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Someone Is Ready To Listen Editor’s Note
Five years ago, the University of Georgia Extension service began making a concerted effort to talk about rural health and, particularly, the stress farmers are under.
In production meetings that spring, UGA peanut specialist Scott Monfort, said, “We know your job is one of the toughest and most stressful jobs out there. Unfortunately, in the past few years, we have lost some good farmers, and it is likely partly due to stress.”
That was in 2020. If it’s even possible, I feel like what you have been through since then and are going through now is that stress level x 100 or more.
Amanda Huber Editor, e Peanut Grower
The cyclical nature of prices for rotation partners with peanuts stopped turning. Cotton and corn prices have been low for many years now. Multiple weather disasters have happened in the past few years, but assistance is seemingly stuck in perpetual limbo. Now, there is a tariff war that only compounds problems for domestic agriculture that is more dependent on export markets than ever before, including peanuts. I don’t have to tell you about the stress you’re under.
What I can say is that you are not alone, and those same resources that Monfort was bringing to the forefront then are still available now and then some.
Since that initial focus on mental health on the farm in 2020, the Extension service nationwide has become more acutely tuned to helping and supporting farmers in their communities. Hopefully, you as farmers are more aware that your mental health is critical, that the stigma of reaching out for help has been removed and that resources are available to help you process what you’re going through. The take-home message for these resources is that you are the most important asset on your farm.
Another resource that has come about since 2020 is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. An alternative to 911, this hotline is ready to provide mental health resources and support or even mental health emergencies like suicidal thinking or behavior, trauma, substance misuse and psychosis. The 988 Lifeline is available for call, text or chat with trained counselors who can discuss what’s happening and, if necessary, connect you to local resources and support.
Yet another resource can be found at www.farmandranchstress.com. Here, you can find a list of resources and also connect to the Rural Georgia: Growing Stronger website for further help in managing mental health and staying healthy during stressful times.
If anything, I hope you can see through all of these resources that there is a whole network of people who understand the plight of the farmer and want to help you stay the most valuable asset on your farm.
News Briefs
Federation Testifies At Committee Hearing
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry recently held a hearing titled “Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1.” Garrett Moore of Moore Family Farm LLC in Chancellor, Alabama, testified on behalf of the United States Peanut Federation and peanut farmers.
Moore’s testimony highlighted the struggles facing the peanut industry, including growers, shellers and buying points. He outlined the major financial challenges over the past few years, including supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, non-tariff trade barriers and low market prices. Despite the recently passed economic assistance package, farmers will still face significant deficits, with input costs rising dramatically.
Agricultural economists say that the cost of production in 2024 was approximately $656.80 per ton, which was a 20.17% increase over the course of three years compared to 2021’s $546.54 per ton.
During his testimony, Moore gave anecdotal evidence supporting the rising cost of production, stating, “On our farm alone, many of our expenses have almost doubled since 2018, and we are seeing no signs of relief in the cost of
production area. For example, we need specific fertilizers to sustain nutrient levels in the soil, both for the peanuts we are growing and to protect the land for future crops. In the past few years, the significant increase in fertilizer costs has caused tough management decisions.”
Additionally, Moore emphasized the need for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill this year and to include an increase in the reference price for the peanut Price Loss Coverage program and a voluntary base update that will assist newer growing regions and younger growers.
“This testament to our current farm economy clearly conveys why we need a new Farm Bill. Peanut growers, shellers and buying points all support the PLC program as included in the 2018 Farm Bill, but with a reference price increase. While the 2018 Farm Bill’s PLC program has been beneficial for peanut growers in the past, the rise in cost of production requires a reference price increase if this program is to remain relevant and valuable as a farm safety net,” Moore said.
“Additionally, the U.S. Peanut Federation supports a voluntary base update that includes growers with and without peanut base acres. While the 2014 Farm Bill allowed for base updating for peanut growers that already had base acreage on their farms, it excluded many young farmers and new production areas,” Moore added.
In Brief
• Alabama farmer testifies about dire economic situation.
• Peanut fortified therapeutic food gets caught up in DOGE cuts.
• Trade representative commits to helping with EU regulations.
• Economic assistance on the way; disaster relief and Farm Bill in the wings.
• Georgians help their own with relief fund following Hurricane Helene.
In closing, he stressed the importance of the peanut industry in the global food supply and urged continued support for farmers to ensure the future of agriculture.
“I am proud to be an American peanut grower and am thankful for the opportunity to contribute to our nation’s food supply. I hope to continue my family’s farm for a 5th generation, which cannot be done without increased support for our industry,” Moore said.
Mana Contracts Reinstated
After the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency initially shut down all U.S. Agency for International Development contracts in their goal to eliminate wasteful spending, bipartisan support helped reinstate contracts for Mana Nutrition’s life-saving therapeutic food.
“We are thrilled and extremely grateful to share that our USAID contracts have been reinstated thanks to bipartisan support from all over the country!” they posted on the Mana Facebook page.
The Fitzgerald, Georgia, nonprofit that produces a fortified peanut paste shipped around the globe to fight malnutrition had millions of dollars in contracts canceled by the federal government.
News Briefs
Peanut Buying Points Recognizes Service And Impact
The National Peanut Buying Points Association hosted their Annual Winter Conference at J.W. Marriott in Tampa, Florida, recently with 183 attendees.
The NPBPA’s Distinguished Service Award went to James Merritt, founder of Merritt Mechanical Fabrication in Cairo, Georgia. Merritt Mechanical is a family owned business spanning three generations. Kendall and Kim Taylor have been part of the company for 30 years. In 2021, Kasey Taylor joined the team. Their manufacturing shop has produced hydraulic lifts, drive-over unloading pits and elevator wells, conveyors, walkways, and the team is always busy helping buying points in the tri-state area.
The Impact Award was presented to Amy and David Dixon, the owners of the Dixon family farm and Dixon Peanut Company near Girard, Georgia. Amy and David’s buying point has three samplers installed with the automated tube on one of their samplers. The sampler with the automated tube was more consistent than the other two manual samplers. He made the decision to install the automated tube on those samplers as well. Their buying point graded 24,000 tons for the 2024 crop using all three samplers with the automated tube. They worked with Helton Electrical Services on the installation of the automated tubes for the samplers at their buying point.
The 2026 Peanut Buying Points Winter Conference will be Feb., 11-14, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky, during the National Farm Machinery Show.
“All of our contracts were canceled, which total nearly $50 million,” says Mark Moore, CEO and cofounder of Mana Nutrition.
Mana employs approximately 135 people in Fitzgerald, where the nonprofit has been operating since 2010. USAID accounts for more than 90% of Mana’s sales of the ready-to-use therapeutic food composed of peanut paste, milk and a mix of vitamins and minerals. The fortified paste is then packaged and distributed globally to treat children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. The Fitzgerald nonprofit is only one of two in the United States that makes RUTF packs. The other, Edesia Nutrition, is located in Rhode Island.
Mana reached a “remarkable milestone” in 2024 with feeding seven million children across the world. “This number represents more than just life-
saving treatments; it signifies lives saved and futures reclaimed. Over one billion packets of RUTF have traveled from Fitzgerald to 45 countries around the world, saving lives with Georgia peanuts,” Mana wrote on social media.
Cammack’s Fight For e Working Class Is Personal
Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) was the featured speaker at the National Peanut Buying Points Association Annual Meeting in Tampa. She is a third-generation commercial sandblaster who grew up on a cattle ranch outside Denver, Colorado, participating in local 4-H programs and the local rodeo. After graduating from college at Metro State University in Denver, Cammack ran Ted Yoho’s successful congressional campaign in 2012 and served
for nearly a decade as the deputy chief of staff for Florida’s Third Congressional District. While in that role, she advocated for small business owners, veterans and military families, agricultural producers and hardworking families like her own, motivated by her family’s story.
In her third term, she serves on the House Agriculture and House Energy and Commerce Committees. While serving on these committees, Cammack brings attention to the challenges faced by working-class families and Florida’s farmers, ranchers and producers with rising inflation, labor challenges and supply-chain issues. She also works to highlight the historic border crisis, visiting the southern border multiple times and sounding the alarm about the dangerous policies of the Biden-Harris administration. She also works to push back on the Chinese Communist Party’s threats
Receiving the Distinguished Service award was Merritt Mechanical Fabrication represented by, from left, Kim Taylor, Kendall Taylor, James Merritt, NPBPA vice president David Rushing, Kasey Taylor.
Receiving the Impact Award from NPBPA vice president David Rushing, center, are David and Amy Dixon.
News Briefs
to our national security through Big Tech information gathering and Chinese nationals’ purchases of American farmland. She consistently works to prioritize constituent advocacy and service, fighting for Florida families. She is an advocate for agriculture and a strong supporter of the peanut program.
U.S. Trade Representative Agrees To Help Peanuts
The U.S. Peanut Federation has shared concerns with the new U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, about peanut trading. U.S. peanut exports have struggled for several years, particularly with access to the European Union where we now export fewer peanuts than we did in the 1980s.
The Federation apprised Greer that even though U.S. peanut growers are subject to stringent aflatoxin testing by the USDA to assure our peanuts are safe to enter the food supply, the EU requires expanded testing for U.S. peanut imports, selecting 20% of U.S. shipments for additional testing.
“These requirements are far more extensive for the United States than for competitors, including China, and are costing the U.S. peanut industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” according to the Federation.
Greer says, when confirmed, he will help resolve this testing issue that is holding back U.S. exports to the EU.
“I will review the EU’s aflatoxin testing requirements and work to resolve discriminatory barriers that unfairly disadvantage U.S. peanut exporters,” he says.
Georgia Foundation For Agriculture Leads Fundraising
In the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, more than 40 agricultural organizations joined forces to establish a relief fund for farmers whose livelihoods were upended by the storm. With overwhelming support from hundreds of donors, the fund successfully raised $1.7 million in three months, providing vital aid to those who sustain our communities with locally grown food and fiber.
The “Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund for Georgia Farmers” will provide direct assistance for agricultural losses, including damage to crops, livestock and farm infrastructure that is not covered under insurance, and 100% of the funds raised will be distributed directly to affected farmers, ensuring swift and meaningful support. Farmers were encouraged to apply for funds, and checks will be distributed based on needs outlined in their applications.
The relief effort was spearheaded by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, which facilitated the collection of all donations and will be coordinating the distribution of the funds.
Washington D.C. Update
Bob Redding, executive director of the U.S. Peanut Federation offered an update from Washington D.C. at the
National Peanut Buying Points Annual Conference that congressional members are aware of the present situation down on the farm with low commodity prices and increased cost of production. He says the American Relief Act of 2024 included the economic assistance package, agricultural disaster assistance and the 2024 Farm Bill extension.
The economic assistance package of $11 billion has made progress toward being released. It includes funds for all commodities, including a $76.30 per-acre payment for peanuts. The cotton payment is $87 per acre and corn is at $43 per acre. A 90-day deadline was included following approval by Congress with some estimating funds would be sent through the Farm Service Agency by the end of March.
Disaster assistance will take longer as farmers report damage. Disaster assistance includes $21 billion in natural disaster aid for farmers who are still reeling from hurricanes and other weather-related crises.
Redding also presented the January 2025 baseline for the allocations for the Farm Bill (2026-2035). The list includes nutrition (79%) at $1,124 billion; crop insurance (9%) at $132.8 billion; commodity programs (4%) at $57.4 billion followed by conservation (1%) for $16 billion, 1% was listed for trade, horticulture and research and a final 1% for administration.
PROVEN RESULTS RE UL
Market Watch
Will Economic Assistance Come In
Time?
The peanut industry is running under caution, and peanut farmers are worried that during the caution, the next wreck could take him or her out. Around every corner are potential problems from an early lack of rain, everything costing more, contracts being reduced below the cost of production, Trump announcing tariffs on our best markets, prices on alternative crops that are worse than peanuts, no Farm Bill help from the government and the list goes on.
While talking to a farmer about his plan for this season, he commented, “Call me back when I have a better attitude.” Another farmer was asked what he would advise, and he said, “Don’t farm!”
Hopefully, things are better in some areas, but as some also commented, it could get worse before things get better. President Trump pledged strong support for farmers in his Report to the Nation speech. Newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins pledged to get economic assistance payments to farmer’s farm accounts through the Farm Service Agency by planting time. For peanuts, the estimated assistance payment of $76.30 per acre is the peanut part of the $11 billion package.
Crop Value And Contracts
The Farm Bill has been extended until Sept. 30, 2025. The industry still has the $355 per-ton loan available and the reference price of $535 per ton. The average price is predicted to be $536 per ton resulting in no payment to peanut producers.
The farm-gate value from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service for the 2024 crop was $1.6 billion, 4.6% more than 2023’s value. The average price in
J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor, e Peanut Grower
Indicators
2024 was 25.8 cents per pound or $516 per ton. That compares to 26.9 cents per pound in 2023 or $538 per ton. The average price in Georgia was $482 per ton. The highest price per pound was Texas at 37.9 cents per pound or $758 per ton. Oklahoma was second at $612 per ton. The lowest price was in Alabama at 23.6 cents per pound or $468 per ton.
For 2025, the Southeast’s peanut buying points reported by mid-February that peanut contracts for runner-type peanuts at $500 per ton were open. The contract is limited to half of the farmer’s production in 2024. Shellers are reportedly matching the offer if the farmer is ready to sign. Reports indicate a good response; however, farmers were critical of limits. Contracts were available at $605 per ton for Virginia-type peanuts, again with limits, and even some $525 per-ton offers for high oleic varieties. Don’t look for any new contracts until after planting.
Tariff Trouble
When the Trump Administration announced the 25% tariffs on Canada
and Mexico and a 20% tariff on China, all sheller contracts were pulled and no longer available. What’s next? Nobody knows. With cotton at 63 cents per pound and corn at $4.20 per bushel, farmers are likely to increase peanut acres. Leaders are warning farmers not to overplant. The danger with growing peanuts is that the recipe for quality production requires crop rotation, approved herbicides and insecticides, fertilizer, calcium and quality certified seed and water, especially at pegging time. To vary from the recipe jeopardizes the total production and final quality of the peanuts. The domestic market for peanuts and peanut butter is considered cautiously calm knowing product is available from the 2024 crop, and with the expected acreage increase, prices should remain about the same or lower.
Domestic Markets
Raw peanuts in primary products are down 1.1% from August to January compared to the same six-month period of 2023. Peanut butter usage dropped
Market Watch
7.6%, pushing the six-month volume down 2%. Candy usage is down 7.2% for the six months after a 5.5% decline in January versus last year. Peanuts in snacks are up 8.7% from January to January and are now up 4.6% for the six months.
Export Markets
Export demand for peanuts and peanut products has declined 14.91% over the first five months of the marketing year compared to the previous five months. Canada has reclaimed the title as the top U.S. market while Mexico drops to second and China third. Exports to China and the European Union declined significantly in the past year. China is a major peanut producer and reduced demand for peanut imports last year because of their record crop. For the European Union, difficulty in
meeting the EU’s strict aflatoxin limits curbed U.S. peanut butter exports to the region as increased screenings in the past led to rising import costs. This is especially an issue for consumer-ready products as the permissible levels for the EU are more restrictive than for the United States. The American Peanut Council’s market development programs are expanding and will include the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development Program and the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.
Balancing Supply And Demand
Planting too many peanuts this year, given good rains and a favorable season, means an over-supply next year. Farmers know the right thing to do is to stay with their rotation and avoid planting peanuts behind peanuts. Be conservative
‘‘Farmers know the right thing to do is to stay
with their rotation and avoid planting peanuts behind peanuts. Be conservative and do your part in balancing supply and demand.
and do your part in balancing supply and demand. We are fortunate to have a good domestic market, down only 1%, and an export market that has promise with more promotion.
If you cannot find a profitable contract, place peanuts into the loan at $355 and wait.
APC Meets With UN Agencies In Rome
The American Peanut Council met with two United Nations’ agencies in Rome recently to discuss priorities related to the use of U.S. peanuts in life-saving food assistance. The meetings with the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization explored opportunities supporting APC’s work with peanut-based, ready-to-use therapeutic food in underdeveloped countries.
The WFP and FAO meetings focused on the possibility of future collaboration on RUTF production, APC’s role in supporting RUTF producers in the United States and potential challenges for both U.S. growers and global food assistance efforts stemming from the closure of U.S. Agency for International Development. Both UN agencies work together to promote food security around the world.
“Supporting and promoting U.S. peanuts in RUTF is an important part of APC’s export promotion work. Meetings with the UN were both informative and timely,” said APC President and CEO Richard Owen. “Since peanuts are the primary ingredient in most RUTF, a substantial amount of U.S. peanut production is dedicated to producing the therapeutic food, which aids in global malnutrition efforts while generating job opportunities in underserved U.S. communities.”
In fiscal year 2024, USAID purchased more than $154 million of RUTF and ready-to-use supplemental food produced in the United States, which included approximately 13,000 metric tons of U.S. peanuts. As the tumult at USAID unfolds, production of these products is continuing for now. However, without
clear direction regarding the U.S. government’s involvement in international food assistance, it is uncertain how peanut-based products might be purchased and distributed in the future.
“Going forward, we are hopeful to find ways to continue the U.S. production of RUTF, while also exploring other avenues of collaboration,” continued Owen. “The meetings with the WFP and FAO were a positive step.”
RUTF is a micronutrient paste that has treated millions of children threatened by severe wasting, the most dangerous form of malnutrition. Globally, one in five deaths among children under the age of five is attributed to severe wasting, making it one of the top threats to child survival. With the use of RUTF, treatment recovery rates for children have achieved 95%.
Pictured at the World Food Programme are APC sta with Bethany Bechdol, deputy director general of the Food Agriculture Organization.
How Might Trade Disputes Affect The U.S. Peanut Industry?
On Jan. 31, 2025, the White House announced a 25% import tariff on products from Canada and Mexico that was set to take effect on Feb. 1 but was soon after delayed for one month. Before the pause, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on several agricultural products including peanut butter. Then on Feb. 10, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel imports, and the European Union responded with a list of products that could be targeted with retaliatory tariffs, also including peanut butter. The recent trade disputes raise the question of how U.S. peanuts could potentially be affected.
While the United States only produces about 5% of the world’s peanuts, it exports 14%. In the 2023/2024 marketing year, 22% of the 3.27 million tons of peanuts that the United States produced were exported to other countries. In contrast, 58% of U.S. peanuts went to domestic food production.
The United States also exports significant amounts of processed peanuts, including peanut butter, which totaled over $256 million in the 2023/2024 marketing year. Thus, while export markets are not the largest destination for U.S. peanuts, they are still a significant portion, and the United States is a major peanut exporter.
Top Export Markets
Figure 1 shows the top destinations for U.S. exported peanuts and processed peanut products over the past five marketing years. Mexico has been the top export destination for raw U.S. peanuts each of the past three years at an average of 147,000 tons of peanuts per year. Canada ranks second over the same period, at 112,000 tons, on average. In the 2023/2024 marketing year, the European Union had a 126% increase in peanut imports from the United States, totaling 142,000 tons. Lastly, China was the largest export destination from 2019-2021 but has decreased its peanut imports for the past three years.
Overall, Mexico, Canada, China and the European Union account for 90% of raw U.S. peanut exports. In contrast, 57% of U.S.-processed peanut exports have gone to Canada and Mexico over the past five marketing years. The European Union nearly quadrupled its imports of processed peanut products from the United States this past marketing year. In summary, any reduction of U.S. raw or processed peanut exports to Canada, Mexico and the European Union could present challenges to the U.S. peanut industry.
Article by Auburn University agricultural economist Wendiam Sawadgo, from Southern Ag Today.
Trump lifts Tariffs On imports Of Canadian And Mexican Products
The tariff situation was changing on nearly a daily basis in February and March as discussions amongst the three countries took place, and the American Peanut Council did their best to keep members informed on the situation. In a follow up to their report on March 4 and two days after applying 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, President Trump lifted those tariffs effective 12:01 a.m. March 7. The exemption applies to any imports from Mexico and Canada that meet the rules of origin established by the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. In general, if the product is grown and processed in the United States, Mexico or Canada, the final product will meet the required rules of origin.
President Trump’s executive order clarifies that if imports of potash from Canada and Mexico, or energy from Canada, do not meet the USMCA rules of origin, a 10% tariff will apply. Companies should consult their custom brokers and importers to confirm imports are exempt and have any required documentation. The suspension of the U.S. tariffs is expected to be reviewed by early April.
Canada does not plan to lift the retaliatory 25% tariffs on $30 billion of U.S. goods, including U.S. peanut butter, prepared peanuts and peanut oil. Prime Minister Trudeau has stated those tariffs will remain in place while the United States imposes tariffs on Canadian goods. In addition to the U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada that do not meet USMCA rules of origin, the United States is set to impose 25% tariffs on imports of Canadian steel and aluminum on March 12.
In addition, on March 7, Canada issued a notice on its second list of $125 billion of U.S. products, including raw peanuts, extending the public comment period until April 2, 2025. Canada provided a process for companies to seek a “remission” or exemption from the tariffs.
Figure 1: U.S. Peanut Exports by Destination, Form and Marketing Year (thousand tons)
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In ‘Survival Mode’
Weigh the cause and effect of changing inputs and practices.
By Amanda Huber
Bad times produce some of the best lessons, says University of Georgia Extension peanut specialist Scott Monfort. And that may be the takeway from 2024 when looking at yields and net returns, he says.
“We really did the best we could, but Mother Nature took it from us.
“Last year, we produced 845,000 acres of peanuts, the third largest crop, but the state average was 3,850 pounds per acre, which is below the five-year average, Monfort says. “That is an indication that either we had things we couldn’t control or we didn’t control things we could.”
Large Crop, Low Yields
Monfort says in July 2024, he would not have thought the average would be that low.
Monfort says people will think it was Debby and Helene but that’s not what affected yield most.
“What hurt peanuts was the three to four weeks of continuous rains in May that prevented planting on time. That hurt us and then came a dry June.
“In the latter part of the season, yes, we had hurricanes, but it also cooled off at the end of August and that hurt maturity.”
Monfort says he expects 35% of Georgia’s acres will be planted early, but he cautions growers to not put all their eggs in one basket.
“If you want to plant early, spread out varieties and planting dates. There are varieties with more resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus now, and newer varieties also seem to have more vigor,” he says. “When planting early, especially, you need to use Thimet and follow with a good fungicide program.”
Planting In April
Another concern about planting at the beginning of the window is making sure soil temperatures at the 4-inch depth are at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit for three consecutive days with no cold fronts in the forecast.
“If you are using reduced tillage and the weather stays cool, you’ll have trouble planting in April because that cover helps the soil stay cool,” he says.
In 2023 and 2024, the seasons started cool and wet and both years had extended seasons. Varieties that are normally 135 to 145 days to maturity, we’ve had to push to 150 days just to get something out of it. If we had not extended our fungicide programs, we might not have gotten what we did. So, I know you would like to cut back on some things, but you have to be flexible and adjust during the season as needed.
Monfort says it is also important to know the specific recommendations on the varieties you plant.
“I like the variety Georgia-18RU,” he says. “It’s a big peanut. However, if you can’t plant between May 12 to May 25, you are going to have problems, either TSWV early or leafspot late.
On planting date, know your varieties, and don’t go planting everything in April. Hedge your bet a bit and spread it out.”
What To Do In 2025?
In 2025, Monfort says he is most concerned about short or no rotations.
In 2025:
• Spread out varieties and planting dates to hedge your bet.
“One year out or peanut behind peanut is what a lot of folks are facing. If that’s the case or not, let’s talk about maximizing yields,” he says. “Weather we can’t do anything about. But, on your list of inputs, everyone needs to look at cause and effect.
• Know the specific planting window for the varietal selection.
• Deep tillage helps you make yields on shortened rotations.
• Weigh the risks before going away from mainstay products.
• Get the best start possible with high-quality seed and good vigor.
“You can choose to change something or leave something out, but it will have a cause and effect. It will affect something else. Keep that in mind.”
Monfort says tillage and rotation is also something to think about.
“Everyone’s talking about cutting back on something and tillage is one those areas. If you’re in a three-year rotation now and decide to reduce tillage, can you drop to a short rotation and do without deep tillage? Probably so because you’re in this good rotation.
“But, if you’re one year out of rotation, that deep turning is helping your yields. If you go away from that, you are going to encounter more problems. One of the problems is reduced nutrients. In a longer rotation with corn and cotton, you are putting those nutrients back,” he says.
Yields will decline as rotations are shortened and deep tillage is not used.
Monfort says if this is the change you decide to make, you may have to pick up more in your pest management to offset some things.
“Know how your rotation interval protects you going for-
ward. Make changes to stiffen up your disease management plans to offset some of this short rotation,” he says. “Weigh the risk on planting short rotations. Keep in mind the dollar value of every input we put into the crop.
Think of every input and remember everything you do this year goes into seed for next year.”
Information Is Success
Monfort says this production meeting season, more than most, they’ve heard a lot about cutting back on fertility, fungicides or insecticides, as well, but in these situations, cutting back on these mainstay products did not help you make yields.
“There are a lot of planting decisions and choices to be made, such as varieties. But, seed quality is No. 1. If we are going to get a good start to this season, then we need good, high-quality seed with good vigor.
“Know your seed’s germination rate and pay attention to how it’s handled and stored,” he says. “Insecticide choice, inoculant, planting speed — do what you can to avoid skippy stands. The take home message: information is success here.”
Monfort knows that farmers are in survival mode but that also making multiple changes can lead to increased inputs and decreased yields.
“If you’re going to make changes, weigh out the risks before you pull the trigger on those and determine if it’s in your best interest to go away from the mainstay products versus some of the other things out there we can do,” he says. “Survival mode does not mean going away from fertility and fungicide programs, and if you are in a short rotation, know you have a higher disease risk. Cutting back to the bare minimum doesn’t often pay.” PG
Protecting Your Investment
Coverage, rainfastness and flexibility are the benefits of this enhanced fungicide.
By Amanda Huber
Precision chemistry; that’s the tagline of Vive Crop Protection. In other words, when you apply a chemical or biological on your farm, it needs to go straight to the problem without causing issues, says Greg Esco, U.S. sales lead. To do that, Vive solutions contain the Allosperse Delivery Technology, a patented nano-polymer that influences how proven active ingredients behave in the jug and the field to simplify crop production and deliver results to growers.
“This technology uses patented polymer ‘shuttles’ to carry an active ingredient where it needs to go,” Esco says. “Allosperse is what our company is founded on. It allows us to make the active ingredient particle nearly 60 times smaller than anything else commercially available. This allows our product to cover the surface area more effectively.”
Dries Stronger, Stays Longer
Phobos FC is a prothioconazole fungicide that contains the Allosperse technology and provides broad-spectrum protection against a wide range of foliar and soilborne diseases while maximizing crop performance. It is a FRAC Group 3 fungicide.
Esco says a benefit is that it’s more rainfast than similar products.
“We say that we don’t dry faster, we dry stronger. It takes the same amount of time for our product to dry, but because of the smaller particle size and Allosperse, when you get a rain event right behind that, we have 50% more active ingredient remaining on the plant surface. It stays on longer. Because of the smaller particle size, we have more surface area coverage.”
It’s also systemic and gets into the
plant faster as well, he says.
“There’s nothing worse than putting a fungicide on the crop at noon, and at 3 p.m., it rains. And you’re wondering, ‘how much fungicide did I lose?’ You’re going to retain more active ingredient on that leaf surface in that plant with this product,” he says.
Tankmix And Application Friendly
Esco says Phobos fungicide is easy to use and tankmixes well with everything from inoculants and other in-furrow products to micronutrients and crop inputs like Vive’s AZterknot fungicide.
“In the tank and jug, our formulations are more stable and pour out of the jug easier and rinse out of the jug easier,” Esco says. “We are also tankmix friendly. If it’s just a straight product or added in-furrow with an inoculant and won’t cause any problems with that tankmix.
“From a foliar standpoint, mixing it with a nutritional product such as boron or sulfur is also possible. You won’t have stop ups or grit in your tips.”
Esco says the Allosperse technology lets you have that ease of mind that the products you put in the tank will stay in suspension.
“If you get rained out, you’re not going to stop up your system. Those are the two things that we do that someone else does not,” he says.
Phobos is labeled for all of the problem diseases in peanuts, including cylindrocladium black rot (suppression), early leaf spot, late leaf spot, leaf rust, leaf scorch, pepper spot, rhizoctonia limb rot, sclerotium rot, southern blight, web blotch and white mold or southern stem rot.
Flexible Timing
Esco says the product also offers flexibility, which is something growers need.
“You can mix it with tebuconazole or with azoxystrobin, and it can go out at the 60 and 90 days after planting or 75 to 105 days after planting timings, depending on pressure,” he says. “Because of our particle size, the result is longer and better disease protection, especially at the end of the interval and right before the next spray. There is still protection of that crop from disease.
“If you get delayed from getting into the field with the next spray, there is still protection on the crop,” Esco says. “Until growers try it, I know they will think ‘how different can it be?’ But it is.” PG
Soil And Water Decision Tool
AgriLife Research and IBM add ‘Virtual Extension Assistant’ to Soil and Water Assessment Tool for user-friendly management insights.
An innovative resource designed to streamline and improve decision making in agricultural and natural resources production and management is now available to a wide range of users — farmers, researchers, Extension agents as well as policymakers and land and water managers across the nation.
The Soil and Water Assessment Tool Virtual Extension Assistant, or SWAT VEXA, was released in late 2024 by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and IBM. It is a free, interactive, generative artificial intelligence assistant that provides custom, user-friendly insights.
By addressing critical areas such as soil erosion, pollution control and disaster risk mitigation, among many other scenarios, SWAT VEXA empowers users to make informed decisions across a host of scenarios.
Decades Of Research And Development
Outputs from SWAT VEXA are based on big data sets of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, SWAT. This advanced computer modeling system was developed over more than four decades by scientists at the Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research Center at Temple along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
resource productivity and sustainability by enabling faster decision making for users worldwide.
Over the years, SWAT has become the international and U.S. standard for agriculture and natural resources decision-making at all geographical scales.
“VEXA accelerates research, enhances reproducibility and empowers users to design innovative solutions for complex agricultural and hydrological challenges,” says Raghavan Srinivasan, AgriLife Research distinguished professor and director of the Blackland Research Center at Temple.
“With its ability to democratize knowledge and fast-track decision-making, VEXA is set to drive significant advancements in SWAT model research, ultimately promoting ecosystem sustainability and effective resource management worldwide,” Srinivasan says.
Merging AI With Proven Technology
The SWAT system was integrated with AI as part of a continuing collaboration between AgriLife Research and IBM through the technology company’s IBM Sustainability Accelerator. SWAT VEXA also incorporates IBM’s Deep Search AI, watsonx.ai and Granite model.
Researchers say the tool can advance agricultural and natural
“Today, smallholder farmers need more than traditional advice,” says Justina Nixon-Saintil, vice president and chief impact officer at IBM. “They need scientifically precise, data-driven insights. Solutions such as SWAT VEXA democratize access to critical environmental insights, enabling faster, more informed decision making for communities facing agricultural challenges.”
Driving Global Impact
In addition to advancing agricultural and resource productivity, SWAT VEXA is expected to amplify the global impact of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. To date, this program has supported approximately 65,300 direct beneficiaries through efforts in sustainable agriculture initiatives.
By offering accessible, AI-powered insights, SWAT VEXA enables users to make data-informed decisions, ultimately promoting sustainability and resilience in agricultural systems worldwide.
For more information on SWAT, the soil and water assessment tool go to swat.tamu.edu/. PG
Article by Gabe Saldana, Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications.
Gain An Advantage
Putting root-knot nematode-resistant cultivars to the test.
Peanut root-knot nematode is one of the major pests in peanut production in Florida and throughout the Southeast. Along with crop rotation and nematicide application, use of resistant peanut cultivars is a primary method for managing peanut root-knot nematode.
All current root-knot nematode-resistant peanut cultivars derive resistance from the same parental peanut source. When successfully incorporated into a cultivar, this resistance greatly reduces infection and damage caused by peanut root-knot nematode. In fields with severe peanut root-knot nematode pressure, resistant cultivars consistently increase yield relative to susceptible cultivars with nematicide application.
In recent years, the number of peanut cultivars breederdesignated as root-knot nematode resistant has increased. The primary goals of these new resistant cultivars have been to increase yield and grade as well introduce other desirable traits, such as resistance to other pathogens. While these cultivars have been tested in the areas they were developed, primarily South Georgia, local testing is always useful. Therefore, small plot trials were conducted to compare these resistant cultivars under severe pressure from peanut root-knot nematode.
What Did The Trials Show?
Trials were conducted at West Florida Research and Education Center in 2023 and 2024, as well as North Florida
Table 1. Runner-type peanut cultivars designated as root-knot nematode resistant by breeders. Availability is based on certified acreage and supplier survey by UF’s B. Tillman.
CultivarRegistrationAvailabilityNotes
Tif NV-HG2023 Most available of listed Higher grading TifNV
GA 23RKN2024 Increase Normal oleic, Tomato Spotted Wilt tolerant
Research and Education Center-Suwannee Valley in 2024. The resistant cultivars listed in Table 1 were included in the trials. Georgia 23RKN was not included either year, and Georgia 22MPR was only included in 2024. Resistant cultivars were compared to root-knot nematode-susceptible Georgia 06G with in-furrow Velum nematicide at 6.5 fluid ounces or
Root-knot nematode-susceptible cultivars exhibiting foliar yellowing (chlorosis) compared with green resistant cultivars in small plot trial at NFREC-SV in September 2024.
Georgia 06G without a nematicide.
Tif NV-HiO/L, Tif NV-HG, Georgia 14N and Georgia 22MPR were very effective at minimizing root-knot nematode infection during the season and mitigating galling at the end of the season. In contrast, in-furrow Velum nematicide was not effective at mitigating root-knot nematode infection or below-ground symptoms in this study.
Unlike other cultivars marked as resistant, ACI N104 showed a more intermediate level of resistance. It did not reduce mid-season infection relative to the susceptible Georgia 06G but had some efficacy at managing pod galling at the end of season. Mid-season root-knot nematode eggs for NFREC 2024 as well as pod galling and harvest root-knot nematode soil counts for WFREC 2024 values, which are not shown in the charts here, were low and not affected by treatments. This was likely due to very hot and dry conditions before the affected assessments.
Reducing Nematodes For Subsequent Crops
Resistant cultivars — except ACI N104 — also consistently reduced final root-knot nematode soil abundances. In addition to demonstrating management for the current crop, managing final root-knot counts can have carryover benefits for maintaining lower rootknot nematode pressure for subsequent crops. ACI N104 helped manage final root-knot nematode counts at NFREC in 2024 but was not effective at WFREC in 2024. This is consistent with previous comments about ACI N104 having a more intermediate level of resistance than other resistant cultivars.
Yield at WFREC in 2023 was very poor at around 1,500 pounds per acre due to extreme heat and drought late in the year, which devastated the unirrigated field trial. At WFREC in 2024, yield was generally greater for the resistant cultivars than Georgia 06G. Georgia 22MPR did not perform as well as the top-yielding cultivars at WFREC in 2024, likely because the stand was poor at that location. In contrast, at NFREC, Tif NV-HG and Georgia 22MPR yielded better than the other resistant cultivars or Georgia 06G. Tif NV-HG was the most consistent performer for the 2024 trials, which provides some reassurance, as it will be the most widely available root-knot nematode-resistant peanut cultivar this year. Inconsistent yield with other resistant cultivars was unexpected because of prior consistent yields for resistant cultivars under root-knot nematode pressure. The challenging environmental conditions in these trials likely contributed to inconsistency.
For growers wanting to try a resistant cultivar for the first time, or switching to a new resistant cultivar, start on limited acreage. Planting side-by-side with a familiar cultivar can be a good place to start. Additional information about these and other cultivars can also be found on the Florida peanut team website at nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/florida-peanut-team. PG
1. Mid-season (six weeks after planting) root-knot nematode egg population densities from roots as influenced by cultivars or in-furrow Velum nematicide. For all data, treatments that do not share a letter are significantly di erent.
2. Root-knot nematode galling of pods at harvest (mean of 10 plants/plot) as influenced by cultivars or in-furrow Velum nematicide.
at
Article by Zane Grabau, field crop nematology assistant professor at the University of Florida.
Figure 4. Peanut yield as influenced by cultivars or in-furrow Velum nematicide.
Figure 3. Root-knot nematode soil population densities
harvest as influenced by cultivars or in-furrow Velum nematicide.
Figure
Figure
The Two Toms
NC State University Extension peanut specialist David Jordan shares memories and appreciation for Tom Isleib and Tom Stalker.
When I interviewed for my current position in 1996, the person I spent the most time talking with was Tom Isleib. I had never met Tom until that interview. He completed his PhD at North Carolina State under Johnny Wynne’s direction just before I was an undergraduate at NCSU and then he joined the faculty while I was in graduate school and working as a weed scientist in rice and soybean production systems in another part of the United States.
Tom had been on the NC State faculty for a few years when I started my current position. Even though I did not know Tom at the time, when I would ride back and forth from home to Raleigh as an undergraduate, between Williamston and Everetts on Highway 64, there were numerous small, rectangular areas in fields with a lot of dead peanuts and a few survivors. Eventually, it became obvious these were research plots, but at the time, I had no idea of what it was. Those fields were a curiosity and opened my eyes to agricultural research designed to help farmers. The fields were full of black root rot (CBR), and they included the latest experimental lines that had possible resistance to this disease compared with varieties farmers were growing.
“If sarcasm was ever considered a spiritual gift, Tom had it in abundance. Constructive sarcasm can help us all move down the road to where we need to be.”
’’
The Influence Of Field Trials
As I look back now, Tom might have had more of an impact on my career decisions than I thought when I think of those rides to and from school. The conversation in the hotel parking lot during my job interview started a friendship and professional relationship. But I think, as I look back now, Tom was speaking to me through the breeding lines in those CBR-infested fields.
There are many memories I will carry with me about Tom. Over the years, Tom and I worked together on various initiatives and projects. I observed Tom solve numerous problems for growers through his variety releases. As time went by, the varieties performed better and better and brought more to the
table for North Carolina growers and the Virginia-Carolina region in general.
Along the way, Tom’s whit, sarcasm and humor made the journey through those improvements in varieties enjoyable — and they kept us all on our toes too. If sarcasm was ever considered a spiritual gift, Tom had it in abundance. Constructive sarcasm can help us all move down the road to where we need to be.
On a more technical note, a few years ago I was asked by a prominent researcher to give an estimate of the contributions of A. cardenasii segments to disease resistance and cultivar development. Bailey is an example of a successful variety with this element. In Extension, we are often asked to give estimates of the economic impact of our programs. As I provide my estimate of one of Tom’s contributions, I am reminded of what Alan York, a rather straightforward and crusty weed scientist who worked in peanuts years ago, told Extension agents. Just make sure the impact you report does not exceed the total
OF TOM ISLEIB….
Tom Isleib
value of the crop for the state. With that caution in mind, the following was my answer to the question about the contributions of A. cardenasii to Bailey and subsequently the peanut industry in the V-C region. This estimate is just a fraction of Tom’s numerous contributions to the peanut industry.
A Change In My View Of Professors
Before I get to the estimate, it is important to point out the contributions by another Tom in terms of peanut varieties released from NC State. Tom Stalker retired several years back, and in addition to being an administrator for several years, he was a geneticist who made collections of wild species from South America, the center of origin for peanuts. The variety Bailey has been successful in part because of the work Tom Stalker did.
I shared stories about Tom Isleib earlier in this piece. Here is a quick one about Tom Stalker. One assignment in my undergraduate plant breeding course at NC State was to write a short paper on an influential breeder. I was assigned Jack Harlan. Don Emery was the instructor, and you will recognize his name given to one of the Virginia market type varieties we grow in the region. He was also my undergraduate advisor. Tom Isleib taught the same plant breeding course during much of his career. The first professor I talked with about Jack Harlan left a poor impression about professors. It was a oneway conversation. Within less than a minute, he told me he was not going to write the paper for me in a condescending way. I left quickly, but I have not forgotten that exchange.
The next person I talked with was Tom Stalker. He was a student under Jack Harlan. He invited me into his office and spent about an hour talking about Harlan’s contributions and his personal life. That was a 180-degree change in my view of professors. When it comes to professors and peanuts, I have great memories of Isleib, Stalker and Emery.
The Impact of Bailey’s Release
Here is the estimate on the contribution of Bailey (and A. cardenasii ). I would say for a decade, Bailey, along with other changes, had a huge impact on peanut yields in North
“He invited me into his o ice and spent about an hour talking about Harlan’s contributions and his personal life. That was a 180-degree change in my view of professors.”
Carolina. In addition to Bailey, longer rotations between peanuts, production of peanuts on more appropriate soils after changes in farm legislation in 2003, availability of plant protection products for most pests that develop, improvements in other technologies and excellent management helped create an environment for yields to currently average 4,000 pounds per acre. For much of that time, growers could apply four sprays rather than the traditional five sprays.
Production in the V-C region was likely around 200,000 acres with about 65% in Bailey (130,000 acres). Compared to the older varieties, I think yields per acre increased by 400 pounds with Bailey. My estimate is 700 pounds per acre total (average yield change after 2003 up to now) considering the contributing factors listed above along with the 400 pounds per acre from Bailey. Assuming $0.23 per pound, that is $92 per acre. Using the 130,000 acres, the increase was $12 million per year compared with what older varieties would have delivered. Over a decade, that is $120 million. For the savings in fungicide, that would be $10 per acre on half of the 130,000 acres per year for 10 years or $13 million. The total estimate of the value of Bailey for a decade is $127 million.
Bailey has been replaced by Bailey II, and this new version sits at the top of the list for Virginia-market types. In addition to continued high yields, Bailey II is a high-oleic version of Bailey. Everyone benefits from its fatty-acid profile in the in-shell trade. I won’t try to estimate the economic value of Bailey II. It would be a really big number, and the hands of these two Toms would be in the middle of that success. PG
OF TOM STALKER….
NCSU
Tom Stalker
Peanut Pointers
Decrease Weed Competition With Multiple Control Methods
April is a good time to review your herbicide program. The most important weed control timing for optimizing the production of peanuts is the first nine weeks after planting. Peanut yields decrease as weed interference intervals increase during this period. Therefore, the use of preplant, preplant incorporated, preemergence and early and late post-emergence herbicides are critically important for minimizing weed competition during the early season.
When selecting herbicides, it is essential to rotate the mechanical mode of actions and avoid repeating the use of same one to slow down the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. The herbicide mode of action can be easily found on the label.
If you see weeds that survive following an application of an effective herbicide, please contact your county agent. They
can confirm whether the weeds may be a herbicide-resistant biotype. Other weed control options include physical (hand pulling and hoeing), mechanical (plowing and cultivation), cultural (seeding rates, seeding dates, row patterns, crop rotation) and biological (use of insects). While chemical control is a very powerful tool in our toolbox, combinations with other tools will make the chemical control even more powerful.
Variety Options For Early Planting
The 2025 peanut planting season is right around the corner. I know many are looking to increase peanut acreage on their farms. It may seem like an easy decision to look at the low cotton prices and plan to shift cotton acres to peanut or corn. However, I encourage you to be mindful of the low percentage of peanuts with contract prices because of the potential huge increase of intended planted acres. There is no guarantee of a good peanut contract due to the increase in acreage. I would caution against compromising your rotation and future for little to no gain.
In fact, some producers have already stretched their rotations thin over the past couple of years. These shorter rotations have resulted in increased nematode pressure and a higher risk of disease.
We know, with increased nematodes, it’s obviously better to plant a nematode-resistant variety. This, and planting early, will also help lower nematode pressure due to getting peanuts out of the ground earlier in the fall and before nematodes can build up to a worse situation.
Even if you plan to plant earlier to mitigate the late pressure from nematodes, if you don’t use a resistant variety, spend the money and take advantage of the in-furrow nematode treatments available.
Last year was a light-pressure year for Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. I really wish we could predict how much pressure we would have ahead of planting every year. We all know Georgia12Y is rated as a five on the risk index scale, which makes it a good choice to plant early. Arnie is another new variety with the same rating as Georgia-12Y. I know seed is limited this year for Arnie, but it is becoming more available and that gives you another good choice for early season planting.
Many producers have been disappointed with the grades from Georgia-12Y and AU NPL 17 the past two years. However, the low grades resulted mainly from the weather. If you looked at Auburn’s variety testing website focusing on
KRIS BALKCOM
Auburn University Extension Specialist
EMI KIMURA
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension State Extension Peanut Specialist
Peanut Pointers
the past three-year average for yield and grade, Georgia-12Y and AU NPL 17 had the lowest loan value for the three-year average but also had the highest value-per-acre because of their yields. I don’t know about you, but I am planning on this growing season to be warm and wet, giving us an opportunity to make some peanuts. These conditions may increase disease pressure, and, with that being said, you don’t need to give up on those two varieties that offer some resistance until we have more seed available of the newer ones.
A List Of Important Crop Reminders
As we move through April, commitments to growing peanuts have been made for almost every field in question. I hope that farmers will be following a good crop rotation sequence in almost every field that is beneficial to peanuts. However, we know there are some fields with more risk than others when considering presence of diseases and nematodes. How can we minimize risk across the board? One way is to make sure other stresses are taken care of as well as possible.
Given peanut prices are more attractive than other crops in the rotation, we need to get as much out of the peanut crop as possible. For Virginia market types, I often share a bullet list at
North Carolina State University Extension Agronomist
grower meetings reminding us of the most critical elements. Here is the list:
■ Apply nutrients based on soil tests and make sure soil pH is at least 5.8 across the entire field.
■ Avoid excessive magnesium and potassium, but apply these if the soil test calls for them.
■ Avoid fields with high levels of zinc, if possible. However, if you can get the soil pH up to 6.5, you can plant peanuts even if the zinc index approaches 1,000 (NCDA&CS reports.) Keep in mind that if you have areas of the field where pH is low and zinc is high (we often use an average for both when determining what to do), you might have some hot spots.
■ Establish good rotations with cotton, corn, sorghum or sweet potato and avoid soybeans and tobacco, if possible.
■ Plant as close to mid-May as possible (in North Carolina).
■ Establish five plants per foot of row (generally on 36-inch rows).
■ Plant in conventional tillage on beds unless you have figured out the keys to reduced tillage. Digging peanuts on beds
DAVID JORDAN
Peanut Pointers
reduces pod loss for Virginia market types.
■ Irrigate if possible. However, make sure salt levels are below thresholds, and do not put too much water, especially late in the season.
■ Inoculate using a spray in the seed furrow with Bradyrhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation on every acre. Add a peat-based inoculant to seed for insurance, especially on new ground and in fields with long rotations.
■ Apply gypsum prior to pegging but not too early in June. Use recommended rates. If you apply higher rates of gypsum in fields with lower pH, you could see a yield loss.
■ Apply boron and manganese. Boron needs to go on all acres while manganese is often needed only in fields with high pH. However, these are inexpensive, so routine applications are not discouraged.
■ Make sure you are getting enough of each micronutrient with the products you are buying. Some will require multiple applications to reach the threshold amount.
■ Apply prohexadione calcium if you anticipate excessive vine growth. We have plenty of vine growth with Bailey II in North Carolina. Make sure the second spray is needed. If you do not see new growth in the canopy, hold off on the second spray. We often reduce peanut yields when we force a second spray under dry conditions.
■ Dig pods and invert vines based on pod mesocarp color. You cannot get it perfect in every field, but we gain about 1% in yield for each day as we move toward optimum maturity (5%-7% less yield when we dig a week early).
■ Do not drive too fast when digging. Harvest in a timely manner (getting acreage and harvest capacity in line makes a big difference).
■ Control pests using IPM practices (too many details to go into here).
There’s a lot here to follow and many details within each recommendation. There is also a good bit of nuance in some cases. However, if you can put these practices in place, you will increase the likelihood of success in a major way.
ere’s Still Time To Lay e Foundation For A Good Season
“Trying to minimize costly decisions” has been the foundation of peanut production meetings this winter. The one thing I know is that every decision is economically important, especially in the depressed financial situation we are currently in. The question growers need to ask is, “What does a specific decision cost up front and what are the potential implications of that decision on the final product, i.e. yield, quality, pest management?”
I know a lot of growers are considering cutting back on some inputs like tillage and fungicide programs because of the expense and time constraints. I am not against trying to save on inputs, but I want to caution growers to think about the sit-
uation for each field like rotation, variety selection, disease, weed and insect pressure, and decide if there are areas that can be cut back on versus strengthened.
As I mentioned in our production meetings, saving money upfront does not always equal a profit at the end of the season. We are early in the season, and growers can still help lay the foundation for a good year by taking soil samples, replenishing fertility where needed and reading over Peanut Rx to decide on variety choices.
Every choice you make from now to harvest will impact your profitability in 2025. Regarding varieties, the ones with the highest levels of resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus are Georgia-12Y, Tif NV-HG, Tif NV-HiO/L, Tif CB-7, Georgia22MPR and Arnie. These are the varieties I would consider for early planting, but I would still use Thimet to help suppress TSWV.
Finally, I encourage growers to ask your local county agricultural agent for assistance and hopefully reduce the number of negative impacts this season.
SCOTT MONFORT University of Georgia Extension Agronomist
The EPA Registered SAR Component:
• Provides protection against fungal infections such as dampingoff and white mold
• Interrupts the life-cycle of the root-knot nematode
• Elicits the plant enzymes for vitality
•Elevates the innate immunity defense mechanism of the plant
• Boosts germination and builds a stronger root system
•Increases yield - trial results show an average increase of 434 pounds per acre
