Features

Weather patterns are part of what dictates the possible pathogens to look for. Early hot, dry weather created conditions that favored both Aspergillus crown rot and lesser cornstalk borers says Clemson Extension peanut specialist Dan Anco. Unfortunately, on the Aspergillus crown rot, the recommendations are to plant good quality, treated seed and include an in-furrow fungicide. After planting, and once ... Read More »

Scouting is the best way to find problems before it is too late. • By Amanda Huber • Rainfall or irrigation is needed in peanut production for many reasons, including activation of pest products. With the lack of moisture in the early season, pests preferring hot, dry conditions, such as lesser cornstalk borer, were able to establish significant populations. “Lesser cornstalk ... Read More »

A jump in peanut acreage is expected thanks to this new infrastructure. Arkansas may soon see its biggest year in peanut production since the U.S. Department of Agriculture began tracking the crop in the state in 2015 as growers respond to anticipated new buying points and a shelling facility within the next year. Travis Faske, Extension plant pathologist and peanut ... Read More »

Keep the crop clean through the first weeks to maintain peanut yield. Weed management is truly a year-round process. It may begin in planning before the crop is planted, but it really never ends. The harvesting of the crop may only signal the start of field record keeping, where weed problems and successes are documented. Since this is the start ... Read More »

How to recognize and manage this microscopic predator. By Zane Grabau, University of Florida, Extension Nematologist and Assistant Professor Most agriculture professionals recognize that plant-parasitic nematodes can drag down peanut yield. In the Southeast, peanut nematodes are often assumed to be peanut root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne arenaria and Meloidogyne javanica) because they are widespread, highly damaging and their symptoms are relatively ... Read More »

Every now and then, this weed emerges to remind producers it can be quite a formidable foe. Tropical spiderwort, also called Benghal dayflower, is a weed that came on the row-crop production scene in the early 1990s and continues to crop up from time to time. Although Palmer amaranth became the weed garnering most of the attention in the last ... Read More »

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 »