The Peanut Grower, July 2014

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PEANUTGROWER The

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

JULY 2014

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

Late-Season Tips

Keeping Good Records Climate Outlook

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JULY 2014

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PEANUTGROWER The

Volume 26 • Number 7

10 Departments 4 Editor’s Note All I could do was marvel at the gold-brown sand.

5 News Briefs Approved sampling technology to improve buying point efficiency.

6 Market Watch Contracts return, likely because of weather patterns.

20 New Products New insecticide option; expanded irrigation opportunities.

21 Peanut Pointers One disease prefers hot, dry weather conditions.

Features 10 Mid-Season To Harvest: What Are The Challenges?

Use these tips to bring in a successful harvest, plus meet the new Extension peanut specialist in Georgia.

12 Climate Outlook El Niño means a wet, cool fall and winter for most of Georgia and surrounding areas.

14 Recordkeeping: Beyond The Requirements Additional information on conditions can help you defend proper application and make future pesticide decisions.

18 Know The Rules On Saving Seed Cover photo by Amanda Huber

Consider whether the risk involved in saving seed is too great and the assurances with certified seed are worth the cost.

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EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Copy Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com

A Surprising Turn This Spring

Art Director Carol Watson

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 767-4020 Editorial Director Tommy Horton (901) 767-4020 thorton@onegrower.com Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Janet Owens (229) 386-8809 Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com

For circulation changes or change of address, call (800) 888-9784

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD John Beasley Extension Agronomist Auburn University Dell Cotton Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Assn., Franklin, VA Kris Balkcom Agri-Program Associate Auburn University Craig Kvien Coastal Plain Experiment Station,Tifton, GA

Jason Woodward Extension Plant Pathologist 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 Memphis, TN. Copyright © 2014 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 SUNBELT FULFILLMENT SERVICES, 307 SOUTHGATE COURT, Brentwood, TN 37027-7987. 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.

One Grower Publishing, LLC 1010 June Rd., Suite 102, Memphis, Tennessee, 38119 Phone: 901-767-4020

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

I have lived in the sand hills all my life and toughened my feet on hot, tan-colored grains. I grew used to the gritty feel of it in places it shouldn’t be: my shoes, my eyes, my hair and even my bed at times!

As a kid, any attempt to build castles with it dissolved into rounded mounds of shifting sands. You could bother a doodle bug, who for whatever reason decided the sand was his favored place and was smart enough to create a cone of death for an unsuspecting ant.

Still, I knew it beat the heck out of pavement and working with it just took time. For instance, when we were building our house and wanted some of the power lines run underground, the sand became a true nemesis. The line had to be buried at a certain depth, but because the sand kept sliding back into place and caving in, we had to dig the trench several feet deeper and much wider than we would have had the soil held any moisture at all. We eventually got the wire buried properly, it just took a lot more time, thanks to the dry, flowing sand.

This spring, as I watched a moldboard plow turn up the gold-brown sand and it stayed perfectly in place without sliding back to the lowest point, all I could do was marvel at it. I wasn’t the only one.

Farming a few sandy fields near where I live is Vince Dean, who has also lived in sand hills his whole life. “Can you believe how much moisture there is?” he said, as I helped him pick up a few roots from the field.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it before,” was my reply, but I knew it would be good for the peanut seed going in the ground that day.

Thankfully, we have continued to get timely rains and his crop and others I’ve seen are coming along nicely. I hope your crop is as well and that your harvest is successful.

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Standards Board Nominees Sought USDA is seeking nominations for peanut producers and industry representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board. The board consists of 18 members with representation equally divided between peanut producers and industry representatives. Representation is divided among three regions: the Southeast (Alabama, Georgia and Florida), the Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico), and the Virginia/Carolinas.

Each region has three producer seats and three industry representative seats, each with staggered terms. The Secretary of Ag will appoint one producer and one industry representative from each region to succeed members whose terms expire on June 30, 2014. The six new members will serve terms ending on June 30, 2017.

The Peanut Standards Board consults with USDA regarding quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The board plays a key role in representing the U.S. peanut industry on issues affecting quality and marketability.

The deadline is July 14, 2014. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandardsBoard for forms, or contact Jennie M. Varela at 863-324-3375 or by email at Jennie.Varela@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.

Getting The Farm Bill Ready USDA is working quickly to write the regulations needed to fully implement the provisions of the Agriculture Act of 2014, but the group charged with carrying out the task is also trying to make sure they get it right.

“The Secretary charged me and our team with getting the implementation done as quickly as we could because he knew that farmers, ranchers and landowners needed certainty,” says Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, who heads USDA’s Farm Bill implementation task force.

In Brief:

“But he also said to us ‘get it right,’” she says. “‘Make sure that it’s done fairly.

Make sure you listen to people. Most importantly, make sure that it works for farmers and for ranchers. A lot of good things on paper don’t make a lot of sense when it gets on the ground, and we are trying very hard to make sure that it does.’

“I am so proud that we still find a way in agriculture to work together to get results for the people and the things we care so deeply about,” says Harden, who has worked for members of Congress, the American Soybean Association, as CEO of the National Association of Conservation Districts and at USDA during her career.

“We are quickly moving to other things,” she says. “One of the shining new examples in the Farm Bill is in conservation, one of the things that is very near and dear to my heart. It’s called the Regional Conservation Partnership Program or RCPP.” Harden says RCPP, one of many acronyms in the new Farm Bill, is an expanded approach to putting conservation efforts on the land that will bring in new partners and leverage federal dollars with those from the private sector.

As Georgia’s FSA Director, Harrison will use his agricultural background and experience in service to oversee FSA programs that protect agricultural practices to ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food supply.

New Georgia FSA Director

Hardy Farms Unveils New Roaster

Dr. Fred Harrison, of Winterville, Ga., has been appointed Farm Service Agency executive director for Georgia.

The owner and operator of Harrison Farms, Harrison has served as the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Home Economics and Allied Programs at Fort Valley State University. He previously served the college as Administrator/Director of the Cooperative Extension Program and as Interim Dean.

Harrison earned his doctorate from Ohio State University in Extension Program Development, Administration and Community Resource Development. He has served on the Georgia Rural Development Council.

Georgia has a new peanut roasting and packaging plant in Hawkinsville.

Brad Hardy and the Hardy Farms team unveiled the new roasting and packaging facility recently to a crowd of friends and peanut industry members. Congratulations were offered by many, including Brian Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State, and Gary Black, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture. Dr. Gary Abbott, of St. Luke Episcopal Church, offered a blessing for the facility.

Hardy said the new facility was inspired by a request for one-ounce souvenir packages of roasted peanuts to be used by the Georgia Farm Bureau and other organizations.

• USDA seeks six new members for appointment to Standards Board.

• Farm Bill team moving quickly to complete regs., touts conservation.

• Georgia’s new Farm Service Agency director: Dr. Fred Harrison.

• Hardy Farms opens new roasting, packaging facility in Hawkinsville.

• New sampling technology to increase buying point efficiency.

• APC starts manufacturer food safety mentoring program.

• NPB education program asks consumers to follow the “Journey of the Peanut Butter Jar.”

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Weather is likely reason behind return of contracts The peanut industry appears strong with growth in the domestic market and with the export market down slightly but still moving. The over-supply continues to depress prices, and if acreage is as much as USDA is reporting, prices will remain low. Producers must be optimistic if, after knowing the over-supply of peanuts exists, they plant more peanuts anyway, hoping and trusting that something will happen and markets will improve.

This year, the farmer had few competing crops that showed any profit, and the weather was a factor delaying corn planting and even delaying cotton and peanuts. The late planting is likely to impact average yields at harvest if research holds true.

Peanut Acreage How many acres were planted in peanuts? That’s a good question and a major marketing factor. USDA will give the industry another planted acreage estimate on June 30, but the actual planted acreage as reported by farmers will not be known until late July or August after crop insurance reporting deadlines.

USDA’s Economic Research Service’s early surveys estimated farmers would increase peanut acreage by 29 percent to 1.4 million acres, nationwide, and the big surprise was that Georgia would increase 53 percent over last year. However, when prices dropped to $400 per ton in the Southeast, some producers switched to 80 cents-per-pound cotton, and the peanut acreage increase in Georgia should be less than what was reported.

Supply And Demand The first indication as to crop size of U.S. peanuts for 2014-15 was a forecast that peanut farmers would produce

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PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

Leading Market Indicators (June 10, 2014) •2014 - Acreage estimate up 29% - 1,376,000 acres •2014 - Production estimate up 28% - 2,677,500 tons •2013 - Harvest Acres - dn 35% 1,042,000 acres •2014 Average yield estimate 3,791 lbs/A - dn 35 lbs/A •2013 Market Loan - 1,432,215 tons •2013 - Loan Redemptions 1,237,713 tons •2013-14 Usage (9 mo.) - up 3.0% •2013-14 Exports (8 mo.) dn 11.8% •National Posted Price (per ton): Runners $424.74, Spanish $404.93, Virginia/Valencia $428.38.

2,677,500 tons. The USDA chart showed harvested acres would be 1,348,000 with an average yield of 3,971 pounds per acre. With total U.S. demand at 2,536,000 tons, that’s an increase over demand by 5.2 percent including all disappearance.

Ending stocks now show 1,208,500 tons, again a large carry-over that will keep prices down. Domestic food use for peanuts is predicted to increase 2.1 percent, while data show a 3.0 percent increase after nine months. Exports are forecast to decrease 2.6 percent; however, totals after eight months show 11 percent down.

Contracting The wet spring has caused a return of peanut contracts to the Southeast in order to get farmers to commit tonnage.

Instead of the 50/50 option contract offered earlier, peanut farmers in the

J. Tyron Spearman

Contributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

Southeast have firm contracts for runner peanuts at the $425 per-ton option level, basis grade. Some are being offered a $25 per-ton seed contract or a total of $450 per ton. One sheller was offering $440 per-ton option contracts with an additional $10 per-ton hauling bonus or a total of $450 per ton.

Market improvement seems to be weather influenced. It also appears that manufacturers were successful in convincing farmers to grow high-oleic peanuts, although seed was limited and early contracts at $475 per ton were quickly signed.

In the Southwest, contracts were mostly Virginias at $625 per-ton option contracts with Spanish at $600 per ton and high-oleic runners at $475 per ton.

Water continues to be an issue for the Southwest region, suffering from the worst drought in decades. The region has received rains during planting, which does give farmers some hope.

The Virginia-Carolina region reports $525 per ton for Virginias and $475 per ton for high-oleic runners.

Peanut Program Like a cloud over the peanut market, the “generic” cotton base that might be converted to peanut production continues to be a concern in that it could cause overplanting with the incentive being the PLC payment using the $535 per-ton reference price. Cotton leaders and key peanut leaders are convinced it will not happen.

Non-base peanut producers are concerned that the “cotton” factor has already affected the peanut market, and some think it could get ugly and expensive if USDA does not act sensibly in writing the regulations. USDA officials are aware of the issue, but the Farm

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Bill may tie their hands.

Export Prospects The United States could regain volume in world markets if Argentina continues to have harvest problems caused by continuous wet weather. China and India are expected to lower peanut plantings 10 percent and 8 percent, respectively. The U.S. 2013 peanut crop is available at the lowest representative prices. A speaker at the International Peanut Forum said the current fundamentals of world peanut supply and demand indicate a firmer world market after October 2015 if acreages are reduced.

Total U.S. peanut export volumes are down 11.8 percent for the year as inshells remain down almost 30 percent.

Peanut butter exports remain strong up 29.8 percent for the year. Raw-shelled peanuts are down 9.2 percent. China has not returned as a buyer.

Unknowns The boat has been launched for the grower this season. Mostly contracted,

peanut farmers will work to make a good, top-quality crop as they battle the weather, which could be a significant marketing factor before harvest. Don’t look for the Farm Bill regulations until late fall, likely after harvest.

We’re hoping the planted acreage is up about 15 percent, but USDA is usually right on target. The new Farm Bill has a lot of options and, together, maybe we can learn what will keep us all in the peanut business. PG

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JULY 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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USDA OKs New Sampling Technology

Research Meeting Planned

The automated pulsating divider for the pneumatic sampler developed and tested by the National Peanut Research Laboratory, in cooperation with Alabama and Georgia Federal State Inspection Services, has been officially approved by USDA-AMS and can be used during the 2014 farmer-stock peanut harvest season.

The divider system automatically senses the amount of peanuts in the bin and determines the number of divisions required to give a consistent 3,600 gram sample. Research has shown that no differences in any farmer-stock grade factors will result, but the need to reduce the grade sample size is eliminated. This will reduce the amount of excess peanuts handled in the grading room and increase buying point efficiency.

For more information, call Jade Paul with Advanced Control Solutions at 678-643-5795 or visit www.acs-ga.com.

Producers and all peanut industry members are invited to attend the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Peanut Research and Education Society, July 810, 2014, at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

Industry researchers will spend three days presenting scientific and industrytrending presentations. The program draft contains 104 research papers and presentations ranging from Extension techniques, breeding, biotechnology and genetics, plant pathology and nematology, seed technology and physiology, plus other topics relating to the production and processing of peanuts.

Research is also presented in a poster session, and graduate students can make presentations and compete in the Joe Sugg Graduate Student Competition.

Complete details of the meeting can be found at www.apresinc.com.

Genomic Conference

With the assistance of major peanut product manufacturers, the American Peanut Council has established a food safety mentoring program to assist small peanut product manufacturers.

The new Food Safety Modernization Act requires more thorough food safety management programs and compliance, so this program links small manufacturers, who may lack in-house expertise, with experienced food safety professionals from larger manufacturing companies. There is no cost to participate in the program, and all information is kept strictly confidential.

Manufacturers of all sizes know that food safety is at the forefront of all processes. From farm to table, peanuts is a food product and care must be taken to keep them clean and preserve the quality product.

For more information on the manufacturer mentoring program offered by the APC, contact Patrick Archer by phone at 703-838-9500 or by email at parcher@peanutsusa.com.

Officials from Argentina are reviewing requirements to join the International Peanut Genome Initiative. If they were to join, any data towards the effort will be combined with field data from Brazil, China, India and the United States and that of 20 other plant populations that have been found to have desired traits and collected in the last three years. This phenotypical data will be used to associate with gene markers for the desired traits.

The 7th International Peanut Genomic Conference will be held in Savannah, Ga., at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront on Nov. 11-14, 2014. More than 100 delegates are expected from nine countries. This meeting helps set the strategic plan for genomic research for the next five years. A full report of Peanut Genomic Initiative accomplishments is available from the American Peanut Council. Contact Christina Taylor at ctaylor@peanutsusa.com to request the report.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

Mentors For Smaller Manufacturers

Calendar: • July 8-10, 2014 – American Peanut Research and Education Society Annual Meeting, Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas. More than 100 research presentations are expected.

Go to www.apresinc.com for registration information.

• July 10, 2014 – Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Field Day, Spence Field, Moultrie, Ga. Shuttles begin at 9:00 a.m. For more information, call 229985-1968 or go to www.sunbeltexpo.com.

• July 24-26, 2014 – 16th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Edgewater Beach Resort, Panama City Beach, Fla. For more information, visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org.

• Aug. 5-6, 2014 – American Peanut Shellers Association and National Peanut Buying Points Association Pre-Harvest Joint Convention, Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club, Cordele, Ga. For hotel reservations, call 800-459-1230. For meeting information, call 229-888-2508, 229386-1716 or visit the website www. peanut-shellers.org.

• Aug. 13, 2014 – Southeast Georgia Research and Education Center Field Day, Midville, Ga. For information, call 478-589-7472.

• Aug. 20, 2014 – Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center Field Day, Plains, Ga. For information, call 229-824-4375.

• Sept. 16-18, 2014 – Georgia Peanut Tour. The tour will highlight Savannah and surrounding areas. For more information, visit the tour blog at www.gapeanuttour.wordpress.com.

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NPB Changes Peanut Packs To Show Heart Check Logo The National Peanut Board has changed the face of its popular, lightly salted peanut packs to reflect the new brand logo, “The Perfectly Powerful Peanut.” The contents have also changed: the packs contain a different peanut type – runners – and have increased in size from one-half ounce to a one-ounce pack.

“We’ll be able to continue to use the popular gourmet Virginia-type peanuts in the sample bags; however, the benefit of this new vendor is that we have the flexibility to let consumers sample any type of peanut,” said Bob Parker, National Peanut Board president and CEO. Another important component of the new packaging is that it displays the American Heart Association Heart Check logo, as well as The Peanut Institute logo. The Peanut Institute obtained the Heart Check from the AHA on behalf of the entire industry.

According to the Institute, “The Heart Check mark is the most recognized food symbol on the market today. A majority of grocery shoppers trust the Heart Check most to guide them in making heart-healthy food purchases.

“It’s fitting that oil-roasted and salted peanuts and unsalted in-shell peanuts qualify for the Heart Check because peanuts contain mostly good fats, are a good source of fiber and are naturally low in sodium,” said Pat Kearney, TPI program director.

Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, including peanuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.

“Peanut industry organizations interested in being a part of the Heart Check program should contact The Peanut In-

stitute as each product label needs to be reviewed individually,” said Kearney.

The National Peanut Board makes its peanut sample packs available as giveaways at consumer and industry events and offers the packs to state peanut producer organizations upon request. Call the NPB at 678-424-5750 for more information or to request peanuts.

Consumers Can Follow ‘The Journey Of A PB Jar’ The National Peanut Board has launched an online consumer educational series called, “The Journey of a Peanut Butter Jar.” This series invites readers to learn about how their favorite jar of peanut butter supports farming families, communities, the economy and the environment through personal stories, facts and profiles.

The home base for “The Journey of a Peanut Butter Jar” series is the National Peanut Board blog at www.nationalpeanutboard.org/blog, which includes artwork that complements the natural and wholesome qualities of peanuts and connects all parts of the process back to the farm.

NPB kicks off the series this month with a focus on planting. In August, NPB will highlight how researchers are contributing to the success of the plants in the field. October will cover the people of the harvest season, including buying points and shellers. In November, the focus will be on the manufacturers’ perspective and consumers enjoying peanut butter. Also, in November, NPB will celebrate National Peanut Butter Lovers Month by sharing an infographic highlighting key points about the series with consumer media and bloggers. The journey wraps up in December with a focus on how peanut butter supports the global community through exports and ready-to-use-therapeutic foods.

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Mid-Season To Harvest: What Are The Challenges?

Use these tips to bring in a successful crop.

By Amanda Huber he 2014 planting season was a little more stretched out across the belt because of rains and lingering cool temperatures.

But as that gave way to warm, sunny weather, the seedlings took off and row closure came quickly. Now, it’s on to midand late-season production strategies before the harvest trigger can be pulled.

Scott Monfort, peanut specialist for Clemson University, says South Carolina is estimated to have 90,000 to 95,000 acres this year.

“Most of the peanut crop statewide looks very good,” he says. “Planted acres will be about 65 percent Virginias and 35 percent runners. Bailey and Sugg are the top Virginia varieties and Florida-07, Georgia-09B and FloRun-107 are the top runner varieties.”

T

Aim To Stay Ahead Monfort says soil moisture was adequate across most of the state for planting, and problems with germination or stand establishment were few and only in fields with little or no moisture.

“Weed management is at the top of the priority list for growers, with disease management and gypsum applications not far behind,” Monfort says. “For the most part growers are staying ahead and doing an excellent job so far.

“Another issue growers are dealing with is thrips. Thrips pressure has been extremely heavy this year, and significant damage has been observed in a few fields.

Peanut fields where Cruiser Maxx Peanut or in-furrow imidacloprid were applied 10 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

Tips To Season’s End: • Be timely with inputs, especially fungicides.

• Apply herbicides when weeds are small for maximum control, especially pigweed.

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

• Don’t forget to supply needed calcium.

• Know what insects are more likely for given weather conditions.

• Consider using a weather advisory for leaf spot.

• Scout, scout, scout.

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

• Don’t dig based solely on days after planting or before a freeze or frost is forecast.

need to be scouted to determine if an additional foliar insecticide is needed,” Monfort says.

Keep Weeds Knocked Back Maria Balota, assistant professor from the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech, says in Virginia 18,000 acres of peanuts were planted, which is about 2,000 more than last year, and there was no significant thrips damage observed to that point.

David Wright, cooperative Extension specialist with the University of Florida, says peanuts were a little behind normal

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but the dry, warm weather has allowed the crop to catch up quickly.

“We are seeing some thrips damage ,and weeds are beginning to emerge with treatment beginning in some fields,” he says. “We expect to see a flush of weeds as summer showers emerge.”

Watch For Insect Outbreaks Ayanava Majumdar, Extension entomologist for Alabama Cooperative Extension, reported that thrips activity was high in early planted peanuts and use of rescue insecticide was needed in those

fields with excessive feeding damage.

“With additional heat units and dry weather, we may see increasing activity of other major pests like corn earworm and loopers in peanuts in the coming month,” he says. “Persistent dry weather may favor insect pests like lesser cornstalk borer, which is already active in high numbers in many areas of the state based on trap catches.

“Producers should scout weekly or more frequently if their field has a history of insect pest problems or if the weather seems unfavorable.” PG

UGA Names New Agronomist Making the move from South Carolina to Georgia, Scott Monfort accepted an offer to become the next University of Georgia, Peanut Extension Agronomist, filling the spot left vacant when John Beasley left for Auburn University.

Monfort has been the state Extension peanut specialist at Clemson University since 2011 where he continued a long tradition of developing and implementing the Extension and applied research peanut production programs to support the Extension agents and producers in South Carolina.

The University of Georgia is where Monfort earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees focusing on plant pathology. He earned his doctorate at the University of Arkansas.

Monfort grew up around Georgia agriculture and became a county agent in Worth County, one of the largest peanut-producing counties in the state.

“Through working with the peanut growers in Worth County, I learned firsthand how devastating plant diseases could become if not managed. I also learned that diseases are only part of the equation and that you need to approach pest management as part of the overall production system,” he says.

He also says he looks forward to being a part of the peanut team at the University of Georgia.

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Climate Outlook El Niño means a wet, cool fall and winter for most of Georgia and surrounding areas.

By Pam Knox, Agricultural Climatologist

ecently, the likelihood of an El Niño developing during late summer or fall has been mentioned in the news. Climatologists have been following this carefully because we know that El Niño, and its opposite, La Niña, is one of the best predictors of seasonal climate variations that we have for the Southeast.

“El Niño” refers to a semi-regular warming of ocean water off the coast of Peru and Ecuador in South America.

They usually occur once every three to five years. El Niño is usually observed

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around Christmas and was first named to link its appearance to the coming of the Christ Child. La Niña marks the cooling of oceans.

Warm Water Movement Scientific study has shown that El Niño and the opposite phenomena, collectively referred to as El Niño Southern Oscillation or ENSO, are part of an atmospheric circulation that stretches across the globe while changing weather patterns in many places far from the Pacific Ocean. Signs of an imminent El Niño are usually first

seen in the western and central equatorial Pacific Ocean far from the coastlines of Peru and Ecuador.

This year, climatologists are observing a large mass of unusually warm water moving from west to east across the equatorial Pacific Ocean in response to weakening trade winds, which usually pile the warmest water in the western Pacific Ocean. If the wave of warm water continues to move to the east, an El Niño should develop by mid- to late summer.

Normally, an El Niño will continue to strengthen into winter and diminish

National Weather Service Southern Region, Current Year-To-Date Departure From Normal Precipitation, 5/23/14.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

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Climate-Focused Management Tools And Resources From AgroClimate Management fact sheets are available at AgroClimate.com. Use these learning resources and interactive tools to improve climate resilience in your operation, improving resource-use efficiency and reducing climate risks.

tillage to decrease runoff and save time on field operations

• Soil Moisture Monitoring: Measuring soil moisture for more efficient irrigation

Sensor-based Nitrogen Application: Optical sensing for adjusting Nitrogen applications for different field areas

• Crop Insurance: Summary of crop insurance coverage options in the Southeastern United States

• Microirrigation: Drip and microsprinkler irrigation for more efficient water application

• Individual Yield Policies: Basics of individual yield policies in the Southeastern United States

• Subsurface Drip Irrigation: More efficient irrigation delivery that can be cost-competitive for agronomic crops

Find these fact sheets, plus other tools, calculators and management aids at www.agroclimate.org.

Topics include the following: • High-Residue Cover Crops: Reduce variability in yields, improve soil health are the topcis of the HighResidue Cover Crops video • Sod-based Rotation: Perennial grass in a conventional rotation to improve soil organic matter and increase root zone depth

• Variable-rate Irrigation: Subfield scale adjustments in irrigation depth for more efficient irrigation

• Conservation Tillage: Reducing

slowly during spring.

A Wet Harvest?

In El Niño falls and winters, southern Georgia and Alabama often experience cool and wet conditions due to the movement of the subtropical jet stream over the region. The subtropical jet is an area of strong winds high in the atmosphere that pushes low pressure centers and its associated weather around, leading to cool

and cloudy conditions and ample rainfall underneath it. In strong El Niños, this effect can extend north and cover most of Alabama and Georgia with cool and wet conditions.

Some scientists believe this year may be another strong El Niño, similar to the one from 1997 to 1998, while others think it should be closer to average conditions. Currently, climatologists are predicting a 65 percent chance of El Niño oc-

curring by fall 2014, with some scientists going as high as 85 percent.

The good news is that if El Niño develops in late summer, the number of tropical storms and hurricanes is usually lower than in non-El Niño years. This should mean drier conditions for the harvest season. However, once the late fall and early winter rains start, it may be hard to get into the fields if harvest is behind schedule. PG

Current Conditions Wet conditions dominated many parts of the peanut-growing regions in Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia in the early season. By comparison, continuing drought has plagued Texas and Oklahoma, although recent rains have brought some limited relief to the area.

The heaviest rains fell in a band along the Florida panhandle into the very southern counties of Alabama and Georgia, leaving standing water on many fields. Following this, a period of dry weather helped improve field conditions quite a bit.

The warmer and wetter-than-normal conditions are likely to continue across the area except in Texas and Oklahoma, where there are equal chances for above, below and near normal conditions, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

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Recordkeeping: Beyond The Requirements Additional information on conditions can help you defend proper application and make future pesticide decisions.

ecordkeeping requirements for pesticide applications differ depending on the agency doing the checking. So what is a producer or pesticide applicator to do to make sure their records are complete enough to show every effort is being made to apply pesticides in a legal and proper manner? Record details that may not be required, per se, but show an “above and beyond” approach to recordkeeping.

In the article, “Beyond the Requirements: Smart Items That Should Be Recorded,” which can be found on the Pesticide Environmental Stewarship website, author Carol Ramsay, pesticide education specialist with Washington State University, offers the following list of items to record for every application.

Ramsay says while certain states may already require some of the items, recording these details may prove invaluable in defending your proper application.

“Without accurate, thorough records, you end up relying on neighbors’ records which can, at times, be significantly different from the condition under which you made the application,” she says.

R

Smart Pesticide Application Records • Air temperature during the application, taken in the area of the application: Record the temperature in Fahrenheit. Take readings several times during the application and note the time of these recordings. Some labels have restrictions on air temperatures. Do not rely on weather stations that are not directly associated with the field.

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• Cloud conditions: Make note of sun, partial sun or clouds. Climatic conditions directly influence pesticide efficacy.

• Crop variety: If you plant a new crop variety, it may be good to record this change since different sensitivities to chemicals and pests are known to occur between varieties.

• Name of person for whom the application was made: This is for custom applicators. Note client information. Cus-

tom applicators are required to provide application records to their clients.

• Nozzle manufacturer, make and size: Document that your equipment was set up to deliver label-specified droplet size or spray volume by recording the nozzle manufacturer, nozzle make and size.

For example, Teejet XR110001, CP03.

• Pest timing: Record the pest stage when application was made. Herbicide example – preplant, preemergence, poste-

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mergence at 30 DAP, etc.

• Reasons for delaying an application: Record any management decision regarding delaying an application. For example, due to the sensitive crop that sits just north of the field, I waited until June 12 to make this application when there was a five mph north wind.

• Reasons for halting an application: If for any reason you make the conscious decision to halt an application, make note of the reason. For example, stopped application when the school bus approached at 3:35 and waited until 3:45 when bus and children were clearly removed from the scene.

• Reasons for terminating an application: If for any reason you make the conscious decision to abort an application, make note of the reason. For example, stopped application at 2:15 pm when wind shifted from the Southeast to the Southwest.

• Sensitive areas downwind of treatment area: Note any sensitive site that you recognized to protect in your records.

These could include, but are not limited to schools, daycare centers, organic crops, sensitive plants, wildlife preserves, etc.

• Required spray droplet classification: Check nozzle manufacturer literature for spray droplet classification based on nozzle size, pressure and speed. Many herbicide labels require a medium or coarse droplet. Document droplet size and how your equipment was set up to deliver it.

• Spray tank concentration: Record the total volume of spray made up by noting both the amount of product and the total spray volume mixed. For example, two pints in 30 gallons water or four pounds in 50 gallons water.

• Sprayer operating pressure: 20 pounds per square inch, 40 pounds per square inch, etc.

• Start and stop times: Record the time the application started and when you stopped. Start a new application record if you take an hour break for lunch or for any other reason. Recording stop time defines the application time block, which can be compared to environmental and other conditions that occurred during that period.

• Surfactants and other adjuvants: Note the product name and spray mix rate of any adjuvants (buffers, surfactants, wetting agents, spreaders, dyes, oils, etc).

Use this information to assess possible reasons for changes in efficacy and crop safety.

• Wind direction during the application, taken in the area of the application: Record the direction from which the wind is blowing. Use something like a piece of flagging tape on an electric fence post to assess wind direction. For example, if you are looking eastward and the wind and flagging is blowing toward you from the east, you record an east wind. When you apply in areas with concerns for off-target movement, consider using a compass reading for wind direc-

Document, Document, Document Documentation is part of the Good Ag Practices everyone should follow as a producer of a food crop. Remember the mantra, “If it’s not documented, it is not done.”

Adequate documentation not only benefits the individual grower in his operation, but also provides key elements to the basic food safety system. Keeping pesticide application records should be one part of the greater body of documentation maintained in a peanut production operation. Growers should also recognize that these records are important to food safety enhancement.

Important documentation records include, but are not limited to: details of prior farm ownership and cropping history; information regarding variety and plant date; crop management activities during the growing season; pesticide application information; worker training; fertilizer and soil amendment use history; pest reports from scouts or consultants; equipment maintenance and sanitation schedules. PG

tion, such as 80 to 95 degrees from the east. Radio and television reports do not suffice.

• Wind speed during the application, taken in the area of the application: Purchase a quality anemometer or wind meter to measure wind speed. There are several in the market ranging from $40 to $120. Take readings several times during the application and record the range, for example, 4.5-5.8 mph. Do not simply report calm or gusty. PG For more information on proper pesticide use and handling, visit the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship website at www.pesticidestewardship.org.

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UGA Geneticist Honored Selected as one of the Top 40 under age 40, Robert Schmitz may help unlock the potential of peanut DNA. niversity of Georgia researcher Robert Schmitz was recently selected by the journal Cell as one of 40 most accomplished young scientists under the age of 40 who are shaping current and future trends in biology. The featured researchers were chosen by the journal’s editorial board to commemorate Cell’s 40th anniversary.

“It’s very exciting to be recognized by such a prestigious organization so early in my career,” says Schmitz, an assistant professor of genetics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

“I hope we can use this recognition as a springboard to bolster the momentum in building our research program.”

U

Reading Cell Signals Schmitz’s research focuses on plant epigenetics. His laboratory is particularly interested in exploring a phenomenon known as DNA methylation and how this process affects the expression of traits of plants used in both agriculture and basic research.

DNA methylation is a kind of signal that cells use to turn specific genes off. A plant may, for example, inherit genes from its

parents that make it more drought-tolerant or able to produce more fruit, but because these segments of DNA have undergone methylation, the potentially advantageous genes are switched off.

Developing Beneficial Traits Schmitz takes advantage of advances in sequencing technology to map the genome of different plants and identify which segments of DNA have undergone methylation. His laboratory may then explore ways to reverse the methylation process and observe the effects on the plant.

“In any given plant, reversing methylation randomly throughout the genome may have a positive or negative effect, or it may have no observable effect at all,” Schmitz said. “But we know that some of the diversity in plants that we see in nature is controlled by DNA methylation, and we want to figure out how we can alter the methylation status of these genes to develop agriculturally beneficial traits.”

Impressive Work At UGA “I was really excited to come here because of the major plant genomes that come out of UGA,” says Schmitz, who joined UGA in September 2013. “I can’t think of any school that has assembled and published more plant genomes, and these will be extremely helpful in my own research.”

Schmitz is already working closely with fellow UGA researchers on 35 plant species, including peanuts, soybeans and corn. PG

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JULY 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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Know The Rules On Saving Seed In most cases, the risks outweigh the benefits.

uestions about saving seed arise each year, and because not knowing the rules can cost you considerably, it is always a topic worth visiting. As advancements in seed technology increase, so do the legal protections placed on those advancements.

Producers should consider that the risk involved in saving seed may be too great and the assurances given to purchased seed are worth the extra cost.

Q

if the producer bought seed to cover 100 acres, he cannot save seed to produce more than 100 acres.

Patents are issued to anyone who invents a product or process that is novel, meaning that no other person has made, sold or published a description of the product or process prior to the application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

A seed variety protected by a patent may not be saved for seed.

Patent Coverage On High Oleics As varieties with the high-oleic oil chemistry continue to garner more acres, producers should be aware that any of the varieties with this characteristic are covered by a utility patent. There are no provisions for saving seed of higholeic peanut. Custom shelling, cleaning or storage of high-oleic peanuts is also Thinking of Saving Seed: an infringement of the patent. Higholeic seed production is licensed by the • Know the real costs in terms of production, shelling, treating and storage.

University of Florida through the Florida Foundation Seed Producers.

• Germination tests are conducted on all purIn addition to PVP and patenting, chased certified seed. variety owners may place restrictions on • For germination problems on saved seed, there seed production through licensing agreeis no recourse. ments. In the United States, most • It is illegal to save seed protected by a patent, Legal Protections peanut varieties are developed by uniwhich includes high-oleic varieties.

All of the current varieties of peanut versities or the USDA, and seed progrown in the United States have Plant • Check with the certified seed organization in duction and marketing is licensed to your state before saving seed.

Variety Protection Act (PVP) coverage private companies. Sometimes a variety or are covered by a U.S. Utility Patent. is licensed exclusively to one company, Without the consent from the owner, a person is prohibited from and other times varieties are licensed to all interested compaselling, marketing, offering, delivering, consigning, exchanging nies. In the case of exclusive licenses, the original licensee can or exposing the variety for sale and also from soliciting to buy, sub-license the variety to other seed producers. transfer or possess it in any way, as well as other protections.

Prior to saving any seed of a variety planted from certified seed, it is a good idea to make sure that seed production is not A Limit On Amount Saved restricted by PVP, patent or licensing protections. Contact the Varieties covered by PVP can be saved for planting by a certified seed organization in your state to learn the specifics of farmer on his/her own farm, but may not be sold to other farm- seed protection. PG ers outside of the seed certification system. Producers can only save enough seed to plant their own holdings, equal to or less For more information, visit these websites: www.certifiedseed.org than the amount of seed purchased originally. In other words, or www.ffsp.net.

Benefit Of Genetically Pure Seed Obtaining a uniform stand is one of the keys to producing high peanut yields and reducing the incidence of disease. Starting with high quality, genetically pure peanut seed is necessary for that type of desired stand.

Certified seed production has always required special provisions that include meeting certification rules and higher standards in terms of calcium, field harvest, drying, grading and storage. Special handling during shelling, treating, bagging and transportation are also requirements for seed growers.

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Valley Expands Options For VFlex Corner System Valley Irrigation has added three new options to its VFlex Corner to give growers exactly what they need to irrigate additional acres on their farms.

The VFlex Corner, which was introduced last fall, is expanding growers’ options by offering electronic sprinkler sequencing, an additional corner length and an inverted corner.

Electronic sequencing provides more precise water application and better uniformity. It continually measures the corner angle and the rate of change of the angle to dynamically calculate the correct sprinkler sequencing for specific field needs.

The addition of electronic sequencing enables the VFlex to offer a new 305-foot corner length and the inverted corner option for irrigation of more acres in fields that aren’t quite square.

The inverted corner, which moves ahead of the center pivot, is often a better fit on part-circle fields and gives growers another way to design a corner for their fields’ exact needs.

Learn more about the VFlex Corner at www.ValleyIrrigation.com/vflex.

Gowan Ends Distribution Of Moncut Flutolanil (Moncut 70DF Fungicide and Moncoat MZ Fungicide) has been a strong-performing fungicide in Gowan Company’s portfolio since 2005 and is part of the SDHI chemistry group, which is a group of fungicides that have excellent activity on Rhizoctonia.

With increased competition in this group, it was determined that Nichino America will not renew the distribution agreement with Gowan and instead will market the Flutolanil brands of Moncut and Moncoat MZ to distribution customers through their own organization.

Gowan thanks all of the customers and growers who have helped make Flutolanil one of the top products for Rhizoctonia control over the years, and they remain dedicated to providing new, innovative plant protection solutions to the market.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

Gowan will continue to be a valuable marketing partner for Nichino America in other supply agreements.

Nichino America will acquire marketing and distribution rights of Moncut and Moncoat MZ on July 1, 2014.

Tempest Dual-Action Insecticide A new pest management tool combines two highly effective insecticides with advanced adjuvant technology and is available from Helena Chemical Company.

Tempest Dual-Action Insecticide features quick knockdown and long residual control of sucking and chewing insects on a variety of crops, including soybeans, cotton, potatoes, tree nuts and vegetables.

Tempest is a 1:1 ratio of bifenthrin and imidacloprid co-formulated with an “incan” adjuvant system. These two proven actives equip Tempest with the ability to

control pests by contact or ingestion, while translocating rapidly through plant tissue for long-term protection from aphids and other sucking and chewing insects.

The built-in adjuvant system enhances the application through improved coverage, deposition and retention. It also improves compatibility with other tankmix partners and improves performance of low-volume spray applications, resulting in improved penetration into the crop canopy. Tempest is compatible with foliarapplied nutritionals and a wide range of other agrichemicals.

Tempest has Environmental Protection Agency approval for aerial and ground applications and chemigation on over 50 crops and more than 100 insects across the country. For availability by state, contact your local Helena representative.

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Aspergillus: Exception To Rule

How Critical Is Calcium?

Several soilborne fungi are capable of causing diseases that limit peanut yield.

However, the majority of these pathogens are not active under drought conditions. One exception to that rule is Aspergillus crown rot, which is caused by Aspergillus niger and can actually be more severe under hot, dry and JASON WOODWARD windy conditions.

Texas Agri-Life Extension The fungus can be found in Plant Pathologist most fields soils and has been isolated from contaminated seed. Plants infected with A. niger have a dark brown appearance and water-soaked, sunken lesions may also be noticeable. The formation of black masses of fungal spores, such as in the picture, is a characteristic feature of this disease. Sporulation typically occurs at or just below the soil surface.

While the majority of infections occur within the first four to six weeks after planting, mortality can occur throughout the growing season if favorable environmental conditions are experienced. In addition to high temperatures, fluctuations in soil moisture can lead to an increase in disease incidence. Such conditions may be common, especially where the irrigation events are delayed as a result of water being shared with other crops or redirected to other pivots. High evapotranspiration rates also lead to dramatic fluctuations in soil moisture levels.

Losses from crown rot are generally low, and yield reductions do not typically occur, thus fungicide applications are not warranted. Cultural practices that minimize infections from occurring include minimizing the amount of soil thrown on seedlings if cultivation is being conducted and maintaining uniform soil moisture levels when possible, especially during pegging.

July brings us to focus on disease control programs from the perspective of leaf spot and stem rot. In North Carolina, the first spray is generally applied at R3, with follow-up sprays spaced two weeks apart or applied based on the advisory system.

A key to maintaining fungicides in the future is a good DAVID JORDAN resistance management proNorth Carolina State gram, and this always involves University rotation of modes of action.

Extension Agronomist In the V-C, we also deal with Sclerotinia blight, and good options are available there as well.

Growers are correcting micronutrient deficiencies, which include boron and manganese. In terms of gypsum, if weather patterns happen to be like 2013, there might be challenges to getting gypsum out. At the time of writing this column, the weather in July is an unknown. But to quote Astor Perry, former peanut specialist at NCSU, secondhand from Gene Sullivan, who was also a former Extension specialist at NCSU, he said he believed he would put gypsum out after peanuts were harvested if he had to.

The point is that gypsum is critical for Virginia market types and even delayed applications provide value no matter what the delay is caused by.

Aside from disease, there will also be insect pests that cause problems, especially foliage feeders. Check local thresholds for these with a knowledge that resistance may occur in the population.

Some weeds will have slipped through and cleanup will be needed there as well.

The potential for mixing pesticides and other products, such as fertilizers or Apogee, exists.

Use some caution when mixing, making sure efficacy, crop safety and settling of materials in the tank are considered.

If anyone notices a nitrogen deficiency, get ammonium sulfate out as soon as possible

JULY 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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because time is the enemy late in the season. You can’t dabble around with the rate as it will take 120 pounds actual N to correct a real nitrogen deficiency.

For Apogee, apply at 50 percent row closure and then repeat two to three weeks later. Applying Apogee with spray grade ammonium sulfate or with liquid nitrogen in the spray solution is critical for adequate performance of this product. There is a little nuance to all of the suggestions and comments above. Check with Extension folks, consultants, reputable agribusiness people and other farmers when making these decisions.

How Late Is Too Late?

Despite the wet spring and mad scramble to plant on time, the majority of the peanut crop in the Southeast got planted close to “on time.”

Maybe this was a good thing in some ways as it made growers very conscious of timing, not only at planting but everything else that goes into managing the crop.

GLENDON HARRIS, JR. By mid-July, most of the University of Georgia crop should be approaching Extension Agronomist the 60 days-after-planting mark. Besides sticking to a good fungicide program and an irrigation schedule, maybe by monitoring soil moisture and using an app, the crop should be entering the time of peak pod fill. At this time, the peanut is looking to absorb lots of calcium that has been dissolved in the soil solution and comes directly through the hull and into the developing nut.

Unfortunately, there are no obvious above-ground leaf symptoms for calcium deficiency. Tissue sampling may catch the problem, but if you do not expect a problem, calcium deficiency is usually not detected until harvest when you see “pops.” Double check your strategy to provide calcium to the pegging zone because it is not too late!

I get this question all the time, “How late is too late to put out gypsum?” Sixty days after planting is not as good as 30 days after planting (early bloom), but as long as you get rain or irrigation, this timing should still be beneficial. Since peak pod fill occurs approximately 60 to 90 days after planting, I would say that 100 days after planting and beyond is too late.

I get the same question about boron, how late is too late?

Since boron is important for pollination and fruiting, the official recommendation is to apply with early fungicides around early bloom. If you forgot to apply boron, 60 days after planting is not too late, but 100 days probably is, just like gypsum.

Going back to calcium, if you didn’t apply gypsum and you are second guessing whether you will have enough cal-

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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

cium, there is also the option of putting out calcium chloride through the pivot. This is not as good as gypsum in terms of building calcium levels in the soil, but research has shown that as long as you put enough, which is 10 to 20 gallons per acre, calcium chloride can increase the level of calcium in the developing nuts and provide some insurance or peace of mind. The timing for this is also around 60 to 70 days after planting.

Stay On Top Of Diseases The 2014 peanut season has been similar to last season as far as decent rains and moderate temperatures. My biggest concern is the late start this year. Very few peanuts were planted early because of the cool, wet weather. The greatest percentage of the crop was planted the end of May. Therefore, we are dependent KRIS BALKCOM on good weather during Auburn University August and September. These Agri-Program Associate are not typically months with significant rainfall unless we encounter storms. I hope it’s a blessing in disguise as to the reason why we have such a late crop this year.

Keep scouting and stay on top of diseases. There are some new fungicide materials out this year so be sure to check and compare costs.

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