Features

Properly inverted plants will form a uniform, fluffy, well-aerated windrow with few pods touching the soil. When to dig peanuts is one of the most important decisions growers make each year. The hull-scrape method of determining peanut maturity is an accurate way of judging when to harvest. County Extension agents routinely run crop maturity checks using the peanut profile board ... Read More »

New sensor technology is better at determining drying uniformity, saves on energy costs. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) engineers in Georgia have developed a network of sensors that will save thousands of dollars in drying costs for peanut growers and processors. When peanut farmers in Georgia sell their crop, they bring it to a buying point to be graded and priced. ... Read More »

With heavy rains, a deficiency of this leachable nutrient is possible. • By Ethan Carter, UF/IFAS Regional Crop IPM Agent, and Michael Mulvaney, UF/IFAS Cropping Systems Specialist • In early June, peanut fields across the Florida Panhandle ranged in age from freshly planted to nearly 40 days old. Many areas have had consistent rainfall and overcast days, which has left fields ... Read More »

Plants are not developing properly in waterlogged soils. Two consecutive weeks of rainfall in Georgia stunted the growth of the state’s peanut crop and has left farmers scrambling to decide what to do next. Georgia’s peanut and cotton acreage remains in flux due to the inclement weather. According to the Georgia Crop Progress and Condition Report, issued by the U.S. ... Read More »

A new Clemson Extension associate will help South Carolina farmers learn how to use technologies to increase efficiency. Michael Plumblee is the new precision agriculture specialist at Clemson’s Edisto Research and Education Center. He will work with growers of all major crops including: corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans. “I want to work with growers and Extension agents to build a ... Read More »

Sclerotinia blight, chlorothalonil shortages and fungicide resistance are a few issues producers may deal with this season. Q: Sclerotinia blight has been found in Arkansas fields. How can I keep it from spreading into my fields? A: Travis Faske, University of Arkansas, Extension plant pathologist Preventing the spread of the pathogen is the best way to keep fields free of ... Read More »

The interior color of a Rhizobia-formed nodule may provide an early warning of drought and other crop stresses. • By David Hensley and Diane Rowland, UF/IFAS Agronomy Department •  One of the primary benefits of growing legumes like peanut is their ability to convert nitrogen in the atmosphere to a form that is available for use throughout the plant. They do ... Read More »

Wasted water is money down the drain; ensure that applied water is being used by the crop. • By Amanda Huber • With top-soil moisture registering as very short in six peanut states in mid-May, producers are hoping the drought trend breaks in favor of timely rains. Rarely though is irrigation not needed at some point during the production season. “Weather ... Read More »

Society meetings continue to foster collaborative efforts and creative solutions to industry challenges. • By Amanda Huber, Editor • The American Peanut Research Education Society celebrates 50 years of work, study, research, learning and accomplishments around one of the most important and beloved crops: the peanut. To mark the Golden Anniversary, a program highlighting the past accomplishments in the industry and ... Read More »

This aggressive weed forms dense stands over large areas and can eliminate native plants. • By Amanda Huber •  South Carolina peanut farms are on the front lines for the advancing march of cogongrass, and producers are asked to stay vigilant for this invasive species. “Cogongrass is one of the most serious invasive species in the southeast,” says Justin Ballew, Clemson ... Read More »