SOUTH CAROLINA EXPECTED PECAN PRODUCTION UP

Columbia, SC October 13, 2005: Based on October 1, 2005 conditions, South Carolina's PECAN crop is expected to total 2,500,000 pounds up from 1,100,000 last year according to the USDA NASS, South Carolina Field Office. Growers expect to harvest 2,000,000 pounds of improved varieties and 500,000 pounds of the Native and seedling varieties. Harvest and production are up due to traditional alternate bearing patterns.

FORECAST OF U.S. PECANPRODUCTION UP

The October 1 forecast for 2005 pecan utilized production is 289 million pounds (in-shell basis), up 55 percent from last year's crop and 2 percent above 2003. Improved varieties are expected to produce 232 million pounds or 80 percent of the total, while the Native and seedling varieties, at 57.0 million pounds, make up the remaining 20 percent. The 2005 crop is expected to be larger than last year's in most producing states as it is an up year in the alternate bearing pattern typical of pecans. Louisiana and Mississippi are exceptions to the high cycle due to extensive hurricane damage to trees.

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