64th Annual Meeting and Education Conference
Our annual meeting and educational conference is Thursday, September 18 at the ALFA Building in Robertsdale, Alabama. *See the conference registration fees at the end of this newsletter. Our welcome dinner will be held at the same building on Wednesday night, September 17. All are invited. It is $16 per person and also catered by Ron Berglin Catering.
The APGA Bord has put together a great list of speakers for this year’s conference. We have several speakers from Auburn University. Dr. Wheeler Foshee will talk to us about drones vs. air blast application to help control scab. Lucinda McEachin will provide a nano cellulose update. Bryan Wilkins will present about optimal time for control of prionous root borer beetles.
There is also a great lineup from the University of Georgia. Dr. Lenny Wells will present on the effects of extreme weather on pecans. Dr. Apurba Barman will discuss pecan pest management in the South. Andrew Sawyer will go over the economics of pre-emergent herbicide programs. Amanda Snyder will present on the Implementation of AI and Machine Learning to Legacy Farm Equipment to Increase Pecan Half Yields.
Bailey Rayfield from the American Pecan Promotion Board has a plan to win with pecans. Jeff Jeffers, Director of Shipping Point Inspections from the Alabama Agriculture and Industries Department, will be there to answer questions, and a few VIPs will be there to meet and greet.
Welcome Dinner: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
You are invited to attend the welcome dinner to be held at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, September 17, 2024. The dinner will be held at the ALFA Building at 21332 AL Hwy 59, Robertsdale, AL. Dutch Treat $16.
2024 Conference Program: Thursday, September 18, 2025
| 8:00 am | Registration |
| 8:30 | Call to Order and Introduction of Guests – Bran Futral |
| 8:40 | Opening Remarks |
| 8:50 | Effects of Extreme Weather Events on Pecans – Dr. Lenny Wells, UG-T |
| 9:25 | Pecan Insect Management in the Southeast – Dr. Arpuba Barman, UG-T |
| 10:00 | Break |
| 10:15 | Economics of Pre-emergent Herbicide Programs for Pecans – Andrew Sawyer, UGA Ext. |
| 10:55 | A Unified Plan to Win with Pecans – Bailey Rayfield, APPB/APC |
| 11:25 | APGA Business Meeting and Awards – Bran Futral/Terry Landry |
| 11:45 | Division Director of Shipping Point Inspections – Jeff Jeffers, AGI |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch (Catered by Rob Berglin Catering) |
| 1:15 | Implementation of AI and Machine Learning to Legacy Farm Equipment to Increase Pecan Half Yields – Amanda Snyder, UGA College of Engineering |
| 1:50 | Nanocellulose Technology in Pecan Production Update—Lucinda McEachin, AU |
| 2:25 | Break |
| 2:40 | Evaluation of Drone vs. Air-blasted fungicides for Season-long Scab Control in Pecan Trees – Dr. Wheeler Foshee, AU |
| 3:15 | Optimal Time for Control of Prionus Root Borer – Bryan Wilkins, AU Ext. |
| 3:45 | Crop Estimate, Announcements |
| 4:00 | Adjourn |
Area Hotel Information
Fairhope, AL
*Holiday Inn Express 251-928-9191
Key West Inn 251-990-7373
Hampton Inn 251-928-0956
Point Clear, AL
Grand Hotel Marriott (Bay Resort) 800-554-9933
Foley, AL
Home 2 Suites by Hilton 251-923-4100
Holiday Inn Express 251-971-1700
Quality Inn 251-943-6100
Comfort Suites 251-923-2610
Direction to ALFA Building
From Holiday Inn Express Fairhope
Turn left onto Greeno Rd.
Travel north 2.3 miles. Turn right onto AL Hwy 104 E.
Travel East 10.7 miles. Turn right onto AL Hwy 59 S.
ALFA Building will be on the left just before Camping World.
From Exit 44, I-10, Loxley, AL
Travel south 9.1 miles on AL Hwy 59 S.
ALFA Building will be on the left just before Camping World.
Alabama Pecan Growers Association 