Pecan growers Scott and Karen Clark embarked on a journey of misadventure and bad luck when they planted their first pecan crop in Lismore in 2007.

Three weeks later, a big hail storm arrived and destroyed the planting- and they had to start again. Through the drought, the couple hand-watered their crop and never gave up.

Kevin Hogan with Scott and Karen Clark on their Bangalow Road pecan farm.

Scott is the president of the Australia Pecan Association (APS) and was pleased to receive a $20,000 cheque from Kevin Hogan yesterday to help fund a pecan growers conference in August 2021 and three field days in the region.

While we may be more familiar with the large numbers of macadamia farms in hills in Lismore, Scott said pecans are one of the most suitable nut crops for our region’s soil and climate.

The couple’s farm on the flood plain on Bangalow Road has seen a few floods over the last decade and the trees don’t mind at all.

Today, their farm is looking good and last year they had a great pecan crop, with 750 kilos of high quality nuts.

This was despite a calcium deficiency in the soil, which Scott said was due to the land being intensely farmed with corn 100 years ago.

“Pecans don’t mind wet feet,” Scott said. “This river soil is perfect for pecans.

“This climate is almost identical to Georgia in the US – the highest pecan production State.

“Pecans love live being hedged and increases yield. We also have very few pests and disease, and virtually the whole industry is spray free.

“Pecans should be the new growing industry on land macadamias can’t be grown.

“Pecans take ten years to grow, so it takes farmers a long time to get established, but once you are, you are good return.”

With about half the pecan growers in Australia in this region, it really is a growing industry.

APA executive officer Anne Briggs said receiving the $20,000 grant from the Federal Government was the leg up the local industry needed.

“The association only makes a small amount of money,” she said.

“We need these funds to get growers from all around Australia to come to the conference, as well as conference experts in regenerative agriculture and focus on the important areas for us like climate change and resilience. 

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the funding was an important boost for the local pecan industry to support it to become more productive.

“The Australian Pecan Industry Resilience Conference will be in late August 2021 and a series of field days will be held throughout the year,” Mr Hogan said.

“It is important that our farmers can better prepare for drought and a changing climate.”

The Australian Pecan Association (APA) is a key industry body for pecan farmers. It is based in Lismore and represents growers from across the country.

Each year, APA host events and information sessions to connect members and industry.