Harvest Equipment Checklist Peanut Digger Pre-harvest Checklist u Check the entire machine for loose or worn parts. u Make sure the plow shanks are not bent and the digger blades run level. u Straighten any bent rattler bars. u Check all bearings and the gear box oil level. u Check coulters and vine cutters for proper location and condition. u Align the inversion rods before digging (see operator manual for proper spacing). u Check for binding or unusual noises by operating the machine briefly. u Have plenty of extra digger blades on hand.
Harvest Season Checklist u Check digger blades for proper sharpness and depth. u Coulters should cut vines leaving no clumps. u Check the flow of material through the digger. Make sure ground speed is synchronized to produce a smooth flow of vines and soil into the digger. u Make sure drive belts are tight. u Check for proper vine inversion and inversion rod spacing.
Combine maintenance checklist Pre-harvest Checklist u Clean inside and out, removing all dirt and residue from the previous crop. u Check for loose, bent, broken, or missing parts such as pickup springs, cylinder springs and stripper springs. u Check air lift ducts for holes, lodged objects and dirt buildup. u Make sure all shields are functional and in good shape. u Replace the “Slow Moving Vehicle” sign if it is not in good condition.
Harvest Season Checklist u Adjust settings according to windrow conditions. Remember, no combination of settings will remain optimal throughout a given day. u Check combined peanuts periodically for LSK’s and foreign material. u Check chaff passing through the combine for excessive pod loss. If problems occur, adjust stripper spring settings.
Peanut Hull Color Groups and Distinctive Characteristics Major color
Pod maturity profile board is used to determine if peanuts are ready for harvest. This is based on color changes in the middle layer of the peanut hull as the nut matures. mature at a different rate due to soil type differences, climate and weather differences and pest problem differences. Checking each field individually is also important since the peanuts may not mature in the order in which they were planted. Farmers also have to weigh out their options on when to harvest due to several factors including the number of acres to be harvested, equipment availability and
Characteristics
Development period (days)
White
Soft, watery, poorly defined kernel, between the size of a match head and a full size pod
14-16
Yellow
Spongy texture, pod is full size, kernel is somewhat defined
10-14
Dark Yellow
Coarser pod texture then yellow, well-defined kernel
10-14
Orange
Pink seed coat developing
12-14
Brown Rough pod texture, dark pink 10-12 capacity, labor seed coat availability and Black Completely developed kernel, 19-21 impending weathextremely rough pod texture er conditions. Lastly, farmplex decision with many facets, yet most ers need to know the maturity range of of the quality and profits depend on that the cultivar they planted. Maturity range decision being made accurately. Beasley is related to the cultivar Georgia-06G and encourages growers to contact their local some newer cultivars mature earlier or extension service for assistance. t later. Determining when to dig is a comBy JOy CrOSBy July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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