Ice Storm Impacting Oklahoma Pecan Farmers

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Pecan farmers in northeastern Oklahoma say the recent ice storm has devastated their crops. Bill Ihle in Bristow says it appears about 20 million pounds of pecans have been lost.

Monday, December 17th 2007, 10:21 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Pecan farmers in northeastern Oklahoma say the recent ice storm has devastated their crops. Bill Ihle in Bristow says it appears about 20 million pounds of pecans have been lost. He says that equates to $20 to $25 million next year alone.

Ihle says ice damaged pecan trees can require three to four years to recover and start producing again. He says if trees must be replanted it takes 10 to 15 years before they start producing pecans.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau president and pecan farmer Mike Spradling of Sand Springs says he's lucky that only about 15 % of his trees are severely damaged.

Spradling says the farmers may get federal assistance in cleaning up and should contact their local Farm Service Agency for information.