Rains Amplify Pod Rot Issues

Adequate calcium helps protect pods from pathogens.

Late 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.

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

DE BROUGHTON 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.

Building For The Future

New shelling plants are in the works, and one came online in August.

If 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.

“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

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

Alex Jones, president of UB 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, 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

Delta Peanut Up And Going

The farmer-owned peanut shelling facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Delta Peanut, opened its doors in August. This fi rst-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 fi t 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 specifi c 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