FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Kristie Garcia
Director of Public Affairs, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
krgarcia@nmda.nmsu.edu
Office: 575-646-2804
Cell: 575-339-5011

Nov. 10, 2022

Open house to discuss pecan weevil quarantine set for Nov. 16 in Tularosa

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LAS CRUCES – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) will host an open house in Tularosa Wednesday, Nov. 16 to address questions regarding recently-adopted amendments to the state’s Pecan Weevil Interior Quarantine Rule, which added Otero County to the list of New Mexico’s pecan weevil-infested and quarantined counties. The open house will begin at 6 p.m. at the Tularosa Community Center, located at 1050 N. Bookout Rd.

As a result of an additional confirmed pecan weevil infestation in Otero County and the increased possibility of transporting pecan weevil to uninfested pecan-growing counties, NMDA proposed to amend the state’s Pecan Weevil Interior Quarantine Rule by adding Otero County to the list of New Mexico’s pecan weevil quarantined counties. The proposed amendments were adopted and became law on Nov. 8. The amendments primarily impact the movement of in-shell pecans grown in Otero County and transported to non-pecan weevil quarantined areas of New Mexico.

Pecans mixed with several larvae around the shells. — The New Mexico Department of Agriculture will host an open house in Tularosa Wednesday, Nov. 16 to address questions regarding recently-adopted amendments to the state’s Pecan Weevil Interior Quarantine Rule, which added Otero County to the list of New Mexico’s pecan weevil-infested and quarantined counties. The open house will begin at 6 p.m. at the Tularosa Community Center, located at 1050 N. Bookout Rd. Pecan weevil larvae are legless, plump and creamy white, and their bodies have multiple segments. Mature larvae may be about 1/3 to a little over 1/2 inch long. They have reddish-brown head capsules and chewing jaws. (Photo courtesy New Mexico Department of Agriculture)

Anyone with questions regarding the movement of pecans grown in Otero County and transported to non-quarantined counties (free of pecan weevil) in New Mexico or Texas are encouraged to attend the open house. Information regarding the following topics will also be presented:

Pecan weevil biology
Pecan weevil management
Penalties for shipping in-shell pecans to pecan weevil-free counties without required documentation

Anyone unable to attend the Nov. 16 open house may email questions to pecan@nmda.nmsu.edu or call 575-646-3207. Anyone wishing to receive future pecan weevil updates should email pecan@nmda.nmsu.edu.

Pecans with BB-sized holes at the top. — The New Mexico Department of Agriculture will host an open house in Tularosa Wednesday, Nov. 16 to address questions regarding recently-adopted amendments to the state’s Pecan Weevil Interior Quarantine Rule, which added Otero County to the list of New Mexico’s pecan weevil-infested and quarantined counties. The open house will begin at 6 p.m. at the Tularosa Community Center, located at 1050 N. Bookout Rd. Pecan weevil grubs grow and feed inside the nut, producing a round, BB-sized hole when the grub exits. Infected nuts that are lightweight often end up in lower-grade nuts or trash piles. (Photo courtesy New Mexico Department of Agriculture)

Both the Pecan Weevil Interior Quarantine Rule and Pecan Weevil Exterior Quarantine Rule may be found on the statutes and rules page of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture website.

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