• By Jennifer Dorsett • The 2020 harvest season has wrapped for Texas peanut farmers with mixed results. Some areas of the state had good yields and good quality, while other parts of the state experienced a below-average season. “We had such a mixed bag across the state. In West Texas, where 90% of Texas peanuts are grown, we had ... Read More »

Texas peanut producers experienced a difficult 2020 growing season due to drought, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Dr. Emi Kimura, AgriLife Extension state peanut specialist, Vernon, said dry weather from April to September led to below-average yields as peanut producers near the end of harvest. “Harvest is almost done in most areas because there’s not been ... Read More »

Virginia’s cotton and peanut harvests are lagging due to a series of disruptive weather events, and the threat of additional rain could further dampen farmers’ efforts. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service Nov. 9 crop report, Virginia’s cotton and peanut harvests are just 35% and 65% complete, respectively. At this time last year, Virginia farmers had completed the peanut ... Read More »

New shelling plants are in the works, and one came online in August. If the building of new industry infrastructure in the form of shelling facilities is a positive sign, then peanuts are well poised for the future. Farmers in southwest Alabama have joined together as Coastal Growers LLC, with plans to build a peanut shelling plant in Atmore. The ... Read More »

Soil pH in the correct range is needed for maximum yield. • By Audrey Gamble, Auburn University Extension Soil Scientist • Maintaining soil pH is the first step to improving soil fertility for peanut production. Most Southeastern soils are naturally low in pH and must be limed to create conditions that boost production. The ideal pH for peanuts is in ... Read More »

A survey started three years ago evolves into an integrated tool for monitoring disease and guiding research efforts. In 2017, Florida producers experienced a problem in peanut fields that had never been seen before. The phenomenon, coined “peanut collapse” or “peanut decline,” affected approximately 25,000 acres and reduced yields about 1,000 pounds per acre on average in these locations. At ... Read More »

Adequate calcium helps protect pods from pathogens. Late this season, Florida peanut producers saw an increase in pod rot disease. It’s little wonder given the number of tropical storms and hurricanes. In early June, Tropical Storm Cristobal provided torrential rainfall, followed by even more showers for a total of 18 to 22 inches within a week’s time in some locations. ... Read More »

United Voice On Legislation Peanut growers, shellers and buying points have formed the United States Peanut Federation to serve as a unified voice in Washington, D.C., and advocate for strong agricultural policy. USPF’s mission is to protect, promote and improve business conditions for those in the peanut industry. U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, ... Read More »

When COVID-19 hit, it took a while to understand the pandemic and the impact it would have on the peanut industry. With the economy shut down and families forced to stay at home, peanut butter and peanut snacks started flying off grocery store shelves as much as toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Peanut shellers had to find a way to ... Read More »

The Stripling Family Foundation of Camilla, Georgia, has been recognized with the Epsilon Sigma Phi National Friend of Extension award for their many years of philanthropic and personal support of agriculture programs in Georgia. Charles and Patsy Stripling credited Charles’ parents, the late C.M. Stripling and Bernice Campbell Stripling, for their many decades of support for agricultural research, education and ... Read More »