Peanut grower january 2016 by One Grower Publishing

The

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

JANUARY 2016

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

2016 Pesticide Guide

Disease, Insect and Weed Management

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BECAUSE PERFECT POWER SOURCES DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T JUST GROW ON TREES. 7 powerful grams of plant-based protein Over 30 essential vitamins and nutrients

The most preferred nut in America Nothing beats a handful a day for heart health

Jeffrey Pope, Virginia Peanut Farmer

nationalpeanutboard.org

ScientiďŹ cevidencesuggestsbut doesnot provethat eating1.5ouncesper dayof most nuts, includingpeanuts, aspart of adiet lowinsaturatedfat &cholesterol mayreducetheriskof heart disease.

JANUARY 2016 Volume 28 • Number 1

Departments 4

Editor’s Note Look at the whole picture this year.

News Briefs Trade agreement will open up Asian market.

Market Watch Will you make changes for 2016?

20 Features

10 Disease Management Stay Connected

Updated for 2016, Peanut Rx includes new information on the impact of irrigation on white mold.

13 Consider Scouting In 2016

Can a good consultant help reduce input costs, optimize insect management?

14 Insect Management

Based on research data, ratings are offered for insect problems.

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

www.peanutgrower.com Follow The Peanut Grower on Twitter @PeanutGrower

16 Weed Management

Study the herbicide response charts before selecting products.

20 Virginia Crop: A Mixed Bag

Check stored peanuts for moisture, mold growth. Cover photo by Amanda Huber

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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 (615) 377-3322 Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784 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 © 2016 One Grower Publishing, LLC, all rights reserved except where otherwise noted. The Peanut Grower ® is a registered trademark, which reserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in association with the registration. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO SUNBELT FULFILLMENT SERVICES, 307 SOUTHGATE COURT, Brentwood, TN 37027-7987. All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. Printed in the USA.

Look At The Whole Picture

or most people, living in a “gated community” means they live in a residential area with walls or fences and a gate to control who comes and goes. I live in a gated community, too. Our gate works to keeps things in, specifically cows. Most days, the gate is open, but when a cow gets out, it’s our first line of defense to keep the cow off the road. A while back, the gate was needed. Unknown to us, a dead tree had fallen on a fence that is not readily visible. Eventually, the cows found it and a couAmanda Huber ple wandered across the fallen-down Editor, The Peanut Grower fence and into the yard. Of course, according to the law of the farm wife, that only happens when I am here by myself. But I know what to do. As soon as I heard the “something’s in the yard that shouldn’t be” bark, I grabbed my keys and headed out the door. I was between the cows and the gate, so all I had to do was drive to the gate and shut it. Crisis averted. As I turned around to drive back to the house, I glanced in the rear-view mirror. Something did not look right. I stopped, got out and surveyed the situation: the gate was shut, but where was the fence? I was so focused on shutting the gate that I did not notice the gaping hole about 10-feet wide. I was so used to the fence being there, a fact I would have sworn to, I did not see it was no longer attached to the gate post. Fence work changing it from four-strand barbed wire to an American wire fence had stopped 10 feet short of the gate. My tunnel vision on the gate kept me from seeing the bigger picture. That’s the caution at the beginning of 2016: Don’t let tunnel vision on one or two problems, even big ones such as pigweed, keep you from seeing the whole picture. A package or systems approach has been advocated in peanuts for many years and it still works. Of course, as Dr. Baldwin used to say, “If it doesn’t rain, it don’t matter,” so let’s keep that in mind as you study the big picture.

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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CRS Completes Program Review

The Congressional Research Service has issued an updated review of the peanut program and explains how the new program favors peanut production on generic base acres. Almost all peanut growers selected the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program because they expected it to provide higher payments and greater risk protection than would be available under Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC). A payment from the PLC is not available to the grower until nearly a full year after harvest or Oct. 1 following the end of the marketing year when full information on farm prices is available. The 2014 Farm Bill created “generic” base acres from former cotton base acres from the 2008 Farm Bill. Generic base is added to a producer’s total base for potential payments, but only if a covered crop is planted on the generic base. PLC payments on generic base are coupled to actual plantings. Estimates on the peanut program outlays vary. USDA estimates it for FY2016 at $379 million. The Food and Ag Policy Research Institute has projected a cost of $432 million for peanuts. The Congressional Budget Office’s cost projection is $232 million. Proponents of the program argue that an income safety net is needed to help producers deal with the substantial price volatility associated with commodity markets. The marketing assistance program provides greater marketing options for producers who are at a distinct market-power disadvantage when dealing with a small number of buyers. Further, proponents argue that Farm Bill support is needed to help offset the substantial market volatility that has emerged since the elimination of the peanut quota system.

Industry Endorses Agreement

The American Peanut Council, representing all segments of the peanut industry, has endorsed the establishment T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which links the United States, Japan and ten other Asian Pacific nations. The TPP brings unprecedented progress in opening the markets of the TPP. Japan has been one of the top export destinations for the U.S. peanut industry, surpassing $20 million in sales annually. Japan’s current 10-percent tariff on shelled peanuts inside the 75,000 MT Tariff Rate Quota will be eliminated immediately upon implementation. The quota will be phased out over eight years. The 12-percent tariff on U.S. peanut butter will be phased out in six years. The snack food market in Japan is huge, and Japanese tariffs on U.S. processed peanuts, now as high as 23.8 percent, will be reduced and eliminated in eight years or less for U.S. products such as honey roasted peanuts. Vietnam, with a young population of more than 90 million people, has a rapidly growing economy, and its current tariffs, which range up to 30 percent on U.S. peanuts, will be eliminated within eight years. Other TPP countries such as Malaysia and New Zealand will immediately eliminate all of their tariffs on U.S. peanuts and peanut products. Formal approval of the TPP agreement by Congress is required before any provisions are implemented. Industry leaders urge Congress to move forward with approval quickly.

Blancher Added At TQP

Tifton Quality Peanut, LLC, based in Tifton, Ga., has added a blanching operation to their farmer-owned peanut shelling plant. Bill Park, president and CEO, said the time was right to make the move. The peanut industry has not had adequate blanching capacity for the last four or five years, and that limits sales. “Our European customer base has increased and they prefer blanched peanuts,” Park says. “Because of larger peanut crops as a result of the current

In Brief: • Program outlays estimated at $200 million to more than $400 million. • Trade agreement to eliminate tariffs and quotas to Japan and other Asian markets. • Delegation visits Japan in anticipation of trade agreement. • Blanching plant expands possibilities at Tifton Quality Peanut. • Ag Secretary announced Peanut Standards Board appointees. • Production meetings scheduled; see the Calendar of Events.

Farm Bill, we have more peanuts, and we’re getting a better price for them as a blanched product. We also ship to Mexico and Canada, but our primary customer base is in the United States. “About five years ago, we started dealing predominantly with the Georgia-06G variety, which has higher yields and produces a larger peanut,” Park says. “With bigger kernels, there’s more of a chance of aflatoxin, especially under dry weather conditions. Blanching typically takes care of that.” The volume of peanuts that TQP handles in its $20-million shelling plant fits in nicely with the vision for the blanching operation, Park says. The cost of the new facility was around $8 million but the company had been paying $2 million a year to have their peanuts blanched by other companies. The blancher is operating 24 hours a day, four days a week. They only blanch peanuts that come through their sheller, and Park estimates they will blanch around 30,000 tons this year. The sheller handles from 120,000 to 150,000 tons per year and generates 160 to 200 million pounds of edible shelled goods. Tifton Quality Peanut has about 140 grower-members who guarantee one ton of peanuts for each unit of stock owned. 5

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With a year of experience, will you make any adjustments?

roducers have a better understanding of the 2014 Farm Bill after a full-year cycle under the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, which 99.7 percent of peanut producers chose. Farmers have always evaluated prices of commodities to determine the most profitable crop to plant. Other factors to evaluate include contract offers from shellers, cost of production and always with a watchful eye on the government’s handling of the peanut program. Low corn and cotton prices shifted many acres to peanuts in 2015, up 20.4 percent. Cotton opted to not have a farm program and that exacerbated the problem for peanuts as cotton base became “generic base” and could be shifted to other commodities, but must be planted. The new peanut program eliminated direct payments and established a safety net for producers. It is designed to work when prices are low for farmers to survive. Farmers say it is working; critics claim it is costing the government too much money. The Lender Factor Another factor influencing the peanut world is lenders. Lenders are pushing growers to plant peanuts because they know peanuts have a program with some protection and cotton does not. Lenders note that without the PLC payment on base acres in 2015, based on the $440 per-ton average price on 2014 peanuts, many farmers could not pay crop debt. Farmers also learned this year that USDA can reduce the National Posted Price to move peanuts out of the loan, and the producer will be charged for market gain against the farmer’s payment limit. The Market Loan Gain is charged against farmers with peanuts in the loan, many not knowing they have 6 /

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J. Tyron Spearman

Contributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

LEADING MARKETING INDICATORS (As of Dec. 4, 2015) 2015 Acreage (USDA) Up 20.4% .................................... 1,615,293 acres 2015 Est. Peanut Production (3,996 lbs/A) .................... 3,086,450 tons 2014 Market Loan .............................................................. 2,122,852 tons 2014 Market Loan Redeemed ......................................... 2,121,511 tons 2014 Forfeited ....................................................................... 172,273 tons 2015-16 Domestic Usage (3 Mo.) .......................................... Down .15% 2015-16 Exports (2 Mo.) ............................................................... Up 8.5% NATIONAL POSTED PRICE (12-4-2015) Runners -$424.51 ton, Spanish - $407.34 ton, Valencia and Virginias $429.28 ton

peanuts remaining in the loan. Farmers learned they must work with the buying point, DMA or CMA so peanuts can be redeemed to avoid maxing out the payment limit. Looking for the best option, peanut farmers decided to increase acreage, up 20.4 percent to 1,615,000 acres. The leading production state, Georgia, increased acreage 31.6 percent; Texas was up 29.3 percent and newer producers in the states of Arkansas and Mississippi switched from generic cotton base to peanuts. 2015 Crop/Supply 2015 was an unusual growing season for U.S. peanuts, and it appears bad harvest weather wiped out about 10 percent of the crop, especially in water-logged South Carolina. A higher yield for top-producing Georgia offsets reductions elsewhere in the Southeast. In the Southern Plains, non-irrigated crops were stressed by an extended period of low rainfall and extreme heat in August. Rains during the growing season in the Southeast and higher-yielding varieties caused experts to predict a 3,160,000-

ton peanut crop, averaging 3,922 pounds per acre. The 2014 peanut crop already had an excess carry-forward of one million tons and, even with usage up by 13 percent, the 2015 carry-forward is estimated at 1.4 million tons. At press time, Federal-State Inspection Service had graded 2,714,000 tons, about 12 percent short of the November USDA Peanut Crop Estimate. 2014 Crop Still For Sale While farmers were busy growing the 2015 peanut crop, USDA was doing everything possible to rid themselves of potential forfeitures, reducing the price $100 per ton below loan. Buyers could lock in a price for 60 days and over 165,000 tons were redeemed. Unfortunately, another 172,000 tons were forfeited and offered for bids. Runner prices have averaged about $280 per ton and Virginias about $380 per ton. At press time, CCC still has 20,842 tons of 2014 peanuts for sale. USDA declared the national average price of peanuts for the marketing year 2014 as $440 per ton. The Farm Bill provides that the reference price for PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

peanuts is $535 per ton. To obtain the PLC payment amount, deduct the average price from the reference price and that is the peanut PLC payment of $95 per ton. Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the reconciliation reduction (sequestration) is now 6.8 percent. Deduct 6.8 percent from the $95 per ton and you get $88.54 per base ton. Payment acres are 85 percent of the farm’s base acres. Payments are limited to $125,000 per eligible producer. Payment limitation includes benefits received from peanut market loan gains, loan deficiency payments and ARC/PLC payments for peanuts. Payments should have been received in mid-December. Estimates on the peanut program outlays vary. USDA estimated (FY2016) it at $379 million. Food and Ag Policy Research Institute (Aug 2015) projects $432 million for peanuts. The Congressional Budget Office projects $232 million. It is still too early to tell, but the market value of peanut production ranges from $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion. Supply And Demand Growth in peanut demand is having difficulty keeping pace with the supply increase. In October, peanut butter usage dropped 13.7 percent, causing the annual drop to be down 7.2 percent. Exports are holding strong, up 8.5 percent through September. Limits on domestic shelling capacity and storage will make it even more crucial to broaden export markets this year. U.S. peanut exports in 2015/16 are seen exceeding last year’s total by more than 100 million pounds and nearly matching the 2012/13 record at 1.19 billion pounds. USDA predicts a robust 13-percent increase for domestic use of peanuts. Despite higher demand, season-ending peanut stocks for 2015/16 may climb to 2.84 billion pounds and eclipse the previous 2012/13 record of 2.77 billion pounds, but that will all depend on the final harvest numbers. Planning For 2016 One economist is encouraging farm-

ers to add an entity, if possible, to help with payment limitations, and to limit the amount a farmer contracts, if power of attorney is included, modify contracts to aid the farmer to control redemption of the peanuts or share in the Market Loan Gains.

Another leader strongly urges farmers to remember the benefits of rotation and consider available warehouse space when planning their 2016 crop because warehouses are full and it is impossible to qualify for a marketing loan without a warehouse receipt. PG

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Standards Board Approved

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently appointed three producers and three industry representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board. All six members will serve on the board through June 30, 2018. Their appointments are effective immediately. Selected to the board was producer Carl Sanders, Brundidge, Ala., and industry representative Ann D. King, Douglas, Ga., representing the Southeast; producer Jimbo Grissom, Seminole, Texas, and industry representative Shelly Nutt, Lubbock, Texas, to represent the Southwest region; producer Lee Swinson, Warsaw, N.C., and industry representative Carl Gray, Courtland, Va., representing the Virginia-Carolina region. The Peanut Standards Board is made up of eighteen members representing the Southeast Region, which covers Alabama, Georgia and Florida; the Southwest Region, covering Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico; and the Virginia-North Carolina Region.

Delegation Visits Japan

The American peanut industry recently sent a delegation to visit Japan and to meet with peanut importers. The trip included a visit to the U.S. embassy in Tokyo and a joint meeting with the Japan Peanut Importers Association and the Japan Peanut Manufacturers Association. The Japanese importers presented information to the American Peanut Council team about the market in Japan for peanuts. The U.S. team presented information to the Japanese about the current peanut harvest and some of the latest on peanut nutrition. Through September of 2015, exports to Japan have increased four percent compared to the same period in 2014. Representing the U.S. peanut industry were Jean Paul Bodourian, Golden Peanut and Tree Nut Company; Karl Zimmer, Premium Peanut; Aseem 8 /

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Khanna, Olam International; Miriam Crosby, The Peanut Institute; Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission; Jim Grueff, consultant to the American Peanut Council and Stephanie Grunenfelder, American Peanut Council staff.

Peanut Farm Show Planned

The 40th Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference is set for Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, at the University of Georgia Conference Center in Tifton. More than 2,000 farmers and over 100 exhibitors are expected to register and attend the show. The show opens at 8:30 a.m. and includes a complimentary luncheon. The Georgia Peanut Commission will present annual awards including the Distinguished Service Award and Research and Education Award, among others, during the program following lunch. The University of Georgia will coordinate the production and seed seminar. The Grand Door Prize drawing will be at 2:00 p.m. and the show closes at 2:30 p.m. Information on attending or exhibiting at the show is available online at www.gapeanuts.com.

Buying Point Meeting Scheduled

The National Peanut Buying Points Association invites everyone to attend the NPBPA Annual Meeting and Conference on Feb. 12-15 at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. The theme will be “Peanut Changes - Farm Bill and Markets.” Registration is only $350 per couple or $225 per person. The conference opens on Friday evening with the President’s Reception. Plenty of great speakers and fun activities are planned for the conference, including the always lively Great Cash Giveaway in support of the Peanut PAC, plus more than $5,000 worth of door prizes. Table top exhibits are available for $150. Registration packets are available

Calendar • Jan. 21, 2016 - Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, Ga. Show opens at 8:30 a.m. • Jan. 28, 2016 - South Carolina State Peanut Meeting, Santee Convention Center, Santee, S.C. Meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. • Feb. 3-4, 2016 - Mississippi Peanut Growers Association 11th Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Lake Terrace Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza, Hattiesburg, Miss. For information, call 601-606-3456. • Feb. 12-15, 2016 - National Peanut Buying Points Association Convention, Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tenn. For information, call 229-386-1716.

online at www.peanutbuyingpoints. org or call 229-386-1716.

Funds To Expand Export Markets

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has awarded fiscal year 2016 funding to more than 60 agricultural organizations, including the American Peanut Council, to help expand commercial export markets. For the Market Access Program (MAP), the APC has received $1,906,255 for FY 2016 to focus on consumer promotion, including brand promotion for small companies and cooperatives, and is used extensively by organizations promoting fruits, vegetables, nuts, processed products, and bulk and intermediate commodities. For the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, the APC has received $347,142 for FY2016 to help create, expand and maintain long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural products.

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5 TRILLION NEW FARMHANDS

R E A DY TO W O R K

NATURE. IT’S POWERFUL TECHNOLOGY.

New for the peanut market, TagTeam® LCO puts the powerful technology of nature to work in your crop. This triple-action inoculant combines the proven performance of our LCO molecule, the phosphate-solubilizing beneﬁts of Penicillium bilaii, and a specially selected rhizobia inoculant. Together, they enhance nutrient capability and improve nitrogen ﬁxation and phosphate availability. It’s time to use nature’s farmhands to help protect and maximize your yield potential.

Discover more at MonsantoBioAg.com

@MonsantoBioAg

*Potential number of soil- and/or plant-borne microbes that may exist in a ﬁeld. Actual numbers may vary based on ﬁeld size and crop. Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. Monsanto BioAg and Design™, and TagTeam® LCO are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Individual packaging may vary. ©2015 Monsanto Company.

Update

n 2015, losses to tomato spotted wilt across the Southeastern production region stabilized and were similar to estimated losses from 2014 at three percent, although it was more severe in some fields than in others. Growers can achieve excellent management of this disease, and other important diseases, using Peanut Rx. This disease risk index can help growers to better understand how careful selection of production practices can reduce the risk to disease losses. The 2016 version of PEANUT Rx has been fully reviewed and updated by the authors based upon data and observations from the 2015 field season. Updates For 2016 Most of the changes to Peanut Rx 2016 from the previous year’s version can be found in the cultivar/variety section of Peanut Rx with new varieties added. With additional data, risk points for leaf spot assigned to variety Georgia-12Y have been reduced from 20 to 15. Such a change indicates that Georgia-12Y has leaf spot resistance similar to that of Bailey, Tifguard and TUFRunner™‘727.’ Three new varieties have been added to the 2016 version of Peanut Rx, all having high-oleic oil chemistry. These varieties include TUFRunner™‘297,’ Georgia-13M and Georgia-14N. In addition to having high-oleic oil chemistry, Georgia-14N is notable for its very high resistance to the peanut root-knot nematode. Peanut Rx 2016 also includes new discussions on the impact of irrigation on management of white mold and on steps to reduce the risk of losses to the peanut root-knot nematode. As in the previous versions, growers will note that attention to variety selection, planting date, plant population, good crop rotation, tillage and other factors, will have a tremendous impact on the potential for diseases in a field.

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Irrigation And White Mold Irrigation is a critical component of a production system and can result in large peanut yields. However, the water applied to a crop with irrigation is also beneficial for the fungal pathogens that cause common diseases such as leaf spot, Rhizoctonia limb rot and white mold. For white mold in particular, irrigation or ample rainfall can create conditions such as more abundant moisture for growth and also greater humidity within a canopy which favors growth and spread of white mold. However, rainfall and/or irrigation are essential in the movement

of foliar-applied fungicides from the leaves to the limbs and the crown of the plant where protection is needed from white mold. Under non-irrigated conditions, growers may actually observe more white mold than for irrigated peanuts because effective fungicides are not “washed” to the parts of the plant that must be protected from this disease. Strategies to improve efficacy of fungicides for management of white mold in non-irrigated fields include the following: 1. Apply fungicides for control of soilborne diseases ahead of anticipated rain events to facilitate movement of fungicides into the crown on the plant. 2. Apply fungicides for control of soilborne diseases at night when the leaves are folded; such application timing will increase coverage of limbs and crowns.

Root-Knot Nematode Risk Peanut root-knot nematode is not specifically included in Peanut Rx; however, several of the factors that affect risk to other diseases also affect risk to losses from nematodes. These factors include the following. 1. Variety selection: The varieties Tifguard and Georgia-14N are highly resistant to infestation from the peanut root-knot nematode. Growers who plant these varieties in a root-knot nematode infested field will not need to use a nematicide. Use of nematode-resistant varieties not only protects the crop in the field, but also reduces nematode populations for the next peanut crop as compared to if a susceptible variety like Georgia-06G was planted. 2. Crop rotation: Like risk to other diseases, the threat from peanut root-knot nematode is greatly reduced by rotating fields away from peanut and other susceptible crops like soybeans. Cotton and corn are excellent rotation crops to reduce the risk of peanut root-knot nematodes. Corn is also a host for the peanut root-knot nematode, but is a better rotation crop than either peanut or soybeans. 3. Tillage: Though much research is still needed, there is some indication that there is higher risk to nematodes in fields are prepared with reduced tillage than with conventional tillage. This effect is much less important than variety selection or crop rotation and is not always observed. However, there is some evidence that disrupting the soil, such as occurs in conventional tillage, could help to disperse nematode populations that are present in the root zone of the developing peanut seedling. PG To read the complete 2016 Peanut Rx and for other information on minimizing disease in peanut, visit www.ugapeanuts. com or contact your state Extension plant pathologist. PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

5 TRILLION

PEANUT DISEASE IDENTIFICATION

NEW FARMHANDS

READY TO WORK

SCLEROTINIA BLIGHT

STEM ROT OR WHITE MOLD

Sclerotinia blight’s initial symptom includes a rapid wilting or ﬂagging of the tips of infected branches. Initially, lesions are small, light green and water-soaked. As the disease develops, the lesions turn light brown, elongate and appear sunken. Older lesions may be dark brown with a distinct border between diseased and healthy tissue. Another symptom of infected plants is the presence of shredded tissue (pegs and branches). The fungus produces white, ﬂuffy fungal growth on diseased tissue when humidity is high. As the disease progresses, the fungus produces large black sclerotia on and in infected plant tissue.

Stem rot or white mold is favored by hot, wet weather. Initially, foliage of the infected plants is chlorotic; this may include the whole plant or be limited to a branch. As the disease develops, the foliage turns brown to black. The crown area is usually light to dark brown depending on the stage of disease development. Symptoms unique to stem rot are white strands of fungus and white to brown sclerotia. These are usually found in the crown area of infected plants. Fields where stem rot is suspected should be scouted late in the season, 24 to 48 hours after a rain or irrigation event, beginning in late July and until digging.

Greg Croft has grown peanuts on his Brooks County, Georgia farm for 30 years. During the 2015 growing season Croft field-tested an inoculant mix of Optimize® and JumpStart®. Optimize contains LCO technology (lipochitooligosaccharide) and a specially selected rhizobia, while JumpStart contains the phosphatesolubilizing microbe, Penicillium bilaii. These are the same micobial components in the triple-action inoculant TagTeam LCO, available for use in the peanut market for the first time in 2016.

“ We’re going to get more peanuts and gain more yield.” - Greg Croft In trials on his Georgia farm, the highest yield Croft recorded using the combination of Optimize and JumpStart was 6,620 pounds per acre compared to an average of 5,835 pounds per acre on peanuts treated with Optimize alone.

SPOTTED WILT

EARLY LEAF SPOT

Given its wide range of symptoms, spotted wilt disease is sometimes confused with white mold and CBR. Spotted wilt is a viral disease spread by thrips. Foliar symptoms can be one or more of the following: concentric light green to yellow ringspots (predominant on young foliage), chlorosis (yellowing), necrotic terminals and/or necrotic leaf spots, nondescript tan spots or blotches, oakleaﬁng or streaking and mottling. Foliage of infected plants may be reduced in size. Plants infected early in the season are usually stunted, have reduced pod production and may die.

Early leaf spot lesions are initially very small and light brown in color. Under favorable conditions, lesions enlarge up to one-half inch in diameter and are usually surrounded by a yellow halo (halo not always present). Lesions may be evident within 10 to 14 days after infection. During or after periods of warm temperatures in the 70s or above and during periods of high humidity, spores of the fungus can be observed on mature leaf spot lesions.

“We really think it’s important to inoculate peanuts,” Croft says. “We get a better plant . . . a healthier plant, and that’s what we’re looking for. Optimize has been one of the better products on the market, and we believe with this new combination we’re going to get more peanuts and gain more yield.”

Discover more about TagTeam LCO for peanuts at

MonsantoBioAg.com @MonsantoBioAg

RUST

NORTHERN ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE

Rust is readily identiﬁed by the presence of numerous orange-to-red-colored lesions (pustules) on the underside of the leaf. Each lesion contains many orange to red-colored spores. Typically, leaves of infected plants will remain attached. Heavily infected areas in ﬁelds may have a scorched appearance.

Northern root-knot nematode symptoms are the same as those described for peanut root-knot nematode. Galls are usually smaller than those caused by peanut root-knot nematode and are limited to the roots. The root system of infected plants will be dense and bushy.

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Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. Monsanto BioAg and Design™, and JumpStart®, Optimize®, and TagTeam® are trademarks of of Monsanto Technology LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Individual packaging may vary. ©2015 Monsanto Company.

JANUARY 2 016 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

47381 Monsanto_TagTeam LCO_Peanuts_Testimonial_2_125x10_TPG_a7_PF.indd 12/9/15 3:47 PM 1

PEANUT DISEASE IDENTIFICATION

Late Leaf Spot

Web Blotch

Funky or Irregular Leaf Spot

Late leaf spot symptoms are similar to those of early leaf spot, but lesions are usually dark brown to black. Conditions for disease development are the same as for early leaf spot. During favorable conditions, spores of this fungus can be seen on the underside of the leaf. Under extreme pressure, lesions can develop on stems.

Web blotch lesions are characterized as having a netlike or webbing pattern, which is purplish, brown to tan on the upper leaf surface. Circular, tan to brown lesions may also be observed on the upper leaf surface. Lesions may grow together to cover the entire leaf. Older lesions are usually dry and cracked.

Funky or irregular leaf spot is a problem of unknown cause. Symptoms appear early in the growing season on lower leaves and can look like early leaf spot. Some defoliation may occur, but yield losses have not been demonstrated. Fungicides do not control irregular leaf spot. Funky leaf spot has been found to be most severe on peanut varieties, such as Georgia-02C and Georgia-03L, but is not thought to cause yield loss for either. Stay on a good fungicide program and that will control the more important early and late leaf spot diseases.

Rhizoctonia Limb Rot

Diplodia Collar Rot

Symptoms of Rhizoctonia limb rot are usually not noticed until after digging of the plants. Infected branches that were in contact with the soil are black and rotten. Infection often starts near the tip of a branch, killing the tip and then progressing down the branch.

Wilting and death of lateral branches or the entire plant are symptoms of Diplodia collar rot that could easily be confused with symptoms of other diseases. Elongated dead lesions with light brown centers and dark brown margins may occur on stems. Fruiting bodies of the fungus appear as small black dots embedded in the infected host tissue. Collar rot is sporadic in occurence, but can cause severe losses when an outbreak does occur.

CBR Cylindrocladium Black Rot (CBR) infected plants are initially chlorotic with foliage becoming brown to black as the disease develops. The symptom unique to CBR is the presence of brick red reproductive structures growing from the crown of infected plants, while the crown, itself, is usually black. Root systems of severely infected plants are deteriorated, void of secondary roots and are also black. Infection occurs at planting during cool, wet weather. However, symptom expression does not occur until mid-July.

3Aspergillus Crown Rot Peanut Root-Knot Nematode Peanut root-knot nematode infected plants are usually stunted and chlorotic. Typically, injury is not uniform in the field. Infected areas in a field are typically circular. Roots, pegs and pods of infected plants are galled. Galls on pods are wart-like in appearance and dark in color.

12â&#x20AC;&#x160;/

THE PE ANUT GROWE R â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARY 2 016

Aspergillus crown rot causes pre- and postemergence damping off and sometimes kills up to five weeks after planting. Seedlings rapidly collapse and die. Dark brown discoloration is common on decayed roots and hypocotyls. Later, these areas often are covered with masses of black spores that look similar to bread mold. Aspergillus crown rot generally is of minor importance when high-quality, fungicide-treated seed are planted in well-rotated fields. Rotation and seed treatments are an effective control for this disease.

PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

"Can an excellent crop of peanuts be grown without regular pest scouting? The answer is yes. Can a good consultant or scout help you reduce input costs and optimize your insect management decisions? The answer is yes."

Consider Scouting Your Peanuts In 2016 By Mark Abney, University of Georgia Extension entomologist

nsect and mite pressure in peanut can vary dramatically from year to year and even from field to field within a year. Each growing season brings with it new challenges; growers in the Southeast will not soon forget the lesser cornstalk borer and two spotted spider mite outbreaks that accompanied hot, dry weather conditions in 2014. For the majority of peanut producers, increased rainfall in 2015 kept these two pests mostly in check. Nevertheless, insects were far from scarce in peanut fields in 2015. Foliage-feeding caterpillars arrived early in the season and remained until harvest in many areas. There is no way to predict what will happen in 2016, but the best way to stay on top of pest activity in your fields is to hire a good scout. The Need For Timely Reporting The potential economic downside of making a pest management mistake in peanut is probably higher than it has ever been. Profit margins are narrower, insecticides are generally more selective and

T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

more expensive, and insecticide resistance has become a concern for several pests. The days when a cheap, broad-spectrum insecticide tankmixed with a fungicide would solve most of your insect problems are gone. An accurate and timely scouting report allows growers to choose the optimum pest management tool in terms of efficacy and cost and apply it at the appropriate timing. In the end, the decision of whether or not to hire a consultant or scout will rest with the individual producer and should be based on potential return on investment. Can an excellent crop of peanuts be grown without regular pest scouting? The answer is yes. Can a good consultant or scout help you reduce input costs and optimize your insect management decisions? The answer is yes. Costly Choices Consider the situation in 2015 when foliage-feeding caterpillars were abundant in peanut across much of the Southeast. A complex of several caterpillar species

was present in a lot of fields, and yet some fields had few to no caterpillars. There is no doubt that fields with sub-threshold levels of caterpillars were treated with insecticide because â&#x20AC;&#x153;everyone elseâ&#x20AC;? was spraying peanuts for worms. The choice of which insecticide to use can be as important as the decision to spray or not to spray. Some species, like velvetbean caterpillar, can be controlled less expensively while others, like soybean looper, require the use of more expensive options. Failing to use the most appropriate insecticide will at least increase input costs and could result in control failure, yield loss and the need for a second application. As you prepare for the upcoming growing season, consider the cost and potential benefits of scouting your peanut crop in 2016. Adding a scout as a component in your pest management strategy may not pay huge dividends every year, but over time it is likely to make you a more efficient and profitable peanut grower. PG JANUARY 2 016 â&#x20AC;˘ THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

PEANUT INSECTICIDE GUIDE Mustang Max

Asana

Baythroid

Brigade

B.t.1

Danitol

Comite/Omite

Karate Z

Lannate

Lorsb

Beet armyworm

P(LS)

P/F

Burrowing bug

Corn earworm

G/E

Fall armyworm

P(LS)

P/F(LS)

P/F

Leafhoppers

Lesser cornstalk borers

P(LS)

P/F

Granulate cutworm

Loopers Rednecked peanutworm

Southern corn rootworm

Spider mites

P-F

P(LS)

Threecornered alfalfa hopper

Thrips

F/G

G (with Orthene)

Velvetbean caterpillar

G/E

Whitefringed beetle (larvae)

Wireworm

Tobacco Budworm

Lesser Cornstalk Borer

Fall Armyworm

Lesser cornstalk borer is an important pest in the Southeastern and Southwestern growing areas. It is usually a problem during hot, dry weather and is more often a problem on coarse, sandy soils than on heavier soils. Lesser cornstalk borer larvae will feed on underground pegs and pods in addition to any part of the plant above ground that contacts the soil surface.

Fall armyworms are one of several foliage feeders that may attack peanuts. In some years, they can be the predominant foliage feeder. Caterpillars, gray, light brown or mottled green in color, reach approximately 1½ inches in length when fully grown and have a prominant inverted “Y” on their head. When abundant, fall armyworms can strip plants of foliage and “march” to other host plants. Female moths lay egg masses of about 150 each and cover them with scales from their body.

Southern Corn Rootworm Damage Southern corn rootworms are most often found on heavy soils that are poorly drained. During extremely wet weather, they may become a problem even on sandy soils. This pest is a subterranean feeder. It may feed on the roots of peanut plants to some extent, but its most important damage is due to peg and pod feeding. Usually the holes cut into pegs and pods will appear as if they were created by a tiny drill bit. In contrast to lesser cornstalk borer feeding, there is no webbing associated with this pest.

Leafhoppers Leafhoppers are small wedge-shaped, green, brown or black insects about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length. Leafhoppers insert their beak into the midrib on the lower side of peanut leaves and suck plant juices. Leaves turn yellow from the point where the feeding has occured to the tip of the leaf and may die in severe cases. This damage is often referred to as “hopper burn.”

14 /

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • JANUARY 2 016

Corn Earworm/Tobacco Budworm In peanuts, these two closely related insects are usually referred to as corn earworms, but tobacco budworms are often a significant percentage of the total population. Larvae of both species feed on peanut foliage and are very similar in appearance. The corn earworm moth (above) and the tobacco budworm moth are often seen in peanut fields and may indicate that larvae will soon follow.

PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

nate

E = Excellent Control; G = Good Control; F = Fair Control; P = Poor Control; NL = Not Labeled; 1 Dipel and others LS = Labeled for suppression only

Lorsban 4E

Lorsban 15G

Orthene

Sevin

Steward

Thimet 20G

Blackhawk

Dimilin

Intrepid

Belt

Prevathon

P/F

G/E

F/G

G/E

P/F

E/G

G/E

P/F

F/G

E/G

F/G

G/E

E/G

F/G

E/G

Edited by Dr. Mark Abney, University of Georgia Extension Entomologist

Three-Cornered Alfalfa Hopper

Burrower Bug

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11/14/08

3:19 PM

Burrower bugs can be hard to identify in the field and an infestation is often not detected until harvest. Burrower bugs have a black-tobrown body, small red eyes on a small-sized head. The upper wings of burrower bugs are shiny and semi-hardened with the membranous tip overlapping. Its legs are Page spiny,1and needle-like, piercing, sucking mouth parts are visible with a hand lens. Burrower bug is closely related to stink bugs.

Three-cornered alfalfa hoppers are light green and wedgeshaped. They stand about ¼ inch high and are about ¼ inch long. Both adults and nymphs have piercing mouthparts and feed by penetrating the stem and sucking plant juices. They tend to feed in a circular fashion around a stem, making feeding punctures as they go. The damaged area typically swells and above ground root growth may occur. On peanuts, feeding may occur on limbs, leaf petioles or pegs.

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JANUARY 2 016 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

Weed Management Compiled by Dr. Jason Ferrell and Dr. Ramon Leon, University of Florida Weed Science.

E=Excellent, G=Good, F=Fair, P=Poor, PPI=Preplant Incorporated, PRE=Preemergence AC=At-Cracking (usually 6-14 days after planting). 1Ratings for this product are similar for use both PPI and PRE. 2Not Labeled for use in Florida. 3Ratings for tropical spiderwort are similar. 4For Texas, Okla. and N.M. only. If no letter is given, response is unknown. Generic formulations are available for many products.

WEED RESPONSE TO HERBICIDES USED IN PEANUTS

PPI

PERENNIALS

GRASSES (ANNUAL)

Treflan4

bermudagrass

Johnson grass (rhizome)

nutsedge, purple

P-F

nutsedge, yellow

F-G

F G

Pursuit1

Strongarm1

Dual Magnum

Valor

Dual Magnum

broadleaf signalgrass

G-E

crabgrass

crowfootgrass

fall panicum

P-F

foxtail

G-E

goosegrass

G-E

G P-F

P-F

sandbur

G-E

F-G

Texas panicum

G-E

P-F

bristly starbur

F-G

burgherkin

F-G

citronmelon

P-F

cocklebur

G-E

P-F

coffee senna

F-G

P-F

copperleaf

G-E

cowpea

P-F

crotalaria

P-F

croton, tropic or woolly

P-F

P F-G

G-F

G-E

F-G

eclipta

P-F

G-E

P-F

G-E

P-F

Florida beggarweed

P-F

P-F G

day flower

Florida pusley

G-E

hairy indigo

jimsonweed

G-E

F-G

P G

lambsquarters

F-G

morningglory spp.

F-G

P-F

morningglory, cypressvine

F-G

morningglory, pitted

G-E

F-G

P-F

morningglory, smallflower

G-E

prickly sida

G-E

F-G

G-E

ragweed

redweed

F-G F-G

pigweeds

sicklepod smartweed spider flower

16â&#x20AC;&#x160;/

Prowl, Sonalan

johnsongrass (seedling)

BROADLEAVES

PRE

Dual Magnum or like product

F-G

P-G

P F-G

spurred anoda

F-G

velvetleaf

F-G

G-E

F-G

wild poinsettia

wild radish

THE PE ANUT GROWE R â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARY 2 016

P PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

Florida Pusley (Richardia scabra) Florida pusley is a low-growing, annual weed species that appears almost prostrate. It can be effectively controlled only with pre-plant incorporated herbicides. Florida pusley has bright green leaves with a distinctive recessed mid-vein. The stems are very hairy and may have a purplish appearance. The flowers are white with six petals in a star-shaped whorl.

Small Flower Morningglory (Jaquemontia tamnifolia)

parallel venation and blue above-ground flowers. Stems are succulent, and the plant re-roots quickly after cultivation. It spreads by seeds. Spiderwort germinates throughout the season, hampering control efforts.

Small flower morningglory is probably the most common morningglory species in the Southeast. The cotyledon stage resembles a wild radish seedling with heart-shaped cotyledons. As it grows, small flower morningglory will stand nearly erect until 12 to 18 inches tall, then it will begin to run. It has heart or spear-shaped leaves and produces small blue flowers in a cluster.

Lambsquarter (Chenopodium album)

Tropic Croton (Croton glandulosus) Tropic croton is an upright, branching annual broadleaf with serrated leaves. Tropic croton has a rough hairy stem, but it is not as hairy as the related species, wooly croton. Its gray-brown seed are desired food for doves.

Red Morningglory (Ipomoea coccinea) Red morningglory is a relatively common annual morningglory species, but often doesn’t appear until later in the season. The key identifying features are the distinct points on the leaf margin and relatively small red flowers. T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

Tall Morningglory (Ipomoea purpurea)

Common lambsquarter is a small seeded annual broad-leaf species particularly troublesome in the Virginia-Carolina region. It is an upright plant, which can exceed seven feet at maturity. Its arrowhead-shaped leaves grow alternately and often have a whitish dusty appearance on their undersides even in the seedling stage.

Similar to other morningglory species, tall morningglory has a vining, prostrate appearance that envelopes the peanut canopy. It has heart-shaped leaves with overlapping lobes at the base and slightly hairy stems.

Spurred Anoda (Anoda cristata) Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis) Tropical spiderwort is an annual species similar to common dayflower. It is distinguished from dayflower by the presence of subterranean (underground) flowers. Leaves are spoon-shaped with

Spurred anoda is a troublesome broadleaf member of the Mallow or Cotton family. Its alternate toothed leaves are two to four inches long and sometimes have purplish veins. It produces small, pale blue flowers and a unique fruit that looks like a fancy ribbed pie surrounded by a star.

JANUARY 2 016 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

Weed Management WEED RESPONSE TO HERBICIDES USED IN PEANUTS

POSTEMERGENCE

bermudagrass

PERENNIALS

Johnson grass (rhizome)

Paraquat*+ Storm

2,4-DB

Pursuit

Basagran

Ultra Blazer

Sto

F-G

nutsedge, yellow

P-F

F-G

P-F

crowfootgrass

P-F

fall panicum

foxtail

P-F

F-G

johnsongrass (seedling)

P-F

sandbur

F-G

G-E

P-F

bristly starbur

P-F

F-G

burgherkin

citronmelon

goosegrass

Texas panicum

cocklebur

F-G

G-E

coffee senna

G-E

F-G

copperleaf

G-E

cowpea

F-G

P-F

crotalaria

P-F

G-

P-F

G-

croton, tropic or woolly day flower/tropical spiderwort

F-G

G-E

F-G

eclipta

P-F

F-G

Florida beggarweed

G-E

Florida pusley

hairy indigo

jimsonweed

F-G

lambsquarters

P-F

F-G

P-F

F-G

morningglory spp.

P-F

F-G

morningglory, cypressvine

F-G

G-E

F-G

morningglory, pitted

F-G

P-F

F-G

morningglory, smallflower

G-E

F-G

G-E

pigweeds

G-E

F-G

prickly sida

P-F

ragweed

F-G

P-F

redweed

sicklepod

G-

G-E

F-G

smartweed

G-E

P-F

G-E

spider flower

F-G

spurred anoda

G-

F-G

P-F

F-G

wild poinsettia

G-E

P-F

wild radish

P-F

velvetleaf

18 /

Paraquat*+ Basagran+ Dual Magnum

P-F

crabgrass

BROADLEAVES

Paraquat*+ Basagran

nutsedge, purple

broadleaf signalgrass

GRASSES (ANNUAL)

Paraquat*

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • JANUARY 2 016

PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

E=Excellent, G=Good, F=Fair, P=Poor. If no letter is given, response is unknown. Generic formulations are available for many products.

tra zer

Storm

Classic

Cadre

Select

Cobra

G-E

P-F

G-E

P-F

G-E

-F

G-E

-F

G-E

P-F

F-G

G-E

P-F

-E

G-E

P-F

-F

G-E

P-F

F-G

P-F

F-G

P-F

G-E

P-F

-E

G-E

F-G

G-E

T WIT TE R: @PE ANUTGROWE R

Hophornbeam Copperleaf (Acalypha ostryifolia) Hophornbeam copperleaf is a freely branching annual broadleaf weed with finely serrated leaf edges. Copperleaf has bright green leaves throughout most of the growing season, but these turn a characteristic copper color as the plant reaches maturity in the fall. There is a related species referred to as Virginia copperleaf.

Bristly Starbur (Acanthospermum hispidum) Bristly starbur is an annual broadleaf weed common in much of the Southeast. In addition to the accepted common name, it is also called “goatspur” or “Texas sandspur.” It has rough textured “fuzzy” leaves and an upright but profusely branching growth habit. Its seed form with two sharp pointed prongs that make the mature plant extremely “bristly.”

Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) Wild radish is thought to be a problem in winter crops, such as small grains and canola. However, wild radish has become an increasing problem in peanuts in recent years. This plant forms a rosette of leaves that looks similar to mustard greens. The leaves have deeply indented lobes and are covered with numerous stiff hairs. As the plant matures, pale yellow flowers are produced on a seed-stalk that arises from the rosette.

Wild Poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla) Wild poinsetta is an exotic weed pest spreading in many parts of the Southeast. As a member of the Spurge Family, it has hollow stems and milky, latex-like sap. In the cotyledon stage, it resembles a weak, pale green cocklebur seedling. Mature plants can have numerous leaf shapes even on a single specimen.

Texas Panicum (Panicum texanum)

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)

Texas panicum is an aggressive, relatively large-seeded annual grass, which is common in much of the peanut acreage in the United States. It has wide, almost-frizzy leaf blades and forms numerous tillers. Its vigorous fibrous root system makes clean harvest of peanuts nearly impossible.

Palmer amaranth, an annual pigweed, has become an increasing problem because of herbicide resistance in some areas. It can reach heights well over six feet and can be very difficult to control once established. Unlike other pigweed species, Palmer amaranth has a long, slender seed head and a more robust appearance.

JANUARY 2 016 • THE PE ANUT GROWE R /

An increase in splits meant a lower percentage of total sound mature kernels in the Virginia crop.

Virginia Crop: A Mixed Bag Be sure moisture can’t get back into stored peanuts and create conditions for mold growth. Editor’s Note: Splits and sprouting are two words no producer wants to hear in relation to a peanut crop. But according to Maria Balota, associate professor of crop physiology from the Virginia Tech Tidewater AREC, 2015 was a most unusual year in Virginia. Her report follows:

ltogether, 2015 was a difficult year for peanut production in the Virginia-Carolina region with some superior yield and quality in Virginia in comparison to North Carolina and South Carolina. But even in Virginia, yield and quality varied with the field. Farmer yields seem to range from 3,500 to 4,000 pounds per acre in Virginia; those harvested before the storm produced much better, in the 4,000 to 5,000 pounds per acre range, according to reports. Peanut digging started this year two weeks earlier, around mid-September in most counties, than in most years. This is because of the combination of genetics, early maturing cultivars and weather. 20 /

THE PE ANUT GROWE R • JANUARY 2 016

Too much rain, a hurricane at harvest made 2015 difficult.

Uniform Crop The summer was mostly dry and some fields were more affected by drought than others. But, it wasn’t one long drought. PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

PG0116 Layout_CF 11/13 template 12/10/15 2:14 PM Page 21

Increased moisture resulted in more sprouting in 2015.

There were periods of cool and wet alternating with longer periods of warm and dry. For example, May was warm and dry and suitable for early flowering. June and half of July were cooler and moist, which is perfect for peg and pod growth. Overall, it was a uniform crop set early on in the season and not two crops like we usually see in dry years. By mid-September, 2,600 heat unites had been accumulated and that was sufficient for Bailey and Sugg, the most widely grown cultivars in Virginia this year, to mature. Interrupted Harvest Harvest was moving along smoothly with more than 85 percent of the Virginia crop dug by mid-October. Yields of those picked before Hurricane Joaquin and then dug after the storm are around 4,000 pounds per acre for yield and grades are good. Peanuts dug just prior to the storm suffered from pod shedding, which will reduce yield, and peanuts dug a week ahead of the hurricane were in poor shape and some segregation two peanuts with a high content of damaged kernels were sold. A lot of sprouting was also observed. It was good that we did not get any frost damage in early October. The weather after the storm was great for finishing picking. 22â&#x20AC;&#x160;/

THE PE ANUT GROWE R â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARY 2 016

Prolonged wet conditions may have increased sound splits.

2015 YIELDS FOR BAILEY CULTIVAR AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS Yield (lb/ac)

ELK %

SMK %

SS %

Value $/A

Blackville, S.C.

4698

7.4

803

Bladen, N.C.

4006

5.4

733

Martin, early dig, N.C.

4015

1.3

578

Martin, late dig, N.C.

4459

2.9

679

Suffolk,early dig, Va.

5841

0.9

986

Suffolk, late dig, Va.

5267

4.2

935

Rocky Mount, N.C.

4432

1.8

818

Location

I did not hear of any borrower bug damage in Virginia like folks in South Carolina and some parts of North Carolina experienced. Increased Sound Splits Another common and unfortunate problem Virginia farmers encountered in 2015 was a lower percentage of Sound Mature Kernels (SMK) and an increase in Sound Splits (SS) than in 2014. Usually SS kernel content is in the range of one to two percent, but some loads were over 10 percent this year, depending on the field. In particular, increased SS were found in fields where peanuts were under increased moisture conditions for a long period of time.

Monitor Stored Peanuts I have not heard any reports of aflatoxin, but producers need to watch peanuts stored in conditions where moisture can get back into the pods. This happened to my research peanuts. Even though we dried them to seven to eight percent moisture after picking, keeping them in a storage room where moisture was high during the rainy November allowed moisture to be absorbed back into the pods and for mold to develop. We had to re-dry some, but I expect there to be a good seed supply for the next year. PG Article by Dr. Maria Balota, Associate Professor Crop Physiology, Virginia Tech Tidewater AREC. PE ANUTGROWE R .COM

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Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered. Whether at work or on vacation, keep up with the latest information from The Peanut Grower by subscribing to the monthly E-News. Don’t delay, subscribe today Go to www.peanutgrower.com and look for the Peanut Grower E-News link in the upper right corner of the home page. Subscribers willl ﬁnd a recap of important stories, Calendar of Events, YouTube videos, photos and informative updates delivered directly to your inbox.

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