Efforts to eradicate the pecan weevil, which threatens New Mexico’s multi-billion-dollar pecan industry,

Efforts to eradicate the pecan weevil, which threatens New Mexico’s multi-billion-dollar pecan industry, took the form of two bills in both the New Mexico Senate and House of Representatives. Sen. Carroll Leavell (R-41) introduced a bill intended to appropriate $250,000 from the State’s general fund to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for studies and eradication programs. Senate Bill 160 was matched by House Bill 184, sponsored by Rep. James Townsend (R-54). SB 160 is scheduled to be heard before the Senate Conservation Committee, Thursday in Santa Fe. Both bills specify the money would be used for detection, eradication and mitigation. “It’s a pretty simple bill,” Leavell said. “They’re to use (the money) to do the experimentations and find the best way to get rid of the pecan weevil.” Pecans represent an about $180-million industry in New Mexico, records show. Leavell said the bug must be destroyed. “It’s important because we’ve got to put a stop to that weevil,” he said. “It’s become a major crop in New Mexico. It produces a lot of income. It needs to be under control, before it causes more harm.” Woods Houghton, agriculture agent at the Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service said the battle is far from over. He listed three stages of eradication: confine, control and cleanup. The parasite’s range is continuing to spread throughout New Mexico, Houghton said, and NMDA staff have yet to discern the bug’s full range. “We’re still trying to figure out where it is,” he said. “Right now, the weevil’s territory is expanding.” Pecan Weevil Pecan Weevil (Photo: Courtesy photo) The pecan weevil was found in multiple southeastern New Mexico counties: Eddy, Chaves, Curry and Lea counties. The weevil bores into the nut, consuming the nut meat and making the product unfit for human consumption. The NMDA announced a 180-day quarantine in November, restricting pecan sales from the counties known for infestations. Producers who ship into uninfected counties, such as Doña Ana, are required to have proof of where the nuts came from and take extra steps to prevent contamination such as shipping the pecans in a sealed, covered vehicle. New Mexico’s pecan weevil quarantine was initially enacted in 1997 to restrict shipments from all states except Arizona, California and parts of West Texas. The insect, a species of beetle, is believed to have originated in the Midwest. “This is where everyone fights it, in New Mexico,” said Brad Lewis, NMDA assistant division director of Entomology and Nursery. “We’ve watched it march across Texas, and across the pecan belt." Lewis said stopping the weevil's path of destruction did show some progress recently, but as more and more trees are found infected, he said efforts must continue to increase. “Eradication efforts have been productive," Lewis said. "But insufficient for the number of trees we have found to be infested with pecan weevil.” Houghton said Eddy County produces about 10 million pounds of pecans per year, worth about $29.2 million. Pecans are the second-largest cash crop in the county, he said, after alfalfa and recently ahead of cotton. New Mexico is the country's second largest pecan-producing state, providing about 30 percent of the country's crop. Statewide, the nut represents a $180 million annual industry. “The industry is growing,” Houghton said. “We can grow pecans as far north as Tucumcari. Pecans are quickly becoming our number-one crop.” It can take up to 10 years, he said, for a pecan grower to see a profit. “It’s a capital-intensive industry,” Houghton said. “The people that grow them have invested a tremendous amount of money.” While the funding, if approved, will likely go toward staffing, Houghton said he hopes a portion will be dedicated to educating local growers and buyers on the dangers of the weevil, and how to stop it. Carroll Leavell Carroll Leavell (Photo: Courtesy) “People won’t do anything until they know what to do,” he said. “I would like to see some money for education. I prefer education over regulation. It’s going to be up to the producers. Everything we do is producer-driven.” Until then, the NMDA has only one agent who oversees pecan mitigation – part time – in Eddy County, Houghton said. New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said funding is focused on increasing staff to inspect pecan orchards for the weevil, while also supporting eradication and exportation efforts. “The appropriations would be used to continue our cooperation with industry in an effort to expand current detection and eradication of pecan weevil," Witte said. "Our current expenditures are directed toward seasonal staff and pest control contractors." Two more bills, House Bill 214 and the equivalent Senate Bill 217 are intended to establish the Pecan Buyers Licensure Act which would offer more guidance and regulation on pecan sales amid the weevil’s infestation. The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Cliff Pirtle (R-32) and Sen. George Munoz (D-4). The House legislation was put forth by Townsend, Rep. Yvette Herrel (R-51) and Rep. Bealquin Bill Gomez (D-34). The bills instruct the NMDA to develop an inspection program for in-shell pecans, adopting rules and criminal penalties for non-compliance, and giving NMDA the right to seize any pecans found in violation. License fees are not to exceed $500 per year, read the bill, and are required for all buyers and purchase locations. Rep. James Townsend Rep. James Townsend (Photo: Courtesy photo) Purchase records must be maintained for two years, specifying the location, date of purchase, name and address of the seller, and the location of the tree or farm where the pecans originated. The law, if approved, would not apply to personal consumption, purchases totaling 50 pounds or less, or restaurants who purchase less than 100 pounds throughout the year. Theft of pecans was also addressed in the bill, specifying different levels of prosecution based on the quantity of pecans stolen. Stolen pecans worth $250 or less constitute a petty misdemeanor, while between $250 and $500 worth are a misdemeanor. If passed, the bills would take effect on July 1. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.