05/29/2026
Hot off the press! The latest USDA Forest Service Longleaf Pine Cone Report shows a promising outlook for 2026 โ the best since 2017!
Based on green cone counts this spring, the predicted regional longleaf cone crop for this fall is GOOD with an average of 53.9 cones per tree, an encouraging indicator for both natural regeneration this fall and future nursery seedling production.
While there is hope on the horizon, it is important to remember that cone production varies by site and weather risks remain.
Annual monitoring by the UDSA Forest Service is crucial for continuing longleaf restoration efforts. Having an idea of upcoming cone crops helps longleaf growers plan for seed collection and informs land managers' upcoming activities, like prescribed burning or selective harvesting, to promote recruitment. In 2025, the poor predicted cone crop allowed partners to rally together to ensure sufficient cone collection was possible at a time when longleaf seed inventory was nearly exhausted.
Read the full report >https://longleafalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-REPORT-on-Longleaf-Pine-Cone-Production.pdf
[Photo by USDA Forest Service]