Peanut Grower July 2022

The

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

JULY 2022

THE PEANUT PRODUCER'S MARKETING & PRODUCTION MAGAZINE www.peanutgrower.com

New Varieties From Texas A&M

Late-Season Fungicide Decisions The Search For 70%

2022 Crop:

Good Stands, Early Pest Pressure

FOCUS As challenges for producers mount this season, our team is working tirelessly to provide the latest in profitable production strategies to help boost your bottom line.

To advertise, contact Associate Publisher/Sales Scott Emerson, 386-462-1532 or semerson@onegrower.com

The

JULY 2022

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

JULY 2022

THE PEANUT PRODUCER'S MARKETING & PRODUCTION MAGAZINE www.peanutgrower.com

New Varieties From Texas A&M

Volume 34 • Number 7

Late-Season Fungicide Decisions The Search For 70%

2022 Crop:

Good Stands, Early Pest Pressure

Departments 4

Editor’s Note Trying something new is a positive

5

News Briefs Acreage reporting deadline approaching

8

Market Watch Strategic planning needed; farmer testifies on trade

20 Peanut Pointers White mold is appearing early in fields this year

Stay Connected

10 Features

10 An Early Look At 2022

Stay on top of scouting this season as pests and diseases seem to be striking earlier.

12 Late-Season Decisions

Fungicide applications at this point involve disease levels and projected digging date.

14 The Search For 70%

It’s almost time to group hull-scraped pods into colors to determine maturity.

16 New Varieties From Texas A&M

These cultivars meet the need for earlier maturing, high-oleic runner peanuts.

Sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at peanutgrower.com to have exclusive industry news and content delivered directly to your inbox.

Follow The Peanut Grower on Twitter @PeanutGrower TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

18 On-Farm Cover Crop Research

Plan now to find the best cover crop to improve soil heath and suppress pests.

Cover photo by Amanda Huber JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Copy Editor Cassidy Nemec cnemec@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe Digital Content Manager Katie Guthrie

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Associate Publisher/Sales Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514 Production Manager David Boyd dboyd@onegrower.com For subscription changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 or email peanutgrower@omeda.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Scott Monfort Extension Agronomist University of Georgia Dell Cotton Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Assn., Franklin, VA Kris Balkcom Agri-Program Associate Auburn University Dan Anco Extension Peanut Specialist Clemson University

Emi Kimura Extension Agronomist Texas A&M University David Jordan Extension Agronomist North Carolina State University Glen Harris Extension Agronomist University of Georgia Jason Ferrell Extension Weed Specialist University of Florida

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf PRESIDENT/TREASURER Lia Guthrie PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT The Peanut Grower (ISSN 1042-9379) is an agribusiness magazine for U.S. peanut producers. Published in eight monthly issues, January through July and November. Annual subscriptions are $40.00. Single Copy price is $5.00. Annual overseas subscriptions are $70.00, including Canada/Mexico. Periodicals postage paid at at Memphis, Tennessee, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright © 2022 One Grower Publishing, LLC, all rights reserved except where otherwise noted. The Peanut Grower ® is a registered trademark, which reserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in association with the registration. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO OMEDA COMMUNICATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 1388, NORTHBROOK, IL 60065-1388. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Printed in the USA. One Grower Publishing, LLC, also publishes Cotton Farming, Rice Farming, Soybean South and Corn South.

Editor’sNote Editor’s Note Trying Something New Is A Positive

W

e might be on familiar ground with another peanut butter recall, but this time is different. Thankfully, the biggest change is that people have only been ill. Thus far, 16 people from 12 states have been affected, with two hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The initial declaration began on May 20 with the J.M. Smucker Co. recalling multiple Jif brand peanut butter types, including creamy, crunchy, natural and Amanda Huber reduced fat.

Editor, The Peanut Grower In the following couple of weeks, at least 18 companies have recalled products containing Jif. Americans were cautioned against eating a range of baked goods, sandwiches, candy, ice cream, trail mix and ready-to-eat salad products made with the recalled Jif peanut butter. Snacks were pulled from stores, vending machines and restaurants across the country.

Everyone involved has been quick to respond to the recall, which is also different from the one in 2009. However, that recall was mainly product ingredients, making it much more of a challenge to identify and recall.

When I first heard about the salmonella-tainted product, I had probably eaten peanut butter already that day or was eating it at the time. The jar is never too far from my chair, and Jif is my preferred brand. I dutifully checked the numbers and sure enough they matched. These were the big jars, too. The kind that come in the double pack for the serious peanut butter lovers. One jar was half empty!

I left the jars on the counter for a couple of days, but eventually decided that I had to be respectful of the industry I love so much by adhering to the recall. I threw the jars away. The next day, I was at the store trying to decide what other brand I would try. I picked one crunchy and one creamy, both organic. Trying something new has been a positive.

Eventually, the recall will pass and J.M. Smucker will bring Jif back to the market. I’ll buy the first jar I can, but maybe I’ll continue trying different peanut butter products as well. Let’s hope all consumers do the same.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

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NewsBriefs News Briefs Report Acres By Mid-Month

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency policy requires that producers participating in programs submit an annual report regarding all croplands used on their farms. This includes the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs.

Reporting also applies to those who receive marketing assistance loans or loan deficiency payments. Failure to file an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses can result in loss of program benefits.

FSA uses the data to determine payment eligibility and to calculate losses for various disaster programs. Data are reported in the following categories: planted, prevented planted and failed.

In addition, the National Agricultural Statistics Service uses FSA planted acreage data to complement their survey data.

Producers planting peanuts must report acreage by July 15.

For a closer look at PLC, the major program crops are corn, soybeans, wheat, all rice, peanuts and seed cotton – a combination of cotton lint and cotton seed as defined in the 2018 Farm Bill.

The national average crop prices received by farmers during the marketing year, called the marketing year average, are the biggest driver of payments and, therefore, of program spending. If the marketing year average price is below the reference price, PLC triggers a deficiency payment on the difference, which is multiplied by program yields and 85% of base acres.

More Emphasis On Sustainability

The world peanut market is placing increasing emphasis on sustainability.

This applies to all sides of the supply chain, including producers/processors, importers/traders/brokers and ingredient end-users. This was the subject of a panel discussion at the International Peanut Forum in Budapest, Hungary, TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

this past April.

Comments of panel members are as follows: Yann Quemeneur of Intersnack Procurement said the company has their own internal sustainability targets, and they issue a sustainability report every two years detailing the latest data on this effort. Sustainability targets include waste reduction and water usage. Intersnack plans to reduce their carbon footprint 30% by 2030 and is starting to investigate its suppliers in this regard.

Amanda Wright of Zertus UK said the firm’s involvement in sustainability includes responsible sourcing, a focus on reducing its carbon footprint, traceability with its suppliers and environmental considerations.

Eric Coronel of the American Peanut Council said the recently launched peanut sustainability initiative will give U.S. peanut growers a platform on which to share good practices and measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The underlying principle is to bring transparency to the U.S. peanut industry on sustainability.

Edoardo Fracanzani of Camara Argentina del Mani said each of the organization’s 20-member companies has its own focus on sustainability.

One industry-wide area of work is on improving their carbon footprint, and the group is working with a computer software firm to find an effective way of assessing the carbon footprint of all its member companies. Assessment is also being undertaken on Argentina’s good agricultural practice to ensure this also has an impact on sustainability.

Inflation And Peanut Butter

The National Peanut Board’s president and CEO Bob Parker offered some comments recently regarding the value of peanut butter.

“Relative to other sources of protein, peanut butter prices have been stable and are an amazing value. The

In Brief • Report peanut acreage to your FSA office by July 15 to continue eligibility in programs.

• From grower to consumer, sustainability is at the forefront of planning.

• Peanut butter is a great value for consumers trying to manage inflationary food prices.

• Snacking trends the focus of National Peanut Board poll.

• Birdsong invests in the future of Virginia peanuts with modernization project.

Consumer Price Index showed peanut butter up 3.8% over 12 months, which is what retail scan data, provided by IRI, a market research firm, showed for calendar year 2021,” he says.

Peanut butter prices will be under the same inflationary pressures that many items are under, such as labor, freight, packaging natural gas and other operating costs. However, the base raw material, peanuts, has been extremely stable in price.

Parker says, “We had the third largest crop in history in 2021 and maybe the best quality crop ever. Coupled with lower demand for exports, there is an abundance of peanuts in the market, which is keeping a lid on prices.”

Earlier this year, a local retail price of the leading brand of peanut butter was $2.49 for a 16-ounce jar. That equals 18 cents per serving or 2.6 cents per gram of protein. The store brand was only $1.50 for 15 ounces. Peanut butter is a great value for consumers trying to manage inflationary food prices.

MAP And FMD Programs

Programs to help U.S. farmers build markets overseas boosted agricultural exports by an average of $9.6 billion JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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NewsBriefs News Briefs annually from 1977 to 2019, representing 13.7% of total agricultural export value, and returning $24.50 in additional net export revenue for every dollar spent on export promotion. Those are the key conclusions from a study commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council on behalf of members of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council to evaluate USDA’s Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program. The study was conducted by IHS Markit in cooperation with Gary Williams and Oral Capps at Texas A&M University, both experts on evaluating the economic performance of trade promotion programs.

MAP and FMD are authorized by the Farm Bill and administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The programs form part of the public-private partnerships that offer competitive costshare grants for foreign market development activities to USAEDC members.

The study reports that these market development programs effectively leveraged industry contributions, averaging between 70-77% of expenditures from 2013-2019, valued at an estimated annual average of $567 million.

In the peanut industry, these funds are managed by the American Peanut Council. Funding for this year is $2.6 million for MAP and $585,000 for FMD.

National Peanut Board Budget

We do that by funding research, over $2 million this year, to help farmers make higher yields with less inputs. We work to help sell more peanuts through domestic promotion and address barriers to more sales, such as peanut allergy.

Exports add about 25% more to our market, so we support the American Peanut Council in their activities.”

In the budget, domestic promotion and market development programs total $8.2 million. Export promotion is $460,000. Another line item in the budget is state production research projects, which total $2.1 million, plus other production research totaling $507,000. Grower and intra-industry communications is budgeted for $600,000.

The Scoop On Snacking

Nearly every American needs a mid-afternoon snack, according to new research. According to a poll of 2,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 41 (1,125 Gen Z and 875 millennials), only 3% claim they don’t eat snacks.

Meanwhile one in four, or 26%, of respondents snack most frequently in the early afternoon, making it the most preferred snack time — particularly among millennials.

Sixty-eight percent admitted they reach for snacks more frequently in times of anxiety or stress, which could be why two-thirds find themselves

Calendar • July 12-14, 2022 – American Peanut Research and Education Society Annual Meeting, Omni Las Colinas Hotel, Dallas, Texas. For information, visit www.apresinc. com.

• July 15, 2022 – Deadline to report final planted crop acreage for 2022 to Farm Service Agency.

• July 21, 2022 – Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day, Moultrie, Georgia. For more information, go to sunbeltexpo.com.

• July 21-23, 2022 – 23rd Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Edgewater Beach Resort, Panama City Beach, Florida. Hosted by Georgia Peanut Commission and grower associations in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. For information, go to www.southernpeanut farmers.org.

snacking more now than they did before the start of the pandemic.

Those who snack with a specific purpose in mind are typically looking for an energy boost (42%), some extra calories (33%) or protein (33%).

The poll, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of NPB, found that 57% of respondents confessed to snacking reg-

The National Peanut Board recently published their yearly budget for promotion, market development and production research.

The NPB’s total budget for fiscal year 2022 is $13.2 million. Revenue is based on a per-ton rate of $3.55 for Seg. 1 peanuts and $1.25 for Seg 2 and 3. Projections are always on the conservative side to be sure enough money is available to carry out programs.

NPB president and CEO Bob Parker, says, “Our mission is to improve the economics of U.S. peanut farmers.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

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NewsBriefs News Briefs Birdsong Invests In Plant Modernization

Birdsong Peanuts, a cornerstone company in the peanut industry, particularly in Virginia, for more than 100 years, will invest $25.1 million into its peanut shelling facility in Suffolk, Virginia.

The company will refurbish and automate production lines and will make the facility one of the most modern and efficient of its five shelling plants. Birdsong is committing to additional growing opportunities for Virginia peanut producers for many years to come.

“Birdsong Peanuts chose to reinvest in Suffolk because our corporate headquarters is here, there is a thriving peanut producer base here, there is good access to domestic and export markets and also because of the region’s talented workforce,” said Charles Birdsong, president of Birdsong Peanuts.

Additional funding for the project will come from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the form of a Governor-approved Virginia Investment Performance Grant. Another $250,000 grant will come from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund to assist the City of Suffolk with the project.

“Birdsong Peanuts helped make the Virginia peanut an iconic product shared around the globe, and we celebrate the company’s continued success and growth in the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “This expansion is a strong testament to the City of Suffolk’s agricultural resources, access ularly before meals. But three in four snackers stop at least an hour ahead of their next meal.

Americans are strong-willed when it comes to avoiding midnight snacks, too, as only 2% of those polled said they reach for a late-night bite.

Results also revealed that 63% prefer their food to have “a little kick,” and 36% of Gen Zers and 41% of Millennials are challenging themselves to try more spicy foods. Close to half of peanut-eaters (47%) enjoy adding some spice to the mix. Also almost half (47%) of all respondents prefer a snack with some crunch.

“Spice has become a huge food TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

and talent, and we look forward to the next chapter in Birdsong’s 100+-year history in Virginia.”

With the Suffolk location, the company now operates six shelling plants throughout the peanut-growing belt.

Birdsong owns extensive cold storage warehouses, which enables it to keep products in a protected environment until it’s shipped to the customer.

“The Virginia peanut is perhaps the Commonwealth’s most famous contribution to world cuisine and few families have done more than the Birdsongs in bringing Virginia peanuts to the world,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “It is always a cause to celebrate when we see companies make major investments into the infrastructure that supports Virginia’s farmers, but this is especially true when that investment is being made by a homegrown, family-owned business in support of one of our most iconic agricultural products. I thank the Birdsong family for their commitment to the Commonwealth and look forward to their next 100 years of growth and success.”

trend,” says Ryan Lepicier, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at the National Peanut Board. “It could be because Gen Z and millennials are being inspired for new snack ideas by global social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.” When asked to categorize certain foods into either snacks, meals or both, respondents were divided. For classics like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, 40% would categorize it as a snack, but 39% call it a meal.

One-third of respondents said they could make a meal out of nothing but peanuts, compared to half who believe the legume to be snack material only.

Ho w e v e r, w h a t G e n Z a n d Millennials agree on is that the most common way to distinguish a snack from a meal: namely, is that a snack can be eaten on-the-go (37%) and a meal can’t.

When asked about strange snack pairings, 23% praised the combination of peanut butter and pickles.

“Smart snack choices deliver a boost of energy and satisfy cravings to keep you fuller longer,” says Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RDN, LD. “Peanuts deliver seven grams of protein and good fat, and are a good source of fiber. They are a crunchy, nutritious, affordable, on-the-go snack option.”

JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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MarketWatch Market Watch Strategic Planning Needed In These Trying Times

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he peanut market is trending higher on extremely thin trading. Current raw-shelled peanuts are available in the high 50s. With all of the uncertainty in the economy and questions about the 2022 crop, shellers are not rushing to make a sale until more facts surface in the market. So, the market remains quiet with only sales on small orders.

On new crop, shellers are uninterested as many farmers are unwilling to contract farmer-stock peanuts as they study offers for cotton. Any sheller sales for new crop would have to be 60 cents plus.

The talk in the trade is that late/delayed final peanut plantings for new crop are anticipated to be 8% to 10% less this year as some farmers planting late have planted cotton. Buyers/sellers want to watch markets for a while to judge progress of this new crop and weather development before making future decisions.

Late Planting Affects Acreage An updated prediction is that U.S. peanut production is forecast this year to be 3.1 million tons, a 2% decrease.

Harvested acres are estimated at 1.5 million acres, down 2.4% from last year.

Earlier estimates had acreage down 1%.

The U.S. average yield is forecast to be 4,151 pounds per acre, a 3.9% increase over last year.

Market demand or disappearance is estimated to be 3.19 million tons, a 4% increase. Domestic food use is forecast up 1.4%. Crushing for oil is about the same with exports remaining at 625,000 tons. Ending stocks will drop slightly to 1.15 million tons.

There is a lot of uncertainty over the planted area. The market consensus is that the original U.S. Department of Agriculture prospective plantings estimate

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

Leading Marketing Indicators (As of June 8, 2022) 2022 Est. Acreage (-2%) ....................................................1,449,000 acres 2022 Est. Production (-2%) .................................................. 3,130,000 tons 2022 Market Loan ................................................................ 2,568,453 tons 2022 Redeemed/Sold ......................................................... 1,502,306 tons 2022 Remaining In Loan ..................................................... 1,066,470 tons 2021-22 Domestic Usage (9 Mo.) ................................................... – 0.5 % 2021-22 Exports (Jan-Mar) .......................................................... – 18.61 % NATIONAL POSTED PRICE (per ton) Runners - $424.89, Spanish - $413.95, Valencias and Virginias - $427.70

is inflated. Market participants expect that the actual decrease in planted area will be upwards of 5%. Another analyst said he wouldn’t be surprised to see plantings closer to 10% down from last season.

Prices for alternative crops such as cotton and corn are at elevated levels, while peanut prices have remained relatively flat over the same period.

Returns Not Easy To Figure With crop insurance deadlines approaching, producers had to make a decision. Cost of production, especially fuel, and inflation were factors to consider. One sheller has announced a new program that will give growers an annual payout in addition to their regular option payment. This program will be in effect every year going forward.

To start, the company will offer a bonus to all producers who deliver to their buying points. The first payment in the fourth quarter is at least $20 per ton. That is on top of any market base contracts.

The company will pay back the bonus against eligible tons, which is the three-

year rolling average delivered per entity.

Return is based on financial performance of the total peanut business. Current crop tonnage must be contracted for the return to be released by Dec. 31.

The expansion of cooperatives and the price increases for raw-shelled peanuts make estimating farmer returns per ton difficult. Shellers have minimum loan contracts with pool payments as early as October. The average price of peanuts has been pushed only slightly higher this year and is estimated by USDA at $484 per ton average. Subtract the average price from reference price of $535 per ton and that yields a price loss coverage payment of $51 per ton in October for the previous year.

Domestic Markets For the domestic market, USDA is reporting peanut usage down .5% for the nine-month period for raw-shelled peanuts in primary products. Peanut butter is down 1.9%, with an April 2021 versus April 2022 comparison down 3.3%.

Candy is still up 15.4% for the ninePEANUTGROWER.COM

MarketWatch Market Watch month period but was down 0.4% in April. Snacks are down 5.2%. A nationwide recall for salmonella, plus summer travel, have led to a sluggish market.

Export Markets For the export market, USDA reports that it is down 18.61% to 322,679 metric tons for January, February and March, compared to the same threemonth period of last year. The top buyer was Mexico with 32,824 metric tons, up 5.83% from last year. Canada was second with 30,890 metric tons, up 2.62%.

Other top buyers were The Netherlands, Japan and the United Kingdom.

China has reduced purchases of U.S. peanuts to 23,397 metric tons, down 59.7% from the same three-month period last year. China needs more peanuts for peanut oil, but U.S. peanuts may be too expensive as China is considering India.

The peanut industry is doing well in spite of war, inflation, immigration, lack of labor, fuel and gas costs and government regulations that hurt farmers.

Strategic management during these trying times will be the difference. Peanuts and peanut butter are great products that are nutritious, fun to eat, a good fit for today’s lifestyle, affordable, available and sustainable.

‘‘

The peanut industry is doing well in spite of war, inflation, immigration, lack of labor, fuel and gas costs and government regulations that hurt farmers. Strategic management during these trying times will be the difference.

U.S. Peanut Federation Testifies At Senate Ag Trade Hearing

T

he U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade held a hearing June 9, 2022, on “Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers.” Karla Baker Thompson, producer from Camilla, Georgia, represented the U.S. Peanut Federation and testified about issues facing the industry.

Thompson presented information on peanut export markets. In Canada, the United States has witnessed an increase in the past few years, but it is significantly off compared to 2013. Trade with Japan has been generally flat with significant market swings year after year. The United States has experienced a general upward trend in market share for Mexico but with significant swings year after year. China is an unpredictable market for U.S. peanuts.

While the Chinese purchased a significant amount of U.S. peanuts in 2016 and again in 2020, there is clearly no consistency in export sales to China.

Thompson highlighted the decline in exports to the European Union for U.S. peanuts. While the EU market saw an increase in the first three months of 2022, the trend going all the way back to 2003 has been down. The U.S. market share decreased from approximately 40% in

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

Karla Thompson, Georgia peanut producer testifies at a Senate hearing.

2003 to 14% in 2021. Much of this market loss has been to developing countries.

“Our best markets, and those with the most potential for growth, are the markets that pay premium prices,” Thompson said. “These markets provide prices that are profitable for exporters and have an impact on grower prices.”

‘Farming Is Always Tough, But Especially Now’ U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga, subcommittee chairman, said, “Today’s hearing is an opportunity for members to hear from farmers regarding trade challenges and priorities in today’s changing economy. Just last week, I spent time meeting with farmers and agriculture leaders to discuss the stress our farmers are experiencing. The message I heard was clear — farming is

always a tough job, but especially right now. Farmers in Georgia and throughout the country have been forced to navigate a tremendous amount of uncertainty the past few years. Trade wars, COVID-19 supply chain disruptions and Russia’s war in Ukraine have sent shockwaves through global commodity markets.”

Chairman Warnock also commented on the peanut industry’s struggles with the EU, “Last year, I partnered with Sen. Tuberville to highlight concerns to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative raised by our peanut farmers in getting their products to market in Europe and ways we need federal agencies to better coordinate and step up to help address this issue.”

Other individuals testifying included Gopinath Munisamy, distinguished professor from the University of Georgia’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Sheryl Meshke, president and CEO of Associated Milk Producers Inc. and Neal Fisher, of the North Dakota Wheat Commission.

The USPF is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association, and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. PG JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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An Early Look At 2022 Stay on top of scouting this season as pests and diseases seem to be striking earlier.

By Amanda Huber

P

Dry Planting Conditions Conditions were uncomfortably dry, while not yet considered a drought, for row-crop producers at planting time in Alabama, says Kris Balkcom, Alabama Extension peanut specialist. Whereas cotton seed can be “dusted in,” peanut seed can be planted deeper in the soil where adequate moisture could still be found, which is an advantage for peanut producers.

“Peanuts can stay in the ground until there is adequate moisture to make a stand,” Balkcom says. The longer seed have to wait, the less likely seedlings will be as strong and healthy. Quick germination and vigorous growth is always the preferred outcome.

Overall, Balkcom says in a normal year with high input prices, farmers tend to gravitate toward peanut production so they can apply minimal fertilizers and avoid the risk of high-priced inputs.

“This year I expect to see less peanut acreage and more cotton acreage,” Balkcom says. “With $1.20 to $1.30 cotton, producers are going to say cotton production feels like it is worth the gamble.”

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

PHOTOS BY DAN ANCO, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

lanting conditions around the peanut belt varied from cool and dry to rain delays and drought.

In Florida, it was low temperatures in the Panhandle that slowed planting. From Mississippi to North Carolina, it was dry at planting. Ongoing drought has engulfed Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Owing to the resilience of the peanut, stands are now looking good in each of these areas. Unfortunately, pest pressure arrived early this season with the hot, dry weather.

Thrips injury on peanut was a common sight on volunteers and peanut not treated with an in-furrow insecticide.

Adding To The Research Base While dry conditions are unfortunate, Balkcom says researchers make note of weather patterns and conditions as they plant peanut variety trials across Alabama. Research station and on-farm trials are important tools to help farmers determine the right variety for their location and accompanying crop pressures.

“We plant on-farm variety trials on eight farms across the state,” Balkcom says. “The same six varieties will be planted at each farm location. We can use data from the eight locations to determine how each variety responds to different soil types, weather patterns, pests and disease pressures.”

The more information researchers are able to provide, the better prepared pro-

ducers are to manage the crop throughout the year.

Heavy Thrips Pressure Mark Abney, University of Georgia Extension entomologist, says the value of at-plant insecticides for thrips management was readily apparent in UGA trials by late May in Tifton. While untreated peanuts were getting hammered by thrips, those treated with in-furrow insecticides were holding up pretty well.

“Thrips injury generally peaks around 28 days after planting, and if the growing environment is favorable, the condition of plants rapidly improves after that,” Abney says. “The recent rains help peanuts that experienced heavy thrips PEANUTGROWER.COM

pressure recover and get on to the job of making peanuts.

Abney says he did not have many calls about foliar sprays for thrips, which means either producers did a good job with in-furrow insecticides, or a lack of scouting hadn’t turned up the problem.

“Research suggests that fields with heavy thrips injury at 28 days after planting are unlikely to benefit from a foliar insecticide application,” he says.

“By this time, the damage has been done. Drought conditions and/or herbicide injury can change the equation since plants will not recover from thrips as quickly given the additional stress.”

Abney says tomato spotted wilt virus was observed in research plots.

“The incidence of obvious symptoms was not high, but seeing the virus at 28 days is concerning. Plants infected at this age are likely to produce no yield and will probably die. There is nothing that can be done to reduce the spread of the virus once the crop has been planted,” he says.

Abney says other parts of the state are not experiencing heavy thrips pressure.

“East Georgia has been seeing relatively light thrips infestations.”

Common Dry-Weather Foe Hot and dry weather is conducive to lesser cornstalk borer populations, and conditions were perfect in May and early June for this frequent pest.

“There are several dozen LCB pheromone traps in south Georgia peanut fields, and many of them have been catching moths. We should be aware that moths are currently active, and we need to scout fields that are at high risk with dry, sandy soils and skippy stands.”

Scouting is the only way producers can know if LCB has reached a threshold for treatment. Otherwise, Abney says growers can save money by not making unnecessary preventative treatments.

Look For Early Disease Pressure In South Carolina, most all acres had been planted by June 10. Timely rains helped replenish soil moisture about midway through planting.

Dan Anco, Clemson University Extension peanut specialist says warm weather, with the added soil moisture, helped peanuts emerge pretty well.

However, he is quick to warn producers to be on top of leaf spot protection, TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

(Top) Early season tomato spotted wilt virus symptoms. (Bottom) Stunting becomes more pronounced later on susceptible cultivars.

Mid-Season Reminders • Apply herbicides when weeds are small for maximum control.

• Be timely with inputs, especially fungicides.

• Keep up with irrigation needs, particularly during peak bloom and pod fill.

• Apply gypsum for needed calcium unless lime was used at planting.

• Know the insects likely for the weather conditions, and scout often.

• Consider using a weather advisory for leaf spot.

• Maturity can be sped up or delayed depending on conditions.

given the problems producers had in 2021.

“Of the few fields looked at so far, a couple late leaf spot lesions were found on volunteers in one of the fields. That field had excessive defoliation at the end of last year, over 90% in sections, making it not too surprising that we could find lesions there near the end of May. Still,

the third week of May is on the early side.

“Fields planted to peanut this year that are near fields where there were leaf spot management challenges last year, including fields that are rotated in split sections, can benefit from a fungicide application and/or a systemic fungicide product with the first application at 30 days after planting. Vigilance in scouting for and removing volunteers, with tillage or Liberty, continues to be invaluable,” he says.

Unfortunately, the early season reminded Anco of another hot year that turned into a bad season overall. Hopefully, that won’t happen.

“In 2019, we saw a similarly heated early part of the growing season, and in test fields where we had prior white mold pressure, it got an earlier start that year,” he says. “White mold pressure isn’t as widely spread across the state and to the same extent that we see with leaf spot.”

Anco says in fields prone to white mold and with the hotter weather, fungicides with activity on soilborne disease applied at the 45-day mark, rather than waiting for 60 days, could be considered. PG JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

11

PHOTO BY BREWTON AG RESEARCH UNIT

Premature defoliation due to leaf spot diseases is shown in the non-treated control at left. Chlorothalonil was used on the peanuts at right in a fungicide trial at the Brewton, Alabama, Agricultural Research Unit.

Late-Season Decisions Fungicide applications at this point often involve levels of disease and projected digging date.

By Amanda Huber

L

ate peanut season may seem like a race to the finish.

Unfortunately, it is often a race between diseases, such as leaf spot, and the crop reaching optimum maturity.

The dilemma is whether to apply another fungicide treatment to keep leaf spot from defoliating the crop, while also reducing the bottom line, or let the crop finish out with no added protection, saving that input cost.

Fortunately, Extension specialists offer guidance with the late-season disease and insect problems.

“If leaf spot is not a problem, nor white mold, then you may not need the sprayer in the field again. If leaf spot is in the field and not too severe, you might consider one last application,” Kemerait says.

“If you have lost 25% of peanut leaves, anticipate digging within two weeks, regardless of maturity. If you have lost 50%, you have a week to 10 days max.”

Finally, he says, if you have lost 75% or more – dig immediately, as the pods are likely dropping off now.

If, Then Leaf Spot Scenarios University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist Bob Kemerait offers a series of “if, then” questions and answers for producers on a progression of leaf spot and spraying or digging.

If you are a few weeks out from digging, he says, continue to assess your field for disease.

Factor In Tropical Weather Threats Alabama Extension plant pathologist and Auburn University assistant professor Amanda Strayer-Scherer offers similar endof-season suggestions for peanut producers as they begin to plan for digging.

“Leaf spot diseases can severely defoliate peanuts if not con-

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

PEANUTGROWER.COM

MyIPM For Row Crops App From Clemson University, producers have a new tool to help identify and defeat diseases and pests. MyIPM for Row Crops app was developed at Clemson University in collaboration with specialists from a number of land-grant universities and the Southern IPM Center.

The free app is available for Android smartphones in the Google Play Store and for iPhones in the Apple Store. It includes descriptions and photos of key pests and diseases of row crops, as well as information on integrated pest management strategies, including registered pesticides for each pest.

“The app currently includes sections on insects in corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanut and soybean,” says Tim Bryant, assistant coordinator for the Clemson Integrated Pest Management Program. “It also includes information about diseases in peanut.”

Help In The Field

The MyIPM app was originally developed in 2012 by Clemson professor Guido Schnabel. The new app was developed using the same structure.

Francis Reay-Jones, Clemson IPM coordinator at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center, says, “The app content is maintained by Clemson researchers in collaboration with Cooperative Extension Service scientists at eight universities across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Southern United States.

“The app is a complement to our Extension production guides and pest management handbook,” Reay-Jones says. “Because the app is entirely downloaded, contents can be accessed from anywhere, including in fields where cell phone networks may be limited.”

The home screen lets users choose the crop and pest or disease.

trolled. At this point in the season, you may be questioning whether you need to apply fungicides to manage these diseases.

Producers that are close to digging may not need a fungicide application or may need a final application.

“If you have three weeks to go until you are projected to dig, and there is little-to-no disease in the field, then you will not need to put out additional fungicides unless there is a threat of a tropical storm or hurricane,” she says.

The more complex decisions come when there is a measure of disease in the field.

Strayer-Scherer says if you are more than two to three weeks away from your projected dig and are seeing some leaf spot beginning to develop, but less than 25% defoliated, then consider applying chlorothalonil at 1 to 1.5 pints per acre tankmixed with tebuconazole at 7.2 ounces per acre, Alto at 5.5 ounces per acre or Topsin at 10 ounces per acre.

“If you are on your last spray and very little leaf spot is present, then 1.5 pints per acre of chlorothalonil may be all that you need.”

For peanuts that are 50% or more defoliated from leaf spot, another fungicide application will not be beneficial, she says.

“Instead focus on selecting a dig date sooner rather than later.”

Look For Soilborne Disease A white mold fungicide can be added to the last leaf spot application if soilborne disease is a concern and some late-season insurance is needed.

“If white mold is confined to individual plants scattered across the field, then consider adding tebuconazole. However, if the disease is more severe, consider using a more effective TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

Pest-specific information includes an overview about each pest and its management. The image gallery features a number of insect or disease pictures and symptoms as well as pictures illustrating management solutions. Users can zoom in on each picture.

Under the feature picture of every pest-specific page, users can choose to list active ingredients and trade names registered in the United States. Active ingredients are color coded according to Fungicide Resistance Action Committee code or Insecticide Resistance Action Committee code.

On the insect or disease page, tapping trade names displays many available pesticides for the specific insect or disease including active ingredients, efficacy rating, preharvest interval and reentry interval values. To quickly look up active ingredients and trade names for a specific pest, users can tap the insect or disease on the top and choose another pest on the drop-down menu. PG

white mold product such as Convoy or Excalia,” she says.

In an added caution, Strayer-Scherer says to check the pre-harvest intervals for any products used late in the season.

Some products such as Alto, Convoy or Excalia have a 30- or 40-day PHI. Don’t Forget Fertility Applications North Carolina State University Extension peanut specialist David Jordan offers these tips for approaching mid-season fertility and late-season disease problems.

On the subject of disease management, Jordan says producers should start and end with chlorothalonil with three or four sprays in between for a good approach to leaf spot/stem rot control.

“We recommend starting at the R3 growth stage of peanut, but no later than July 10, regardless of growth stage. The year started on the dry side, like 2021, but we might also get in a rhythm of rain in July/August like last year, which was adequate in many places for an outstanding crop.”

For elements such as manganese and boron, Jordan’s suggestion requires keeping a watch on the crop for problems.

“For manganese, if you see an issue, jump on it quickly even if it is before fungicide sprays,” he says. “If applying ‘just in case,’ I suggest the manganese going out with the first or second fungicide spray, and boron going with the second or third fungicide spray.”

Jordan says that liquid products do not always deliver what dry products do unless one commits to multiple applications, and in some cases, boron and manganese can be compatible in the tank but not always. PG JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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The Search For 70% A grouping of 70% to 75% orange, brown and black hull-scraped pod colors is a maturity level ready for digging.

By Amanda Huber

I

ndeterminate. It means unknown, uncertain, imprecise and unclear. Unfortunately, that often describes knowing when to dig peanuts.

As an indeterminate crop, peanuts will continue to grow vegetation while putting on new reproductive structures.

Determinate crops, such as corn or wheat, stop vegetative growth when entering the reproduction state. That is why these crops mature more evenly. The continuous setting of new peanut pods throughout the season results in a wide range of pods in various stages of development at harvest.

A Critical Economic Decision Determining when to dig is a difficult but critically important economic decision. Immature pods will not produce the desired yield, grade, flavor or subsequent crop performance.

Overly mature pods may fall off the vine during digging or sprout in-shell in the field. Research has shown that digging a week early or late can decrease yield as much as 500 pounds per acre and reduce grade by several points.

Days after planting is not a good gauge for when to dig peanuts, but it is a figure in which to start checking peanuts with the hull scrape method. In the color development of the mesocarp, orange, brown and black are the most mature.

The general progression of mesocarp color is similar across peanut market types; however, the associated days between stages may vary based on the maturity range of the particular cultivar. Runner peanut varieties are often categorized as medium at 133–139 days, medium-late at 140–145 days or late-maturing at 146–155 days. Early maturing would be prior to 133 days after planting. Medium maturity of a Virginia-type peanut is generally 130–135 days after planting.

Use Days After Planting To Start Sampling, Not To Dig Most Extension publications recommend producers start spot checking maturity at about 120 days after planting. Use the pod blast or hull scrape method to expose the mesocarp, and then sort pods into color piles of white, yellow, orange, brown and black pods. If most of the crop is immature, a majority of pods will be white to orange. Place the samples on a maturity profile board to determine days until digging.

Optimum maturity for runners is 70% to 75% pod color in the orange, brown and black categories with a majority of brown and black. Add the combined number of pods from the

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

The majority of orange, brown and black pods in this sample would indicate it is time to dig.

brown and black classes, then divide by the total number of pods from the blasted sample for a maturity ratio. This calculation is sufficient to determine digging if the samples taken from a field average 70% at the optimal maturity level or higher.

The difficulty arises when the sample pods break down into two distinct groups of similar size with few pods in between.

This bimodal distribution, or split crop, is often caused by drought or other extreme weather events when the maturity of the crop slows or nearly ceases. In this situation, a grower must decide whether to harvest the more mature group or wait and harvest the second group once it reaches maturity.

Other digging considerations include vine health, acreage, equipment availability and weather. Peanuts can wait for a time but, eventually, disease and pod loss will decrease yield. Use days after planting as a guide to start sampling for maturity and hull color guidelines to verify that maturity. Disease control earlier in the season is critical to maintain the peg strength to carry peanuts to full maturity. PG Resources: • University of Georgia Peanut Production Guide found on the UGA Peanuts website at https://peanuts.caes.uga.edu/.

• Peanut Money Maker Production Guide from Clemson University found on the Extension’s peanut production website at https://www.clemson.edu/extension/agronomy/peanuts • Methods to Evaluate Peanut Maturity for Optimal Seed Quality and Yield, an article found on the Florida Peanut Team website at https://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/florida-peanut-team/ PEANUTGROWER.COM

Protect Your Bottom Line with a Long-lasting Disease Control Foundation Unpredictable weather conditions, equipment breakdowns, tending to other crops and sometimes just life make it tough, if not impossible, to get back into peanut fields with perfectly timed follow-up fungicide applications. This can lead to gaps in your management program, allowing disease to spread through fields. To avoid those gaps, choose a management program with strong residual activity at the start of the season to boost yield potential and help maximize return on investment.

the first time. With managing peanuts, if you don’t invest in a good fungicide program at the beginning – you end up throwing a lot more money away trying to fix past mistakes toward the end of the season.”

To prevent gaps in your protection plan, the Peanut Doctor recommends using a combination of Miravis® and Elatus® fungicides. This powerful combination sets the industry standard for performance and length of residual control. Miravis and Elatus both offer up to 28 days of residual activity, giving you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your yield is protected from white mold and leaf spot diseases, even if your follow-up applications didn’t happen exactly as planned.

“The best analogy to make when describing peanut disease management is the process of applying paint to a wall,“ says The Peanut Doctor, Syngenta Agronomic Service Representative Wilson Faircloth, Ph.D. “If you don’t sand that wall and get the first layer of paint just right, there is no paint you can buy, regardless of how expensive it is, that will cover up the mistakes you made

To hear what else The Peanut Doctor has to say, visit SyngentaUS.com/PeanutDoctor or use the QR code to the right.

Scan to learn more

Peanut Growers Can Harvest More Peanuts with a 5-Spray Program A 5-spray program grounded in Miravis® and Elatus® fungicides provides powerful disease control and supports high yield potential when compared to a traditional 7-spray program using older chemistry.

Yield (pounds per acre)

5000 4000

4375

4154 3703

3000

Application Timing

Increase yield potential with Miravis® + Elatus® n=6 3426

3365

3280

2000

3288

1990

1000 0

A B C D F G H I J K

= = = = = = = = = =

35 DAT 42 DAT 49 DAT 56 DAT 63 DAT 77 DAT 84 DAT 91 DAT 105 DAT 119 DAT

Miravis® + Elatus® 5 Spray Program – 7.2 oz.: Bravo® + Elatus (A), Elatus + Miravis (DH), Bravo (JK)

Convoy® 6 Spray Program: Priaxor (B), Convoy + Bravo (FI), Bravo (GJK)

Miravis + Elatus 5 Spray Program – 9.5 oz.: Alto® + Bravo (A), Bravo (CK), Elatus + Miravis (FI)

Provost® Opti 7 Spray Program: Bravo (AJK), Provost Opti (CFGI)

Elatus 7 Spray Program: Alto + Bravo (AJ), Bravo (CGK), Elatus (FI)

Fontelis® 7 Spray Program: Bravo (ACJK), Fonteils (FGI)

Priaxor® 6 Spray Program: Priaxor (BG), Bravo (FK), Bravo + Tebuconazole (IJ)

Untreated

All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.

Product performance assumes disease presence. Performance assessments are based upon results or analysis of public information, field observations and/or internal Syngenta evaluations. Trials reflect treatment rates and mixing partners commonly recommended in the marketplace. © 2022 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Elatus®, Miravis® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks or service marks are the property of their respective owners. Bravo® is a trademark of Adama Corporation.

syng_7860_2_2_Peanut Doctor_Advertorial_PeanutGrower_FIN.indd 1

4/29/22 4:23 PM

New Varieties From Texas A&M AgriLife These cultivars meet the need for earlier maturing, high-oleic runner peanuts.

T

he Texas A&M AgriLife Research peanut breeding program has announced the release of two new varieties, Tamrun OL18L and Tamrun OL19, for the West Texas and South Texas production regions. Both varieties are high-yielding, high-oleic, early maturing, runner-type peanuts, says Mark Burow, AgriLife research geneticist, who also has a joint appointment at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

The goal was to develop a peanut that allows for earlier harvest than is possible with current cultivars. This will help reduce the potential for off-flavors associated with immaturity at harvest. Additional goals were to improve yield, grade and other agronomic characteristics when compared to Tamrun OL12 Tamrun OL18L and and Tamnut OL06.

Tamrun OL19: “They’re early maturing • Produced for West varieties and have a better Texas and South Texas edible seed quality. They’re production regions also high oleic, which all our • High oleic Texas A&M AgriLife varieties • Early maturing released for the past 20 years • Runner-type peanuts have been,” Burow says. “So, they have a longer shelf life and are better for the coronary health of the consumer.”

Standard runner varieties of peanuts don’t mature very well in West Texas, he says. If they are immature and dry down sitting in the sun on a hot day, they might develop off-flavors – it’s called a fruity fermented flavor and is not a good taste consumers expect in peanut products.

Burow and other researchers have noticed that earlier-maturing peanuts tend to have less trouble with the fruity, fermented flavor.

“Flavor panels found that these two varieties have a good flavor, and we hope these will have less trouble with off flavors, too,” Burow says.

Meeting Producers’ Needs Development of a variety can take 10 years or more. Burow says during that time, Tamrun OL18L and Tamrun OL19 were tested against other varieties at multiple locations, anywhere from two to five locations per year for a number of years.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

“They’ve done very well for yield,” he says. “It is important for a variety to have good yields for growers. One of the concerns was something that matures early may yield less. But these, especially Tamrun OL18L, yielded at the top of the test when compared to other commercial varieties.”

He says tests of Tamrun OL18L were yielding 475 to 830 pounds an acre more than some others, including Georgia 09-B and Tamrun OL11. Tamrun OL19 didn’t yield as high, but it has a smaller seed size that’s a little closer to the industry standard.

“Tamrun OL19 has a somewhat smaller seed that might be preferred by some of the processors. The larger-seeded OL18L might be the disadvantage for processors,” Burow says. “But yields a little bit better, which I think growers will appreciate.”

The varieties were bred in cooperation with other Texas A&M AgriLife peanut breeders, including from College Station, Mike Baring, now retired, and from Stephenville, Charles Simpson, retired but still active, and John Cason.

“The original crosses were made in Lubbock, along with the statistical analysis, but it’s been grown and tested in West, Central and South Texas. It’s a cooperative effort among the Texas A&M AgriLife locations,” Burow says.

A Lifetime Of Peanut Breeding Burow has almost 30 years of total peanut breeding experience. He has been in the Lubbock region since 2001.

Before that, he worked in College Station as a post-doctorate researcher for about five years and at the University of Georgia for two years.

“Because of the length of time it takes to get a new variety developed, we have to anticipate things a little bit,” he says.

“We try to address what the growers need now, and certainly that’s important. But we also have to think of what they need five, 10, 15 years in the future. We try to project that and work on developing things based on that.”

Some traits they are working on now include higher yield, which is always important, and tolerance to water deficit — a critical trait because of declining water levels. Other traits include resistance to disease, including sclerotinia blight and leaf spot, and to root-knot nematodes.

All four market classes are grown in Texas, and, therefore, PEANUTGROWER.COM

peanut breeders work on all of them.

“You never know when you make a cross if something will be good enough to be released. So, we’re working on all four market classes at the moment,” Burow says.

He expects a Virginia variety to be released later this year.

“After the Virginia, I think a runner variety that grows well under limited amounts of water will be our next release,” Burow says. “Growers still want a peanut that can yield reasonably well with reduced irrigation water.”

A ‘Less Thirsty’ Variety A general rule of thumb is peanuts require about 20 to 28 inches of water to grow. The hope is that growers can get maybe half of that from rainfall and the rest from irrigation.

To develop the “less thirsty” peanut variety, Burow says

varieties are grown with one-third of the normal water or 6 to 10 inches less.

“Our testing gives them about 16 inches during the growing season, which allow us to test the peanuts under a lot of stress to find which ones do best with less water,” Burrow says.

“Water deficit is used from June through August for two reasons,” he says. “One is that’s when it’s hottest and growers are harder pressed to pump enough water. Secondly, studies have shown that the amount of genetic variability in peanuts is greatest during the mid-season, so the thought is that we can make the best gain in that time of year also.”

The new releases will now go to Texas A&M Foundation Seed Service in Vernon for seed increase. PG Article provided by Texas A&M AgriLife.

PHOTO BY MARK BUROW, TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

Tamrun OL19 is an early maturing variety with smaller seed size.

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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On-Farm Cover Crop Research Early maturing varieties and reduced seeding rates still produce enough biomass for improved soil heath and pest suppression.

J

ust as planning for planting next year begins as soon as the crop is harvested, planning what will happen to fields in the winter begins while the current crop is in the ground.

Cover crops are those grown to benefit the following crop as well as to improve the soil. They help protect the soil, feed the soil eco-system, increase soil organic matter and supply nutrients to the following crops. Selecting the right cover crops for your operation can improve yields, soil and water conservation and quality – and your bottom line.

Properly managed cover crops protect the soil surface from water and wind erosion and remediate soil compaction.

Growing plants feed the soil ecosystem by exuding compounds from their roots — sugars, organic acids, amino acids and more. These materials glue soil particles together into aggregates, improving soil structure. Decomposed plant residue becomes soil organic matter that provides food for soil organisms — bacteria, fungi, arthropods and others —and increases the water storage capacity of the soil.

Reduce Pests, Improve Soil Health Cover crops can improve soil fertility in several ways. Legumes and their associated bacteria produce nitrogen that becomes available to following crops as plant residue decomposes. Unused nutrients from the previous crop are taken up by the cover crop, reducing leaching losses. Deep-rooted cover crops scavenge nutrients from deep in the soil. These nutrients become available to crops the next growing season as the residue decomposes.

Pest pressure in the subsequent crop can be reduced with the use of cover 18 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

Wrens Abruzzi is a commonly planted variety of rye in Alabama.

crops. Weed growth is suppressed on the soil surface by thick plant residue that blocks sunlight and physically slows weed seedling growth. Some cover crops produce allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of weed seedlings. Others suppress parasitic nematodes by repelling, confusing or starving them. Cover crops can help break the “green bridge” over the winter reducing early pest pressure in the following crop.

However, some cover crops can support

nematodes and diseases harmful to following crops, so care must be taken to select the right cover crop for the cropping system.

On-Farm Trials In 2021, Alabama Extension soil scientist Audrey Gamble planted cover crop demonstrations on five farms throughout Alabama. The goal was to determine the highest biomass producer and identify varieties that would work PEANUTGROWER.COM

in different growing situations.

Gamble, who is also an associate professor in the Auburn University College of Agriculture’s Crop, Soil and Environmental Science department, says they planted each demonstration during the last two weeks of October. The farms were in Autauga, Geneva, Henry, Lawrence and Lee Counties.

Cover Crop Demos “Most of our cover crop trials are planted on research stations,” Gamble says. “But I wanted to plant these on-farm demos so farmers could gauge what cover crops might work on their own farm.”

Researchers planted all of the demonstrations with a no-till drill. Producers and the team did not fertilize cover crops as part of the experiment. However, chicken litter was applied at the Geneva County location in early spring.

Gamble’s cover crop demonstrations offered the following lessons: ■ Early maturing varieties shine in a short growing window. Examples of early maturing varieties include FL401 rye, Legend oat and AU Sunrise crimson clover.

■ Low seeding rates of small grains can be high biomass producers. When planted with a no-till drill, 30 pounds per acre of rye produced comparable biomass to 90 pounds per acre across locations. Gamble says cutting seeding rates is a great way to save money on cover crops. Increase rates by about 50 percent when broadcasting seed.

■ Patience is a virtue when it comes to legumes. Across the state, Gamble says legume cover crops looked puny until mid-March, but rapid growth began in early spring. AU Merit hairy vetch was particularly useful for providing a solid ground cover to smother winter weeds.

Any winter small grain, particularly rye, is most often used for peanuts.

Across locations at termination, FL401 produced more than 5,000 pounds per acre of biomass and Wrens Abruzzi produced approximately 3,000 pounds per acre of biomass.

Gamble says it is tough to tell a difference between rye planted at 30 pounds per acre and 60 pounds per acre.

“Regardless of the seeding rate, these cover crops produced approximately TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

FL401 rye is an early maturing variety.

Cover Crop Biomass Production Variety And Planting Rate

Dry Weight Biomass

Wrens Abruzzi Rye - 90 lbs/acre

2980

Wrens Abruzzi Rye - 60 lbs/acre

3200

Wrens Abruzzi Rye - 30 lbs/acre

3160

FL401 Rye - 30 lbs/acre

5370

Trical 342 Triticale - 30 lbs/acre

2640

Cosaque Oat - 30 lbs/acre

2640

Legend Oat - 30 lbs/acre

2810

Wyo Winter Pea - 40 lbs/acre

1800

AU Merit Hairy Vetch - 10 lbs/acre

2520

AU Sunrise Crimson Clover - 10 lbs/acre

2190

Dixie Crimson Clover - 10 lbs/acre

3140

Wrens Abruzzi Rye + Dixie Crimson Clover Mix

3160

3,000 pounds per acre of biomass at termination. This suggests that producers can save money on seed costs without sacrificing biomass production,” she says.

For more information on cover crop

use in Alabama, visit the website at https://bit.ly/3toe7nw. PG Article provided by Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.

JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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PeanutPointers Peanut Pointers Questions On Pesticide Compatibility As we move into this point in the season, we need to address issues associated with weeds, insects and disease.

In many instances, timing of control for multiple pests coincides well enough that pesticide tankmixes can be effective.

When we consider pesticide compatibility, three possible DAVID JORDAN issues come to mind. First, North Carolina State does the mixture settle in the University tank? This can be a major Extension Agronomist issue that takes time to resolve, and, in some cases, nozzles and other parts of the sprayer have to be replaced. The pesticides in question, and other agrochemicals, the formulation, order of mixing, agitation and water quality can affect how well products go into solution and stay in solution.

Secondly, does the mixture cause greater peanut injury? In some cases, this does occur, but the magnitude of increase is relatively minor and not yield limiting. In other cases, a tankmix partner can reduce injury. Basagran and Storm applied with Gramoxone is a good example.

The third issue we might face with tank mixtures is the impact on control of pests. Applying multiple contact herbicides together generally does not affect weed control in a negative manner, and, in fact, these mixtures often increase the spectrum of control and can help control larger weeds.

In contrast, applying contact herbicides with systemic herbicides that control grasses (clethodim-containing products, for example) can result in less grass control but no reduction in broadleaf or sedge control. Sequential applications can get around this negative interaction, but no one wants to make applications three or four days apart.

Increasing the grass herbicide rate can often get us where we need to be for grass control by these mixtures.

As we broaden out to mixes of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, we can see some cases where a fungicide like chlorothalonil can reduce grass control with clethodim products. In the vast majority of cases, insecticides and herbicides, as well as fungicides and insecticides, are compatible when it comes to pest control. However, the adjuvant used can make a difference. For example, if you are trying to control leaf spot and stem rot, it is important to get some of the fungicide down to the base of the plant. Does an adjuvant used for a herbicide keep the fungicide from reaching the area where soilborne pathogens are active?

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

When it comes to agrochemical compatibility, there are many possible combinations, and it is difficult to research all of them. It is also seldom that the question is about two products in the tank. Three, four and five-way mixtures are the norm now. Before you put that many together, make sure you have an idea about how the products will behave in the tank. Try to get a feel for the potential impact on peanuts and the impact on the pests in question.

This chapter in the North Carolina Peanut Production Guide can help you make a decision on co-applying pesticides, which can be found at this website: https://bit. ly/3n6cGGs. Given all of the products on the market, this chapter seems general, but it is the start to coming up with a reasonable answer to what can be a complicated question – what will happen if I mix these products?

Protect The Crop From Disease We seem to have mimicked last year’s planting season. As I write this pointer, we are wrapping up planting, which has stretched out later than what we would have liked. This was mainly due to the scattered showers that were much needed and a few replanting situations in some fields where stands weren’t KRIS BALKCOM Auburn University sufficient. We have been expeExtension Specialist riencing some above-average temperatures this season already. We have seen a good bit of Aspergillus crown rot PEANUTGROWER.COM

PeanutPointers Peanut Pointers

on peanut seedlings, which is related to these hot and dry conditions.

We also know that when we experience hot weather then receive moisture, we seem to have more white mold.

Therefore, I know that our expenses are high this year, but we must be on guard and protect our crop from pests and diseases.

Try and stay on top of the postemergence herbicide applications and not allow those pesky weeds to get too big before spraying. Also keep in mind with these dry conditions, it makes the uptake of the chemicals more difficult.

Therefore, try to be timely with these applications. I know many of you may be finished with these applications, depending on when you planted, but many of you have some late peanuts this year that this will apply to.

Remember what we have said about calcium levels and gypsum in a dryland situation.

Lastly, everyone please take the necessarily precautions for yourselves and your help in relation to the extreme heat.

I hope everyone stays safe and has a good season to come.

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

Aim For Consistent, Timely Scouting The peanut crop in Georgia has already gone through some tough times with the high heat and lack of widespread rain in late May and June. So, what do you do if this extreme weather continues through July and August? I would encourage growers to have all peanut fields scouted on a weekly basis.

SCOTT MONFORT Consistent and timely scoutUniversity of Georgia ing is a key management pracExtension Agronomist tice. Scouting each field provides growers with necessary information to stay on top of potential disease or insect problems. If these extreme conditions persist into July JULY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

21

PeanutPointers Peanut Pointers and August, non-irrigated acres are at an increased risk to have problems with lesser cornstalk borer and spider mites.

Catching a lesser cornstalk borer or spider mite outbreak early is vital to minimizing their impact on the crop. Also, do not apply pyrethroids in non-irrigated peanuts as it will increase your risk of spider mites.

Irrigated acres are no different when it comes to the importance of routine scouting. Like with non-irrigated acres, being informed of early outbreaks of disease and insect issues can significantly reduce their impact.

A crop scout is only part of the management strategy, however. Disease management on peanut starts with proper cultural practices like crop rotation and a strong fungicide program. A successful fungicide program should start before the disease issue develops. It should then change or be adjusted if necessary, as when/if disease breaks through a select fungicide program, allowing the grower a chance to strengthen his disease management before a major problem develops. Lastly, growers need to monitor soil moisture in irrigated peanuts, no matter how old, to make sure the crop does not suffer during extremely dry and hot conditions. And, like always, reach out to your local county agent with questions.

Check The Underside Of Leaves Disease and insect management will be important as we move into the second half of the growing season. Although it is not a common problem in the Southwest, scouting for

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2022

spider mite infestations may be important this season as weather (hot and dry) will likely be favorable.

Spider mite control often requires at least two applications of miticides, as the efficacy of miticides is not the best for killing eggs unless the infestation is at a very early stage. In addition to the weathEMI KIMURA Texas A&M AgriLife er-driven occurrence, spider Extension mite outbreaks may happen State Extension Peanut following insecticide applicaSpecialist tions, especially if your fields are near infested corn fields.

An insecticide should be used only when it is necessary and needed for insect control. Scout the undersides of leaves in July and August. The infestation starts around the boarder of the peanut fields and moves into the fields.

Common diseases found in the Southwest are pod rots, early and late leaf spots, Aspergillus crown rot and Sclerotinia blight. Research shows that a preventative fungicide application is more effective compared to the curative fungicide application after the observation of disease symptoms. However, weekly scouting is very important. Check and record severity of disease infestation, and look for incidence of new disease(s) if any.

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