WATERPROOF &8212; Miss-Lou residents might have to wait awhile for their pecan pies, pralines and roasted pecans this holiday season.

Owner of Plantation Pecan and Gift Company, Buddy Miller of Waterproof said the ground was too wet to pick pecans by machine in his grove.

&8220;We&8217;ve picked some by hand but not very many,&8221; Miller said. &8220;With the recent rain we&8217;ve had here we&8217;re running behind on picking them with our machines.&8221;

Miller also said belt-wide, there is a shortage of pecans this year.

The pecan belt, Miller said, includes Georgia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee and South Carolina.

&8220;Louisiana probably has the best crop this year despite the rains,&8221; Miller said.

Miller said good weather is the most important factor in having a good pecan crop. During growing season, Miller said, trees must have adequate rainfall.

The growing season is the period of time between the last freeze in the spring and the first freeze in the fall, Miller said.

Before it&8217;s time to harvest, Miller said, the weather must be cool and dry.

&8220;If the weather is too wet, the pecans are prone to early sprouting or rot which will result in quality deterioration,&8221; Miller said.

Pecans being a major cash crop for Miller, he said his grove of 2,500 trees produces a variety of pecans including Sumner, Cape Fear, Melrose, Candy, Elliot and Desirable.

The Desirable variety, Miller said, are probably the most popular because of their ability to produce every year with a big nut and thin, easily crackable shell.

Once the ground is dry enough for machine picking, Miller said his company would be ready for mass marketing in time for the holidays.

Miller said the current average cost of pecans at a roadside retailer is 60 cents per pound.

&8220;Due to the shortage this year, the average cost for mail-order pecans is about $1 to $2 per pound,&8221; Miller said.

Miller said mail-order pecans are of a higher quality because the pecans are fertilized and treated against insects.

The Plantation Pecan and Gift Company sells most of its pecans through mail orders from its Web site, as well as selling them at local farmers markets in the Miss-Lou, Miller said.

For more information of Plantation Pecan and Gift Company, visit their Web site at www.plantationpecan.com.