Peanut Grower Magazine April 2015

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PEANUTGROWER The

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

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

New Pest Products Early Disease Management Advances In Nematode Control

APRIL 2015

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APRIL 2015

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PEANUTGROWER The

Volume 27 • Number 4

Departments 4 Editor’s Note Are you waiting on the proper soil temp for planting?

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5 News Briefs New, important health studies garner widespread media coverage.

6 Market Watch Beware of seed swindlers as supply gets tight.

20 New Products Self-propelled sprayers added to John Deere upgrade program.

21 Peanut Pointers Southwest producers: arid soils warrant the use of inoculants.

Features 10 Early Disease Control Plus, research briefs on a new Spanish variety with Sclerotinia resistance and a study of competition from Palmer amaranth.

12 New Pest Protection Tools Consider resistance-management options with these new pesticide products.

16 Benefits Of A Sod-Based Peanut Rotation Cover photo by Amanda Huber

Long-term management of the land, including diversity and crop rotation, may be the only way to be profitable in years like this.

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

The waiting game can be difficult

Art Director Carol Watson

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 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 © 2015 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 • APRIL 2015

One good warm day and my kids break out the shorts and flip flops. By the second warm day, they are wanting to know when they can get in the pool. Their dad and I have to assure them, or even let them dip their tootsies in the pool for a test feel, that it is not warm enough to make that leap just yet. Patience for continued warm weather and for that small body of water to heat up is not something that comes easy to kids.

But I wonder, are you just as anxious to get peanuts in the ground?

Only a couple years ago, new varieties with increased disease resistance made it possible for producers to return to planting in April. However, in 2014, skippy stands were more widely reported than in the past several years. Possible reasons for the field gaps ranged from germination issues with certain varieties to adverse weather conditions and, possibly, lack of attention to details in the planting process.

In an effort to help producers achieve that uniform germination they need for a good stand of peanuts, researchers have updated the soil temperature requirement from 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 68 degrees for at least three consecutive days. Both Scott Monfort, University of Georgia, and Kris Balkcom, Auburn University, talk about soil temperature at planting and other considerations in Peanut Pointers on page 22.

Another recommendation comes from Tim Brenneman, University of Georgia plant pathologist.

He notes that although all peanut seed are treated with a fungicide, the addition of an in-furrow application of azoxystrobin (Abound and related generic products, now) has shown good results with seedling disease, even at rates as low as 2.9 fluid ounces per acre for single rows or 5.8 fluid ounces per acre for twin rows.

Brenneman says that this product works especially well on Aspergillus species, which can be the most troublesome seed pathogens, and is compatible with liquid inoculants also applied in-furrow.

By following these recommendations and paying attention to those small details, such as handling your seed with care, skippy stands in 2015 will be few and far between.

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USDA Offers Farm Bill Extension

In February, agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack approved a one-time extension for producers to update yield history or reallocate base acres. This was the same deadline by which producers were to choose a program, whether Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC).

If no changes are made to yield history or base acres by March 31, 2015, the farm’s current yield and base will be used. If no program was chosen, there will be no 2014 payments for the farm and the farm will default to PLC coverage through the 2018 crop year.

Covered commodities include: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, mediumgrain rice (which includes short-grain rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity.

Bristow To Head Alabama Association

Caleb Bristow, 26, of Henry County, is the new executive director for the Alabama Peanut Producers Association.

“We are thrilled to have Caleb join the APPA and Federation family,” says Brian Hardin, Alabama Farmers’ Federation ag programs director. “He will provide excellent leadership and is a hard worker who can connect with people.”

Bristow’s family produces nearly 3,000 acres of peanuts and cotton and has a herd of beef cows. He is an Auburn University graduate, earning his master’s degree in agronomy (weed science) in 2012 and his bachelor’s in agronomy and soils in 2010.

Bristow and his wife, Freda, live in Headland. He replaces Jim Cravey, who served as interim executive director. Previously, Bristow was a manager and salesman for Kelly Ag. He is a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Auburn’s Honor Society of Agriculture. Contact Bristow by email at CBristow@AlPeanuts.com.

SPFF Pitches For Peanut Butter Purchases

During a recent hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in Washington D.C., Ronnie Lee, a producer from Bronwood, Ga., used the opportunity to praise USDA for implementing the Farm Bill in a timely manner. Lee was providing testimony at the hearing on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the National Cotton Council.

“Our industries believe that sound farm policy is essential to the economic viability of the cotton and peanut industries,” Lee says. “It is critical that U.S. farm policy is designed and implemented to provide a sound foundation for agriculture production.”

Lee testified on the importance of sound farm policy, crop insurance enhancements, conservation programs, export promotion programs and more. He also mentioned the decline in federal government purchases of peanut butter even though peanut butter remains one of the cheapest protein sources.

“Federal peanut butter purchases reached a peak of approximately 80 million pounds in the mid-1990s, but the amount of purchases have continued to decline with less than 30 million pounds purchased in the 2012-13 time period and even fewer purchases in 2013-14,” Lee says. “We understand there are additional variables with regard to these purchases, such as state and local product requests. We would like for USDA to determine what has caused the decline and how, working with USDA, we can turn this situation around.”

The SPFF is comprised of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association and the Georgia Peanut Commission.

GPC Holds Mandated Referendum

The Georgia Peanut Commission is currently holding a referendum until April 15 for peanut producers to vote on whether to reaffirm the commission.

In Brief: • If no program was selected, no payment will be received for 2014.

• Alabama Peanut Producers welcomes Caleb Bristow as executive director.

• Georgia producer reminds U.S. Senators of significant decline in USDA peanut butter purchases despite its being a low-cost protein source.

• Georgia Peanut Commission holding reaffirmation referendum.

• Important study shows early exposure to peanuts can prevent allergy occurrence.

• Virginia producers donate peanut butter to celebrate National Peanut Month.

• Plant expansion planned for Jimbo’s Jumbos in Edenton, N.C.

State law mandates that a referendum be held every three years. Georgia peanut producers invest $2 per ton to fund the commission and its research, education, promotion and communication programs. The last referendum in 2012 passed by 87.6 percent.

Executive Director Don Koehler urges producers to contact him at don@gapeanuts.com or 229-386-3470 with any questions about the commission’s activities or the referendum.

Producers who do not receive a ballot may obtain one by calling the commission. If you receive a ballot but are no longer farming, write, “no longer producing” on the certification envelope and return it to the commission to assist the commission in updating its mailing list. The address is P.O. Box 967, Tifton, GA 31793.

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Make sure your seed are certified and properly handled he American peanut industry is poised for growth and expansion.

Analysts are predicting a 20 to 25 percent increase in acreage for the 2015 season. Since farmers learned more about Price Loss Coverage (PLC) in the new Farm Bill and hear predictions of a $100 per-acre payment in October after the crop, peanuts seem to be the most profitable option.

Many producers have learned that the peanut base is a valuable, protective umbrella, and under the new Farm Bill, peanut farmers have 1,444,858 acres of approved base. Whether you plant the peanuts or not, a payment could be triggered. Producers with cotton base are double blessed. These producers do not have to plant their peanut base acres, but may option to plant the cotton base, now a generic base, to peanuts.

The question is how many peanuts will be planted this season. The conservative estimate is a 20 percent increase.

For the United States, that means 1,600,000 acres in 2015, up from the 1,340,000 acres in 2014. With an average yield of two tons per acre, that is a crop of 3.2 million tons. A total demand of 2.6 million tons means a 600,000-ton surplus of peanuts. Add to that the 900,000 ton carryforward of today and the U.S. has a large peanut surplus to push prices lower. USDA will issue their first acreage estimate on March 31.

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Peanut Seed With a great increase in acreage, seed availability could be a problem. Germination certification is slow going at USDA testing stations. Seed prices for runners opened at 67 cents per pound for Georgia-06G, the variety that composes 86 percent of the available seed.

Another seed seller opened at 70 cents

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Leading Market Indicators ( March 5, 2015) •2014 - Acreage - up 27% 1,325,000 acres •2015 - Acreage estimate up 20% - 1,600,000 acres •2015 - Production estimate on 4,000 lb/A yield - 3,200,000 tons •2014 - Market Loan - 2,121,892 tons in storage •2014 - Market Loan - 587,032 tons redeemed •2014-15 Domestic Usage (6 mo.) - + up 7.5% •2014-15 Exports (Aug.-Jan.) up - 9.6% •National Posted Price (per ton): Runners $424.86, Spanish $403.91, Virginia/Valencia $427.79.

per pound and even a two-cent premium for high-oleic seed, which is limited.

As seed becomes scarce, beware of “outlaw” seed or seed not certified or properly managed under the Crop Improvement Association in each state. Illegal seed spells nothing but trouble, so be warned.

Contracts When manufacturers heard of an increase in peanut production, they decided to delay orders, expecting prices to be lower near harvest. Shellers opened contracts early with a $400 per-ton contract on runner-type peanuts in the Southeast. Limited tonnage was quickly gobbled up and now the peanut market at the local buying point is dead and contracts are not available.

One company offered a flex contact whereby growers that sign a contract could follow the market with a floor of $380 per ton, which equaled 47 cents per pound for raw-shelled medium run-

J. Tyron Spearman

Contributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

ners. Peanuts dropped to about 45 cents per pound, so the flex contract is not active either.

Contracts have been absent in the Southwest and in the Virginia-Carolina region.

Domestic Market U.S. peanut usage is soaring, especially for peanut butter. January Peanut Stocks and Processing reported that usage jumped 15.5 percent with a 25.3 percent increase in peanut butter usage.

That is amazing. Candy and snacks were slightly lower than normal. The good news for peanut growers is that manufacturers are introducing new products, filling supermarket shelves as peanut usage is up 7.5 percent for the first sixmonth period, led by peanut butter, which was up 12.7 percent.

Export Market The United States has become the lowest-priced peanut on the planet, and peanut buyers are coming to U.S. shellers for supplies. For the six-month period August through January, U.S. peanut exports are up 9.6 percent. January was up 38 percent versus January one year ago.

Most analysts predict that a U.S. peanut surplus will mean major shipments abroad. However, officials warned shellers that exporting peanuts could be problematic. Union labor issues, capacity problems and equipment shortages, such as chassis, at major ports are already causing delays of export products.

The advice was to book as early as possible and to consider using alternate ports of discharge.

Don’t forget about foreign competition. Argentina is reporting a good, aflatoxin-free crop, and a problem-free har-

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vest could launch that origin into major competition with the United States.

Get Ready To Roll March 31 was the deadline to visit your Farm Service Agency to update base and payment yields. Production should have improved in the last few years, and a farmer could be leaving money on the table if yields were not updated.

Most producers optioned for the Price Loss Coverage. Partner up with a local buying point that has a relationship with a sheller approved by USDA to issue Market Loans. That buying point or sheller must also have USDA-approved storage.

Make sure your seed is certified and pure. The worst problem may be a poor stand caused by poor seed.

Think Before You Plant Producers are still urged to be conservative. It would be a shame for the industry if peanuts were planted wall to wall, further destroying the present peanut market. Surviving low prices will

be difficult for the grower without an above-average yield. The government does not want your extra peanuts, which will push prices even lower and leave

only a hope that domestic and export markets can expand quickly. Stay with or start a good rotation, and let’s plan to stay in peanuts beyond next season. PG

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Early Exposure Reduces Allergy Risk The long-awaited results of the Learning Early About Peanuts (LEAP) study, led by Dr. Gideon Lack, Kings College, London, were released at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The study of infants at high risk for developing peanut allergy found that peanut consumption was associated with an 86 percent reduction in peanut allergy at five years old. For children who had a positive skin test to peanuts and included peanuts in their diet, there was a 70 percent reduction in peanut allergy.

The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and included 530 infants between four and 11 months with severe eczema, egg allergy or both. The participants were separated into two groups based on a positive or negative reaction to a skin-prick test for peanut allergy. Within those groups, some children avoided peanuts in their diets and others included peanuts in their diets.

In an editorial accompanying the study, Drs. Rebecca Gruchalia and Hugh Sampson wrote, “We believe that because the results of this trial are so compelling, and the problem of the increasing prevalence of peanut allergy so alarming, new guidelines should be forthcoming very soon.

“Although other studies are urgently needed to address the many questions that remain, especially with respect to other foods, the LEAP study makes it clear that we can do something now to reverse the increasing prevalence of peanut allergy.”

National Peanut Board (NPB) President and CEO Bob Parker said, “Research like LEAP, which demonstrates there are ways to reduce the risk of a child developing a peanut allergy, brings hope to families everywhere. Peanut allergies today affect approximately one percent of the U.S. population, but any food allergy is serious. That is why U.S. peanut farmers, through the NPB, have contributed more than $12 million to-

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ward independent food allergy research, education and outreach over the past 15 years, and plan to continue to be part of the solution.”

Limitations of the study include a lack of placebo regimen, excluding lowrisk infants and those who had more severe reactions to peanuts, and failing to collect dust samples to validate consumption earlier in the study.

Smucker Rolling Out New Products The J.M. Smucker Co. will roll out a wide variety of new products across categories and platforms under its Jif and Smucker’s brand in an effort to boost these iconic brands’ worth to $1 billion each.

Chief operating officer Vince Byrd said, “The new products will accelerate the growth of these well-known brands by leveraging their equity and heritage and by meeting consumers’ evolving desire for convenience, variety and betterfor-you nutrition.”

According to Byrd, the company will expand the Jif brand into two new, fastgrowing categories: bars and peanut powder.

“With more than 70 percent of households purchasing snack bars, we are leveraging our protein-rich Jif peanut butter to launch Jif bars to capitalize on the $5 billion-and-growing snack-bar category.

“We are also excited to be the first national brand to enter the peanut powder category, a smaller, but fast-growing category that is projected to more than double in sales in the next three years,” he said.

“Peanut powder has potential as an alternative to soy and whey protein powders, which are more be difficult to digest or harder to mask with an additional flavor. Peanut powder generally tastes better and pairs well with chocolate, which explains the two flavors launched: regular and chocolate peanut.

“The powder also has less fat than peanut butter,” Byrd adds.

Calendar: • June 13-17 - USA Peanut Congress, Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville, N.C. For reservations, call 800-438-5800 and reference “USA Peanut Congress.” The deadline for reservations in the room block is May 13.

For more information on reservations or meeting registration, go to www.peanut-shellers.org.

• July 14-16 - American Peanut Research and Education Society Annual Meeting, Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston, S.C. For more information, visit www.apresinc.com.

• July 23-25 - 17th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga. For more information, go to the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation website at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org.

NPB Holds Meeting, Event In NYC The National Peanut Board had its quarterly board and committee meetings in New York and participated in an event to promote peanuts.

Following the meeting, NPB members and alternates took a leading role in “The Perfectly Powerful Peanut PopUp,” a three-day New York consumer and influencer series of events. Located at the corner at the Roger Smith Hotel, at 47th and Lexington, the pop-up space featured a grower station, food sampling station and a humanitarian station.

Each station was designed to promote the peanut’s many benefits – from agriculture and sustainability to the delicious taste and nutritional benefits to how peanuts are helping to feed people in need here and around the world. Additionally, the board and staff participated in a media and blogger preview event, as well as special sessions for dietitians and chefs.

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TPI: Another Study Confirms Heart Health Of Peanuts Eating peanuts may be a simple way to increase longevity, even for high-risk populations. A new study of more than 200,000 people shows that peanut-eaters decreased total deaths by 21 percent and reduced cardiovascular deaths by 38 percent. The study was released recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine and was conducted at Vanderbilt University and the Shanghai Cancer Institute.

This is the first study to demonstrate that multiple races – black, white and Asian- who are predominantly from lower socio-economic, high risk groups could benefit from eating peanuts and peanut butter. Other studies that have linked peanut and nut consumption with lower mortality focused mainly on higher income, white populations. The link between peanuts and decreased mortality was seen across all ethnicities, for men and women, income status and even for individuals with a high prevalence of metabolic disorders.

In the United States, about 72,000 people ranging from 40 to 79 years old from twelve Southeastern states participated. Two-thirds were African-American, and participants

were primarily from low-income communities. Over 75 percent of the group was overweight or obese and 76 percent had metabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. The other two groups included 134,000 people from the Shanghai Woman’s Health Study and the Shanghai Men’s Health Study.

Peanuts were the primary nuts consumed in the study. Participants recorded how frequently they ate the peanuts, nuts or peanut butter ranging from never to daily.

“Increasing peanut consumption may provide a potentially cost-efficient approach to improving cardiovascular health,” said senior author Xio-Ou Shu, MD, PhD, associate director for Global Health at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and professor of Medicine in the Department of Epidemiology.

The paper concludes that the “findings highlight a substantive public health impact of peanut consumption in lowering Cardiovascular Disease mortality given the affordability of peanuts to individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds.”

Coverage of the study results has been widespread and include The New York Times, Reuters and TIME magazine.

Don’t Forget Conservation Requirement Deadline

Virginia Producers Donate PB For National Peanut Month

The 2014 Farm Bill implements a change that requires farmers to have a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification (AD-1026) on file. To be eligible for premium support on their federal crop insurance, that certification is required.

The 2014 Farm Bill continues the requirement that producers adhere to conservation compliance guidelines to be eligible for most programs administered by FSA and NRCS. This includes most financial assistance such as the new price and revenue protection programs, the Conservation Reserve Program, the Livestock Disaster Assistance programs, Marketing Assistance Loans and many other programs. It also includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and other conservation programs implemented by NRCS. When a farmer completes and submits the AD-1026 certification form, FSA and NRCS staff will review the associated farm records and outline any additional actions that may be required. FSA recently released a revised form AD1026, which is available at USDA Service Centers or at www.fsa.usda.gov. The deadline is June 1, 2015.

In honor of March being National Peanut Month, the Virginia Peanut Growers Association teamed up with Peanut Proud, the industry’s non-profit humanitarian organization, to contribute peanut butter to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, a state partner association of Feeding America.

This is the third year in a row that Virginia’s peanut growers have contributed as part of the March celebration, and this year, they significantly increased their donation to 7,200 jars, or five pallets.

According to Peanut Proud, one pallet can feed more than 24,000 hungry kids. This donation was greatly welcomed by the food bank association.

Jimbo’s Jumbos Plans Plant Expansion According to a news release from the office of North Carolina’s governor, Pat McCrory, Jimbo’s Jumbos will be expanding its production plant in Edenton. The $30 million expansion will add 78 new jobs over the next three years to the 208 people already employed at the company.

Jimbo’s Jumbos is a subsidiary of Severn-based Hampton Farms, which acquired Jimbo’s in 2003.

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Early Disease Control Plus, research briefs on a new Spanish variety and a weed competition study.

roducers have come to depend on disease resistance built into their peanut varieties, but that in no way lessens the attention that should be paid to all the factors that affect peanut yield. Besides variety selection, planting date, plant population, crop rotation, tillage and other factors can have a tremendous impact on the potential for disease in a field. These factors and others are covered in the Peanut Disease Risk Index, portions of which are below, as part of the University of Georgia’s 2015 Peanut Update.

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Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Losses to tomato spotted wilt across the Southeast have continued to show a slight increase over the past couple of years, though the disease is not nearly as severe as it has been in the late 1990s. It is estimated that losses associated with spotted wilt were approximately three percent in 2014. Though this was an increase since 2013, it is believed that growers were able to achieve good-to-excellent management of this disease in large part through combined use of Peanut Rx and varieties with improved resistance.

When tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infects a host plant, it can cause a disease that severely weakens or kills that plant. This particular virus is capable of infecting an unusually large number of plant species including several that are important crops in the Southeast. In recent years, peanut, tobacco, tomato and pepper crops have been seriously damaged by TSWV. The only known method 10 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • APRIL 2015

of TSWV transmission is via certain species of thrips that have previously acquired the virus by feeding on infected plants. The factors leading to the rapid spread of this disease in the Southeast are very complicated and no single treatment or cultural practice has been found to be a consistently effective control measure.

However, research continues to identify factors that influence the severity of TSWV in individual peanut fields.

Fungal Disease Successful peanut production requires that growers use a variety of tactics and strategies to minimize losses to disease.

Weather patterns in Georgia and neighboring areas during the growing season, including high temperatures, high humidity and the potential for daily rainfall and thunder storms, create the near-perfect environmental conditions for outbreaks of fungal diseases. Common fungal diseases include early and late leaf spot, rust, Rhizoctonia limb rot, southern stem rot (referred to as “white mold”), Cylindrocladium black rot and a host of other diseases that are common, but of sporadic importance. If peanut growers do not take appropriate measures to manage fungal diseases, crop loss in a field may exceed 50 percent.

Strategies for managing fungal diseases are typically dependent on the use of multiple fungicide applications during the growing season. Fungicide applications are initiated approximately 30 days after planting, as the interaction between the growth of the crop and environmental

conditions are likely to support the development of leaf spot diseases.

The length of time in which a fungicide can protect the peanut plant from infection is dependent on the properties of the fungicide and on weather conditions. Weather plays a major role in the potential for disease. Most fungal diseases will be more severe during periods of increased rainfall and of less concern during drier periods.

When weather conditions are very favorable for disease, severe epidemics may occur in fields where disease was not thought to be a problem. When weather conditions are unfavorable for fungal growth, disease severity may be low even in fields where it has been common in the past.

The AU-PNUT leaf spot advisory that has been used to effectively manage diseases in peanut is based on this relationship between disease and weather. Even those growers who do not use AU-PNUT recognize the need to shorten the time between fungicide applications in wet weather.

For more information from 2015 Peanut Update, go to the UGA website at www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/peanuts/ and click on 2015 Peanut Update. PG

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Research Briefs New Spanish Variety A new Spanish peanut variety called OLé could provide producers with needed disease resistance and consumers with a peanut that has a longer shelf life and heart-healthy qualities. Released by U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Oklahoma State University, Olé was developed with resistance to Sclerotinia blight with a high-oleic acid content.

USDA-ARS biologist Kelly Chamberlin, of the Wheat, Peanut and Other Field Crops Research Unit in Stillwater, Okla., says that OLé, with its re-

sistance to the fungal disease Sclerotinia blight, will be important for producers in Oklahoma, Texas and the VirginiaNorth Carolina region, where the disease is a particular problem. Depending upon severity of field infestation, yield losses due to Sclerotinia can be as much as 50 percent.

In tests at three locations in Oklahoma, Chamberlin and her colleagues found that growing OLé reduced Sclerotinia blight infestation. This can save growers approximately $100 per acre in fungicide costs for Sclerotinia blight alone. The variety also has good pod rot resistance.

The OLé variety, shown below, is now being grown for foundation seed before being made available commercially.

Competition From Palmer amaranth Palmer amaranth, with its resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides, is the most economically destructive weed in the southeastern United States. A new study published in the journal Weed Science investigated the effect of delaying Palmer amaranth establishment on weed growth and seed production.

In field trials conducted over two consecutive growing seasons in Georgia, Palmer amaranth was planted in cotton fields between zero and 12 weeks after the crop and then compared with Palmer amaranth planted simultaneously without cotton.

Without crop competition, the earliest planting of Palmer amaranth produced 446,000 seeds per plant, with seed production falling 50 percent when plants were established six weeks later.

When cotton plants were present and competing with the weeds for resources, the number of seeds per plant was reduced 30 percent to 312,000.

The more time into the growing season the establishment of Palmer amaranth was delayed, the fewer seeds developed. Planting at six weeks after cotton establishment reduced the Palmer amaranth seed count by half, and for weeds established nine and 12 weeks into the growing season, seed production was reduced by 89 percent and 99 percent, respectively, compared to weeds established at the same time as cotton.

Cotton yield was reduced 67 percent when Palmer amaranth was established at the same time as the crop, while delaying weed establishment until six weeks after crop planting reduced yield loss to below 30 percent.

These results show that early season weed control programs that successfully delay Palmer amaranth establishment can have a large effect on crop yield, weed growth and weed seed production. In addition, reducing the soil seedbank is a vital preemptive measure against the next season’s weeds.

Full text of the article can be found in Weed Science, Vol. 63, No. 1, January–March 2015.

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New Pest Protection Tools Consider resistance-management options with these pesticide products.

esticide options for 2015 include a new fungicide offering from Syngenta and an insecticide/nematicide combination product from Bayer CropScience. Included in this article is information about these new products and a few others that you may encounter for the first time this year. Additionally, a new class of chemistry has moved to the forefront, which will help increase the potential modes of action in which producers can choose.

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Elatus Fungicide A new broad-spectrum fungicide, Elatus, is expected to receive EPA registration early in the 2015 peanut season, possibly April. Elatus contains Solatenol fungicide, a third generation succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) in Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) group 7, premixed with azoxystrobin in FRAC group 11.

According to Syngenta, Elatus will provide excellent preventive and early season protection against foliar and soilborne diseases, including Southern stem rot (white mold), Rhizoctonia limb rot and both early and late leaf spot.

Syngenta technical product lead, Allison Tally, says as soon as registration is received from the EPA, Syngenta will have the product ready.

“Elatus fungicide offers residual control of leaf spot, along with Southern stem rot suppression and added flexibility,” Tally says.

“We were looking at using the product for leaf spot control, and we noticed that we were getting really good yields. We began to realize that we were also getting good control of Southern stem rot, and 12 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • APRIL 2015

that was really exciting.”

The Solatenol fungicide portion of the product strongly binds to the plant’s waxy layer and slowly penetrates into the tissue.

It works quickly to inhibit spore germination and mycelial growth, resulting in excellent disease control.

“It stops respiration of the fungus and does not leach into the soil,” Tally says.

Elatus should be applied at 60 to 90 days after planting, but it can go out earlier and be used at least three times with a lower rate.

Velum Total Insecticide/Nematicide Bayer CropScience received approval in late winter for their new peanut and cotton insecticide/nematicide, Velum Total, which provides wide-spectrum, longlasting control of nematodes and early season insect pests.

Velum Total promotes early season crop establishment by preventing nematode and insect damage and enhancing root health. Its strong residual performance on early season insects, such as thrips, can reduce the need for additional foliar sprays

Elatus Features: • Expecting registration in early planting time • Offers leaf spot control and suppression of white mold • Fits easily into spray programs and offers application flexibility • Includes two highly efficacious active ingredients with excellent rainfastness • Offers excellent preventative fungicidal activity • Experience no skip in leaf spot control during the traditional soilborne timing

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Velum Total Benefits: • Applied in-furrow and enhances early plant growth • Effectively reduces nematode damage • Provides strong residual control for early season insects • Offers some suppression of foliar fungal diseases • Tankmixes with inoculants and other at-plant products • Adjusts to variable rate application based on pest pressure

to control damaging insects. In university trials over multiple years, Velum Total provided greater yield response than the historical standard Temik in both peanuts and cotton.

In nematodes, Velum Total works to inhibit mitochondria cell function, which results in immobility and death.

“Bayer CropScience is excited to offer growers another innovative management solution for Southern row crops,” says Lee Hall, Bayer CropScience product manager. “Velum Total will give growers confidence that they are getting the best return on their early season investment for maximum yield at harvest. Velum Total has a unique ability to enhance early season root health and plant growth while limiting damage from high-risk insects like thrips, aphids, leafhoppers and yieldrobbing plant parasitic nematodes.”

According to Bob Kemerait, University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist, in their studies, use of Velum Total was found to effectively reduce nematode damage to the peanut plants and increase

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yield versus untreated plots.

Velum Total is applied in-furrow atplant to protect and enhance early plant growth and to establish a strong crop. Because of its innovative formulation, growers can adjust application rates based on pest pressure. Velum Total has been evaluated in a tankmix with a wide range of agricultural products, including peanut inoculants, without compatibility issues.

After a limited 2015 Southeast introduction, a full launch is expected in 2016.

Other Fungicides Of Note: • Alto (cyproconazole) from Syngenta

SDHI Moves To The Head Of The Class The SDHI class of chemistry is one that has emerged on the scene lately, but it really is more of a re-emergence, says Bob Kemerait, University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist.

will be promoted as a mix partner with Abound (azoxystrobin) to promote resistance management and to further enhance control of leaf spot diseases.

• Priaxor, a pre-mix of Headline and Xemium (fluxapyroxad), is labeled by BASF for use on peanuts. Priaxor has been shown to be effective in the management of foliar and soilborne diseases, and the combination of pyraclostrobin and fluxapyroxad should help to reduce the risk of fungicide resistance.

• Custodia, a premix of azoxystrobin and tebuconazole, will be available from MANA in the 2015 season.

“Flutolanil, the active ingredient in Moncut and Convoy and one of the ingredients in Artisan, was an early fungicide in the SDHI class to be used to protect against white mold and Rhizoctonia limb rot,” Kemerait says. “However, flutolanil was not effective against leaf spot diseases.

• Muscle ADV, a premix of tebuconazole and chlorothalonil, will be available from SipCam. • Fontelis (penthiopyrad) is a newer fungicide in the SDHI class. Extensive field tests have shown this product to be effective against common peanut diseases.

It has broad-spectrum activity in the management of leaf spot diseases, white mold, Rhizoctonia limb rot and Cylindrocladium black rot. Penthiopyrad, the active ingredient in Fontelis, is in a different fungicide class than other common fungicides, such as Provost, Proline, Quash, tebuconazole and Abound. PG

“New fungicides, like Elatus (solatenol + azoxystrobin), Priaxor (fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin) and Fontelis (penthiopyrad), include an SDHI fungicide as a portion or all of their formulation. Like flutolanil, these fungicides are active against soilborne diseases.

Unlike flutolanil, they are also active against leaf spot disease.”

Strong On Soilborne Disease Kemerait says SDHI fungicides, as a class, are effective because they disrupt a specific biochemical process in the mitochondria of the fungal pathogens.

“Strobilurin fungicides work in the same way, but at a different site in the biochemical pathway in the mitochondria,” he says.

He also says not all SDHI fungicides are the same, and like other fungicides, resistance can develop in the fungal pathogens.

“Growers must take management steps to reduce the risk for development of this resistance.”

Velum Total is a combination of fluopyram and imidacloprid for management of nematodes and thrips. Fluopyram also is a member of the SDHI class and affects nematodes in the same way SDHI fungicides affect fungal New fungicides in this class contain an SDHI fungicide as all or part of the formulation making them effective pathogens. PG against both white mold and leaf spot, as shown above.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • APRIL 2015

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Sod-Based Peanut Rotation Here’s why we recommend the sod/livestock-based peanut/cotton rotation.

By Jim Marois and David Wright, T. W. Katsvairo, and J. R. Rich, UF/IFAS NFREC Agronomy Research

he past two decades have seen major changes in cultural practices in the peanut/cotton cropping systems. Among these changes are consolidation of farm units, increased irrigation, reductions in

corn/soybean acreage, increases in cotton production and changes in support programs for peanut.

Technological changes have also been rapid and include an almost 100 percent adoption of transgenic use for corn, soy-

bean and cotton and planting date changes for peanut based on tomato spotted wilt virus control. Furthermore, conservation tillage is now widely adopted in the Southeast, according to a National Crop Residue Management Survey.

It is not a good idea to produce peanuts on the same land for three to five years in a row because of the longterm pest build up and reduced peanut yields.

disease for fungicide research trials. These trials are on the same soil, a Dothan sandy loam, as crop rotation studies with peanuts after a year of cotton and two years of Bahia grass. In the same field, this is compared to a conventional rotation of two years of cotton and one year of peanuts under conservation tillage, with and without irrigation.

At the North Florida Research and Education Center-Quincy, we have intentionally planted continuous peanuts for four years to establish high levels of

A Look At Yields In 2014, the continuous irrigated peanuts (four years) without fungicides yielded 1,600 pounds per acre. With a

standard fungicide program, the yield in continuous peanut was 3,800 pounds per acre. When a nematicide, Velum from Bayer CropScience, was added to the fungicide program, the yield increased to 4,900 pounds per acre. However, in the nearby rotation plots, which all received a conventional fungicide program, the irrigated plots had a yield of 8,000 pounds per acre.

The non-irrigated sod-based rotation plots yielded 7,000 pounds per acre, the same as irrigated peanuts in the conventional cotton-cotton-peanut rotation. In the non-irrigated conventional rotation, yield was 6,500 pounds per acre.

The take-home lesson is that crop rotations work, sod rotations work better and continuous peanuts can set you up for declining yields. The increase in costs of pesticides, reduction in yields and reduction of soil health all make continuous peanut production more challenging in the long run, regardless of the perceived short-term benefits.

In a year such as 2015, when crop market forecasts are down, high yields from good crop rotation, as noted above, may be the only way to return a profit.PG

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Crop Rotation May Determine Profitability In 2015

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Complex Rotations Needed Other less obvious factors have also prompted the need for the change from simple rotations to more complex rotations. Until recently, yields for peanut had reached a plateau, partly because short, two-year rotations can become susceptible to classic problems similar to monocultures, such as stagnant yields, soil degradation and pests and disease surviving and adapting to the rotations. It is thus essential to find alternative cropping systems that can increase yields and simultaneously enhance soil quality and conservation and promote environmental stewardship.

Benefits And Challenges An excellent system to achieve higher yields and environmental benefits is a four-year sod-based rotation, which includes bahiagrass for two years, followed by one year of peanuts, and then a year of cotton, in place of the traditional peanut/cotton rotation. To increase economic returns in the overall system, livestock can be integrated into the system.

Numerous benefits can be obtained by including bahiagrass and livestock.

Bahiagrass is a good choice for a perennial grass in the Southeast because it is not new to most farmers. It is drought tolerant and can be grown on a wide range of soil types, including sandy soils. Its nutritional value, including crude protein, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber values is comparable to other grasses, and it can be grazed or harvested for seed or hay. This article is an introduction to the many benefits of adopting sod/livestock/peanut/cotton farming systems, plus some of the challenges that have prompted the need to adopt the livestockbased cropping system.

Return To Diversity Farming Farmers tend to specialize in crops because of environmental constraints, economics, infrastructure or because that is what’s been grown for many years. Like all successful ventures, farming is dynamic and must respond to changing environmental and economic conditions.

While conservation tillage greatly re-

duces soil degradation, including perennial grasses will improve soil health and consequently improve crop growth. Bahiagrass is a non-host to several plant pathogens and nematodes. Synergistic effects are achieved with a combination of improved soil health resulting in enhanced plant growth. In turn, this leads to a better ability to outcompete weeds and an ability to better tolerate diseases. Reduction in the use of synthetic chemicals is in accord with environmental stewardship but, more important to growers, a necessity to reduce production costs.

Provide A Buffer To Failures Early in U.S. agricultural history, mixed livestock and crop production were the norm. While mixed farming was necessary for early farmers, the last half of the 20th century was a time with increasing emphasis on commercial farming, and an increase toward specialization. However, changing economic, technological and ecological values have made it necessary to re-visit diversified crop/livestock enterprises. Integrated livestock/crop farm-

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APRIL 2015 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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In the sod-based crop rotation project at the North Florida Research and Education Center, in Marianna, Fla., a 160-acre field is divided into quadrants and rotated with two years of bahiagrass, followed by a year of peanuts and then a year of cotton. The system has shown long-term benefits in soil health, reduced pest pressure and increased crop yields.

ing systems feed into each other; the products from one enterprise can be used as inputs for the other enterprise.

Additionally, diversified cropping can provide a buffer against unpredictable weather, such as droughts and hurricanes and also reduce economic risks by reducing yearly variations in returns and also increase the total income.

Interactive Business Model An interactive business model that evaluates the economic feasibility of a fouryear livestock/peanut/cotton/sod rotation can be found at the following website: http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/sod_r otation.shtml. The model shows that returns are three to six fold greater for the fourth year of the integrated sod/livestock/peanut/cotton farming system compared to conventional peanut/cotton.

There are other advantages of the sod/livestock/peanut/cotton farming systems that go beyond the monetary value.

Expansion of cropland coupled with intensification of agriculture have drastically reduced both micro and macroflora 18 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • APRIL 2015

and fauna population density and diversity. It is thus imminent that flora and fauna biodiversity be progressively maintained in agricultural farmlands. Sodbased cropping systems can provide niches to preserve biodiversity.

Putting It All Together Numerous factors interact to bring about the positive outcome for imple-

mentation of the sod-based peanut/cotton cropping system. This system is applicable under different climatic conditions and soil types.

We recommend growers read our related articles on this subject for details.

The articles can be found by visiting the website at http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/sod_rotation.shtml for more information on sod-based rotation. PG

Benefits Of A Sod-Based Rotation: • Improved soil health • Decreased dependence on pesticides • Increased yields over other schemes • Diversity buffer for crop failure • Reduce disease buildup with non-host • Preservation of soil biodiversity • More sustainable cropping system

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TeeJet Launches Precision Receiver The RX520 dual frequency GNSS receiver from TeeJet Technologies brings reliable, upgradable accuracy and performance to precision farming applications. The product features an integrated L1/L2 GPS+GLONASS receiver and antenna in a single compact enclosure. Integral magnetic mounting allows for a clean, low-profile installation.

All RX520 receivers include ClearPath technology that ensures smooth, consistent position data even if brief signal losses occur. The standard L1/L2 SBAS receiver offers plus or minus five to eight inch pass-to-pass accuracy for a wide variety of field operations. Optional Precise Point Positioning (PPP) provides improved plus or minus two to four inch pass-to-pass accuracy and repeatability making it ideal for strip-till and other high precision operations. This versatile receiver is compatible with TeeJet and many third-party guidance and auto steer products.

TeeJet Technologies manufactures a comprehensive line of products including agricultural spray nozzles for various pesticide/fertilizer applications, boom components, valves/manifolds, strainers and spray guns, as well as GPS guidance systems, sprayer control systems, ISOBUS job computers, assisted steering systems and other precision farming products.

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New Powerhouse Generator For Portable Power The Powerhouse PH 4000Ri/E Inverter Generator gives reliable power with electronic fuel injection and goes wherever you have a need. The PH4000 puts out 4,000 watts of clean power.

The PH4000Ri/E is the first Powerhouse portable generator with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI), which gives it a number of advantages including excellent cold weather starting and hot restarts. EFI produces superior horsepower and includes a self-priming fuel system, exceptional fuel economy and cleaner emissions.

The PH4000 has an electric starter with a large battery.

The remote control starts or stops the generator from up to 75 feet away. The PH4000 features telescoping wheelbarrow style handles and pneumatic tires for easier handling and smooth movement on rough terrain.

For information, go to www.powerhouse-products.com .

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THE PEANUT GROWER • APRIL 2015

Sprayers Added To John Deere Equipment Program For producers and ag service providers looking to upgrade their sprayer equipment line-up, John Deere announces the Certified Pre-Owned Program for self-propelled sprayers.

John Deere Self-Propelled Sprayers, up to two years old with 1,000 engine hours or less, are eligible for the CPO Program.

These include the following models: 4630, 4730, 4830, 4940,

R4030, R4038 and R4045 Self-Propelled Sprayers.

These machines go through an extensive inspection program and fluid scan analysis. Customers will also receive a one year subscription to JDLink™.

For more information, please contact your local John Deere dealer or visit their Web site at www.JohnDeere.com/Ag. Agrisure Duracade ‘Right To Grow’ Corn Program Since Syngenta and Gavilon Grain, LLC, launched the “Right to Grow” program for Agrisure Duracade in early 2014, rapid adoption has resulted in the total number of locations that will accept the corn trait surpassing 1,650 locations. The program provides grain marketing opportunities for U.S. farmers who plant hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade trait to control corn rootworm (CRW).

For 2015, the Right to Grow program offers qualifying farmers a per-unit stewardship premium at harvest for each bag of Agrisure Duracade corn planted. In addition, farmers may receive consultation services through Gavilon to help them appropriately steward and market their Agrisure Duracade grain through an extensive network of locations or on-farm feeding applications. Gavilon will continue to connect qualifying growers with elevators, feedlots, feed mills and other destinations.

Farmers are not required to sell their grain to Gavilon.

Agrisure Duracade is Syngenta’s cutting-edge corn rootworm control technology approved in the U.S. It offers the latest corn rootworm technology in the industry in two trait stack options for above- and below-ground insect control. Agrisure Duracade trait stacks are only available in five percent integrated refuge products for easy refuge compliance.

For more information about Agrisure Duracade and the Right to Grow program from Syngenta and Gavilon, visit www.agrisureduracade.com.

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Apply Inoculants In-furrow It appears there will be an increase in peanut acres throughout the Southwest, including areas with a limited history of production. Several factors must be considered when preparing fields that have not recently been planted to peanuts. Following proper land preparation and weed management, planting should JASON WOODWARD begin when there is adequate Texas Agri-Life Extension soil moisture and temperaPlant Pathologist tures are favorable.

Nitrogen requirement for peanut is generally high, but they typically get the majority from nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Bradyrhizobium spp.). These inoculants must be applied in-furrow at-planting. Although successful nodulation is expected, early season scouting at four to six weeks after planting is advised to assess nodulation in advance of making decisions for in-season fertilizer applications. It is important to remember that over fertilization can negatively affect nodulation and possibly increase the severity of pod rot later in the season.

Incorporating peanut into a cotton cropping system provides several advantages. In addition to yield benefits resulting from residual nitrogen, growing peanuts also allows

producers to utilize additional herbicide modes of action to combat glyphosate-resistant pigweed populations.

Furthermore, rotating to peanut in fields infested with the cotton root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) will serve to reduce populations, minimizing damage to cotton in subsequent years. In order to maintain a profitable peanut production system, peanut should only be planted in the same field one year out of every three to four years.

Use Multiple Residuals By now, plantings in the Virginia-Carolina region are only a month away. Getting peanuts planted sometime in May will generally result in similar yields. However, yield from late April/early May and late May/early June plantings can be less consistent than mid-May plantings. While you can’t get them all planted DAVID JORDAN in a day, trying to hit the sweet North Carolina State spot during the middle of the University Extension Agronomist month is the best approach.

Regardless of when you plant in this window, production and pest management practices needed to optimize yield will vary little. Keep in mind that even when you spread out planting dates, laterplanted peanuts often catch up by the end of the season.

About 20 percent of growers in the V-C region plant peanut in reduced tillage. For those in this camp, applying burndown herbicides in April for difficult-to-control weeds is important. 2,4-D is an excellent option during April for glyphosate-resistant horseweed and other weeds such as primrose. Getting these sprays out before tobacco is transplanted and cotton begins to emerge is important to minimize issues with off-site movement. For horseweed, applying residual herbicides in late April can help keep fields clean when peanuts emerge, and having multiple applications of residual herbicides increases the likelihood that at least one of the applications will be activated by rain.

Weather is unpredictable, and as you prepare for planting, make sure you have insurance in place. By insurance I mean adequate protection from thrips and weeds in case field operations are delayed. It is critical to start with clean fields and healthy plants.

APRIL 2015 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

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Increased Soil Temperature “Know Your Risk” was a common theme at the peanut production meetings earlier this year and will remain an important topic for most of the 2015 growing season. A 20 to 25 percent increase in acreage in Georgia will stress current rotation intervals to the point where growers will likely experience elevated disease incidence causing growers to spend SCOTT MONFORT University of Georgia more on fungicides. Peanut Extension Agronomist needs a minimum three-year rotation to maintain maximum yield and reduced pest incidence.

An increase in acreage will also entice growers to plant more acres in middle to late April. Environmental conditions in April have never been consistent and can change in a matter of days. Unforeseen cool and wet conditions can cause delayed germination and an increase seedling disease and seed rot. The current four-inch soil temperature recommendation is 68° F for three consecutive days with no cold front predicted for the next five days. Along with potential problems with plant stands, incidence of TSWV has been shown to be higher in early planted peanuts. Although

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THE PEANUT GROWER • APRIL 2015

TSWV incidence has been very low in recent years, it has started to increase and does not need to be ignored.

To help determine risk of a select field, growers can now download the Peanut Rx App, “Peanut Rx” on the Apple Store for Apple phones and “UGA Peanut Rx” on the Google Play Store for Android Phones. Paper copies of the Peanut Rx can be found at your county Extension office.

Where Do New Varieties Fit In? Warm weather in April can really get us thinking about planting season. Just a few things to keep in mind before you plant. First, we have updated the soil temperature requirement: The soil temperature should be 68 degrees at the four-inch depth for three consecutive days now instead of 65 degrees with a clear foreKRIS BALKCOM cast for the next five days. This Auburn University should increase the percent Agri-Program Associate germination over the previous recommendation by allowing the soil to be warmer. Therefore, if you plan to plant in April, make sure that the temperature is at the recommended level with a good forecast to avoid a reduced stand and increased chances of TSWV. Even though TSWV has been minimal in recent years, we should not abandon good cultural practices. Last year, fields with skippy stands because of seed issues and cool weather had more TSWV than we had seen in quite some time.

Now, I’ll make a few comments on varieties and where they may fit into your operation. Last year was heavy for white mold, and Georgia 07W performed very well because of its resistance to the disease. However, seed supply will be very limited for this variety in 2015. Therefore, we recommend several other strategies that should reduce your white mold pressure. First, consider planting your most heavily invested fields in mid-May. Secondly, Georgia12Y has good white mold resistance and could be used in the earlier planting window. Lastly, twin-row patterns reduce the incidence of white mold because it does not allow the disease to run down the row because plants are spaced further apart than in single rows.

Each year, I conduct a row-spacing variety test to look at the latest varieties as affected by row spacing. Last year, the only varieties that didn’t get a yield increase in a twin-row pattern were Georgia 12 Y and TUFRunnuner ‘727’ leading us to conclude that they would be your best single-row variety choices. Finally, the new variety TUFRunnier ‘511’ showed high yield potential but was weak on leaf spot. Keep this variety on land with a good rotation or in close proximity to your main operation so you can keep it on a good spray schedule.

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th

17 Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference July 23 25, 2015 Callaway Gardens

Pine Mountain, Georgia

Registration opens March 1. Visit southernpeanutfarmers.org to register!

For hotel reservations, call 844-532-7325 or visit http://www.callawaygardens. com/ASPGC2015.

For more information on activities at Callaway and area towns, as well as sponsorship of the conference, visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org Brought to you by the family farmers of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation

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Pick ck k off the the crop An economical and powerful alternative to chlorothalonil fungicide for leaf spot control.

“I recommend ELAST™ for economical and effective leaf spot control.”

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effective leaf spot control For more information on how ELAST™ can work for you, contact your local dealer.

ELAST is a registered trademark of Aceto Agricultural Chemicals Corporation © 2015 Aceto Agricultural Chemicals Corporation