South Georgia pecan growers are watching Tropical Storm Isaac closely.
If it brings strong winds next week, it could cause millions of dollars in damage to pecan trees that are heavy with nuts right now.
This is supposed to be an off growing year, but many South Georgia pecan trees are loaded with nuts in the pre harvest stage.
Growers say this would be the most dangerous time for their trees to be hit with storm winds, so they are very concerned about Isaac.
Roy and David Goodson say they are checking the weather radar for Tropical Storm Isaac's progress as much as they are checking their pecan trees.
"I'd say 4, 5, 6 times a day. And right now it's going to be every hour on the hour we going to be watching it. It's causing some concern," said Roy Goodson, Goodson Pecans
Their trees are loaded down with huge pecans for what is considered an off year, looking to harvest desirables, stuarts, and schley's in mid-October.
"Crops looking good so far. It's about a week or ten days earlier than last year. If things go well, then we could be harvesting the 15th or 20th," said Goodson.
International demand for pecans in the last five years has helped the price skyrocket to 3 dollars a pound last year.
This fall it is likely to still be in the 2 dollar and 50 cent to 2.75 a pound range. With nuts filling out right now, growers say this is the most dangerous time of the year for storm winds like those Isaac could bring next week.
"It's a big concern. WIth this heavy crop you don't need a big wind in here. And it could really devastate. Could be a serious problem for us," said Goodson
There is not much the growers can do. The nuts are filling out now, needing lots of water. The heavy rain Isaac is expected to bring would be good, but not it's winds and possible tornados. Growers are worried that could strip these trees, costing them thousands of dollars per acre.
In 2011 Georgia broke records, producing close to 110 million pounds of pecans, selling them for between $2.75 to $3.00 a pound.
There is a lot on the line, as growers wait to see if Tropical Storm Isaac comes through South Georgia.
Georgia is the largest pecan producing state in the country growing about 40 percent of the US crop.
With growing demand from China, Georgia growers planted more than 10,000 acres of new pecan trees this year.
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