CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 04/13/17

Lenny Wells' pecan book covers history of crop and its popularity in the South

By Julia Rodriguez

Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist and the university’s leading voice in the pecan industry, covers the history of pecans and their popularity in the South in his first book, “Pecan: America’s Native Nut Tree.”

In the book, Wells addresses the pecan’s progression from wild tree to the $361 million crop it is today in Georgia. The book also covers the industry’s rise from the forests of the Mississippi River valley throughout the United States.

“What really led to this book is the people I met through this job, even those who I hadn’t really had an opportunity to meet, but have read about,” said Wells, who joined UGA Extension in 2002 as an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in Dougherty County. In 2004, Wells served as part-time agent and part-time pecan specialist. In 2006, he became the full-time pecan Extension specialist. “Previous researchers, Extension specialists and certainly the growers have contributed a lot to the story of the pecan and its progression into the crop business today.”

When Wells started his job at UGA, he found a box of old magazines, articles and pamphlets from the early 1900s in his office. These texts, left by his predecessor, Tom Crocker, included an interesting story about the location of pecans’ beginnings as an agricultural crop.

Wells said his book is not just for pecan growers. It’s for anyone interested in Southern agriculture.

The book includes recently discovered data on the health advantages of pecans, like the nut’s high level of antioxidants and its heart health benefits.

“I think the message about how healthy pecans are has not gotten out as much as the industry would like,” Wells said. “I hope this book can help get that message out to the masses.”

The book also covers the development of different pecan varieties and the nut’s surge in popularity around the world. It took many years for people to realize that 1,000 seeds from the same pecan tree can produce 1,000 unique trees, Wells said.

“It’s kind of like people. You can have the same parents, but each kid is a little different,” Wells said. “It’s the same concept with pecan trees and the different varieties you can produce.”

Pecans’ popularity soared when China’s demand for the nut increased and pecan trees were grown around the world. Wells estimates that pecan production in Georgia has increased by at least 25,000 acres over the past five to 10 years.

Pecans accounted for more than $361.3 million in Georgia farm gate value in 2015. The nut is grown on more than 165,000 acres in the state, according to UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development’s 2015 farm gate value report.

Wells’ book, “Pecan: America’s Native Nut Tree,” is available through The University of Alabama Press for $29.95. To order the book, visit www.uapress.ua.edu/product/Pecan,6552.aspx or www.amazon.com.

Authors:
Julia Rodriguez
Experts/Sources:
Lenny Wells
Cover of Lenny Wells' book about pecans. Pecans being researched on the UGA Tifton campus in 2014.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Helenedamage web CAES News
Hurricane Helene: Preliminary damage assessment on Georgia agriculture and forestry industry 10/10/24 Claire Sanders Kinnard, Matthew Agvent
Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, in coordination with Governor Brian P. Kemp, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), and the Georgia Forestry Commission, announced the preliminary estimate of Hurricane Helene’s economic impact on Georgia agriculture is $6.46 billion.
Some of the University of Georgia's extended campuses saw damage from Hurricane Helene. (Photo courtesy of Adam Fouche) CAES News
Relief efforts continue after Hurricane Helene 10/04/24
The University of Georgia community has rallied in the wake of Hurricane Helene, coming together to address damage done to campus facilities while also lending a helping hand to friends and neighbors hit hardest by the storm. While UGA’s main campus weathered the storm with relatively minor damage, the same could not be said for the Tifton campus, where heavy rains and high winds brought down trees and power lines, leaving the campus and surrounding area without power.
The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel saw some damage from the winds and rain of Hurricane Helene. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA) CAES News
UGA weathers Hurricane Helene 09/27/24
The University of Georgia’s main campus was fortunate to emerge relatively unscathed after Hurricane Helene barreled through the state early Friday morning. However, the impact was more significant at our extended campus locations. While the UGA Griffin campus reported no major damage, UGA-Tifton was hit much harder, with dozens of downed trees and power outages, as well as flooding in several buildings. Damage to farm operations across south Georgia appears to be extensive.
Yangxuan Liu, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics, reflects on her journey from medicine to agricultural economics. Her work supports farmers across Georgia while also empowering residents in her local community of Tifton. CAES News
CAES economist recognized as emerging leader for work supporting farmers 09/09/24 Claire Sanders Kinnard
For Yangxuan Liu, her career as an associate professor of agricultural and applied economics feels like equal parts coincidence and fate. “I was initially involved in agriculture because of my family farm in China. During breaks from school as a child, I would go visit my grandparents and work in their fields where they grow corn, wheat, cotton and other crops. This really gave me respect for the value of working the ground,” Liu said.
Nino Brown stands in front of a peanut field holding up a red net bag of harvested peanuts above his head as he speaks to participants in the Georgia Peanut Tour in 2022. CAES News
CAES experts study oil production to boost Georgia’s peanut power 09/05/24 Maria M. Lameiras
A new study by experts in the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is seeking to increase the value of Georgia’s peanut crops for new markets while reducing losses caused by aflatoxin, a consistent threat to the No. 1 peanut-producing state in the United States. The four-year, $490,000 grant will take a systems-based approach toward developing high-oil peanut varieties bred to withstand the unique climate and pest pressures of the Southeast.
Recent rankings from Forbes and The Princeton Review demonstrate continued excellence. CAES News
UGA ranks among best universities in the nation 08/30/24
The University of Georgia continues to solidify its position among the nation’s most prestigious institutions of higher education. “The University of Georgia’s impressive rankings by a host of national publications reflect the tremendous talent and hard work of our exceptional faculty, staff and students,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “While individual rankings can fluctuate from year to year, UGA’s consistently strong performance across a wide range of criteria speaks to our position among the nation’s leading universities.”