Features

1. Field Selection / Rotation: Peanuts require well-drained land and do best on soils with a sandy surface. Avoid fields with recent soybean history as best you can and eliminate from future rotation. Sustainable production requires a minimum of two years, three are better, of cotton or corn, not legumes, in between peanut crops. 2. Soil test: P and K ... Read More »

Some areas are right on schedule, but other producers face uncertainty and challenges. For the most part, planting is on schedule for many producers aided by warm temperatures and adequate moisture. For others, particularly those still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Michael, the barriers to planting seem insurmountable. Pam Knox, University of Georgia agricultural climatologist, reports that farmers in ... Read More »

Research specific to organic production in the West Texas region is needed. • By Amanda Huber, Editor • As organic food and fiber products continue to garner a growing part of the overall consumer market, those manufacturers looking to find trusted sources of quality organic peanuts need to look no further than West Texas. With the help of a climate that does ... Read More »

EPA mandated changes will go into effect when new paraquat labels enter the market. • By Amanda Huber, Editor • Paraquat is a widely used, restricted-use pesticide in the United States. In peanuts, paraquat is often an important part in achieving successful yields by controlling a broad spectrum of weeds and keeping the crop weed-free until canopy closure. It is also ... Read More »

As planting season begins across the country, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) reminds farmers to follow the basic steps for stewardship of treated seed. “Seed treatments provide farmers with an effective and economical way to protect their crops against damaging pests and diseases,” says ASTA Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs Jane DeMarchi. “Using treated seeds helps with more ... Read More »

According to USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service, U.S. peanut growers intend to plant 1.45 million acres in 2019, up 2 percent from 2018’s harvest numbers. In 2018, peanut growers planted 1.5 million acres, which was the lowest planted area since 2014, but weather-related events, including two hurricanes in the peanut belt, took its toll on the crop. For 2019, planting ... Read More »

Know the conditions favorable for these yield robbers and what to look for when scouting. • By Amanda Huber, Editor • Soil insects are somewhat unpredictable, but producers are likely to see one or more of them in their fields this year. The primary pests to be prepared for are the peanut burrower bug, lesser cornstalk borer, southern corn rootworm and ... Read More »

Testing products on the farm is standard for this crop consultant and the growers he works with. • By Amanda Huber, Editor • Paul Wigley is a well-known name in South Georgia. Even though he retired as Calhoun County Extension Agent in 2011, Wigley has stayed busy as a crop consultant with his business Paul Ventures Inc. working with some of ... Read More »

Because of losses suffered during the last growing season and new tariffs, Georgia farmers are facing a sense of uncertainty surrounding the upcoming production season, says University of Georgia agricultural economist Adam Rabinowitz. Just four months removed from Hurricane Michael — the devastating October storm that contributed to more than $2 billion in agricultural-related damage — farmers are unsure of ... Read More »

It’s that time of year again. Planting is right around the corner. Florence and Michael have come and gone. What’s going to be different this year? When planting time rolls around, calibration is key to getting the most “bang out of the buck.” The first factor that should be considered is something a grower can control, according to experienced crop ... Read More »