Associated Press - October 9, 2010 6:05 AM ET
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - The donation of 1,000 pecan trees will allow New Mexico State University to expand its research.
University officials say the donation from Linwood Nursery in California gives the school nearly 30 acres of pecan trees for research.
They say that's the largest university pecan research acreage west of Texas and the third largest in the country.
New Mexico has an estimated 40,000 acres of pecan trees, which produced about 70 million pounds of pecans valued at $133 million in 2009.
NMSU's Extension pecan specialist, Richard Heerema, says the new trees will help researchers get a better handle on the ideal levels of water and nutrients.
He says they'll be able to study other areas, including pest control and pruning.
The trees were planted at Las Cruces and Artesia science centers.
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