Peanut Grower November 2020 by One Grower Publishing

The

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

NOVEMBER 2020

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

Research Review:

A Remarkable Return on Investment Seed Quality: A Year-Long Issue Start With Soil PH Cutting Costs, Not Corners: A Farm Family Perspective

Sponsored by National Peanut Board

Seed Quality: A Year-Long Issue Start With Soil PH Cutting Costs, Not Corners: A Farm Family Perspective

Cover photo by Amanda Huber

Departments 4

Editor’s Note Keep plugging along

News Briefs New group to be united voice on legislation

Market Watch Consumption soars, but a big crop is expected

Features

10 Crop Wrap-up

Seed quality sets the tone for season-long effects in the Southeast.

13 Research Review SPONSORED BY NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD

26 New Products Tillage technology from Case IH

A Remarkable Return On Investment

17 Rains Amplify Pod Rot Issues

Calcium reduces the vulnerability of pods to pathogens.

Supplement

18 Building For The Future

New shelling facilities are in the works.

Corn Hybrid Preview

CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

November 2020

20 Cutting Costs, Not Corners

For the Wilders, peanuts are a generational endeavor.

23 Start With Soil PH

A soil pH in the correct range is needed for maximum yield.

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

Look for the Corn South supplement following page 24 in the Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi versions of The Peanut Grower. TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

24 Charting Disease Trends

Survey evolves into a disease-monitoring tool guiding research efforts.

25 Stripling Family Honored

Support for agriculture programs earns them a Friend of Extension award. NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Copy Editor Vicky Boyd vlboyd@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 Audience Services Kate Thomas (847) 559-7514 Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com For circulation changes, call (847) 559-7578 or email peanutgrower@omeda.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Scott Monfort Extension Agronomist University of Georgia Dell Cotton Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Assn., Franklin, VA Kris Balkcom Agri-Program Associate Auburn University Dan Anco Extension Peanut Specialist Clemson University

Emi Kimura Extension Agronomist 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 at Memphis, Tennessee, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright © 2020 One Grower Publishing, LLC, all rights reserved except where otherwise noted. The Peanut Grower ® is a registered trademark, which reserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in association with the registration. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO OMEDA COMMUNICATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, P.O. BOX 1388, NORTHBROOK, IL 60065-1388. 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.

Editor’sNote Editor’s Note Keep Plugging Along

t a county peanut and cotton production meeting in January, University of Georgia Extension peanut specialist Scott Monfort brought up the subject of stress. The UGA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences made the topic of rural mental health a priority beginning this year. Not to make light of the topic, but did they have some inside information 2020 was going to be this bad? I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t felt the strain this year. Amanda Huber In an informal survey of farmers Editor, The Peanut Grower attending the Georgia Farm Bureau 2019 annual convention, a UGA School of Social Work professor found the top five stressors were weather at 71.93%; finances 33.33%; commodity prices and sales 28.95%; farm operating costs 27.19% and government: legislation, regulations and aid 19.30%. Weather likely ranks in the top again for 2020. Several hurricanes came through the Gulf this year. As you can read on page 17, wet weather has caused problems with pod rot. In more northern parts of the Peanut Belt, cooler weather in mid-September affected pod maturation. The news isn’t all bad. Consumption has soared with the pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders. See the consumption charts from The Peanut Institute on page 9. Unfortunately, the in-shell market lost out with baseball shut down for an extended time. Although the industry has made inroads into restaurants and food service with peanuts and peanut butter, the temporary shutdown of those businesses was not as catastrophic as it was for other commodities and was easily made up by what was being consumed in the home. Virtual field days meant that I could “attend” more of them. Those are good for information but not for taking pictures. I’m sure we all hope winter production meetings can be held in person. Until then, keep plugging along taking what comes and making the best of it.

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

One Grower Publishing, LLC

875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Phone: 901-767-4020

THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

PEANUTGROWER.COM

ADVERTORIAL

New

for Peanut Leaf Spot Control

When Something Old Becomes New Again.

Protecting peanuts from costly defoliation and resulting yield losses caused by early and late leaf spot requires season-long management and a good rotation of active ingredients. This includes the ability to provide growers with the ﬂexibility to tank-mix additional modes of action into their peanut disease programs.

Cultivars, weather, prior years with high leaf spot severity, and a variety of cultural practices can favor intense disease pressure during the growing season. Early and late leaf spot fungi overwinter in peanut crop debris. Old lesions on previously infected peanut leaves and stems produce spores that can infect the new crop. While most inoculum is local, spores can blow in from neighboring fields and occasionally over long distances, particularly during tropical storms.

“Peanuts are an ideal crop for an integrated pest management approach,” says Karen Westcott, Fungicide Lead for UPL. “Leaf spot remains a key disease worry for peanut growers, and we are happy to be able to bring an old-new product to peanut growers.”

Early and late leaf spot symptoms are first seen on leaves at the bottom of the plant. Later, the number of spots increase as the disease progresses. Plants begin to defoliate, starting with the bottom leaves and moving into the upper canopy. If leaf spot is present in your field, it can completely defoliate the entire crop. Control is necessary to prevent defoliation and yield loss of 50 percent or more. Typically, late leaf spot is more difficult to control — once it gets started it’s even more explosive than early leaf spot and can be a bigger challenge to manage.

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Late Leaf spot infestation

10/16/20 3:10 PM

During challenging growing seasons like many experienced in 2019 and 2020, fungicides play a critical role in protecting yields. Superior protection is needed for superior yields and profits. Several university researchers have observed increased leaf spot resistance with single-site fungicides in FRAC groups 3 (DMI) and 11 (QoI); and are seeing the potential for reduced efficacy to FRAC group 7 (SDHI) fungicides, a situation that brings further concerns. The triazole fungicides belong to FRAC group 3 while the strobilurin fungicides belong to FRAC group 11. Both classes of chemistry have been long standing standards within a peanut Rx program. THE POWER OF MICROTHI™ MICRONIZED SULFUR Now, growers can significantly improve the leaf spot effectiveness of products in these FRAC groups with the addition of MICROTHI micronized sulfur, a new product from UPL. MICROTHI as a tank-mix partner to your current program provides a boost in leaf spot efficacy and is believed to help slow the build of resistance to current active ingredients. Why? The answer is in the fungicide’s mode of action. Protectant fungicides use different modes of action to prevent fungal development. MICROTHI micronized sulfur helps prevent fungal spores from germinating, disrupting electron transport in the mitochondria.

When combined with a fungicide’s other modes of action, the application is more eﬀective.

DATA - TIFTON, GA TRIALS (2017-2018) TREATMENT

% DEFOLIATION

YIELD (LBS/ACRE)

w/o Microthiol

with Microthiol

w/o Microthiol

with Microthiol

UNTREATED

98.1

93.9

2,973

4,489

ALTO 100 SL

96.9

75.9*

4,624

5,593

PROVOST OPTI

95.2

63.7*

5,165

6,349

™

Alto® 100 SL yield boost with Microthiol = +969 lbs/acre X $0.197/lb(a) = $190.89/acre Estimated ROI = $170.89/acre

Provost™ OPTI yield boost with Microthiol = +1,184 lbs/acre X $0.197/lb(a) = $233.25/acre Estimated ROI = $213.25/acre

*Denotes signiﬁcant diﬀerence between Microthiol in the tank verses no Microthiol (a) Price of peanuts per pound as of October 5, 2020 Elsevier Crop Protection 125 (2019) 104911 AUTHORS: (Albert K Culbreath, Timothy B. Brenneman, Robert C. Kemerait, Jr., Katherine L. Stevenson, Daniel J. Anco)

University recommends tank mixing MICROTHI during the early and middle part of a spray program; applying two or three times during the season. Researchers agree that adding MICROTHI not only makes FRAC 3 and 7 applications more eﬀective it can also help extend the eﬀectiveness of current SDHI fungicide technologies, slowing resistance to economically important technologies, and possibly even reducing the overall amount of fungicide needed to achieve disease control.

“In extensive field trial work across the Southeast, researchers have discovered that adding MICROTHI to triazole and strobilurin fungicides improves leaf spot control while helping to manage the resistance that we have with those classes of fungicides,” says Richard Royal, UPL Technical Sales Representative for the Southeast. “MICROTHI is a very cost-eﬀective addition to a grower’s spray program that pays oﬀ. Adding 5 pounds of MICROTHI as a tank-mix partner boosts leaf spot control and supplements key nutrient,” Royal continues.

“

...adding MICROTHI to triazole and strobilurin fungicides improves leaf spot control...

”

RICHARD ROYAL, UPL Technical Sales Representative

A cousin to the market-leading MICROTHIOL® DISPERSS®, manufactured by UPL, MICROTHI provides the next level in peanut plant health. The 80% micronized sulfur in a dry, granular form that goes into suspension readily without forming foam.

MICROTHI uses a state-of-the-art development process to provide a reliable supply to meet the growing demand of the peanut market and more. UPL is committed to providing safe and eﬀective formulations that create sustainable solutions for growers and applicators. For dependable, economical leaf spot control, add MICROTHI micronized sulfur to your prescription program. Find more information, contact your local UPL sales representative or visit www.upl-ltd.com/us.

3 MICROTHI going into solution

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SULFUR: A TRUSTED ALLY FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Sulfur is one of the oldest pesticide elements; some reports date its foundational use to 1000 BC for control of diseases in plants (source: British Society for Plant Pathology). More recently, its use rose significantly in the 19th and 20th centuries for control of a broad range of diseases in fruit, vegetable and other crops — including peanuts. By the 1970s, the amount of sulfur used by growers in the U.S. was 2½ times that of any other fungicide. For peanut growers who depend on sulfur-based disease control, sulfur’s popularity comes as no surprise. Sulfur was among the first fungicides to be used in peanuts for control of foliar diseases, particularly leaf spot, but as newer fungicides were approved, the old standby was forgotten.

Today, UPL has turned this age-old resource into next-generation technology that growers can rely on to boost the efficacy of their disease-management program in peanuts. MICROTHI: THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF SULFUR University researchers and plant pathologists are recommending adding MICROTHI to the disease management regimen, starting early and midseason. As an 80% micronized sulfur product, the sulfur particles of MICROTHI are held in suspension for superior coverage. It’s a convenient and economical addition to the tank to boost the efficacy of FRAC Group 3, 7 and 11 fungicides that are showing resistance while feeding the peanut plant for healthier yields. It also features low toxicity to plants, animals and beneficial insects.

ADD TO YOUR GROUP 3, 7 AND 11’S MICROTHI: KEY BENEFITS • Economical tank-mix addition to boost efficacy • Excellent resistance management tool • Synergistic plant health benefits • Innovative micronized formulation • Strong environmental profile • Excellent crop safety • Proven sulfur technology • Low risk to applicators

APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS • Ideal for early to mid-season applications • Recommend 2–3 applications per season • Recommended use rate: 5 pounds per acre • MICROTHI dissolves rapidly in water • Agitation recommended to keep product in suspension • REI: 24 hours • PHI: 0 days

Before applying MICROTHI, read and follow label instructions and precautions. Certain crops may be temperature-sensitive to sulfur. Use caution when temperatures reach and/or exceed 90 °F. Contact your local extension agent for additional information and recommendations.

Always read and follow label directions. DISPERSS, MICROTHI, MICROTHIOL, UPL, the UPL logo and OpenAg are trademarks of a UPL Corporation Limited Group Company. All other products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective companies. ©2020 UPL Corporation Limited Group Company. MICRO-2001B

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NewsBriefs News Briefs United Voice On Legislation Peanut growers, shellers and buying points have formed the United States Peanut Federation to serve as a unified voice in Washington, D.C. and advocate for strong agricultural policy. USPF’s mission is to protect, promote and improve business conditions for those in the peanut industry. U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, says, “I cannot express how pleased I am that the United States Peanut Federation has been formed to advocate collectively for all sectors of the peanut industry. As co-chair of the congressional peanut caucus, I believe the industry will benefit tremendously from a unified voice. This is truly an organization whose time has come.” The federation is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. Congressman Austin Scott, Ranking Member of the House agriculture subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit says, “I commend the associations for joining forces to advocate for our nation’s peanut industry, which plays an important role in feeding not only our country but also the world. As times get tough for our country, it is important to concentrate efforts in a unified voice to better our peanut industry and rural America. I look forward to seeing positive impacts from this partnership.” Karl Zimmer, president and CEO of Premium Peanut, is the first USPF chairman. “I am thrilled with the launch of the U.S. Peanut Federation, formalizing and bringing structure to years of informal collaboration among growers, buying points and shellers. Working together, I believe we will be able to TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

effectively advance many issues that are critical to peanuts. The U.S. Peanut Federation is ready to take on those challenges, advocating for the industry’s priorities with one voice.” For information about joining the U.S. Peanut Federation, call Joe Thomas at (202) 543-7464 or email jthomas@reddingfirm.com.

Additional COVID Assistance The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an additional $14 billion for producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will run through Dec. 11. Producers can apply for CFAP 2 at USDA’s Farm Service Agency county offices. This program provides financial assistance that gives producers the ability to absorb marketing costs associated with the pandemic. Producers will be compensated for ongoing market disruptions. Payments are being made in three commodity categories: price trigger commodities, flat-rate crops and sales commodities. Crops that either do not meet the 5% price decline or do not have data available to calculate a price change will have payments calculated based on eligible 2020 acres multiplied by $15 per acre. These crops include alfalfa, extra-long staple cotton, oats, peanuts, rice, hemp, millet, mustard, safflower, sesame, triticale, rapeseed and others. The payment limitation is $250,000 per person or entity for all commodities combined.

Grading In The Age Of COVID The Georgia Federal State Inspection Service hired nearly 1,000 temporary workers to staff 130 peanut buying points in Georgia to grade the state’s multi-million-dollar peanut crop. To ensure protocols are followed, Commissioner of Agriculture Gary

In Brief • United States Peanut Federation created for a unified voice in Washington, D.C. • Peanuts included in CFAP-2. • Pandemic pushes consumption to new levels. • Alabama producers confirm job of APPA. • Funding for aflatoxin projects sought. • Florida federation donates plot planter.

Black and Georgia Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey visited Farmers Gin and Peanut in Moultrie, Georgia, to review plans for keeping workers safe from COVID-19. Toomey discussed with FSIS what to do if an employee becomes infected and how to prevent further spread among workers. She suggested identifying someone in the facility whose job would be to educate employees on the proper use of masks and enforce the measures. Virtual meetings between state inspection services were used to discuss safety protocols at all buying points. The goal is safe and efficient peanut grading for the farmer.

APPA Approved By 95%

Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts that is collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. In a referendum conducted July 23, 2020, 95% of those who voted said “yes” to continue APPA’s programs in education, promotion and research. NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

NewsBriefs News Briefs Carl Sanders, Coffee County farmer and APPA president, says, “I am proud of the work we do at the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. The check-off funds production research, grower and consumer education and the promotion of delicious and nutrient-packed peanuts, peanut butter and other peanut products. The referendum results are a remarkable endorsement of the work APPA does on behalf of our peanut farmers.”

This success is achieved through collaboration and efforts across the entire industry. “NPB has been steadfast in our mission for two decades,” says Peter Froese, NPB chairman and Texas board member. “These latest consumption numbers underscore the success of our efforts in marketing and finding peanut allergy solutions. This drives us to continue working hard to deliver results for America’s peanut farmers.”

Peanut Butter Consumers Are Changing

Aflatoxin Projects Requested

Jake Calhoun, director of brand strategy for the J.M. Smucker Co. told peanut attendees of the sheller/ buying point pre-harvest meeting that consumers are changing. Calhoun said, “Consumers were already changing. How they eat has evolved and so has how they shopped, as well as what they watch and interact with. COVID-19 has accelerated that change with eating at home, cutting back on spending and changing shopping habits. “But peanut butter has the momentum. Peanut butter is the dominant nut butter with 77% share by nut type. Hazelnut has 10%, almond butter has 8% and others have 5%.” Calhoun said the reasons the peanut butter category is in a great place include 75% of U.S. households purchased peanut butter in 2019 to 2020; peanuts remain the top-consumed nut in America at about 7.4 pounds per capita; plant-based protein is on the rise. Trending globally, new products contain flavors by region.

Peanut Per-Capita Consumption Reaches All-Time High The National Peanut Board celebrates its 20th anniversary with the announcement of record-breaking consumption. For the first time, per-capita consumption reached 7.6 pounds based on USDA and U.S. Census data. 6/

THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

The U.S. Peanut Federation requested funding for aflatoxin research projects through the USDA Agricultural Research Service at the National Peanut Lab in Dawson, Georgia, in cooperation with Fort Valley State University. Congressman Sanford Bishop included $1.5 million for peanut aflatoxin research in the appropriations committee, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. Senate has not taken up their agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2021 yet. Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the government funded until after the election, which is when the Senate will likely take up the issue.

Peanut Institute Research Efforts The Peanut Institute received 40 nutrition research proposals from 20 countries. The Peanut Institute is currently supporting 15 studies in partnership with national and international universities. All of the projects are examining how peanuts and peanut products affect human health in 11 various areas including: fitness, gut microbiome, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, weight management, Crohn’s disease, child health and wellness, cognition, longevity, precision medicine in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. For more information, visit their website at www.peanut-institute.com.

Georgia Farm Show Expands To Two-Day Event To accommodate social distancing needs, the Georgia Peanut Farm Show is planned as a two-day event in January. The 45th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference will be held on Jan. 20-21, 2021. The show will be held Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 21, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives. It is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. Attendees can visit with more than 100 agribusinesses and organizations in the peanut and agricultural industry. Farmers will be able to earn private and commercial pesticide applicator certification, as well as learn about research and developments during the UGA Peanut Production Seminar and industrywide sponsored Peanut Seed Seminar.

MSU Cancels Row Crop Short Course Mississippi State University has canceled plans for the 2020 Row Crop Short Course in December. Officials say they are still operating under conditions that limit the number of people who can gather at events and thought that a virtual format would not capture the same atmosphere. They did not want sacrifice quality simply to have a meeting. For questions regarding pesticide certification or licenses, call the Bureau of Plant Industry at 662-325-3390. With respect to continuing education units for Certified Crop Advisors, check the CCA website at https://www.agronomy.org/education for virtual meeting options. If you need an extension to earn CEU’s, contact Penny Magana, Certification Representative for Mississippi at 608-268-4954. PEANUTGROWER.COM

NewsBriefs News Briefs

Florida Peanut Federation Donates Plot Planter The Florida Peanut Federation recently donated a research plot planter to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science’s North Florida Research Education Center. The planter was presented at the FPF annual meeting. Barry Tillman, UF peanut breeder, said, “The NFREC is grateful to the Florida Peanut Federation for their gift of a state-of-the-art research plot planter. This new planter will significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of planting peanut research plots and will help us to develop improved varieties for years to come.” Shad Mallady of Seed Research Equipment Solutions, a manufacturer of custom seed research equipment, said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to build a custom

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

designed research planter to enhance the development of peanut research in the area.” The research plot planter is based on a two-row Monosem planter with advanced control modified seed covers that allow it to plant one seed variety after the last over and over without mixing the seeds between plots. It also has GPS controls that will help to improve the accuracy and reduce labor and time involved in field layout. “We look for great things to come from the progress that is made possible by this donation,” said Dwight Stansel, FPF president. The FPF’s purpose is to improve the business conditions of Florida’s peanut producers and to promote a healthy peanut market.

NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

Watch Consumption Soars, But A Big Crop Is Expected

hen COVID-19 hit, it took a while to understand the pandemic and the impact it would have on the peanut industry. With the economy shut down and families forced to stay at home, peanut butter and peanut snacks started flying off grocery store shelves as much as toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Peanut shellers had to find a way to carry on with shelling and also keep trucks rolling product to manufacturers. Immediately, rules were implemented to allow for the safety of employees while meeting processor demand. As for the peanuts, aflatoxin continues to be found in the 2019 crop, but quality is an issue of which everyone has been aware. Blanching those peanuts and blending them in with others is standard operating procedure. To meet demand, one manufacturer decided to run only creamy peanut butter to stock the shelves. Several manufacturers struggled to get enough peanuts to meet the record demand and opted to not bid on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s request for peanut butter for food banks and feeding programs. The market that hit new heights has shown no signs of slowing down. Little In The Loan As shellers tried to clean up the 2019 peanut crop and supplies became tight, shelled prices jumped from 45 cents per pound for jumbo runners to 80 cents per pound. Blanched peanuts were as high as 85 to 90 cents per pound. Farmers had already contracted the farmer-stock peanuts at $400 to $425 per ton on runners and $500 per ton on Virginias. Clean-up costs were expensive for the sheller. The government loan program was being redeemed fast and there were 8/

THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

Leading Marketing Indicators (10/6/20) 2020 Est. Acreage (+24%) ............................................... 1,623,000 acres 2020 Est. Production .......................................................... 3,396,000 tons 2020 Est. Avg. Yield (lbs/A) ............................................................... 4,185 2019 Market Loan .............................................................. 2,341,062 tons 2019 Remaining in Loan ........................................................ 97,291 tons 2019-20 Domestic Usage ........................................................ Up + 3.3 % 2019-20 Exports ........................................................................ Up + 41.2% NATIONAL POSTED PRICE (per ton) Runners -$424.55; Spanish - $415.57; Valencia and Virginias - $428.74

rumors of running out of peanuts. By Oct. 1, loan peanuts totaled only 97,000 tons compared to 201,000 tons on this date in 2019. Last year’s low prices had farmers figuring on about $100 per-ton assistance on 85% of the farm base. 2020 Production Estimate Then came the market depressant! Production figures are now estimated up 24% from 2019. Area harvested is expected to total 1.62 million acres, up 10% from the previous forecast and up 17% from 2019. The average yield is forecast at 4,185 pounds per acre, up 236 pounds per acre from 2019. Disappearance for domestic food is 1.64 million tons, up 2.4%. This past year showed an increase of 3.3% after a correction in the candy usage category. Exports are estimated to remain the same at about 800,000 tons. Recent 12-month shipments were up 41% over the previous year to 663,000 metric tons. The ending stocks or carryforward is now up to 1.13 million tons. That will

likely keep farmer-stock contracts low for next season. The peanut program balance is a positive. Estimates show the peanut supply is 6.793 million pounds and disappearance is 6.764 million pounds. Now that a good crop seems likely and little or no aflatoxin is expected, shelled market prices have dropped from 85 cents per pound to 50 cents per pound. It is worth noting that the United States has very little carryout from the 2019 crop and needs to begin shelling the better quality 2020 crop as soon as possible, some of which will be used to service 2019 contracts. Shellers still need to contract a larger-than-normal percentage of the crop with the farmers. Farmer’s stock prices continue to hover around $425 to $450 per ton for runner-type peanuts and Virginias mostly $450 to $500 per ton. COVID-19 Consequences The impacts of COVID-19 are expected to continue into next year. One study says farm income will fall by $21.9 billion in 2021 compared to the forecast PEANUTGROWER.COM

Watch Total U.S. Peanut Consumption by Category

Candy Snacks PB Ingredients In-Shell Total

In-Shell 5%

Ingredients 4%

% Change from 2019

(2020)

Candy 16%

3.9% 2.9% 5.1% 18.7% 2.1% 3.3%

Snack Peanuts 19% Peanut Butter 56%

Source: USDA Peanut Stocks & Processing Report. Excludes Oil

Total U.S. Consumption of Peanuts 2,500,000 2,400,000 2,300,000 2,200,000

(1,000 lbs.)

2,100,000 2,000,000 1,900,000 1,800,000 1,700,000 1,600,000 1,500,000

19/20

18/19

17/18

16/17

15/16

14/15

13/14

12/13

11/12

10/11

09/10

08/09

07/08

06/07

05/06

04/05

03/04

02/03

01/02

00/01

1,400,000

Source: USDA Peanut Stocks & Processing Report.

Total U.S. Peanut Butter Consumption 1,475,000 1,400,000

prior to COVID-19, even when accounting for higher Farm Bill program payments. Having a nutritious, reasonably priced, tasty product has meant prosperity for the peanut industry during the pandemic, and that trend should continue. Congress is considering additional assistance to help agricultural producers adjust to disruptions in domestic and global agricultural markets. Earlier this month, USDA announced the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2), which will provide additional assistance of up to $14 billion to farmers facing market disruptions. CFAP 1 was of no value to peanuts since the price had not dropped the 15% needed to qualify. Peanuts are included in CFAP2, which is estimated at $15 per 2020 acre.

1,325,000 1,250,000

(1,000 lbs.)

1,175,000

1,100,000 1,025,000 950,000 875,000

Source: USDA Peanut Stocks & Processing Report.

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

19/20

18/19

17/18

16/17

15/16

14/15

13/14

12/13

11/12

10/11

09/10

08/09

07/08

06/07

05/06

04/05

03/04

02/03

01/02

725,000

00/01

800,000

2020 – Be Gone Everyone, including farmers, is ready to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. From storms, hurricanes, floods, a derecho, rock-bottom commodity prices and a pandemic, plus uncertain government assistance programs, life on the farm wasn’t much fun this year. Even with all of these issues, the peanut industry has been fortunate and should be thankful. PG NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

Crop Wrap-up Seed quality sets the tone for season-long effects in the Southeast.

Aspergillus crown rot was found in a lot of fields this year.

By Amanda Huber

he Southeast crop seemed to be fated from the start. A drought in late-season 2019 meant that seed peanuts would likely have germination problems. Testing in the seed lab over the winter confirmed this speculation. The difficulty getting a good stand of peanuts set the tone for the remainder of the season. In The Furrow University of Georgia Extension peanut specialist Scott Monfort says with the reduced germination rate, some producers responded by increasing the seeding rate. However, work done over the past 10 years from UGA cropping systems agronomist Scott Tubbs on seeding rate has shown that going significantly above the seeding rate does not pay off in yield. Monfort says, “In twin-row peanuts, we typically don’t go over eight seed per foot of row. We think producers have been pushing this number to get more yield. One single rows, farmers are pushing eight, nine and 10 seed per foot.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

“The problem is when you put more than seven seed per foot of row, those seed are on top of each other or are touching. In a year such as this where seed are rotting in the furrow, you are increasing problems with germination even more.” Seedling Disease Jeff Davis County Georgia Extension agent Jennifer Miller says it was no secret farmers were going to have issues with seed quality this year. But once the crop was up, problems were still prevalent. “I saw Aspergillus crown rot in abundance this year. Peanut seed that is saved goes through a lot of hot and dry weather and can have a buildup of pathogens in and on the seed. A good seed treatment and in-furrow fungicide applications can and do help, but sometimes that is not enough. “If you see dead plants in a row and dig them up to find a black smutty-looking growth at the soil line, that’s Aspergillus crown rot.” PEANUTGROWER.COM

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Miller says in most years, the death of some plants does not cause significant yield loss because peanuts are good at filling in those spots. “In years like 2020, when stands were not great to start with, we may see differently.” Substantial Spotted Wilt Barry Tillman, University of Florida peanut breeder, says the seed quality issues were caused by the drought in late August and September of last year. “We are still seeing some effects of that. Seed quality issues led to poor stands and that means more problems with tomato spotted wilt disease. I’ve seen a lot of TSWV this year. “Varieties are the biggest component to minimizing the risk of TSWV losses,” he says. “Look at Peanut Rx and select varieties that have some resistance to TSWV.” Tillman points out that although spotted wilt was exacerbated by poor stands this year, it has been on the increase for several years. This reinforces the need for varietal resistance to this disease as well as following the other recommendations in Peanut Rx. White Mold Conditions Syngenta’s agronomy service representative Wilson Faircloth says conditions in August brought on white mold. “We have had moisture and high nighttime temperatures, and this has been perfect conditions for white mold. It has even come through some good fungicide programs.” Wilson says products like Sygenta’s Elatus are good at keeping white mold mostly out of the field. But in years like this where temperatures stayed between 95 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit, it was going to be a challenge to control. “The difference in this year and last is that in 2019, it showed up in June. This year, we didn’t see white mold until later, but it seemed to appear to be a significant amount all of a sudden. Fungicides On Foliar Disease Yet another disease that could be found in peanut fields this season was rust. In Alabama, producers dealt with numerous late-season foliar and soilborne peanut diseases because of the weather, including peanut rust, says Amanda Scherer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension plant pathologist. It was found 12 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

This pod maturity sample of Bailey cultivar was conducted in Isle of Weight County, Virginia, on Sept. 28, 2020.

Notes From The V-C Crop Dan Anco, Clemson University Extension peanut specialist: • Warmer weather was needed to help fields dry out for digging and picking. • Some of the later-planted or longer-maturing runners needed two to three weeks more for optimal maturity. • If pods were dug and then received rain, inspect the crop for mold and consider putting those in a separate trailer. Maria Balota, Virginia Tech Extension peanut specialist: • The 2020 peanut crop has not matured as well as 2019. • Not being able to plant early or on time this year is one reason for the lack of timely maturity. • Another explanation is the hot, dry conditions in July, when pollination and peg and pod growth slowed down. • The yield estimate has been reduced to 3,800 pounds per acre because of maturity concerns. David Jordan, North Carolina State University peanut specialist: • Peanuts across the Virginia-Carolina region are progressing well in most cases after a relatively slow start in May and June due to cooler temperatures and in some cases excessive rain. • Lack of rains and soil moisture in July combined with excessive heat slowed peanut growth and development and likely affected pollination. • Peanuts planted in June, as well as some planted in May, that did not set pegs until early August may not be mature when dug, which could be the case for 20% of the crop in the V-C region.

on untreated plants in research trials in Headland. “This is not surprising given the warm, wet weather and bands of rain from the tropical systems that moved through the area. Rust is easily identified by the presence of numerous, tiny reddish-orange pustules on the underside of leaves. The good news is that we are not finding it in treated plots since the disease can be managed with applications of chlorothalonil,” Scherer says.

Hot and dry is always expected in Texas, and conditions this year followed suit. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialist Francisco Abello says the U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report in late September was an improvement of three percentage points. “Excellent and good conditions improved from 72% to 75%. This condition is also six percentage points better than last year at this time of the season, but below the U.S. average.” PG PEANUTGROWER.COM

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The Goal: Profitable Peanut Production

rom above ground to below and high overhead, peanuts are the fascination of researchers across the United States. Thanks to farmers who help fund many of these projects through the National Peanut Board, scientists explore all areas of peanut production. In fact, since 2001 the National Peanut Board has invested more than $37 million in production research. Every year, 60 to 80 projects are selected for funding. These studies explore every facet of the peanut. From the molecular level to the field view and from specific problems to integrated approaches, the goal of these research efforts is all the same: more sustainable and profitable peanut production for the farmer.

FROM SPECIFIC TO INTEGRATED Weed seed want to grow and thrive as much as peanut seed. The competition created for sunlight, water and nutrients causes economic losses in the peanut crop. Farmers spend money and time trying to combat weeds. Successful weed management requires cultivation and/or multiple, timely, effective herbicide applications. As hearty and sustaining as they are when eaten, peanuts do not compete well with weeds. That’s why farmers are advised to keep peanuts weed free for the first 45 days after planting and newly emerged weeds knocked back until the crop achieves canopy closure. Once established, competition is not so much the problem as is interference with pesticide applications and harvest equipment, which reduces equipment efficiency and causes yield loss. Weeds are a topic for peanut researchers, and projects can be specific to one weed or as broad as weed management

overall. For instance, yellow nutsedge is one of the most problematic weeds around the world. University of Georgia weed scientist Tim Grey studied yellow nutsedge control in peanut. Specifically, Grey’s objective was to determine if diclosulam, which is an effective herbicide against many weed species with activity on nutsedge, was effective on yellow nutsedge tuber production. Through his research, Grey found that diclosulam is an effective herbicide that controls yellow nutsedge foliage and also reduces the number of tubers produced. It also reduces tuber viability. Peanut weed management trials are an expansive set of study plots looking at peanut with a list of herbicides. The outcome of these trials resembles what farmers often face in the field. Todd Baughman, Oklahoma State University Extension weed scientist, conducted a weed management trial, and his study resulted in the following information: “Texas panicum, Palmer amaranth and ivyleaf morningglory control initially was at least 90% with Prowl H2O preemergence. Chloroacetamide herbicide (Outlook, Warrant or Zidua) helped extend control. While early season control was excellent, Cadre + 2,4-DB postemergence was needed for season-long control of Texas panicum and ivyleaf morningglory. Early season yellow nutsedge control was less than 85% with all treatments. The only treatments that controlled Palmer amaranth at least 95% and yellow nutsedge at least 90% late season were Prowl H2O preemergence followed by Zidua + Gramoxone at cracking followed by Cadre + 2,4-DB alone or with Outlook postemergence.” From a specific problem to overall field management, researchers are helping producers tackle problems and maximize yield.

Weed research may focus on a specific weed, such as nutgrass, or it may encompass many varieties, herbicides and application regimens.

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With a UAV and a cell phone, NCSU peanut breeder Jeff Dunne is developing a method to take trial plot leaf spot readings quicker.

OVERHEAD TO BELOW GROUND Still a new technology in agriculture, the unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a drone, is soaring through the skies taking overhead pictures of peanut crops. What can these photos tell researchers? Well, that is being studied now. Virginia Tech Tidewater Agricultural Research and Experiment Center associate professor and Extension specialist Maria Balota is looking at using UAVs in various ways. Can they be used to evaluate variety breeding plots for drought tolerance? What type of UAV sensor is most useful in distinguishing colors of foliage that is stressed or wilting? In her project, “Can UAVs Be Used For Peanut Variety Selection?” Balota discovered a high-resolution selection system that could be used by breeders to expedite crop development to increase yield and quality. North Carolina State University peanut breeder Jeff Dunne

did just that. In his study, “Mapping Leaf Spot Resistance For Marker-Assisted Selection,” Dunne used a UAV to determine levels of leaf spot resistance in trial plots. Dunne says, “We used drone and cell phone images to rapidly take ratings on both defoliation and leaf spot lesions. The idea is to evaluate 220 lines in the field using drone imaging and walking through the plots taking cell phone images. The images are uploaded, and image software with a customized algorithm analyzes the plots. With this approach, ratings can be taken objectively and more quickly than the breeder walking the field. When analysis is complete, I can look at the best lines and make selections for further development.” With research from scientists like Balota determining the best sensors and cameras, peanut breeders like Dunne are using it to develop leaf-spot resistant peanut seed quicker.

DEVELOPMENT TO CONFIRMATION If it doesn’t rain, not much else matters. Water is an essential element for growing peanuts. Because it often doesn’t rain, irrigation is needed. Providing what the crop needs through irrigation is costly. University of Georgia agriculture economists estimate irrigation’s average cost is $7.50 per acre-inch of water applied. For 1,000 acres at 10 inches of irrigation, that’s $75,000. It’s obvious why every drop needs to be used by the crop and not wasted. Water has been and will continue to be a precious commodity to be preserved and used wisely. UGA Extension irrigation specialist Wes Porter conducts research on advanced irrigation scheduling technology. Over several projects, Porter found that the UGA Smart Sensor Array or WaterMark probe system often has the highest irrigation water-use efficiency and also the highest yield. Other methods he has studied include IrrigatorPro, UGA EasyPan and PeanutFARM. Porter says producers should choose a method based on their comfort level with the technology and their irrigation management style. With modern technology and current varieties, Porter and TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

Rain-out shelters help researchers determine the most water-use efficient irrigation scheduling methods and also whether the traditional water-use curve is still valid.

other researchers began to question whether the traditional peanut water-use curve, which is based on historical evapotranspiration data, was still accurate. At times, research is needed to confirm the relevance of commonly used precepts or to update them. Today’s peanut research is used to develop new techniques and corroborate old guidelines. NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 15

MOLECULAR TO FIELD Thanks to the International Peanut Genomic Initiative, funded in part by growers through the National Peanut Board, the peanut genome was sequenced. In the process, researchers discovered markers, a string or sequence of DNA, located near the DNA sequence of the desired gene. Since these Using marker-assisted selection, getting to the third backcross stage takes a few years molecular markers and the compared to 12 to 15 before. Researchers are now selecting these leaf-spot-resistant genes are close together on the varieties for possible release or further crosses with soilborne disease resistant material. same chromosome, they tend to stay together as each generation of the plant is produced. Currently, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural In order to find markers associated with specific traits, Research Service peanut breeder Corley Holbrook is develboth genetic and phenotypic (visual or measurable) data oping leaf-spot resistant peanut varieties using markers determust be gathered and correlated. In a test set of plants mined by fellow USDA ARS scientist Peggy Osias-Akins. He designed specifically for identifying markers associated with is currently in the third backcross on some of the selections. a certain trait, DNA is taken from each plant and analyzed. Holbrook says,“The traditional breeding approach that The same plants are examined for the specific trait, for examhas been going on for many years, we can do a lot faster with ple leaf spot resistance, in the field for a period of years. This marker-assisted selection. In the old days, it would take 12 is called phenotyping and is necessary to determine which to 15 years to get to backcross three because it took years to markers correlate to what trait. make selections and identify progeny you want to backcross. When the specific markers are always present in plants With marker-assisted selection, we have completed the origshowing leaf spot resistance, then peanut breeders can use inal cross and three backcrosses in four years. We are now those markers to select leaf-spot resistant plants in their identifying the lines we hope to release as leaf-spot resistant breeding programs. Whatever a peanut plant or seed can varieties.” exhibit – disease resistance, drought tolerance, reduced skin From the laboratory where the DNA of the peanut was slippage, improved blanchability or flavor attributes – there mapped to the field where leaf-spot resistant varieties are is a marker for it. Many researchers are working to determine being grown and selected, grower-funded research is making it marker-trait associations in peanut. happen. The outcome will be a worthy return on investment.

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Consumers are an important component of research. To be a tasty product, peanuts must have good flavor. To be processed efficiently, they also need to be the correct size and shape, among other traits. Peanut researchers cover all of the necessary topics to get peanuts from the planted seed to the consumer’s table. It is critical for Virginia-type peanuts to have excellent roasting characteristics with desirable flavor and textures. Roasted peanut flavor qualities are composed of hundreds of different compounds and are, therefore, complex. Research on Virginia-type varieties includes tests of the sensory attribute intensity. Through study panels, scientists quantify such attributes as the roast color, over roast, under roast, sweetness, nutty aftertaste, bitterness, astringence and the level of fruity/fermented or stale/cardboard flavor notes. Production research is critical, but will the consumer eat it and come back for more? The many facets of consumers’ tastes and preferences must be studied as well.

Is the farmer’s investment in peanut research worth it? Well, that takes another study. In 2019, the NPB commissioned an economic study to measure the return of peanut producers’ investments in the marketing and research funding programs. An economic evaluation, conducted by Cornell University, found that each dollar invested in the checkoff program between 2014 and 2018 returned $9.74 to the peanut industry. The study emphasized had there not been any NPBsponsored production research over this period, peanut yields would have averaged 10% less at 3,462 pounds per acre, compared with 3,880 pounds per acre. Without marketing activities over the most recent five-year period, total domestic peanut demand would have averaged 14.4% less. Through state and regional organizations, this research works to maximize value, encourage collaboration and eliminate gaps. It all adds up to sustainable and profitable peanut production for farmers. RR

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Rains Amplify Pod Rot Issues Adequate calcium helps protect pods from pathogens.

Pod Rot Symptoms Deterioration or rotting of fully developed pods is what gives this disease its name. The color and texture of the diseased pods can be either tan to brown with dry decay or greasy, dark brown/black with wet decay, depending on the pathogens and the environment. Many pods may remain in the soil after digging because of weakened pegs. Often there are no above-ground symptoms associated with pod rot, and severely affected plants may be darker green and have prolonged flowering. Generally, the root system is not affected. The three most common pathogens associated with this disease are Pythium myriotylum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium solani. The severity of pod rot is related to presence of a specific pathogen in some cases, or multiple pathogens, and a wide variety of environmental factors, such as deficiency of a specific plant nutrient — calcium. In Florida, it has also been found that pods exposed to moderate levels of peanut root-knot nematode in combination with Pythium myriotylum sustained 31% more decay. Calcium Is Key The vulnerability to pathogens is reduced in pods containing .2% or more calcium. The critical period for calcium absorption begins about 20 days after pegs start entering the soil and extends for 60 days. The problem occurs when there is no moisture for calcium to be in solution for uptake by peanut pods. Soil test levels of about 450 pounds per acre of calcium result in maximum runner yields, while double this amount is needed for Virginia-type peanut. If soil samples show only calcium to be low, then calcitic lime would be satisfactory. However, if both calcium and magnesium are low, then dolomitic limestone should be selected. Lime should be applied TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

DE BROUGHTON

ate this season, Florida peanut producers saw an increase in pod rot disease. It’s little wonder given the number of tropical storms and hurricanes. In early June, Tropical Storm Cristobal provided torrential rainfall, followed by even more showers for a total of 18 to 22 inches within a week’s time in some locations. From that point forward, frequent afternoon showers and increased temperatures coupled with a maturing stage of peanut growth, allowed for soilborne diseases to proliferate. Potassium and gypsum applied before the heavy rains could have been lost to leaching, which would contribute to pod rot disease emergence. Canopy closure makes it difficult for soil at the base of the plant to dry, again providing a scenario for more disease pressure to develop below ground.

This picture shows typical symptoms of peanut pod rot. Note the dark colored pods with sand and dirt stuck to the shell. Despite the presence of pod rot, the root system is generally healthy.

three to six months before planting and up to planting. Gypsum is often applied at pegging time so that peanuts will have an adequate calcium supply. Rates of 250 pounds per acre of dry gypsum in a band or 1,000 pounds per acre of wet gypsum are often applied to peanuts being saved for seed. Fungicide Options With fungicides, consider the potential for pod rot development, the growth stage/time to maturity of the crop and the pre-harvest interval of the product. In many cases, for moderate levels of pod rot late in the season, the return on investment for the fungicide application might not justify the cost. For a history of severe pod rot, an application of fungicides at pegging could be warranted. Fungicides such as Abound and Ridomil will need to reach the crown and pod zone to have any effect. High-volume applications are one option to increase the likelihood of the product reaching the target but will require 30 gallons per acre to be effective. Another option is to use at least 15 gallons per acre and spray at night as the product will have a better chance to reach the target. The effectiveness of applying fungicides through an irrigation system for pod rot protection is unknown. PG Article by UF/IFAS Peanut Team: Ian Small, De Broughton, Fanny Iriarte, Nicholas Dufault, Keith Wynn, Jay Capasso and David Wright. NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 17

Building For The Future New shelling plants are in the works, and one came online in August.

f the building of new industry infrastructure in the form of shelling facilities is a positive sign, then peanuts are well poised for the future. Farmers in southwest Alabama have joined together as Coastal Growers LLC, with plans to build a peanut shelling plant in Atmore. The cooperative shelling and storage facility on more than 60 acres and costing $87 million is expected to bring more than 100 jobs to the area, according to a release from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey. “The Coastal Growers facility in Atmore will become a vital resource for peanut farmers in Alabama and beyond by helping to make their operations more sustainable and profitable,” Ivey says. “I look forward to seeing the impact that this project is going to have for our farmers and for the region.” Filling A Local Need Coastal Growers’ Brad Smith and Joe Parker, two of the driving forces behind the project, say the Atmore location is the perfect site for the company.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

“The peanuts we have in this area are among the highest quality available, yet we really have no infrastructure for shelling,” says Parker who is owner and general manager of Summerdale Peanut in Baldwin County. “We looked at possibilities in other states but Atmore really did make the best sense for us in the end. The state was strongly supportive of our efforts the entire time,” Smith says. “They did a fantastic job of making us feel welcome in Escambia County.” Mark Kaiser, a Baldwin County farmer, says the new facility will allow farmers to capture more profit from their own crops, giving them more control over their operations. “This facility will be owned by the farmers who use it, and they’ll keep those profits themselves,” Kaiser says. “That’s good for both the farmers and for the immediate area. The money will keep turning over locally.” An Economic Benefit Paul Turner, an attorney representing the company, says the

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Delta Peanut Up And Going

average wage in the plant will be more than $17 per hour for the 100-plus fulltime workers. In addition, there will be temporary positions added during peak shelling times. “We are excited to be able to announce this project and to bring peanut shelling to south Alabama. It will also bring economic benefit to the hard-working farmers of our state who so desperately need it,” Turner says. “We offer our sincere gratitude to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Atmore Mayor Jim Staff and everyone else who made this project possible. Also bringing us to the Atmore area were the Alabama Farmers Federation and the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, both of which were vital in the project’s development,” he says. Big Impact Expected A l e x Jo n e s , p re s i d e n t o f U B Community Development LLC, a community development affiliate of United Bank, led efforts to secure financing for the project, using New Market Tax Credits, incentives and traditional financing. He says the impact across the region will be immense. “We have farmers from one side of the state to the other who are involved in this, even in Florida and Mississippi and up the state into the Sand Mountain area,” Jones says. “This is a complex process and not the typical economic development project in any way. In the end, it’s going to mean a lot for our region, TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

for Atmore, for Escambia County and our state.” Atmore Mayor Jim Staff says the city welcomes Coastal Growers and is excited to be able to help the area’s farmers. “It’s not just the jobs at the shelling plant itself, even as much opportunity as that will generate for the city,” Staff says. “It’s what we are able to do for our farmers and their families who have lived and worked here for generations. They have spent money in Atmore, and they are an important part of our community.” On The Peanut Map Jess Nicholas of Centerfire Economic, who serves as executive director of the Escambia County Industrial Development Authority, expects the facility to attract additional companies to the area. “Shelling operations tend to attract other businesses in this sector and also spur development in infrastructure. We expect it to have a positive effect on the Port of Mobile as well,” Nicholas says. “We worked hard to bring Coastal Growers here, and we’re very thankful they picked us. Thank you to Gov. Ivey for supporting our efforts. We’re on the map now as far as peanut production is concerned,” he says. Glenn Spivey, president of Dothan’s Hollis & Spann Inc., will be leading construction efforts for the project. Spivey says the new facility, encompassing more than 400,000 square feet, will take about a year to build. PG

The farmer-owned peanut shelling facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Delta Peanut, opened its doors in August. This first-of-its-kind facility in the area serves producers in Arkansas, plus the Missouri Bootheel and Northeast Louisiana. With the support of 60 producers and investors, Delta Peanut is expected to create 130 jobs with a $70 million output. The shelling facility was constructed on a 71-acre site in the Craighead County Technology Park in Jonesboro and will shell 180,000 tons of peanuts annually when running at maximum capacity. Three on-site warehouses and one “surge” warehouse will hold approximately 60,000 tons of peanuts. The balance of the production is handled by partner buying points in Pocahontas and Marianna, Arkansas. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Ag Statistics Service, approximately 35,000 acres of peanuts were planted in the region this year. Before the addition of Delta Peanut, the crop had to be transported to shelling plants in West Texas or South Georgia. The shelling facility is also a good fit to nearby manufacturers in Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock and Fort Smith, Arkansas. PG

New Sheller For Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed is building a new peanut shelling facility in Vernon. TAFS is a buying point for foundation class peanuts grown locally under contract. This seed will be shelled, treated and bagged at the same facility for delivery to the licensed growers of those peanut varieties. The new sheller will also help maintain the genetic purity of peanuts through the research process. Identity preservation is important to both plant breeders and manufacturers who require a specific variety. The peanut sheller is expected to bring four full-time jobs to the city of Vernon. It is scheduled to be completed in late 2020. PG NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

All of the Wilders’ peanuts were treated with 5.5 pounds per acre of AgLogic aldicarb in 2020. Although the treatment is mostly recommended for thrips, Littleton Wilder Jr. says he believes some nematode protection is gained as well.

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Cutting Costs, Not Corners For the Wilders, peanuts are a generational endeavor. Editor’s Note: Since the interviews were conducted for this article but before it could be published, Lynn Wilder passed away. On behalf of The Peanut Grower, our sincere condolences go out to the Wilder family. We appreciate them allowing us to move forward with the article even in their time of bereavement.

Littleton Wilder Jr. believes that a strong, early stand of peanuts is the key to a successful crop.

o one will argue that farming has been easy the past few years, but there are some corners that just can’t be cut. Balancing the risk versus reward is one of the most complicated decisions a grower will make in the planning process for next year’s crop. For Littleton Wilder Sr., and sons Littleton Wilder Jr. and Lynn Wilder, 2020 was a bit of a shift in their crop mix. “We had a fairly normal price for peanuts in 2020, so we decided to put more of our acreage in peanuts,” Littleton Wilder Jr. says. “Compared to some of the other options, it just made sense for us.” Making It Work The close-knit family has been farming in the Pelham, Georgia, area for four generations. Some of them even live on Wilder Road, which will get to another road that will go somewhere — assuming of course, anyone would want to go somewhere else. “We love farming, and we love this area,” Littleton Wilder Sr. says. “Sometimes it’s tough, but we do our best to make it work.” Anticipating pest pressure is one of the most serious considerations the Wilders factor into their crop management long before a crop is ever planted. “We have one of the best, if not the best, crop consultants in the area who looks after our crops and helps us make decisions long before a seed ever hits the TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

dirt,” Lynn Wilder says. “We knew that moving a lot of our acreage to peanuts would create a problem with thrips. You could say the same thing about cotton. In this part of the world, thrips will just eat you up.” Some Things Are A Must Like almost any grower with any crop

in any area, cutting costs is a top priority. However, some costs just can’t be cut. “We believe that early season pest control is the key to making a good peanut crop,” Wilder Jr. says. “You just can’t cut corners on that one.” The Wilders use AgLogic aldicarb at a rate of 5.5 pounds per acre at planting on all of their peanut acreage. “We do NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

it mostly for thrips control, but I think it probably helps a little bit with nematodes, even at that rate,” he says. Bypassing foliar sprays for thrips control has additional benefits, according to Wilder Jr. “Obviously, there is the advantage of cutting out foliar applications,” he says. “There are so many things to do early in the season, it’s an incredible hassle to stop everything and go put out a thrips fire. Not only that, but if you go put out a thrips fire with a foliar, you’ll probably end up with another fire.” Flaring secondary pest problems with foliar sprays is always a concern — especially when cheaper, broad-spectrum sprays are used to control thrips. “If we can get away without spraying during the early season, or at least minimize our early season sprays, we’re way ahead of the game,” Wilder Jr. says. “In addition, sometimes I think it’s easy to forget how important beneficals are when it comes to controlling thrips. An in-furrow, at-planting material such as AgLogic not only gives us about six weeks of thrips control, but it doesn’t mess with the beneficials that gives us even more control.” A Crop That Pops Early stand establishment is also critical in peanuts, according numerous research trials in peanut-growing areas. “It makes sense,” Wilder Jr. says. “When you can get that plant to pop out of the ground with strong, healthy roots and a good canopy, it’s a lot more prepared to take on anything that might hold it back.” An early, healthy stand of peanuts is always preferable to a spotty stand for obvious reasons, as well as some reasons that aren’t quite as obvious. Disease issues are typically less significant. Root and pod diseases are often typical in early stressed peanuts and then conducive to the onset of tomato spotted wilt virus, particularly when emergence is less than ideal. In addition, an early developing canopy provides shade that reduces weed pressure. Fast forward to an always uncertain fall, and an earlier harvest can prove quite beneficial in some years. “You don’t have to ask us what an earlier harvest means,” Wilder Jr. says. “We’ve been through enough terrible years where you wish you had just a week or two of a head start on getting those peanuts out of the field.” 22 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

Lynn Wilder (left) and his father Littleton Wilder Sr. discuss their generations of peanut growing experience.

sive, up-front investment than the waitand-see approach, the Wilders believe it is well worth it when all is said and done. “If anything, it’s just peace of mind,” Wilder Jr. says. “We know we’re going to get off to the best start possible. We don’t have to worry so much about what thrips are going to do to the crop in the first few weeks, and I’m pretty sure it makes our consultant happy. That’s always a plus.”

Early season thrips control encourages healthy plants that are often visibly evident season-long.

Don’t Get Behind The Wilders focused more on peanuts in 2020, but they also grow cotton in varying acreage depending on the price outlook. “It was a tough year to commit to cotton due to the price, but it’s always one of our options we consider,” Wilder Jr. says. “That’s another crop where getting off to a good start is extremely important. You definitely don’t want to get behind in pest control before you even get started. Just like thrips control in peanuts, you do not want to play catch-up.” Even though AgLogic is a more expen-

Not Changing Now The Wilders take everything they can into consideration when making any decision — financial or otherwise. “You can’t look at the cost of one input without looking at what it contributes to the overall picture,” Wilder Jr. says. “Yeah, maybe nematodes are a factor. It’s very likely an early start to a healthy crop is a factor. It’s hard to put a value on that one. Maybe we won’t have to spray as much. Maybe a better canopy is a factor in weed control. Maybe it’s something else. The one thing you can bet on year after year is that thrips are going to be a factor.” Asked if he would cut any more corners for the 2021 season, Wilder Jr. replied, “Everything we can possibly cut, we do, but not the early season, in-furrow pest control. It’s worked for us for years, and we’re not about to change it now.” PG Article by Brenda Carol on behalf of AgLogic. PEANUTGROWER.COM

Start With Soil pH Soil pH in the correct range is needed for maximum yield. By Audrey Gamble, Auburn University Extension Soil Scientist

aintaining soil pH is the first step to improving soil fertility for peanut production. Most Southeastern soils are naturally low in pH and must be limed to create conditions that boost production. The ideal pH for peanuts is in the range of 6.0 to 6.5. Maintaining pH according to soil testing lab recommendations will ensure that the availability of plant nutrients is maximized so any applied fertilizers do not go to waste. Maintenance of soil pH is money well spent for producers because it improves crop quality and yield. Problems At Low pH When soil pH falls below 6.0, the availability of many macronutrients, such as phosphorus, needed for peanut production decreases. However, the availability of many plant micronutrients, such as zinc, manganese and iron, increases at low pH. Soil pH below the optimum range can increase zinc uptake by peanuts to a toxic level. During the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, Extension specialists received several calls related to zinc toxicity in peanut. This was likely the result of periods of heavy rainfall during the previous winters. Heavy rainfall can cause leaching of salts from the topsoil, resulting in a “false” high soil pH reading. Zinc toxicities were confirmed by plant tissue tests where the symptom of split stems was observed. To combat this issue: 1) do not collect soil samples when fields have been saturated for an excess time and 2) lime according to soil tests. If soil pH is borderline (ex. 5.8 or 5.9), it may be a good idea to go ahead and apply lime.

Split stems is a symptom of zinc toxicity.

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This Henry County, Alabama, field shows manganese deficiency from a soil pH above 7.0.

Problems At High pH When soil pH is above 7.0, the availability of many micronutrients, such as manganese, needed for peanut production decreases. It is common to observe manganese deficiency in areas of fields where lime was previously stored. At a pH above 8.0, peanut yields can be reduced by more than 1 ton per acre from manganese deficiency. High soil pH is not a common problem in the Southeast. To ensure that soil pH does not get too high, apply lime according to soil test recommendations. In years when soil test calcium is low but pH is in the correct range, apply gypsum at bloom instead of lime as a calcium source. PG

This Dale County, Alabama, field shows zinc toxicity from a low soil pH.

NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 23

Charting Disease Trends A survey started three years ago evolves into an integrated tool for monitoring disease and guiding research efforts.

n 2017, Florida producers experienced a problem in peanut fields that had never been seen before. The phenomenon, coined “peanut collapse” or “peanut decline,” affected approximately 25,000 acres and reduced yields about 1,000 pounds per acre on average in these locations. At that time, Extension agents and researchers from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences teamed with colleagues from the University of Georgia to investigate the cause. While no primary culprit was found, a peanut survey was developed to help form a database of information on a regional scale. The purpose of the database was to help correlate factors, predict these events and ultimately lead to solutions. What Is The Peanut Survey? Researchers and Extension agents continue to use the peanut survey to monitor known diseases as well as diagnose unknown problems. In recent years, peanut growers in the north-central and Panhandle regions of Florida have observed an increase in plant health issues during the growing season. Some of these issues are associated with higher rates of disease, insect pests, nematodes, reduced germination and weather-induced stress. Initially, the peanut survey was used to monitor disease trends over time at key farm sites. Now it is available statewide, and growers are encouraged to take advantage of this resource to help them identify problems in unhealthy peanuts. In addition to this monitoring plan, if growers experience unknown disease or stress-related issues during the season, the survey can be used to collect random samples for analysis. New Survey Features A new aspect of the survey is its integration into a Geographic Information System. By using the ArcGIS online

Extension agents, research scientists and producers investigate peanut decline symptoms in 2017, which initiated the peanut survey effort.

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THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

This leaf symptom was found in 2019 and 2020, but no virus or major nutrient deficiencies were found among the samples where this was routinely observed.

platform, agents and specialists can submit, edit, store and archive georeferenced sample-level data and photos conveniently in one platform. This will allow for the survey data to be integrated with climatic, soil and management data from across the region to allow for a better understanding of regional and local peanut disease trends. The new ArcGIS online platform and data submission application is customized for the peanut survey to make agent submission easier and more consistent. How Does It Benefit Producers? Participating farmers will benefit immediately from free analysis reports on collected samples. Reports cover disease and nematode diagnostics as well as tests on water, soil and foliar tissue nutrient levels. Extension agents can use the reports to help growers troubleshoot field issues and offer advice. Long-term benefits include helping scientists understand how peanut diseases are progressing in relation to our climatic conditions and management decisions. The information derived will help guide more research initiatives and strengthen the peanut industry in Florida over time. The UF/IFAS State Peanut Team encourages growers to report the appearance of declining peanuts. Contact your county agent or De Broughton, North Florida Research and Education Center, Suwannee Valley, who is helping coordinate this effort. The UF/IFAS Peanut Team appreciates the support of the Florida Peanut Federation, the Florida Peanut Producers Association and National Peanut Board in their survey efforts. PG Article by De Broughton, UF regional specialized agent for row crops, Ian Small, UF plant pathologist, Ethan Carter, UF regional IPM agent, Marina Burani Arouca, UF Extension program assistant and Tyler Pittman, Gilchrist County Extension agent. PEANUTGROWER.COM

Stripling Family Honored As Friend Of Extension

he Stripling Family Foundation of Camilla, Georgia, has been recognized with the Epsilon Sigma Phi National Friend of Extension award for their many years of philanthropic and personal support of agriculture programs in Georgia. Charles and Patsy Stripling credited Charles’ parents, the late C.M. Stripling and Bernice Campbell Stripling, for their many decades of support for agricultural research, education and outreach in the state. C.M. Stripling donated 130 acres in Mitchell County that is now the University of Georgia’s Stripling Irrigation Research Park. This state-of-the-art irrigation research and education center provides an easily accessible facility to assist farmers in managing irrigation and the general public in understanding the role of water in the economy of the region. Modern Irrigation Pioneer “Mr. Stripling was a pioneer in the start of modern irrigation farming in Georgia and a national Forester of the Year. His passion and desire to protect our land, water and plant resources motivated him to develop the most advanced irrigation feasible for the Dougherty Plain conditions in Georgia,” said Jennifer Grogan, a former Mitchell County agent with UGA Cooperative Extension who helped present the award to the Stripling family. UGA scientists, engineers, Extension specialists and staff collaborate at SIRP to define crop water needs; improve food, feed and fiber production under irrigation; investigate the effectiveness of chemigation and fertigation; and find more efficient ways to apply irrigation water. Industry partners are able to test equipment and water conservation strategies for Georgia under

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the objective eye of UGA researchers. All Extension Program Areas Included The Striplings also helped to establish the 4-H2O Day Camp, a three-day summer program for Georgia 4-H students held at the Stripling Research Park to teach children about water conservation and stewardship. The Stripling Family Foundation also funds a yearly scholarship for Georgia 4-H students to support youth participation in agriculture. “Their support of Extension programs in all areas has never wavered. The Stripling Family Foundation always looked at Extension as a team and included all program areas — 4-H, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Family and Consumer Sciences,” Grogan said. Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for Extension at the UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, lauded the Stripling family for devoting “time, knowledge and financial contributions to the youth and citizens of the state of Georgia. “The Stripling Irrigation Research Park is arguably the premier irrigation research and education facility in the Eastern United States. There is much anecdotal evidence that educational and research activities at SIRP are making an impact on the area’s farmers as they are becoming more receptive to opportunities to improve their irrigation systems and methods,” Johnson said. “The Stripling family makes it possible for county programs to continue to educate youth on the importance of water efficiency, proper irrigation methods and conserving water throughout the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin.” PG Article by Maria M. Lameiras for the UGA CAES news.

NOVEMBER 2020 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

Products Tillage Technology From Case IH To help producers be more highly efficient in creating a seedbed and accommodate the unique agronomic needs of their fields, Case IH continues to expand its soil management solutions lineup. The new Case IH Vibra-Tine 265 S-tine field cultivator effectively works high-clay and timber soils with proven S-tine technology for efficiency. For machines equipped with AFS Soil Command agronomic control technology, producers can now make stabilizer wheel position adjustments from the tractor cab. Providing more options to fit each field, Case IH is also adding a new 27-foot configuration for the Speed-Tiller high-speed disk. The Case IH Vibra-Tine 265 S-tine field cultivator is equipped with proven S-tine shank technology to create a seedbed in one spring pass. The Vibra-Tine S-tine field cultivator is designed with six ranks of S-tines and effective 4-inch shank spacing to provide optimal clod sizing in STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: Peanut Grower 2. Publication Number: 1042-9379 3. Filing Date: October 2020 4. Issue Frequency: Jan – July and Nov 5. Number of Issues: 8x/year 6. Annual Subscription Price: Free to qualified subscribers 7&8. Mailing Address of Known Office/Headquarters: 875 W. Poplar Ave., Ste. 23, Box 305, Collierville, TN 38017 Contact Person: Kathy Killingsworth (901-767-4020) 9. Publisher: Lia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 Editor: Amanda Huber, 11490 NE 105th St, Archer, FL 32618 10. Owners: Cornelia Guthrie, 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Dr. David Scott Guthrie, Sr., 7100 Black Bart Trail, Redwood Valley, CA 95470; Morris Ike Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159; Mary Jane Lamensdorf, 17 S. Third St., Rolling Fork, MS 39159 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and Other Security Holders Owning/ Holding 1% or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: July 2020 15.a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): (Average No. Copies each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 9,510) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 9,478) 15.b.(1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 5,550) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 5,504) 15.c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 5,550) (No. Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing Date – 5,504) 15.d.(1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 3,783) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 3,823) 15.d.(4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 35) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date -0-) 15.e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 3,818) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 3,823) 15.f. Total Distribution: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 9,368) (No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 9,327) 15.g. Copies Not Distributed: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months - 142) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date - 151) 15.h. Total: (Average No. copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 9,510) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 9,478) 15.i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: (Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months – 59.2%) (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date – 59.0%) 18. I certify that all information furnished above is true and complete. Lia Guthrie, Publisher

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THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2020

tough conditions. This design, along with a high 24-inch frame clearance, allows for maximum residue flow without plugging. Single-point hydraulic depth control provides quick and easy adjustments to accommodate changing field conditions. A front T-hitch allows tight and efficient turning when space is at a premium. The field cultivator shanks can withstand a variety of soils, while a tubethrough design with 4-inch square tub-

ing walls are high strength for an open, yet durable, frame. S-tine shank options include the standard two-piece coil or a heavy-duty two-piece coil that delivers more holding power and ground clearance. The S-tine shanks are built with high-quality alloy steel to ensure longevity of tines and wearing parts. For more information, contact your local Case IH dealer or visit the company’s website at www.caseih.com.

AGCO Demonstrates Sprayer Herbicide Damage In this year’s application crop tour plots, AGCO agronomists demonstrated how improper cleanout of tanks and spray booms can damage crops. In Georgia, they contaminated sprayer booms with Valor pre-emergent herbicide, then sprayed cotton plots. In Illinois, they contaminated the booms with Capreno corn herbicide before spraying soybeans. In both cases, the crops showed herbicide injury. The demonstration shows that when the spray boom hasn’t been cleaned out properly, the new chemical enters the boom at the center and pushes the first chemical out of the boom from the center toward the tips, creating a recognizable V-shaped pattern of crop damage. Sprayers equipped with features such as self-priming, recirculating booms and product-recovery systems are features that can minimize contamination issues that lead to crop injury while also preventing settling and clogged nozzles. The crop tour plots also revealed that entering a field with a boom fully primed has further agronomic advantages for weed control as well as gains in productivity. To start spraying before the boom is fully primed risks poor herbicide coverage and creates an opportunity for weed escapes that could lead to future herbicide resistance. In addition to demonstrating issues related to contamination and boom priming, this year’s tour included plots demonstrating how variables such as boom height, carrier volume, droplet size, speed and application timing impact weed control. For more information, visit www.applylikeapro.com/crop-tour.html. PEANUTGROWER.COM

Longer disease control. Higher yield potential. Just what the doctor ordered. When it comes to preventing diseases, The Peanut Doctor, aka Syngenta Agronomist Wilson Faircloth, prescribes a premium program to reduce risk and increase profit potential. Miravis® and Elatus® fungicides provide industry-leading residual and more flexibility. Which means a higher yield potential for you. Or, as the Peanut Doctor himself would put it, a premium program promotes premium yield potential. Ask your Syngenta retailer about Miravis and Elatus fungicides. It’s the doctor’s orders.

All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission. ©2020 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your state or local extension service to ensure registration status. Elatus,® Miravis®, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. MW 0MIR02453-Doctor-AG78 08/20

We make the best use of production research dollars so you can make the best use of your land and resources.

In its 20-year history, the National Peanut Board has allocated more than $37M toward peanut production research helping to increase yield, water efficiency and develop seed varieties with pest and disease resistance, to name a few advancements. Find out more at www.peanutresearch.org

Peanut Grower November 2020

Articles inside

Start With Soil PH

Rains Amplify Pod Rot Issues

Cutting Costs, Not Corners

Stripling Family Honored

Research Review

Charting Disease Trends

Crop Wrap-up