Each primary bud could produce well over 5 million pollen grains. This number is sufficient to pollinate enough flowers to produce 100,000 pounds of good average pecans of standard variety. A single tree could produce enough pollen to produce the nation s entire annual crop if the pollen grains from this tree were properly distributed. Obviously, pollen distribution, although wind-blown, is never ideal. Chance pollination may occur with pollen from as far away as 2 to 3 miles, but the grower should not depend upon pollination from more than 400 feet away.
Wind direction is an important factor.
NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.