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...

Be ready as conditions in 2014 may favor the return of foliage feeders. As the saying goes, the only certainties in life are death and taxes. However, you can probably add to that at least some level of pressure from...

On behalf of The Peanut Grower and sponsors of the anniversary issue, a check is presented at the annual festival. To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of The Peanut Grower magazine in November 2013, One Grower Publishing chose to donate a...

USDA announces sign-up period at FSA offices. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that eligible farmers and ranchers can sign up for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance programs restored by passage of the 2014 Farm Bill. Years Of Waiting "We...

Jason Woodward, Texas Agri-Life Extension Plant Pathologist With the 2014 growing season upon us, peanut producers in the Southwest remain optimistic even though the continuing drought conditions experienced throughout much of the winter is enough to test anyone. By now,...

New Crossover Insecticide/Fungicide Innvictis Crop Care, LLC, announces the launch of Crossover, an insecticide plus fungicide premix formulated into a convenient and stable emulsifiable concentrate. It is labeled for corn, cotton and soybeans, plus cucurbits. Crossover combines a triazole fungicide...