Nuts

Most commercial nut production in the U.S. is confined to California, which grows almonds, walnuts, pistachios for a combined acreage of over 2.5 million acres, and has some minor pecan acreage (6,000 acres in 2020). More than 75% of the pecans grown in the U.S. come from New Mexico, Georgia, Texas, and Arizona. Oregon grows 99% of the hazelnuts in the U.S.

Nut crops in California (and pecans in the Southwest) use 2-4 acre-feet of water per year, depending on growing location. ATTRA focuses on providing practical information to help you  get your soils healthier and more functional so they’ll be better able to withstand the stresses of heat, drought, and flooding that seem to be occurring with increasing frequency. 

We encourage growers to invest in their soil by planting cover crops. This practice can provide many benefits: increase soil health and fertility, increase water infiltration, and provide habitat for beneficial insects. We have a small but growing portfolio of information about how growers are managing cover crops in the context of orchard floor management, especially for almonds and walnuts, which are harvested from the orchard floor. Consult the resources in this section to learn more.