Click on any image for a larger view. SCLEROTINIA BLIGHT Sclerotinia blight’s initial symptom includes a rapid wilting or flagging of the tips of infected branches. Initially, lesions are small, light green and water-soaked. As the disease develops, the lesions turn...

No Payment On 2013 Crop USDA has announced that no counter-cyclical payment will be made on 2013 crop peanuts. The National Ag Statistics Service publishes the peanut market year average price received by farmers by state and nationwide. The published...

The U.S. peanut market wants to grow and expand, but the market's dynamics seem to have adjusted to one step forward and two steps back. The industry tries to minimize risks, but many unknowns have all segments nervous, and answers are needed so a true, fair market can prevail. Lots of questions remain to be answered on the 2014 crop. How has drought impacted quantity and quality in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina where 80 percent of the peanuts are grown? How bad will aflatoxin be? Can U.S. peanuts meet European Union quality requirements and keep that momentum? Blanching capacity is maxed out and on-time delivery may be a problem. The logistics of keeping good quality irrigated peanuts separate from dryland peanuts is a challenge at the buying point and sheller. Another unknown is farmer-stock contracts. Today, peanut contracts are a mystifying dilemma. The shellers are trying to find a balance...buy a reasonable supply of peanuts at a reasonable price for their customers while keeping the farmer profitable.

The most difficult word to write is the very first one. In fact, most times, I start by writing the body of an article, then come back to that always-challenging first sentence. So I can certainly appreciate when someone...

Sponsored by BASF We are pleased to to be able to to continue to sponsor this helpful and informative peanut product guide. Our goal is to help you achieve more yield per acre. One of the best ways to do...

South Georgia peanut farmer, Philip Grimes, is named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. South Georgia farmer Philip Grimes, who was nominated by former University of Georgia Extension agent Brian Tankersley, was selected as the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo...

Producers have decisions to make regarding program coverage. As peanut harvest got underway, USDA unveiled some of the new programs available to producers through enactment of the 2014 Farm Bill. Those programs are said to help producers better manage risk...

Slow Progress On Farm Bill Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman, Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and House Ag Chairman, Frank Lucas (R-OK), have said they would like to move versions of the Farm Bill this spring. In discussions, the sticking points are the...

Monitoring report - Peanuts-5-23-14-1 From Dr. Ayanava Majumdar, Ph.D. (Dr. A), Extension Entomologist, Alabama Coop. Extension System, here’s an early insect monitoring report from traps and also a few comments about thrips and the new product, Radiant. Click on the...

As the 2014 season unfolds, final decisions need to be made as it relates to the placement of varieties and, more importantly, market types. When it comes to planting early, peanuts are a little more forgiving than other crops, such as cotton. However, efforts should be made to plant under the most favorable conditions. It is always important to use high-quality seed and check for splits and immature kernels. Planting should occur when soil conditions are favorable for rapid germination of the seed and development of the plant. Recent studies have shown that planting densities can be substantially reduced for all market types, but differences in seed size and seed count may need to be addressed when calibrating vacuum planters. Adjustments in planting depth should be made based on soil type, planting date and moisture conditions. Overall, late planting dates generally lead to reduced yields and lower grades, as well as increasing the risk from freeze damage and late-season drought.

Uncertainty in the peanut market created by the Farm Bill and the lack of profitable alternatives has peanut farmers worried about the future and where the industry is headed. USDA further doomed market potential by estimating that U.S. peanut acreage...

Soil Moisture Monitoring From Valley Valley Irrigation's SoilPro 1200, powered by AquaSpy, delivers the most detailed soil moisture data in an easy-tounderstand format. With just a few clicks, growers can see the depth of their crop root zone, soil moisture...

Employ those strategies that take a long-term view of the farm. Sustainability means different things to different people. It can also be different depending on what aspect of production agriculture you are talking about. At the last Southern Peanut Growers...

In reporting on their success, the International Peanut Genome Initiative has released the first peanut genome sequences. The International Peanut Genome Initiative (IPGI) – a multinational group of crop geneticists working in cooperation for several years – has successfully sequenced...

Service propane-powered equipment such as irrigation engines, generators and pickup trucks to ensure good performance. As farmers gear up for planting season, now is the best time to ready equipment following a harsh winter. Maintenance early in the season lowers...