Peanut grower april 2017

The

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

APRIL 2017

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

Warm Weather Warnings Is Stacked Resistance Coming?

Reduce Thrips, TSWV Risk

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MW 1ELA6006-7.875x10.75 03/16

The

APRIL 2017

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

APRIL 2017

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

Warm Weather Warnings

Volume 29 • Number 4

Is Stacked Resistance Coming?

Reduce Thrips, TSWV Risk

Departments 4

Editor’s Note A way to connect with peanut fans

6

Market Watch Continue watching key factors

8

News Briefs Sustainability story favors peanuts

20 Peanut Pointers Extension specialists offer planting tips

Stay Connected

10 Features

10 Minimize Thrips, TSWV

Incidence of spotted wilt is on the increase; take steps to reduce thrips pressure and risk to this disease.

12 Warm Weather Warnings

Lack of cold weather means more nematodes, possibility of seedling disease.

16 Is Crop Production Moving Toward ‘Stacked Resistance?’

Growers urged to stop replacing one herbicide with another.

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

18 Auburn, NPRL Release First Variety The new high-oleic, runner-type cultivar is welladapted for Southeast growing conditions.

www.peanutgrower.com Follow The Peanut Grower on Twitter @PeanutGrower T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

APRIL 2 017 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

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EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Copy Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe

ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (847) 559-7324 Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com

For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578

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 © 2017 One Grower Publishing, LLC, all rights reserved except where otherwise noted. The Peanut Grower ® is a registered trademark, which reserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in association with the registration. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO OMEDA COMMUNICATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 1388, NORTHBROOK, IL 600651388. 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.

Connect With Peanut Fans

Y

ears ago, I had the opportunity to attend one of the first Peanut Butter Lover’s conventions where fans could feel at home expressing their genuine love of our favorite nut spread. Fast forward to 2017 and fans of all things peanut have a fun, new way to show their devotion to the humble legume. They can be a complete Shell Out, thanks to some encouragement from former all-star Chicago Bears cornerback, Charles “Peanut” Tillman.

Amanda Huber In a short, digital production introEditor, The Peanut Grower duced by the NPB’s social media persona “Peanut Vendor,” Tillman encourages viewers to show their love of peanuts in a comical, engaging and energetic manner. He expresses his love of peanuts, dives into a “pool” of peanuts and asks fans who love peanuts as much as he does to become a Shell Out like him, all while wearing the most dapper suit of all time.

The Shell Out campaign will last for three months, from March 15 to June 15. Although the primary purpose is to create a buzz about peanuts, the campaign also seeks to learn exactly how much people love peanuts.

People are encouraged to show their love for peanuts on social media, specifically Twitter and Instagram, with the hashtag #ShellOut. You can also see the video on the NPB website.

I know that social media isn’t for everyone. However, I also know that there are some peanut producers on Twitter and Instagram. Because you have everything riding on those peanut seed you put in the ground each year, I think farmers are the original #ShellOut for peanuts.

Consider adding your own twist by taking a video clip of you loading the planter hoppers or planting peanuts. Tell what you are doing – growing the most nutritious, best tasting product in the world for all the other peanut Shell Outs out there. I know a peanut-crazy audience would love to hear from the actual farmer. There’s no right or wrong, no need to be perfect. Anyone willing to give it a try?

One Grower Publishing, LLC, also publishes Cotton Farming, Rice Farming, Soybean South and Corn South.

One Grower Publishing, LLC 6515 Goodman Rd., Box 360, Olive Branch, MS 38654 Phone: 901-767-4020

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THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

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Times Are Good, But Key Market Factors Bear Watching

P

eanut farmers prepare for the 2017 peanut crop in good condition, marketing wise. There is no surplus of 2016 crop peanuts, except for a few lots with European Union edible quality, mostly jumbo runners. The market is very tight and that is likely to continue domestically until December 2017. Export markets will be influenced by the present crop in Argentina, which looks good at this time, and China’s peanut harvest.

The wipeout of U.S. peanut inventory was partly caused by an error in USDA’s estimate, which is concerning for the future. However, more of the inventory was moved by purchasing from China and other producing countries, including India, Argentina and the United States, who are all consuming more peanuts each year, causing the world peanut market to increase in volume.

Consumers around the world, like the United States, are interested in health and wellness and understand that peanuts are a healthy food. Sources indicate that in calendar year 2016, the United States exported a record 970,986 farmer-stock tons of peanuts and peanut products. That’s 26 percent of the crop sent overseas.

Most Sustainable Protein Source Have peanuts entered into a new era? Some industry members think so because peanuts are now the low-priced ingredient and the world’s most sustainable source of protein with a low carbon footprint that uses less water than any other nut. Health research shows peanuts reduce the risk of death by playing a major role in reducing heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Researchers have also made great strides recently with peanut allergy. Add to that, peanuts 6 /

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

J. Tyron Spearman

Contributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

Leading Marketing Indicators (March 10, 2017) 2016 Acreage Est. Up 2% ................................................. 1,547,000 acres 2016 Production Est. .......................................................... 2,842,500 tons 2016 FSIS Inspections (3/1/17) ........................................... 2,774,830 tons 2016 Market Loan ............................................................... 2,270,065 tons 2016 Market Loan Redemptions ......................................... 878,385 tons PLC Average Price (per ton): ................................................. Nov. -$372 ................................................ Dec. - $370 ................................................ Jan. - $390 2016-17 Domestic Usage (6 Mo.) ................................................. Up 1.3% 2016-17 Exports (Aug- Dec) ........................................................ Up 12.6% NATIONAL POSTED PRICE (per ton) Runners -$424.51, Spanish - $407.34, Valencia/Virginias -$429.28

taste great and are equally loved by kids and adults and all these positives should really boost sales.

2016 Wrap Up Due to the low average price in 2016, many farmers still have peanuts to price before Jan. 31, 2018, the end of the marketing year or the nine-month deadline.

These 2016 peanuts were simply stored in the loan and not contracted. Farmers are receiving $500 and above per ton and some contracts have a deadline for pricing of March 31. That’s much better than the $375 per ton offered at harvest.

Most farmers with a peanut base signed up for the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, and they are expecting an estimated $147 per-ton PLC payment in October for 2016 marketing year.

USDA had predicted $151 per ton.

2017 Contracts Open Strong Early 2017 peanut contracts opened

at $500 per ton for Southeast runners, dropping to $475 per ton after heavy sign-up. Southwest runners were also $500 per ton for high oleics and $550 for high-oleic Virginia-type peanuts.

Other Virginias opened with $500 perton contracts. Some states had a $50 bonus for planting high oleics and some reduced contacts by $25 per ton for freight differential.

Considering how the PLC payment is calculated, if average prices stay close to the $500 per-ton range in 2017, peanut farmers can expect little to no PLC payment for their 2017 crop, which would not arrive until October 2018. That would be a positive for peanut legislation work and proof that the peanut program works.

2017 Peanut Acres The off icial peanut acreage estimate arrives from USDA on March 31, 2017. Last year, acreage was estimatPE ANUTGROWE R .COM

ed at 1,476,000 acres, a 9 percent drop mainly inf luenced by the perceived over supply. The final acreage harvested was 1,547,000 acres. A recent survey of Extension peanut specialists offers the estimate of 1,659,000 acres for peanut planting, which would be a 7 percent increase. A Georgia survey showed a 10 to 15 percent increase depending on cotton prices. With a two-ton average, provided farmers have good weather, the crop could be 3,318,000 tons. Can the market sell that many?

Domestic Markets January 2017 peanut usage was about the same as last year…up only .2 percent. The shining star was peanut butter, up 5 percent and now up 3.6 percent for the year. Peanut candy is still strong, up 9.4 percent for the year, with peanut snacks down 7.6 percent. Overall, peanut usage is up 1.3 percent for the first six months. The National Peanut

Board has estimated the annual per-capita peanut usage at 8.6 pounds per person. Hopefully, the “March Is National Peanut Month” promotions will have the numbers up even more.

Export Markets U.S. peanut exports continue to thrive. December posted a 44.4 percent increase over last December and the five-month exports are up 12.6 percent. Raw-shelled peanuts are up 19.2 percent as the Netherlands increased 49 percent over last year. In-shells are up 7.4 percent for the year. China and Vietnam still strong are up 44.7 percent and 78 percent respectfully. Peanut butter is down 13.7 percent, but overall, U.S. peanut exports are likely to reach the USDA prediction of 750,000 farmer-stock tons in 2016-17.

Stage Is Set If the higher price is available at your

“

The National Peanut Board has estimated the annual per-capita peanut usage at 8.6 pounds per person. Hopefully, the “March Is National Peanut Month” promotions will have the numbers up even more.

buying point, book at least a portion of the peanut crop. Don’t plant until the soil is the proper temperature and don’t plant too early or too late. Use certified, treated seed and an inoculant. Be aware of U.S. planting intensions, Argentina’s weather and China’s 2017 peanut production, which are all key marketing factors.

Good luck. The world is anxious to buy and enjoy your top-quality U.S. peanuts. PG

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APRIL 2 017 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

Standards Board Members Sought

USDA is seeking nominations for three peanut producers and three industry representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board, succeeding members whose terms expire June 30, 2017. Nominations are due April 17, 2017. Selected members will serve three-year terms from 2017 to 2020.

The board consists of 18 members who represent three regions: the Southeast (A labama, Florida and Georgia), the Southwest (New Mex ico, Ok la homa a nd Tex a s), and Virginia/North Carolina. Each region has three producer seats and three industry representative seats.

The board plays a key role in representing the U.S. peanut industry on issues affecting quality and marketability.

USDA encourages membership reflecting the diversity of the industry it represents. For a nominating form and additional information, visit the Peanut Standards Board page on the AMS website, or contact Marketing Specia list Ste ven W. K au f f ma n or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, USDA at (863) 324-3375 or email Steven.Kauffman@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.

New Program Specialist Named

USDA’s Farm Ser vice Agency’s Price Support Division recently welcomed George Pryor who will take on the program specialist responsibilities for marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments for peanuts. The position was vacated by Kathy Sayers, who has been promoted to program analyst for the Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs.

Pryor has been with FSA for more than 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge to his new position.

Sayers will continue to assist the Price Support Division and the peanut industry, as needed.

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THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

New Era In Peanuts

Jeff Johnson, president of Birdsong Peanuts, told attendees at the National Peanut Buying Points Association Convention that four major factors are coming together to set the stage for a new era in peanuts. Those factors were as follows: • Price – In the mid ’90s peanuts were $1.00 a pound, adjusted for inflation, whereas now peanuts are 50 cents per pound.

• Sustainability – Peanuts are one of the world’s most sustainable sources of protein, using far less water than any other nut and having an extremely low carbon footprint.

• Health and Wellness – Several new studies show that peanuts reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. A clinical study on peanuts and diabetes is underway and positive results could boost global demand.

• Flavor – Peanuts taste great.

Demand Outpacing Supply

American Peanut Council Senior Vice President Stephanie Grunenfelder presented information on exports and new opportunities for peanut marketers at the National Peanut Buying Point meeting.

In China, as their population is consuming more peanuts and peanut oil, demand is outpacing supply in the country and fewer Chinese peanuts are being exported. The APC looks at the markets in which China has shipped reduced volumes as potential opportunities for U.S. peanuts.

Grunenfelder also spoke about macroeconomic trends that continue to impact the world market for peanuts.

Consumers in the major producing countries, including China, India, Argentina and the United States, are all consuming more peanuts each year, causing the world peanut market to increase in volume. Consumption is increasing in export markets for many of the same reasons that it is increas-

In Brief: • Standards board represents industry on quality and marketing issues.

• USDA makes personnel changes in price support division.

• Four factors set stage for new era in peanut industry.

• Markets left short when China keeps stock an opportunity for U.S. peanuts.

• Compelling peanut sustainability story needs to be documented, communicated.

• 2016 crop value at farm gate 7.2 percent less than 2015.

• Will market changes make producers reluctant to price entire crop at once?

ing in the United States. Consumers around the world are interested in health and wellness and understand that peanuts are a healthy food.

With assistance from the National Peanut Board, the American Peanut Council estimates that 970,986 tons of peanuts and peanut products were exported in 2016. This figure represents kernels, in-shells, blanched peanuts, peanut butter and processed peanuts translated into farmer-stock basis to give the industry a better idea of the percentage by volume of peanuts exported. In 2016, 26 percent of the crop was sent overseas.

NPB: Take Pride In Sustainability

National Peanut Board President Bob Parker told the NPBPA conference that peanuts have a great sustainability story that needs to be clearly documented and communicated to consumers in a compelling way.

Consumers, particularly millennials, consider sustainability when making food choices.

PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

Parker also talked about the efficiencies U.S. peanut farmers have achieved through production research, which has allowed them to compete in price-sensitive international markets but remain profitable. The United States is now the world’s low-cost producer of peanuts. NPB has invested more than $29 million into production research during its history.

2016 Peanut Crop Value

According to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the price of peanuts averaged $0.189 per pound, or $378 per ton, last season, 2.1 percent lower than 2015. The value of the 2016 peanut crop at farm level is $1,077,480,000, a 7.2 percent decrease from 2015. Harvested peanut acres were down one percent.

The highest average price was in Texas at $454 per ton, followed by North Carolina at $444 per ton. The lowest price average was in Mississippi at $340 per ton. Georgia was next low-

Calendar

est at $360 per ton. About 46.7 percent of the revenue from peanuts was produced in Georgia. Ranking next in revenue is Texas followed by Alabama.

• June 24-28 — USA Peanut Congress, Amelia Island, Fla. For information, visit their website at peanut-shellers. org or call 229-888-2508.

Industry Changes Ahead

David Glidewell, vice president for procurement for Golden Peanut and Tree Nut, spoke to the National Peanut Buying Points Association Convention about the peanut market becoming more dynamic and assuming a more global identity.

Regarding China’s interest in U.S. peanuts, he says, “Is this demand to be consistent or only present at times of suppressed U.S. prices? The annual demand in China could be as large as the entire U.S. ending stocks. We must be focused on more than the traditional markets.”

Glidewell says the degree to which this occurs will still be impacted by the fundamentals of supply and demand and warehouse space, but he suggests that as price volatility increases, pro-

• July 11-13 — American Peanut Research Education Society Annual Meeting, Alburquerque, N.M. For more information, go to www.apres.org.

• July 20-22 — Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Miramar Beach, Fla. For more information, visit southernpeanutfarmers.org or call 229386-3470.

ducers will be increasingly reluctant to price their entire crop at one price.

The challenge for the peanut buying point is to have data and be informed on markets in order to assist clients in making sound price decisions.

Peanuts: Price Per Pound And Value Of Production (2014-2016) Price per Pound (cents per lb.)

Value of Production (dollars)

2014 Dollars

2015 Dollars

2016 Dollars

2014 1,000 dollars

2015 1,000 dollars

2016 1,000 dollars

Alabama

0.199

0.178

0.183

$108,445

$113,386

$113,972

Arkansas

(NA)

(NA)

0.186

-

-

$20,534

Florida

0.215

0.188

0.189

$143,620

$121,824

$108,354

Georgia

0.206

0.192

0.180

$501,716

$645,967

$502,823

Mississippi

0.208

0.174

0.170

$25,792

$24,969

$26,486

N. Mexico

0.303

0.215

0.202

$4,772

$3,297

$4,525

N. Carolina

0.262

0.221

0.222

$105,261

$66,910

$75,824

Oklahoma

0.261

0.213

0.214

$11,484

$6,518

$10,572

S. Carolina

0.245

0.190

0.188

$100,548

$49,856

$65,762

Texas

0.291

0.214

0.227

$133,784

$112,992

$133,476

Virginia

0.270

0.214

0.196

$22,829

$14,841

$15,152

U.S.

0.220

0.193

0.189

$1,158,251

$1,160,560

1,077,480

State

Note: Chart based on marketings and monthly prices received from Aug. 1, 2016 – Dec. 31, 2016.

T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

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APRIL 2 017 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

Minimize Thrips, TSWV Incidence of spotted wilt is on the increase; take steps to reduce thrips pressure and risk to this disease.

By Amanda Huber

Upward Trend In Losses In 2016, losses to tomato spotted wilt (TSWV) were estimated to be 3.5 percent, which is slightly up from the 3 percent loss in 2015.

Kemerait says that although losses to TSWV have been low in many fields, there were significant losses in some fields.

“This disease continues to be a potential threat to peanut production and growers must continue to incorporate the lessons spelled out in Peanut Rx to minimize the threat from this disease,” he says.

Shorter rotations and a very warm winter are two primary reasons both Kemerait and UGA Extension entomologist Mark Abney are asking producers to be diligent against TSWV and thrips, the vector or carrier of TSWV. It’s About Reducing Risk While increased thrips pressure does not necessarily translate into increased TSWV, Kemerait advises leaning towards making good, strong management decisions for reducing the risk of TSWV through the use of Peanut Rx and in reducing thrips pressure.

The impact of direct thrips feeding on yield and time to maturity is not well understood, but minimizing crop stress is an important consideration in making thrips management decisions, says Abney. “Everyone that puts a peanut in the ground will have thrips. How bad are they going to be? I’m not sure and neither is anyone else. However, they might be 10 /

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

more significant this year because of the weather.”

Abney says since he moved back to Georgia in 2013, there has been moderate-to-high thrips pressure in peanuts in Georgia.

Insecticide Options “It is important that we continue to use the recommendations found in Peanut Rx for reducing thrips pressure and TSWV,” Abney says. “Phorate or Thimet is still the only insecticide that has been shown to reduce TSWV incidence in peanut, and it provides good protection against direct feeding damage.”

Abney also says an in-furrow application of liquid imidacloprid has shown good efficacy against thrips in a number of university trials in recent years. However, he says, peanut seed treatments do not provide adequate thrips suppression in years with heavy pest pressure.

Once again, producers should know that insecticides will not be completely effective 100 percent of the time, and it is common to see some thrips feeding injury on peanut seedlings regardless of what at-plant insecticide is used.

STEVE L. BROWN, BUGWOOD.ORG

I

n the early days of ESPN’s SportsCenter, the anchors developed clever catch phrases to connect with the audience. One of those anchors, Dan Patrick, would inevitably say at least once during a broadcast, “You can’t stop him; you can only hope to contain him.” That’s how the University of Georgia’s peanut researchers want producers to think of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus.

“Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus never went away,” says Bob Kemerait, UGA Extension plant pathologist. “We can’t eliminate the disease; all we can do is manage it and take steps to reduce the risk.”

No Decision Is A Decision As Abney says, there is no such thing as doing nothing for thrips and spotted wilt. “Every decision you make when you plant peanuts affects thrips and TSWV from the day you plant, to the variety you select, to the row pattern, to seed spacing – it all affects thrips and TSWV and it’s all covered in Peanut Rx. Everything has an impact on thrips and TSWV in one way or another.”

For planting window, the University of Georgia recommends that growers consider planting a portion of their peanut crop in the latter part of April. Spreading the peanut crop over April and May offers many advantages to peanut producers. Although there continues to be increased risk to tomato spotted wilt for peanuts planted in April, this risk can be reduced by planting newer, more resistant varieties. PG PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

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Warm Weather Warnings

Lack of cold weather means more nematodes, possibility of seedling disease.

By Amanda Huber

W

inter? W hat w inter?

That was the collective thought for most of December and January, with February turning off just plain hot. The cold spell in midMarch was the most consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures that the Southern states had seen all winter.

While another frost could happen in April, the warm weather has University of Georgia plant pathologist, Bob Kemerait warning producers to be very aggressive against disease and nematodes this planting season.

“The weather we did not have this winter is not helping us as far as nematode and disease control on any crop,” Kemerait says. “We are going to have to be more aggressive going into 2017 12 /

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

because of shorter rotations and also because of the lack of cold weather.”

need to be aggressive on disease and nematodes.

No Reset This Winter As a plant pathologist, Kemerait says he looks for extended periods of cold weather in December and January to be a reset button between 2016 and 2017.

“You can’t overcome short rotations with cold weather, but you can put the nematodes in hibernation. We can freeze back volunteer crops; we can kill weeds. A lot of these things did not happen this year with our very warm winter,” he says.

Volunteer peanuts, which were growing in January, are a bridge for disease and for nematodes.

Since then we have had a freeze, but Kemerait says he still anticipates the

Look For Seedling Disease If temperatures stay above normal, Kemerait says to look for Aspergillus crown rot, a disease that affects peanut seedlings from that first month to six weeks.

“The seedlings will die and if you pull them up, you’ll see the taproot is damaged and there is a black sooty sporulation.”

Kemerait says Aspergillus crown rot was especially severe in some fields in 2016 and was most commonly found in fields planted with farmer-saved seed.

Although most producers who save seed are conscientious in their efforts to take care of their seed and get it treated PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

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Every day, the National Peanut Board works to help America’s 7,000 peanut-farming families improve production practices and put the world’s highest-quality peanut

can continue to farm the land you love. Learn what we’re doing to improve economics

By Growers For Growers For The Future

properly, there must be a part of the process that makes farmer-saved seed more susceptible to seedling disease.

“The problem with saving seed is how it is stored after it was produced, and, after it was shelled, how well was the fungicide put on? If you have good seed that is not stored well or you have good seed that is stored well but not treated well, this disease comes out,” Kemerait says. “Growers who are saving seed should add Abound in-furrow or an Azoxystrobin in-furrow as a complement to seed treatments.”

Scorching Young Plants Even for those not saving seed, Kemerait cautions that conditions can be right for anyone to have a problem with Aspergillus crown rot as it happens most often in hot, sandy soils. “That young taproot will be blistered and the fungus gets in there.”

Kemerait says the most effective way to manage this disease is with a good seed treatment, and using Abound in-furrow to complement the seed treatment. “If you can, use irrigation to cool the soil. That will help,” he says.

Kemerait says if Aspergillus crown rot occurs in the field, it is not just about stand loss, but also about the possible increase in TSWV. Head Start For Nematodes Extended cold weather is needed to keep nematodes in hibernation and this did not happen.

Kemerait says that peanut rootknot nematodes are often frequently under-managed in Georgia, either because the symptoms are not recognized or because growers are reluctant to take the steps needed to ensure adequate control. But this year, with volunteer peanuts already growing in February, nematodes had a really good head start for 2017.

“Nematodes have a complete life cycle in three weeks. With the extended warm weather allowing for a build up of nematode populations before planting, we will need to be very aggressive against this pest,” Kemerait says.

Rotation with a crop that is not a host for peanut root-knot nematode, such as cotton, is always the first line of defense against nematodes and disease.

For rotations that are fewer years than 14 /

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

To Reduce Seedling Disease: 1. Rotate peanuts with grass crops to reduce the populations of Rhizoctonia solani.

2. Plant the peanut crop when soil temperatures are warm enough to produce rapid, vigorous germination and growth. This can help protect the plants from disease. Excessive moisture at planting will also increase the risk of seedling diseases.

3. Planting seed into droughty, hot soil greatly increases risk to Aspergillus crown rot. Irrigation and rainfall help to reduce risk to this disease.

4. Use quality seed that has a good germination rating and will grow vigorously. As mentioned above, farmer-saved-seed is most affected by Aspergillus crown rot.

5. Choose varieties that are known to germinate and emerge uniformly and with vigor.

6. Use only seed treated with a commercial fungicide seed treatment. The seed treatments that are put on commercial seed prior to purchase are outstanding and provide protection for the seed and seedling. Seed treatments include Vitavax PC and Dynasty PD (azoxystrobin + mefenoxam + fludioxonil).

7. Use an in-furrow fungicide where the risk of seedling disease is great or to increase the possibility of a good stand. a. Abound at 6.0 fl oz/A in the furrow at planting can provide increased control of seedling diseases, including Aspergillus crown rot. b. Terraclor (64 fl oz/A) also provides additional control of seedling diseases when applied in-furrow. * These recommendations are for seedling disease primarily caused by Rhizoctonia solani and Aspergillus niger.

Management Of Peanut Root-Knot Nematodes: 1. Growers planting peanuts in fields with damaging levels of peanut root-knot nematodes must consider planting Tifguard or Georgia-14N. These two varieties, which are nearly resistant to the peanut root-knot nematode, do not need to be treated with a nematicide and perform exceptionally well as compared to other varieties that are treated with nematicides.

2. Fumigation with Telone II (4.5-6 GPA) is our most aggressive treatment to manage peanut root-knot nematodes and provides our best opportunity to manage nematodes affecting peanut if the grower does not plant a resistant variety.

3. Velum Total is a combination of fluopyram and imidicloprid and is an effective tool for the management of nematodes and thrips. In UGA studies, use of Velum Total effectively reduced nematode damage to the peanut plants and effectively increased yield versus plots not treated with a nematicide. Its performance has been similar (or better than) Temik 15G applied at 10 lb/A at plant. Apply Velum Total as a liquid formulation to the open-furrow at planting time. Additionally, Propulse (13.7 fl oz/A) is a combination of prothioconazole and fluopyram that can be applied at pegging time either through chemigation of followed by an immediate irrigation event to provide additional protection from nematodes.

4. AgLogic 15G (aldicarb) will be available to growers again 2017. AgLogic 15G must be applied according to label with specific restrictions as far as distance from a water source and worker personal protection equipment. It can be applied at 7 lb/A at planting or at 10 lb/A as a pegging-time application.

5. Vydate C-LV for management of nematodes on peanut and cotton is unlikely to be available in 2017.

recommended, consider other management steps.

Remember to take steps to reduce

the possibility of seedling disease and nematodes as planting gets underway for 2017. PG PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

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Is Crop Production Moving Toward ‘Stacked Resistance?’

Growers urged to stop replacing one herbicide with another.

F

inding ways to halt the “resistance treadmill” was a key message from weed scientists at the recent Pigposium III, an event hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture focused on herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth.

About 300 producers, Extension agents, consultants and members of industry, heard weed scientists from four states describe research and strategies for managing weeds that have developed resistance to the most-used herbicides.

Jason Norsworthy, weed scientist with the U of A Division of Agriculture, opened with a situation report, noting that it’s been 12 years since the existence of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, better known as pigweed, was first confirmed.

A year later, in 2006, glyphotsate-resistant pigweed was confirmed in Arkansas and Tennessee.

In just over a decade, “31 states now have glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth,” he says. “The world’s greatest herbicide is no longer effective against pigweed.”

Get Off The Treadmill In defining what he called the resistance treadmill, “we’re taking one herbicide and replacing it with another, and taking another herbicide and replacing it with another, and taking another herbicide and replacing it with another,” Bob Scott, weed scientist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, says. “Today, the goal is to stop doing this.”

“If we follow our resistance pattern … we’re just going to add dicamba to the growing list of resistance that we have,” he says. “We’ve proved this in a laboratory study.”

Scott says ALS resistance perpetuated glyphosate resistance, glyphosate resistance perpetuated PPO resistance and asked “what will PPO resistance perpetuate?”

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THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

Jason Norsworthy, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture weed scientist, urges growers to “stop the insanity” in the cycle of herbicide-resistant weeds.

PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

Running Out Of Herbicide Options This pattern will eventually lead to “multiple stacked resistance,” Scott says.

“I’m a weed scientist and that scares me.

Stacked resistance is a game changer.”

Scott’s comments were echoed by fellow Division of Agriculture weed scientist Tom Barber: “if you continue to rely just on PPOs, you’ll shift the population in that field to PPO resistance.”

Norsworthy, in talking about the future of herbicide use says it’s just a matter of time before we have a six-way stack in herbicide resistance.

He quoted Eric Maupin, a Tennessee farmer and board member of the American Soybean Association, saying “going into 2016, I have one post-emergence option for pigweed, and if I were to lose that option, I wouldn’t be farming soybean.”

Effective Experiences Larry Steckel, a Tennessee Extension weed scientist, talked about cover crops being highly effective and could likely reduce the number of herbicide applications by one.

Michael Popp, a U of A ag economist, walked the audience through Palmer amaranth manager, or PAM, a PC-based program that enables growers to develop a strategy in managing pigweed.

The software is available at https:// uaex.edu /fa rm-ra nch /crops-commercia l-horticulture/pa lmer-amaranth-management-model.aspx.

Three producers shared their experience with various weed management methods, including Harry Stephens, of Helena, Ark., who talked about his suc-

Non-Chemical Control Strategies for the Management of Herbicide-Resistant Palmer Amaranth* Strategy

Effect

Tillage (moldboard plow)

Burying Palmer amaranth seed at least 4” deep in the soil will provide approximately 50% control of Palmer amaranth.

Extreme Rye Cover Crops

A well-managed rye cover crop, planted in the fall, terminated at its maximum height, and rolled will form a dense mat of residue which will provide approximately 60-90% control of Palmer amaranth.

Decreased Row Widths

Decreasing row widths results in faster canopy closure and shade formation. Palmer amaranth seed requires light for germination.

Hand-Weeding

Hand-removal of escaped female Palmer amaranth plants before seed production will prevent further seed-rain into a field.

Crop Rotation

Crop rotations that include field corn provide growers with an opportunity to use alternative herbicide modes of action and also provide for additional time in the fall for seed-bank management.

Mechanical Cultivation

No weeds are steel resistant.

*An aggressive combination of non-chemical and chemical control tactics will be required to manage herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth.

For additional information about herbicide-resistant weeds, contact your Extension agent and visit the UGA Weed Science website at www.gaweed.com/resistance.html

cessful use of narrow windrow burning.

Dane Coomer, of Piggott, Ark., told the audience about his experience with zero tolerance in cotton. “It’s a mindset and goal. If you see one on your farm, you pull it.” Coomer uses chopping crews to eliminate remaining weeds by hand.

Producer Adam Chappell talked about the successful use of cover crops, telling the audience he’d been using the same beds since 2010. He listed all of his weed management tactics, noting that

only prayer is the free one.

The primary message to producers: Do something different this year to combat Palmer amaranth and to preserve herbicides. PG Article by Mary Hightower, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

For more information about weed management, contact your Extension office or visit www.uaex .edu or ht t p:// Arkansascrops.com.

Use A Combo Of Strategies While Georgia has the unfortunate distinction of being the birthplace of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth, it has also been ground zero for strategies to manage resistance.

University of Georgia weed scientist, Eric Prostko, continues to tell producers that an effective herbicide-resistant weed management plan requires the integration of multiple herbicide chemistries to minimize selection pressure and delay the occurrence of herbicide resistance in a field. But, herbicides are not enough. Other control strategies, such as tillage and extreme cover crops, must be included in a herbicide-resistant weed management plan that aims to preserve the herbicide tools.

Prostko says that UGA weed scientists are currently investigating potential Cadre (imazapic) resistance in several species including sicklepod and yellow nutsedge and that PPO resistance is on the rise in other areas of the country.

T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

“At this point, PPO resistance has not been confirmed in Georgia,” he says. Frequently used PPO herbicides include Aim (carfentrazone), Cobra (lactofen), Reflex (fomesafen), Spartan (sulfentrazone) and Valor (flumioxazin). Avoid repeated applications of PPO herbicides in the same year and hand-remove weed escapes before seed production, he says.

Prostko says, “In general, herbicides are very effective when applied at the appropriate rate and time.”

Failure to start clean at planting, residual herbicides that are not activated with timely irrigation/ rainfall, post emergence applications to large weeds greater than 3 inches tall, and unfavorable environmental conditions (hot and dry) are the most common causes of reduced herbicide performance, he says.

“The most cost-effective peanut weed control programs combine the use of cultural, mechanical and chemical practices.” PG

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APRIL 2 017 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

Auburn, NPRL Release First Variety The new high-oleic, runner-type cultivar is well-adapted for Southeast growing conditions.

A

uburn University might be relatively new to the peanut breeding business, but its just-released runner peanut variety is already winning accolades for its high yields, resistance to disease and healthy traits.

The new release—AU-NPL 17—is the product of a peanut breeding program operated jointly by the College of Agriculture’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences and USDA’s National Peanut Research Lab in Dawson, Ga. It’s the first runner-type cultivar released by the program and is well-adapted for growing conditions throughout the Southeast.

Runner varieties account for 80 percent of the estimated 1.5 million acres of peanuts grown in the United States, with Alabama growers planting approximately 175,000 acres this past year.

Pipeline Payoff While the Auburn peanut breeding program is the youngest of its kind in the Southeast, it is rapidly making a name for itself, says Charles Chen, a former USDA Agricultural Research Service research geneticist who joined the College of Agriculture in 2012 and is a professor of peanut breeding and genetics.

“With the release of this first runner-type variety, we’re establishing a research pipeline,” Chen says. “Now we’ll be able to make new crosses or selections and other varieties can be released through the program. There’s always something to improve upon; you never reach perfection. That is why we are here.”

Future releases will build on AU-NPL 17’s high yield, disease resistance and 18 /

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

AU-NPL 17 At A Glance • First release from Auburn University, USDA National Peanut Research Lab collaboration • Runner variety with medium maturity • Well adapted to Southeastern soils, conditions • Yields comparable to Georgia-06G • Resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus • Tolerant to leaf spot disease with fungicide use • Some resistance to white mold

other factors, he says.

“You can never totally suppress pests if you continue to grow a cultivar in the field,” Chen says. “By nature, pests will mutate and fight resistance and tolerance, so resistance eventually will be conquered by pest mutations.”

Yield And Performance Tests AU-NPL 17 has been tested throughout Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina, where runner-type peanuts of a medium maturity group are adapted.

“It has shown good adaptability, with its primary advantage being high yields and good adaptation from irrigated fields to non-irrigated, from single to twin-row patterns, and when grown with or without fungicide treatments,” Chen says.

In terms of yield per acre, AU-NPL 17 compares favorably with Georgia-06G. In yield tests conducted in 2014 and 2015 in Headland, Fairhope, Dawson and Hattiesburg, Miss. AU-NPL 17 averaged 6,499 pounds per acre in eight

tests as compared to Georgia-06G’s average of 6,175 pounds per acre.

I n USDA Un i for m Pe a nut Performance Tests 2016, AU-NPL 17 yielded higher than Georgia-06G in Alabama and North Carolina. In terms of ranking, the Auburn variety was ranked No. 1 in Alabama tests and No. 2 in North Carolina tests, with GA-06G ranking No. 5 in both tests.

AU-NPL 17 also is resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus and tolerant to leaf spot disease, both primary pest concerns for Southeastern growers. In addition, it has some resistance to white mold.

“In tests without fungicide treatments, AU-NPL 17 is generally more resistant or tolerant to tomato spotted wilt virus, early and late leaf spot and white mold than other cultivars in the test,” Chen says.

High-Oleic Variety Auburn’s new peanut release is a high-oleic variety, which Chen says the industry is demanding. In fact, Mars Chocolate, one of the top five peanut buyers globally, has committed to using 100 percent high-oleic peanuts in their products by the end of this year.

Important to manufacturers, the high-oleic trait substantially improves the shelf life of peanuts and peanut products.

“We don’t produce as many high-oleic peanuts in the U.S. as countries such as Argentina and Australia, and that hurts our competitiveness internationally,” Chen says. “I believe high oleic will become the standard for U.S. peanut production.”

Yet another value of high-oleic peanuts is that peanut buyers normally pay farmers a premium for growing them.

PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

Charles Chen, professor of peanut breeding and genetics, says the new peanut variety AU-NPL 17 establishes a research pipeline for future releases.

Seed Increase Plans Six-thousand pounds of breeder seeds of AU-NPL 17 will be planted this year by the Alabama Crop Improvement Association, Chen says.

“Hopefully, next year, we will have 120 tons of foundation seed,” he says.

“We should have a few farmers growing the cultivar on a test basis in the spring of 2018, and most farmers will have the seed available to them in 2019.”

While the peanut cultivar breeding process typically takes about 10 years to complete, Chen was able to shorten it by a couple of years by growing peanuts in Puerto Rico during the winter months.

“Peanut breeders can send seed to Puerto Rico in November and then get increased seed back at the end of March to speed up the process,” he says. “We did that for two seasons, so it gave us a shorter interval with this cultivar.”

T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

Adding Genetic Diversity John Beasley, professor and head of Auburn’s Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, says AU-NPL 17 should prove to be of tremendous benefit to growers in Alabama and throughout the Southeast. Beasley should know; he was a peanut agronomist at the University of Georgia for 30 years before coming to Auburn.

“We’re very excited for Dr. Chen and his program,” Beasley says. “In addition to outstanding yields, this new cultivar also has resistance to some of the more common peanut diseases and, even more important, it has high-oleic acid, which is now being required by the industry and demanded by consumers. AU-NPL 17 should be an especially good fit for Alabama producers, since it was developed and tested in the state, and it should help growers lower their seed and

overall production costs.”

Beasley says AU-NPL 17 is the first of what will be many runner-type releases from the program at Auburn.

“We’re looking at sources from other programs, and our program will help to expand the genetic resources available in the Southeast,” he says. “This release certainly puts us on the map as far as breeding programs go, and we’re expecting many new releases in the coming years with different genetic traits.”

One area the breeding program will focus on in the future will be traits that enable more efficient plant water use, Beasley says. This would prove beneficial for producers in Alabama, where a majority of the cropland is not irrigated. PG Article by Paul L . Hollis, Auburn University College of Agriculture Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 19

APRIL 2 017 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

Reduced or Conventional Tillage Severa l key items ta lked about during production meetings were tillage practices and planter configurations in relation to yield. Growers are always looking to maximize yields. In deciding to change from one cultural practice to another, I would encourage growers to determine if more SCOTT MONFORT yield equals more profit.

University of Georgia Many grower conversations Extension Agronomist were regarding tillage and yields in conventional versus reduced tillage in UGA research trials. The trend for many years has been for conventional tillage to increase yields 200 to 500 pounds per acre. If yield was the deciding factor, the decision would be easy.

The thing to remember is most growers converted to reduced tillage for one or more reasons, such as reduced time/trips across the field, reduced fuel and equipment costs, reduced thrips and TSWV pressure and water conservation. For these reasons, I would not be too quick to make a change in tillage practices. However, in fields where peanuts are being produced under rotations of one year or less between peanut crops, there might be a need to alter this recommendation. Growers would have a better chance to maintain yield potential if soils were deep turned and an

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THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

effective fungicide program is used. It is also understandable that growers may not want to convert back to conventional tillage because of increased expense and time in the field.

A similar approach needs to be taken with row configuration. Twin-row pattern has an advantage over single rows when it comes to faster canopy closure, which helps reduce thrips feeding and TSWV infection, regulates soil temperatures and reduces moisture evaporation. But, a twinrow planter can be expensive compared to a single-row planter. The question is can this advantage with twin rows increase yield potential enough to offset the difference in cost between twin-row and single-row planters? In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the answer would be yes because of the susceptibility of varieties to TSWV. This is not the case with current varieties that have high levels of TSWV resistance. Since then, there has been very little difference in yield among twin and single-row configuration. Therefore like with tillage, growers need to weigh both yield and economic return before dramatically altering current production practices.

Look For Increased Thrips If April’s weather is as warm as the winter has been, peanut planting time is just around the corner. Allow me to offer a reminder that you need a fourinch soil temperature of 68 degrees for three consecutive days, plus a forecast that continues those same conditions, for planting.

KRIS BALKCOM This planting season conAuburn University cerns me because of the warm Agri-Program Associate winter we just endured. The warm temperatures will create increased thrips pressure early, and this is very alarming because of the fact that we have seen increased Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus in Georgia-06Gs for the past couple of years. I encourage everyone to be mindful of this, and be sure to use an insecticide at planting for thrips.

Also think about the best management practices to lower your risk of TSWV such as strip tillage, twin rows, seeding rate, planting date and variety. Even if you plant in April, using twin rows with a higher seeding rate would help reduce the risk of TSWV. If variety choice is your only defense to TSWV, then Georgia-12Y would give you the most resistance. Some of our best dryland yields in Alabama the past two years have been from April-planted peanuts. But, when planting early, don’t try to cut costs.

PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

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NAVIGATING the Marketplace

July 20-22, 2017 Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort • Miramar Beach, Florida For detailed conference information, registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org.

Room reservations at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort can be made online or by calling 800-622-1038 and asking for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference rate.

Brought o to yyou ou by th the he ffa family amily farmers fa armers of the Southern Pean Peanut ut Farmer Fa Farmers armers FFederation ederation ra www.southernpeanutfarmers.org www.southernpeanutfar npeanutfarmers.org

Using Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobia Peanut has a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria, where the bacterium obtains some nutrition from plant roots and the plant gains usable nitrogen. Good bacterial inoculation is essential in getting the full benefit of growing a legume. Several types of peanut-specific inoculants are commercially available includJASON WOODWARD Texas Agri-Life Extension ing seedbox powders, granular Plant Pathologist formulations and liquid inoculants, with the latter being the most popular and providing the best nodulation.

It is important to remember that peanut inoculants are comprised of living microorganisms, thus special steps in storage, handling and mixing must be taken to ensure their survival. Inoculants should be stored between 40 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in a dry place out of direct sunlight. Once opened or mixed, units should be used within 24 hours. If using a liquid inoculant, avoid mixing with chlorinated water. In addition, inoculants should not be mixed or applied with fertilizers.

Hot soil temperatures, shallow planting and low soil moisture can kill Rhizobia and lower populations capable of inoculating peanut seedlings. Early season scouting may be required to ensure adequate nodulation or to identify fields that may need supplemental nitrogen applications to help achieve yield goals. Active nodules are pink to dark red, whereas inactive nodules are black, gray or green inside. Early season nodulation ratings of greater than 20,

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THE PE ANUT GROWE R • APRIL 2 017

16-20 and 11-15 nodules per plant are considered excellent, very good and good, respectively, and will likely not benefit from supplemental applications of nitrogen.

Know Planting Date Risks I was recently asked the question, “When should one plant peanuts in our area?” We often point out temperature at a certain depth of soil for a certain number of days as an indicator of when conditions are favorable for stand establishment, for example, 65 degrees Fahrenheit for several days.

Results from planting date DAVID JORDAN research at one of our locations North Carolina State in northeastern North Carolina University Extension Agronomist demonstrate that early May and late May carry risk relative to yield compared with mid-May plantings. Planting in late April and early June can work on occasion but these planting dates carry even more risk compared with May plantings, in general, but mid-May plantings, specifically. I do realize that folks can’t plant all their peanuts at one time or within a few days – we have just become too big. It can take two weeks even when conditions are perfect.

My recommendation is to shoot for the first 2 weeks in May as a priority for planting peanuts. Seed cost for peanuts is high, so I would avoid late-April plantings. The challenge with late-May planting is that poor weather can turn this date into an early June planting, and planting in June in the upper V-C carries considerable risk from a maturity standpoint.

Management in general, but more specifically for pests, does not change a great deal across the month of May, but there are some exceptions. Peanut are more vulnerable to spotted wilt and CBR if panted early. Planting late makes us more vulnerable to rootworms and may impact pod maturity if we have a cold snap in early fall. We also generally see less overall disease with later plantings. Peanuts are subjected to a longer period of thrips feeding when planted early. These differences tend to average out in the sense that knowing what you are up against with your planting dates helps you adequately address the pest in question.

While every year is different, we have found that planting peanut in mid-May, establishing five plants per foot of row and making sure peanuts get inoculated are a part of a great start. There are certainly other things to consider, but shooting for that mid-May planting date helps set the stage for consistent success. PG PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

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EVEN RESISTANT WEEDS CAN’T STAND UP TO THE TWO MODES OF ACTION IN STORM.

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Always read and follow label directions ections and precautions. pr Storm® and UPI logo are registered ed trademarks tr ks of United Phosphorus, Inc. ry 2017. UPI, 630 Freedom er,r, King of Pr ussia, PA 19406. www.upi-usa.com. ©February, Center, Prussia, ©February, eedom Business Cent .upi-usa.com.