1997 Field Trial Report
By: D & C Pecans

We were involved in numerous field trials in Texas in 1997.   Our observations are not as scientific as a controlled experiment.  However, we believe that our results overall are credible and noteworthy.   They include the following:

| nine acre field of alfalfa in oats | pecan crop | cotton crop | peanut crop |

Nine acre field of alfalfa in oats

1.  The alfalfa in oats was on a nine acre field that has a long history.   The typical yield on this field is 604 bales in the first cutting.  Benny put on EnviroMax™ at a rate of one gallon per acre.  he applied it through his drip irrigation lines.  We expected to see a 20% gain in yield, using the EnviroMax, which would have roughly yielded 720 bales, and all of us would have been happy with that.   As the crop grew, and we viewed it, we knew it would be a bumper crop and probably exceed our expectations.  However, to our surprise when it came time to cut the field, Benny showed up at our place upset.  His tractor could not cut the crop, it was so thick.  We loaned him our tractor, which easily did the job.  When it was all over we discovered, to all of our delight, that the yield was 1397 bales!!  We would not have believed it ourselves, if we did not see it with our own eyes.  Benny didn't change his fertilizer program or anything else.  The only change was using the EnviroMax. 

Pecan crop

2.  The pecan farm is ours.  Before we describe this years season, there are a few basics about pecans that you should understand to put this season into perspective.   In good years our crop yields 400,000 pounds.  In years where we have an early freeze during the first budding, our crop yield is 0 to 6,000 pounds.  Additionally, every year you can predict what type of crop you will have the next year by the size of the leaves that grow.  This prediction does not include inclement weather, such as a freeze.  But barring inclement weather, you can predict the next years crop each year.  In 1995, we had a great crop, and little leaf growth.  We knew our 1996 crop would not be a good one - that it would be a low crop, due to the lack of leaf growth in 1995.  In fact, in 1996 our crop yield was -0- pounds.  In 1996, we met Dick, and began to use EnviroMax, so that the effect would be shown in the 1997 crop.  We used 6/10 of a gallon per acre for the first application, which we put down in September, 1996.  We only sprayed underneath the canopy of the trees.  We immediately cut our fertilizer program by 65%, using only 35% of our normal dosage.  Our second application was in May of '97, and we used 6/10 of a gallon per acre.  In 1996, our petio samples showed better leaf growth than in prior years, in fact there was a tremendous difference.  This includes in the low sections.  Our best leaf growth is normally 3" to 6".  In 1996, our leaves averaged from 3" to 6"!

In 2 out of 6 sections it was noted that the potassium was a little low (remember, we cut all the nutrients by 65%).  Therefore, we have decided in the future to use another 2% of potassium on those two areas where we need the extra potassium.   However, for the rest of the area, we can continue on a fertilizer program that is reduced by 65%.  This is a great savings to us in time and labor.  It should be noted that no matter what kind of crop you are anticipating, a normal fertilization program must be maintained, because you are maintaining the tree for future production and leaf growth.  By using EnviroMax, we have reduced costs on a continuous basis, good year or bad.

We expected a bumper crop in 1997, with the leaf growth and buds.  On April 12, 1997, we had three days below freezing, after the trees had already budded.  Before that freeze there were more buds than I had ever seen before.  We are now in the process of harvesting the 1997 pecan crop, and we are thrilled!  We expected after that freeze to only harvest the normal 0 pounds to 6,000 pounds.  Instead of that, we harvested 60,000 pounds of pecans.  While not the bumper crop we anticipated in the early spring of 97, it sure beats the nothing crop we normally get with an early freeze.

Cotton crop

3.  Mike planted cotton with EnviroMax in two areas in 1997.  Down by the lake, Mike had never been able to plant cotton.  It used to be just all water and was never stripped before.  He was unable to cultivate it.  There has always been to many weeds.  This year he grew beautiful cotton down by the lake.  This cotton was all planted with EnviroMax.  This was the first time that Mike was able to strip that area.  There was no test area, because he did not really thin he could get any cotton up without using the EnviroMax.  He got 3 bales per acre on this new field!

On the area of cotton where Mike did one circle with 1/4 of the circle with EnviroMax, as a test, there was a problem.  The seed people said something was wrong with the seed they gave him.  Before Mike knew that, he had already planted the circle and used EnviroMax on 1/4.  He had about 15% better germination on the section of the circle with the EnviroMax.  After Mike talked with the seed people, he had to replant.  He replanted dry.  He planted the test circle section last.   EnviroMax never got put on until the last part of the replant, and by then the seed had dried out.

Peanut crop

4.  Mike also put EnviroMax on peanuts.  According to the county agent, who was visiting Mike to check the test out, Mike's field was the only one in the entire county where sand did not set to the peanut.  Also, he had the only field without stink bugs and the color of his field was different.  His field was a beautiful lush green.  The other fields had leaf discoloration.

Here's how it works with peanut crops.  The peanut people, who buy the peanuts from the farmers, do the picking.  They have the machines and the crews.  so, they don't care what is going on at your particular farm.  If they come early to pick, you have to let them, or else you get dropped to the bottom of the list.  If this happens it might be two months till they get back to pick you, and then you will loose most of your crop.

In 1997, Mike and Jake got picked early.  The crop was 2 weeks away from being ready to pick.  They had just turned the crop then it started to rain on top of it.   Then the pickers came, and they had no choice but to let them harvest early.   With this kind of system there is no way to judge what the yield would have been if picked at the appropriate time.

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