dr McEachern tells us that even the worst hit areas of this freeze should have healthy root systems on the trees. “Hopefully, there is at least one live/good bud above the graft union from which the tree can grow and rebuild a new trunk. Growth after a freeze is usually very fast and trees can be redeveloped in only 1 or 2 years.” Page 4 Featured Equipment A preseason workout? Nobody wants to think too much about harvest season in July and August, but for those of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s that time. Why start now when “the big game” is still months away? Because in the heat of battle, you’ll want your equipment in peak condition without any major pauses in the action. By giving your machines a good shakedown a couple months before they’re needed, you’ll be able to order and replace any parts you may need, ensuring your busy harvest time is as headache-free as possible. It might even motivate you to trade-in that antique harvester for a nice, shiny new one, and you’ll have time to get one ordered. Here are a few things you might want to look at before and during the test run. All Redline Machines: Consult your operator manual for safe operation and seasonal start-up guidance. Keep bystanders well clear when starting and checking equipment. Check all hydraulic hoses for cracks and ensure fittings attach snugly. DO NOT check for hydraulic leaks with your hand as high-pressure fluid can penetrate the skin and cause severe injury. Use a piece of paper or cardboard instead. Replace hoses before they become a problem. Check belts for slippage and for cracks or fraying, and replace them before they break. Clean and grease PTO drive-lines. Ensure they can telescope freely and the safety shields are in good shape. Check that all nuts, bolts, set screws and keys are tight. Ensure all shields and guards are securely in place. Most bearings on Savage machinery are sealed bearings and will rarely, if ever, require grease. If you believe it’s needed, apply grease slowly with slight pressure. If the seal has been broken, it will deteriorate more quickly. Replace the bearing or grease it often. Savage Equipment change of address For many years now, we’ve worked out of our offices and manufacturing facilities at 400 North Industrial Road in Madill, Oklahoma. In fact, we’re still there (sort of ). We haven’t moved, but it seems the nice folks at 911 Make sure safety signs are in place and legible. Safety stickers are available from Savage Equipment. Shakers: Check your pads for cracks, and ensure they’re still flexible enough to get through the season without breaking. If your shaker isn’t equipped with donut pads, you may want to consider the investment this year. Your trees will appreciate it. Open up the access panel and make sure critters haven’t built a nest inside your shaker. Ensure the shafts and chain move easily and have no visible signs of damage. The chain should have about ½ inch of lateral movement. Adjust chain tension, if necessary. Harvesters: It may be time to replace those worn out rubber fingers. How about your sizing chain? After a few years, it may be stretched out so far that it can no longer be tightened enough and will need to be replaced. Remove the side safety panel and check roller chains and sprockets. When the chain is cold, the longest free-hanging section should have about 1-inch to 1½-inch of play with slight pressure up and down. The shorter chain on the hopper side should have about ½ inch of movement with slight pressure. A warmed up chain will have a bit more slack. Cleaners: Remove side safety panels and check chains and sprockets for wear. Chain tension should be similar to the harvester described above. Oily chains are good for preventing rust, but wipe most of the oil off at the beginning of the season so dirt won’t accumulate on the chain. Thoroughly clean the engine, make sure the gas is fresh and clean, and replace the air filter if necessary. A good inspection and a preseason workout will pay huge dividends when the season is underway and time becomes money. The Savage parts guys are good, but come game-time, everyone needs their parts yesterday. Emergency Services and the post office have conspired to come up with a new address for us. So, if you mail us anything, please address it to Savage Equipment, Inc. 1020 North Industrial Road Madill, OK 73446. Also, we’ve remodeled most of our office spaces lately. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by and we’d be glad to show them off. Page 5 Just Plain Nuts Savage in the news During the recent Oklahoma Pecan Growers convention, our own Basil Savage was interviewed for an article in the Tulsa World newspaper. You can read the whole article by going to tulsaworld.com and searching for “Basil Savage”, but here are a couple of excerpts. “I didn’t climb very well, and my wife said she wasn’t going to do that, either,” he said. So, Savage came up with his own design for a tractor-mounted shaker. It would be a pattern he would repeat many times in the next five decades as he continued to tinker with every piece of equip- When it comes to machinery (and almost anything else), usually simpler is better. I’ve been giving that idea some thought lately, and here are a few good quotes I found on the subject. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. – Albert Einstein Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction. – Albert Einstein Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains. – Steve Jobs Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. − Leonardo da Vinci If you’ve got a humorous story (true, kinda true, or a complete fabrication) or a good, clean joke you’d like to share, send it along to the email address below, and we might just include it in our little newsletter. ment involved in the business. “He’s the Henry Ford of the pecan industry,” said Mike Render, who used to work for Savage and remains a supporter. After Savage would solve an operating challenge with one piece of equipment, he would turn to another and start tinkering until he had a similar breakthrough. Sometimes, his ideas came at the strangest times. “I’ve been known to bolt up in bed, yelling, ‘I got it! I got it!’ ” he said. “I just about scare my wife to death. This happens every so often, so I keep a yellow legal pad at my bedside so I can write the ideas down.” Maple-Pecan Cornbread 1 cup flour 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1 t baking powder 1 t baking soda 1 t salt 3 T butter, softened 2 T brown sugar 2 eggs 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 3/4 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup chopped pecans • Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. • In a mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar and eggs; mix well. Add syrup and buttermilk. • Stir in dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in pecans. • Pour into greased 8 1/2" X 4 1/2" X 2 1/2" loaf pan. • Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until bread tests done. • Cool for 10 minutes in pan. • Serve warm with syrup if desired or allow to cool. Yield: 1 loaf If you’d like a copy of Pecan Country News delivered to your email in-box each quarter, send an email to pecancountry@savageequipment.com. Feel free to pass this newsletter along to anyone who might be interested. Page 6
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