Hammons Extends Black Walnut Buying Season to Nov. 30
The company is also raising its black walnut buying price to $16 per 100 pounds as a delayed autumn drop leaves much of the crop in the canopy.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Hunting
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Hammons Products Co., based in Stockton, Missouri, has extended its black walnut buying season through Monday, Nov. 30, and raised its buying price to $16 per 100 pounds after hulling. The company says a delayed autumn walnut drop has left the bulk of the nut crop suspended high in the canopy.
Why it matters
Unseasonably warm, dry weather across the Midwest slowed the annual fall black walnut drop, extending the window for harvesters who gather fallen nuts. For Missouri residents who forage or sell walnuts, the extension and higher price offer more time and better returns.
Hammons Products Co. pays $16 per 100 pounds of hulled black walnuts at approximately 170 buying locations across 12 states. The company says there are three to four weeks left in the harvest window, and recommends hulling within one to two days of collection.
The players
Hammons Products Co.
A Stockton, Missouri-based company that buys and hulls black walnuts through approximately 170 locations across 12 states.
The details
Harvesters can bring freshly fallen wild walnuts to any Hammons buying location, and hulling stations accept everything from a single bucket to full pickup and trailer loads. Walnuts are hulled at certified stations before payment is calculated.
Timeline
Weeks before Nov. 2, 2026: above-normal temperatures and dry conditions delayed the walnut drop.
Nov. 2, 2026: Hammons announced the extended buying season and price increase.
Monday, Nov. 30, 2026: hulling stations close at the end of the extended season.
Seasonal Patterns
The annual black walnut drop in the Midwest is normally triggered by cooler temperatures, so this season's weeks of above-normal warmth and dryness pushed the harvest later than usual. The delay is a departure from that typical autumn cycle and has kept much of the crop suspended in the canopy.
Missouri foragers have three to four weeks to gather fallen walnuts and bring them to a buying location. Hulling within one to two days of collection is recommended to keep the nuts in good condition before payment.
The takeaway
If you gather black walnuts, hull them within one to two days and bring them to a buying location before the season closes on Nov. 30. The higher price and extended window make this year's late harvest worth planning around.
What happens next
The buying season closes Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, when hulling stations stop accepting walnuts.
Further reading
Explore more Hunting stories on the Missouri section for context on seasonal foraging.
More information
To locate nearby walnut buying stations and schedules, check the company's resource page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ky3.
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