Features

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 »

• By Steve Li, Alabama Cooperative Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor,  Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences • Q What is Zidua? How does it kill weeds? A: Zidua (pyrosasulfone) is a Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) group 15 herbicide, which has similar mode of action to Dual Magnum (S-metolachlor), Warrant (acetochlor) and Outlook (S-dimethenamid). It controls weeds by inhibiting production ... Read More »

Since 2001, peanut breeder Kim Moore has worked to produce high- yielding, disease-resistant varieties. • By Amanda Huber •  For more than 35 years, Kim Moore has worked to make better yielding and more disease resistant peanut varieties. He worked with Ernest Harvey, a well-known peanut breeder and someone Moore considers an important mentor, at AgraTech Seeds. “When AgraTech closed, ... Read More »

Several factors are contributing to the stagnant market, but hope springs eternal that one of these could change. • By Amanda Huber • At the present time, peanut markets are about as exciting as watching paint dry. The hope that another crop may offer a price worthy of creating an acreage shift or that a trade agreement could be reached on ... Read More »

The best variety choice is one that will achieve a rapid, uniform stand and provide good yields and grades over a wide range of growing conditions. Today’s varieties offer resistance to multiple diseases. Carefully consider what varieties would fit best into your fields and operation overall. Factors that affect the decision of what variety to plant include field history, irrigation, ... Read More »