History of USDA Pecan Breeding Program Tommy E. Thompson The
pecan research activities of the Agricultural Research Service
of the USDA, formerly the Bureau of Plant Industry, in Texas
date back to July 1, 1930, when an appropriation for this work
was obtained through the efforts of Congressman J. P. Buchanan
of Brenham. The original headquarters for this new U.S. Pecan
Research Laboratory was located on the "Little Campus" of the
University of Texas in Austin. An orchard developed from native
trees and owned by Dr. J. E. Pearce of the University was leased
for experimentation. This orchard was poorly suited for research
projects, and Dr. Traub, who was in charge of this research,
soon began looking for something better. He found a desirable
site along the Pecan Bayou which could be irrigated from Lake
Brownwood, and was owned by the City of Brownwood. A contract
was arranged with the Chamber of Commerce and the City of
Brownwood by which this property became available for long-term
use as a pecan experiment