Peanut Grower January 2022 by One Grower Publishing

The

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

JANUARY 2022

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

2022 Pest Management ◆ Seed Treatments: The First Line Of Defense ◆ Nematode Resistance That Is Clear To See ◆ Insecticide, Herbicide Options And Efficacy

Peanut Per Capita Consumption Breaks New Record for Second Year in a Row Pounds per person is 3% higher than previous 2020 record. Thank you for producing a high-quality crop and investing in National Peanut Board programs. It's an industry-wide effort to keep consumption growing — so let's celebrate again and — just like you — get back to work. Visit nationalpeanutboard.org for more details on per capita consumption and National Peanut Board programs. *U.S. Census and USDA Data

The

JANUARY 2022

PEANUTGROWER ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

JANUARY 2022

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

Volume 34 • Number 1

2022 Pest Management ◆ Seed Treatments: The First Line Of Defense ◆ Nematode Resistance That Is Clear To See ◆ Insecticide, Herbicide Options And Efficacy

Departments 4

Editor’s Note Doing everything wrong is the right thing

News Briefs Research priorities for reducing aflatoxin

Market Watch Infrastructure investment signals bright future

14 Features

10 Seed Treatments: A First Line Of Defense Protecting seed against the myriad of possible pathogens takes a good chemistry combination.

12 A Difference You Can See

If root-knot nematode is the nemesis in your field, try resistance.

Supplement Nutrient Management

CornSouth ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

Southern Production & Marketing Strategies

January 2022

14 Insect Management

Research-based ratings are offered for peanut insecticides.

16 Weed Management

Herbicide efficacy ratings will help with product selection.

A Supplement to Cotton Farming and The Peanut Grower Magazines

Look for the Corn South supplement following page 12 in the Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi versions of The Peanut Grower.

20 UGA Pathologist Recognized For Excellence In Extension

When Bob Kemerait does something, he does it wholeheartedly.

22 Expect A Warm Winter

Strong La Niña events are most associated with severe drought. Cover photo by Amanda Huber

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

JANUARY 2022 • 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 David Boyd dboyd@onegrower.com For subscription changes or change of address, 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 © 2022 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 When Doing Everything Wrong Is The Right Thing

ome of my favorite memes are those that fit “You had one job.” It’s often a picture – school spelled incorrectly, a sign posted upside down or something like hamburger buns in the hotdog bun bag. Let’s face it, everyone messes up on the job at times. Some days you might feel like nothing is going your way. But what if your job was to do everything wrong intentionally? To choose the bad option every time or make horrible decisions constantly? That’s a little bit of what research plant pathologists do. Amanda Huber It’s not an attempt to make peanuts fail Editor, The Peanut Grower but instead to see what survives despite everything they throw at the crop. As University of Georgia research plant pathologist Albert Culbreath explains, “I do everything wrong in terms of managing tomato spotted wilt. I plant early in a single-row pattern. I use a minimal seeding rate and conventional tillage. The goal is to put peanuts under as much pressure from TSWV as possible. Anything that holds up here should be able to hold up under pressure nearly anywhere.” Fellow UGA research plant pathologist Tim Brenneman does the same with his research plots. The cover photo shows a nematode trial where that pest has been encouraged to flourish. Some treatments are clearly no match for the overwhelming number of microscopic parasites. What does stand out, which you can read more about on page 12, is the variety TifNV-High O/L that is unaffected by the root-knot nematodes. Through encouraging disease pressure and by stacking the numbers against peanut varieties or treatments, our research pathologists identify the best options for your farm. When you work to provide the crop what it needs and make the best decisions, the varieties and treatments honed through years of research should bring the yield and quality you need.

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

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

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NewsBriefs News Briefs Going After Aflatoxin Aspergillus flavus presents a significant threat to the U.S. peanut industry. The expression of A. flavus, aflatoxin, impacts every aspect of the peanut supply chain. Even in a low-aflatoxin year, such as 2020, costs range into the millions. Soil temperature seems to drive mold production. Premium Peanut’s Karl Zimmer, chairman of the aflatoxin taskforce, says, “In a year where aflatoxin is more prevalent, the costs run to more than $100 million or $30 per ton. The challenge every year is the impact to the U. S. peanut industry’s ability to compete internationally. A. flavus is driving the three-year trend of lower prices for exported peanuts." More than 80 peanut industry members attended the Peanut Quality Symposium in Tifton, Georgia. The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate and collaborate research and innovation efforts as it relates to aflatoxin. The symposium provided a forum to learn from other industries and brainstorm new research solutions throughout the peanut supply chain. Another goal was to develop research priorities through participant feedback for improving U.S. peanut quality. National Peanut Research Lab research leader Marshall Lamb examined the economic impact of alfatoxin in 2017-2019. The biggest disaster year for aflatoxin, 2019, cost the industry more than $126 million, $90.86 per acre or $46.68 per ton. The Almond Board of California’s vice president, global technical and regulatory affairs, Julie Adams, explained how they united under a federal marketing order with a 3 cent assessment to develop a program now recognized in trade negotiations and with regulatory agencies around the world. Dave Hoisington, director of the USAID Feed The Future Innovation Lab, says, “Peanut is a global brand with an aflatoxin problem.” TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

Hoisington encouraged the industry to protect the brand with research, to address the health concerns with nutrional studies and to advocate for science-based limits.

EU, US Reach Trade Truce

The United States and the European Union have reached a truce on steel and aluminum that will remove tariffs on more than $10 billion in exports each year. Negotiators worked to balance market demands and climate change, U.S. officials say. The two sides were working to reach a deal before Dec. 1, when the EU’s tariffs were set to double. The 25% tariff will apply to EU exports beyond 3.3 million tons, according to two people familiar with the talks. “We’ve reached an agreement with the EU that maintains tariffs but allows limited volumes of steel and aluminum to enter the U.S. tariff-free,” says U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “It was a successful negotiation, and we agreed on a way forward to face our shared challenge, which is global excess capacity mainly by China.” American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says, “While the dispute centered around steel and aluminum, farmers were swept up in the turmoil as the EU clamped down on U.S. agricultural exports like orange juice, butter, cheese, pork, nuts and more. It’s crucial that we work to restore those trade relationships. “As we continue to recover from the impact of the global pandemic, America’s farmers need the stability and predictability of strong trade agreements to grow exports and provide healthy, affordable food to our international neighbors.”

Export Promotion Funds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has awarded funding to more than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand

In Brief • Peanut Quality Symposium attendees help develop research priorities for reducing aflatoxin, improving U.S. peanut quality. • Trade relations for food products improved with truce reached over steel and aluminum. • Uncrustables product success leads to new J.M. Smucker Co. facility in Alabama. • The American Peanut Growers Group plans food processing facility. • In-person meetings scheduled for the Georgia Farm Show and Buying Points winter meeting.

export markets. The American Peanut Council will receive $2.6 million from the Market Access Program and $585,000 for foreign market development for a total of $3.2 million. “The programs benefit producers by building markets for a wide variety of U.S. farm and food products around the globe,” says FAS administrator Daniel Whitley. “These programs play a significant role in supporting the U.S. agricultural industry that achieved record exports in 2021 and is projected to do even better in 2022. Increased exports are critical to expand farm incomes, improve the economic health of rural communities and ensure nutrional security here at home and overseas.” Preference is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope. The organizations, which contribute on average more than $2.50 for every $1 in federal funding received through the program, will conduct activities that help maintain or increase demand for U.S. agricultural commodities overseas. JANUARY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

NewsBriefs News Briefs APGG Expands Operations

American Peanut Growers Group will invest $85 million to expand operations, creating 90 jobs. In addition to expanding its current Donalsonville, Georgia, shelling plant, APGG will open a new food processing facility on its 45-acre Seminole County site. APGG processes approximately 200,000 tons of peanuts per year. The company plans to build an additional 135,000-square-foot facility. This will encompass the new food processing operations, enabling APGG to manufacture peanut paste, granules, peanut butter and roasted peanuts for customers. The company will also invest in additional shelling equipment as it expands those operations. “We are excited about this project and the opportunities it will provide for economic growth in Southwest Georgia. Per capita, peanut consumption has risen to an all-time high, which presents an ideal situation allowing us to further drive value through the industry’s supply chain,” says Jeremy Mayes, APGG general manager for ingredients. “We are thankful for our farmer-owners

demonstrating their willingness to invest in the project and community. Likewise, the support of city and county officials, as well as local industries such as LMC, has allowed us to move quickly on our infrastructure needs.” The company will begin hiring in June for careers in production, management and maintenance.

cate for awareness and adherence to the guidelines with pediatricians and other health professionals and supports the American Academy of Pediatrics continuing education course on early introduction of peanut foods.

NPB Targets Peanut Allergy

Although only 1% to 2% of the population is estimated to have peanut allergy, the National Peanut Board has continued to invest heavily in this area to find solutions. Since 2001, NPB has allocated more than $35 million to food allergy research, education and outreach. At the end of 2020, the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services released their Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which for the first time included a section on infants and young children. The guidelines recommend introducing peanut foods as early as four to six months to help prevent peanut allergy. NPB continues to advo-

Buying Points Plan S.C. Meeting

The National Peanut Buying Points Association 2022 annual winter conference is scheduled to be back in person this year. The conference will be Feb. 11-14 at the Emeline Hotel in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The association is excited to be back with our friends and peanut family. Charleston is always a favorite, with plenty to do, from scenic carriage rides to historic tours, plus all kinds of shopping. The schedule includes two receptions,

Smuckers Plans Alabama Factory

The J.M. Smucker Co. recently announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in Alabama to support production of Smucker’s Uncrustables. The project offers large-scale job creation in the Birmingham area. With a total financial investment of $1.1 billion, the facility in the McCalla community is expected to be constructed over three phases creating up to 750 jobs. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says, “Because The J.M Smucker Co. is one of America’s leading consumer packaged-goods companies in the food sector, its decision to make a significant investment in Jefferson County represents a powerful endorsement of Alabama’s inviting business environment. Not only will the company’s growth project create a large number of jobs in McCalla, it will also permit us to build a longstanding relationship with a top consumer brand. “Our Smucker’s Uncrustables brand continues to be one of the fastest growing in our portfolio and in the food sector more broadly. We are proud of the success the brand

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

has achieved, due in no small part to the tremendous efforts of our employees. We’re excited to take advantage of the opportunities and growth our investments will enable,” says Mark Smucker, president and CEO. “We appreciate the support we have received from the state of Alabama and Jefferson County officials, and we look forward to being a part of the Birmingham community.” Construction is expected to begin in January. The company plans to more than double production in the next five years.

PEANUTGROWER.COM

NewsBriefs News Briefs two general sessions, a prayer breakfast with awards and the Great Cash Giveaway. Exhibit space is limited. Room and registration information is available at www.peanutbuyingpoints.org.

Two-Day Farm Show Planned

Make plans to attend the 45th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 19-20, at the University of Georgia Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The show will be open Wednesday 1 to 5 p.m. and Thursday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The two-day show is free to all farmers and industry representatives. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with nearly 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 cutting-edge research during the University of Georgia peanut production seminar and industry-wide sponsored peanut seed seminar. Farm Show chairman Rodney Dawson says, “I encourage farmers to attend this two-day show in Tifton. The knowledge they will gain from industry representatives and seminars is an investment in the future of their farm.” The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with OneBlood, will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20. At the close of Thursday, there will be nearly $10,000 in door prizes presented to farmers, as well as a grand door prize, vendor products, certificates and equipment. For more information on the show, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission office at 229-386-3470 or visit www. gapeanuts.com. TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

Cousins Brad and Ken Hardy, partners in Hardy Peanuts Inc., are included on the 2022 Bulldog 100, a list that celebrates the fastest growing businesses operated by UGA alumni.

Outstanding Alumni List Includes Peanut Co. Nine University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences alumni businesses were included in the 2022 Bulldog 100, a list that celebrates the 100 fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni. Cousins Brad and Ken Hardy, CAES alumni, are partners in Hardy Peanuts Inc., the company founded by their fathers. Hardy’s Peanuts Inc. produces homegrown fresh green and boiled peanuts. Hardy’s peanuts can be found in grocery stores throughout the Southeast, and their roasted peanuts are sold to candy companies all over the world. Those selected by the UGA Alumni Association for the annual

list embody the best of UGA as they are leading the way in business and building better communities. “These alumni demonstrate the value of a degree from UGA, and we are proud to recognize them for all they have achieved as leaders and entrepreneurs,” says Meredith Gurley Johnson, executive director of the UGA Alumni Association. “These individuals serve as an example to current and future alumni of what is possible when tenacity and innovation are utilized to provide better solutions and build stronger communities. We are excited to engage these alumni with the university to continue to inspire leadership among our community.”

JANUARY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

MarketWatch Market Watch Infrastructure Investment Signals A Bright Future

he peanut market is quiet as firmer prices and lack of demand remains. Most analysts believe that markets will be this way through the New Year as shellers and farmers prepare for new crop contracting. The industry is ending a good year with excellent quality and respectable yields that will supply manufacturing, which has slowed a bit from the record-setting numbers in domestic and export use. Buying of U.S. peanuts by China has slowed. No Chinese purchases of raw-shelled peanuts were reported last month, and September purchases of in-shell peanuts were down 83% compared to last September. Even domestic usage has dropped almost 3% the first three months of the marketing year with peanut butter down 4.3%. Most analysts had predicted that peanut butter consumption would slow as people began eating out again. Guard Against Oversupply What about 2022? Farmers are seeing higher prices on every input. From fertilizer to seed, increasing farm expenses are the ominous thunderstorm threatening to rain on healthy farm profits this year. Farmers will have to tighten their management skills by evaluating each commodity and the true cost of production. Then, based on market prices and costs, you can decide what crop to plant. Some farmers argue that they can plant peanuts cheaper than cotton. Another farmer says if you grow by the Extension's budgets, the cost per acre will be about the same, depending on how much irrigation is needed. Don’t forget fuel costs, and pray that a tractor or other machinery doesn’t break down. While you might not be able to control inflation, you can control your response. Be proactive in protecting your

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

Leading Marketing Indicators (As of Dec. 1, 2021) 2021 Production (+1%) ...................................................... 3,121,250 tons 2021 Acreage (-5.1%) ..................................................... 1,533,000 acres 2021 Avg. Yield (+7.3 %) ....................................................... 4,072 lbs/A 2020 Crop Loan ................................................................. 2,425,355 tons 2020 Remaining In-Loan (12-1-21) ......................................... 37,894 tons 2020-2021 Domestic Use (3 Mo.) ......................................... Down -2.9 % 2020-2021 Exports (2 Mo.) ................................................... Down -17.1% NATIONAL POSTED PRICE (per ton) Runners -$424.89; Spanish - $413.05; Valencia and Virginias - $427.70

operation from higher costs. What about price? Shellers will not pay higher prices for farmer stock if manufacturers won’t support it for shelled goods. Everybody sees what higher input costs are doing to all parties. The last thing we need is for farmers to plant too many acres and have the market oversupplied. Crop Totals U.S. peanut production for 2021 is forecast to be 3.1 million tons, a 1% increase. Harvested area is now estimated at 1.5 million acres, down 5.1% from 2020. The average yield is forecast at 4,072 pounds per acre, a 7.3% increase over the previous year. Market demand or disappearance totals 3.18 million tons, a 4.4% decrease. Domestic food usage is forecast to be up 3%. Exports are expected to decrease by 1.2% to 700,000 tons. Crushing for oil and seed dropped 14.5%. Ending stocks will be 974,000 tons, down from last month’s 996,500 tons. The peanut program loans totaled 2.4 million tons. As of December, only

37,894 tons were yet to be redeemed before the end of February 2022. That is good news for peanut farmers because it means program costs will be minimal. Payments from the price loss coverage program are made when the market year average is below the reference price. The average is based on the prices paid to farmers from August 2020 to July 2021. The average last year was $430 per ton applied to 85% of the farm base tonnage. Payments totaled $365 million. Export Update Demand from China has diminished recently on the back of plentiful inventories in the country and its ongoing harvest. Manufacturers report that there is a lot of competition for ocean freight container space, and higher-priced products are getting preferential treatment over less expensive products such as agricultural commodities. This situation is likely to drive peanut prices higher, but it is worth bearing in mind that peanuts remain a good value. It works to the industry’s advantage that peanuts are a plant-based protein source. PEANUTGROWER.COM

MarketWatch Market Watch The biggest and most consistent markets for U.S. peanuts, outside of China, are Canada and Mexico. Fotunately, these markets don’t rely on ocean freight like other export markets. We can ship peanuts by rail, which has fewer issues than trucking. The United States and the European Union reached a trade agreement on steel and aluminum that will allow for the removal of tariffs on more than $10 billion worth of exports each year, including peanuts. Don’t Rock The Boat There may be problems at every turn: politically, at the border, with gas pric-

‘‘

Farmers balanced production and demand with some government protection this year, but we need to keep the boat moving forward. The building and expansion of the industry’s infrastructure signals a bright future.

es, run-away-inflation,...the list goes on. However, peanut producers must remember, you are growing a plantbased, high-protein food that helps improve memory, cures hunger, is good for preventing heart disease and is a recognized superfood. Farmers balanced production and demand with some government protec-

tion this year, but we need to keep the boat moving forward. The building and expansion of the industry’s infrastructure signals a bright future. Keep your rotation in place. Watch for increasing costs, and I can’t emphasize this too much, with the Farm Bill in the balance, let’s not overplant the 2022 peanut crop. PG

This Delta Peanut shelling facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is one of several new projects in the past few years to build industry infrastructure. Future projects and expansions have recently been announced by Premium Peanut and the American Peanut Growers Group.

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

JANUARY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

Seed Treatments: A First Line Of Defense Protecting seed against the myriad of possible pathogens takes a good chemistry combination. By Amanda Huber

eed treatments are one of the fundamental inputs available for peanut. The importance of this first line of defense was reinforced in 2020 by seed quality issues following the 2019 growing season. As Tim Brenneman, University of Georgia research plant pathologist says, in 2020 researchers and producers found out that peanut seed carry a lot more Aspergillus, in this case Aspergillus niger, than was previously thought. “There is seedborne inoculum, such as Aspergillus, plus soilborne inoculum and a whole laundry list of things that can get on seed. That’s one reason so many different chemistries are needed in a seed treatment — to control that range of pathogens,” Brenneman says. Progress Made On Seed Treatments Unfortunately, 2020 also exposed a vulnerability in one of the two primary seed treatments. “As we moved into the planting season, Dynasty PD had been one our main seed treatments, and it was discovered that Aspergillus was highly resistant to one of the main components of that treatment.” Since then, Rancona V PD has been the primary treatment. Brenneman says it offers a three-way mix of fungicides with different classes of chemistry than that of Dynasty PD, which showed the Aspergillus resistance. “The good news is we’ve made a lot of progress. UPL and Syngenta have come up with new chemistries. Rancona V PD has continued to work well in 2020 and this past year. It’s still holding up good,

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but UPL is looking to add new chemistries to Rancona because the pathogens keep changing,” he says. New Product Registration Syngenta received registration of its new product, Trebuset, in December 2021. Trebuset Peanuts is a premix formulation of five active ingredients found in the Apron, Maxim, Dynasty, Miravis and Vibrance fungicide brands. “Trebuset Peanuts is a game-changer when it comes to protecting peanuts from early season stress,” says Steven Patton, product lead with Syngenta Seedcare. “We’ve seen impressive field results for reducing critical diseases such as Aspergillus crown rot and post-emergence damping off.” “Five active ingredients make for a robust formulation,” Brenneman says. “Miravis, which most farmers are familiar with, is highly effective on Aspergillus. That has really strengthened that combination of chemistries.” A Good Stand Is Critical Getting a good stand is critical to optimum yield, and it takes effective seed treatments to get there. “If we don’t have a good stand, we’ll have issues. One of those issues you fight is weeds. Another problem is tomato spotted wilt virus, which is reemerging.” Brenneman says. “I had more in my plots this year than I’ve had in a while. Spotted wilt has not gone away, and getting a good, uniform, solidly emerging stand of peanuts is the foundation, culturally, for managing spotted wilt,” he says. “We don’t always

Temporarily called “New Dynasty,” by UGA plant pathologist Tim Brenneman, the new seed treatment from Syngenta Crop Protection, Trebuset Peanuts, has shown good results in testing and will be available for the 2022 planting season.

have uniformly high-quality seed each year, so we need those seed treatments.” Fortunately, 2021 was much different with a better quality of seed overall. However, that makes Brenneman’s job even tougher. “In my seed treatment trials, I try to find compromised seed each year because if you get high-quality seed, you don’t learn much because it all comes up. I had to search far and wide to find some compromised seed. “I found a seed lot that had 65% germination, and it had been wet and dry repeatedly. You could smell it in the bag. “As I’ve always said, ‘You can’t take a seed treatment and make sorry seed a good seed.’ But I think we just about did that this year. We had some plots where we planted five seed per foot of row and we got four plants per foot with some of those seed treatments. It was a good commercial stand of peanuts, and I would have never thought you could do that with that seed we started with. Our seed treatments can make a huge difference.” PG PEANUTGROWER.COM

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A Difference You Can See

If root-knot nematode is the nemesis in your field, try resistance. By Amanda Huber

TifNV-HighO/L

esearch pathologists are often eager to share what they have learned in trials. Sometimes it is difficult to see the differences, which only come to light through the data. When producers can see a visible disparity in variety or treatment, it helps convey the message. After all, seeing is believing. When the plot trial reveals a dramatic difference between test subjects, the researcher is even more eager to share the results. That was University of Georgia research plant pathologist Tim Brenneman last year with a nematode test in Tifton, Georgia. “I wish every farmer in the state with root-knot nematode could see that field. It is a very dramatic demonstration of what resistance can do.” A Dramatic Demonstration Of Resistance Brenneman was part of the cotton and peanut field day sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia in September. Although presentations were at the UGA Lang Farm where he had seed treatment trial plots, he invited everyone to a nearby farm to see the results of a nematode test. The resistant variety Brenneman was talking about is TifNVHighO/L, released by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service peanut breeder Corley Holbrook. The variety has near immunity to nematodes, similar to Tifguard, with the high-oleic oil trait. It also has resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus. The picture shows TifNV-HighO/L as flourishing green rows surrounded by clearly stressed or dead plants. Besides making a crop at the time, Brenneman says the benefits last beyond harvest. “The long-term benefits of planting a resistant variety are greater than that of using a nematicide because you are reducing the number of nematodes in the soil. You are cleaning up the nematode problem and not increasing populations. “I sample these plots every year,” he says. “Even with a good treatment, such as Telone or Temik, at the end of the season nematode numbers are still left in the hundreds. When you come behind that with a resistant variety, you almost always end up with numbers in single digits.” Nematode Resistance Comes To Virginias Holbrook, who was also at the field day, spoke about two new nematode-resistant varieties that are in the pipeline: TifJumbo and TifNV-HG. One is long-awaited for those in the Virginia-type market. “When Tifguard was released, growers began asking about

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a nematode-resistant Virginia-type variety,” Holbrook says. “I said we would make the crosses and see what happens. “TifJumbo is the result of those crosses. Now we have a Virginia-type variety with nematode and tomato spotted wilt resistance that is also high oleic and will yield well under nematode pressure or under no pressure.” TifNV-HG is a breeding improvement on TifNV-HighO/L with numerically higher yield and statistically higher grades. Both varieties are in foundation seed production, but there will be state trials producers can see to help them determine if they want to try these varieties when available. More Breeding Work Holbrook says what he is most excited about is some work that is ongoing with UGA plant pathologist Albert Culbreath. “This project is a direct result of the peanut genomics initiative using marker assisted selection to rapidly develop new cultivars with high levels of late leaf spot resistance. Some of these lines are in a third year of testing. ” The grower initiative has had a significant impact on peanut breeding, says Holbrook who works closely with Peggy OziasAkins, director of UGA’s Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, and Ye “Juliet” Chu, a researcher in OziasAkins’ lab within the UGA horticulture department. “Last winter, we analyzed 10,000 seed for 60 to 70 data points. We are now using marker-assisted selection for leaf spot, nematode resistance, the high-oleic trait, white mold, drought tolerance, and we are hoping for markers that will lower aflatoxin. “Things look very good,” he adds. PG PEANUTGROWER.COM

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* Thimet® Insecticide reduces the risk of leaf spot in peanuts according to the Peanut Disease Risk Index from the Southeastern United States. ©2021 AMVAC Chemical Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corporation. All rights reserved. AMVAC, Thimet and respective logos are trademarks owned by AMVAC Chemical Corporation. Peanut Rx is jointly owned by the Universities of Georgia, Florida, Auburn and Mississippi. Thimet is a restricted use pesticide. 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 agency responsible for pesticide registration to ensure registration status. All products are EPA registered. A298-070011 11/21

PEANUT INSECTICIDE GUIDE Mustang Max

Asana

Baythroid

Brigade

Bt 1

Danitol

Diamond EC

Portal

Comite/Omite

P(LS)

P/F

Burrower bug

Corn earworm

G/E

Fall armyworm

P(LS)

P/F(LS)

P/F

Beet armyworm

Granulate cutworm

Warrior

P/F

Leafhoppers

Lesser cornstalk borer

P(LS)

F/G

P(LS)

P/F

Rednecked peanutworm

Southern corn rootworm / banded cucumber beetle

Spider mites

P/F

P-F

P(LS)

Threecornered alfalfa hopper

Thrips

F/G

G (with Orthene)

Velvetbean caterpillar

G/E

Whitefringed beetle (larvae)

Wireworm

Tobacco budworm

Loopers

Corn earworm moth

Burrower Bug

Fall Armyworm

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

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

Tobacco budworm moth

Leafhoppers Leafhoppers are small wedge-shaped, green, brown or black insects about 1/8 to ¼ inch in length. Leafhoppers insert their beaks into the midrib on the lower side of peanut leaves and suck plant juices. Leaves turn yellow from the point where the feeding has occured to the tip of the leaf and may die in severe cases. This damage is often referred to as “hopper burn.”

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

14 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

PEANUTGROWER.COM

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

Warrior II

Lannate

AgLogic (aldicarb)

Orthene

Radiant SC

Sevin

Steward

Thimet 20G

Blackhawk

Dimilin

Intrepid

Vantacor

P/F

G/E

P/F

F/G

G/E

/Omite

P/F

E/G

G/E

P(LS)

F/G

P/F

F/G

E/G

F/G

P(LS)

G/E

E/G

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

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

Rootworm damage

Banded Cucumber Beetle

Southern Corn Rootworm/Banded Cucumber Beetle

Threecornered Alfalfa Hopper Threecornered alfalfa hoppers are light green and wedge shaped. They stand about ¼ inch high and are about ¼ inch long. Both adults and nymphs have piercing mouth parts and feed by penetrating the stem and sucking plant juices. They tend to feed in a circular fashion around a stem, making feeding punctures as they go. The damaged area typically swells, and aboveground root growth may occur. On peanuts, feeding may occur on limbs, leaf petioles or pegs.

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

There are two species of rootworm in Georgia peanut fields, the southern corn rootworm and the banded cucumber beetle. The immature or larval stage of both species feeds on developing peanut pods and require moist soil conditions for survival. The immature stage of the beetle lives entirely below ground and is a subterranean feeder. It may feed on the roots of peanut plants to some extent, but its most important damage is due to peg and pod feeding. Dig adjacent to peanut rows or remove plants to examine pods for damage and check the soil for larvae. Soil moisture is critical to the development of both pests, and they are almost always found in heavy-textured soils with good moisture. Rootworm infestations are typically found in fields with center-pivot irrigation and heavier soil texture. Irrigated fields are at increased risk of rootworm, but non-irrigated fields can be infested in seasons with ample rainfall. Low spots in fields with high water-holding capacity are at increased risk from this pest.

JANUARY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 15

Weed Management

E=Excellent, G=Good, F=Fair, P=Poor, PPI=Preplant Incorporated, PRE=Preemergence, AC=At Cracking (usually 6-14 days after planting), EP=Early postemergence to peanut (first true leaf through beginning of pod development). 1 Ratings for this product are similar for use both PPI and PRE. 2 Ratings for tropical spiderwort are similar. If no letter is given, response is unknown. Generic formulations are available for many products.

Compiled by Dr. Pratap Devkota, Weed Science, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay, Florida.

WEED RESPONSE TO RESIDUAL HERBICIDES USED IN PEANUTS PPI

bermudagrass

PERENNIALS

johnsongrass (rhizome)

Zidua

Yellow herbicides (Sonalan, Prowl H20 or similar)

Strongarm1

Dual

Dual Magnum or similar

Pursuit1

Strongarm1

Dual Magnum

Valor

Dual Magnum

P-F

nutsedge, yellow

F-G

G-E

crowfootgrass

G-E

fall panicum

G-E

P-F

G-E

E G

foxtail goosegrass

G-E

johnsongrass (seedling)

P-F

sandbur

G-E

F-G

Texas panicum

G-E

P-F

bristly starbur

F-G

burgherkin

F-G

citron melon

P-F

cocklebur

G-E

P-F

coffee senna

F-G

P-F

copperleaf

G-E

cowpea

P-F

crotalaria

P-F

croton, tropic or woolly

P-F

dayflower2

G-F

G-E

F-G

eclipta

P-F

G-E

P-F

G-E

P-F

Florida beggarweed

P-F

Florida pusley

G-E

hairy indigo

jimsonweed

G-E

F-G

lambsquarters

F-G

morningglory spp.

F-G

P-F

morningglory, cypressvine

F-G

morningglory, pitted

G-E

F-G

P-F

morningglory, smallflower

G-E

pigweed

G-E

prickly sida

G-E

F-G

G-E

ragweed

redweed

F-G

sicklepod

F-G

P-F

P-G

tropical spiderwort

F-G

G-E

spurred anoda

F-G

velvetleaf

F-G

G-E

F-G

smartweed

16 /

P-F

broadleaf signalgrass

BROADLEAVES

nutsedge, purple

crabgrass

GRASSES (ANNUAL)

PRE

wild poinsettia

wild radish

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

P P

PEANUTGROWER.COM

EP Zidua

Tropical Spiderwort

Sicklepod

Smallflower Morningglory

Tropical spiderwort is an annual species similar to common dayflower. It is distinguished from dayflower by the presence of subterranean (underground) flowers in addition to blue above-ground flowers. Leaves are spoon shaped with parallel venation. Stems are succulent, and the plant reroots quickly after cultivation. It spreads by seeds. Spiderwort germinates throughout the season, hampering control efforts.

Sicklepod is native to the southern United States. It is a large-seeded legume with upright growth habit that reaches 2 to 6 feet tall. The leaves are smooth or waxy with no hairs on the leaf or stem. The oval pinnately compound leaflets, usually six, are arranged opposite. It has a deep branched taproot that is tough to pull once established. Flowers are yellow, and seed pods are slender and 4 to 8 inches long.

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

Spurred Anoda

Texas Panicum

Wild Poinsettia

(Anoda cristata)

(Panicum texanum)

Spurred anoda is a troublesome broadleaf member of the mallow or cotton family. Its alternate toothed leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and sometimes have purplish veins. It produces small, pale blue flowers and a unique fruit that looks like a fancy ribbed pie surrounded by a star.

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

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

Tall Morningglory

Tropic Croton

Red Morningglory

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

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

Red morningglory is a relatively common annual morningglory species but often doesn’t appear until later in the season. The key identifying features are the distinctive points on the leaf margin and relatively small red flowers.

(Commelina benghalensis)

F G G G E

(Senna obtusifolia)

(Jaquemontia tamnifolia)

G P P

(Euphorbia heterophylla)

P G G P

(Ipomoea purpurea) P

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(Croton glandulosus)

(Ipomoea coccinea)

JANUARY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 17

Weed Management Compiled by Dr. Pratap Devkota, Weed Science, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay, Florida.

WEED RESPONSE TO HERBICIDES USED IN PEANUTS POSTEMERGENCE

bermudagrass

PERENNIALS

johnsongrass (rhizome)

Paraquat+ Storm

Anthem Flex

2,4-DB

Pursuit

Basagran

Ultra Blazer

Storm

F-G

nutsedge, yellow

P-F

F-G

P-F

crowfootgrass

P-F

fall panicum

foxtail

P-F

F-G

johnsongrass (seedling)

P-F

sandbur

F-G

Texas panicum

G-E

P-F

bristly starbur

P-F

F-G

burgherkin

citron melon

F E

goosegrass

cocklebur

F-G

G-E

coffee senna

G-E

F-G

copperleaf

G-E

cowpea

F-G

P-F

crotalaria

P-F

G-E G-E

croton, tropic or woolly

P-F

F-G

G-E

F-G

eclipta

P-F

F-G

Florida beggarweed

dayflower/tropical spiderwort

G-E

Florida pusley

hairy indigo

jimsonweed

F-G

lambsquarters

P-F

F-G

P-F

F-G

morningglory spp.

P-F

F-G

morningglory, cypressvine

F-G

G-E

F-G

morningglory, pitted

F-G

morningglory, smallflower

G-E

pigweed

G-E

F-G

prickly sida

ragweed

F-G

P-F

redweed

sicklepod

G-E

F-G

smartweed

G-E

P-F

spurred anoda

F-G

tropical spiderwort

P-F

F-G

wild poinsettia

G-E

wild radish

velvetleaf

18 /

Paraquat+ Basagran+ Dual Magnum

P-F

crabgrass

BROADLEAVES

Paraquat+ Basagran

nutsedge, purple broadleaf signalgrass

GRASSES (ANNUAL)

Paraquat

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

P-F

F-G

G-E

P-F

G-E

F-G

F P-F

P-F

PEANUTGROWER.COM

E=Excellent, G=Good, F=Fair, P=Poor. If no letter is given, response is unknown. Generic formulations are available for many products. *Rating is for two-leaf stage or less.

Ultra Blazer

Storm

Classic

Cadre

Select

Cobra

Hophornbeam Copperleaf

G-E

(Acalypha ostryifolia)

Palmer Amaranth

P P

G-E

P-F

G-E

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

Palmer amaranth, an annual pigweed, has become an increasing problem because of herbicide resistance in some areas. It can reach heights well over 6 feet and can be very difficult to control once established. Unlike other pigweed species, Palmer amaranth has a long, slender seed head and a more robust appearance.

Bristly Starbur

Wild Radish

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

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

Florida Pusley

Lambsquarter

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

Common lambsquarter is a small-seeded annual broadleaf species particularly troublesome in the Virginia-Carolina region. It is an upright plant, which can exceed 7 feet at maturity. Its arrowhead-shaped leaves grow alternately and often have a whitish dusty appearance on their undersides even in the seedling stage.

P-F

G-E

P P

P-F

F-G

G-E

P-F

G-E

P-F

P G

F-G

G-E

P-F

G-E

P-F

G-E

F-G

P-F

F-G

P-F

F-G

E E

F-G

P-F

G-E

P-F

G-E

F-G

F-G*

P-F

F-G

G-E

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

(Acanthospermum hispidum)

(Richardia scabra)

(Amaranthus palmeri)

(Raphanus raphanistrum)

(Chenopodium album)

JANUARY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 19

UGA Pathologist Recognized For Improving The World, One Peanut At A Time

hen University of Georgia peanut pathologist Bob Kemerait does something, he does it wholeheartedly. A passionate advocate for producers near his academic home at the University of Georgia Tifton campus and around the world, Kemerait describes himself as “a field guy.” He is most comfortable among the rows detecting, diagnosing and addressing the myriad of diseases and pests that threaten Georgia’s second-largest row crop. Kemerait has been instrumental in the continuing development of the Peanut Rx that was created to help producers make critical crop decisions. The tool is based on a number of risk factors including variety planted, inputs, row pattern, tillage, plant population, crop rotation, disease pressure, irrigation and planting date. He’s also been central to UGA’s international Extension efforts in Guyana, Haiti, the Philippines and, most recently, Gambia. Traveling intercontinentally, he has helped small-scale farmers improve peanut production as an important source of nutrition and income. On Nov. 9, the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture honored Kemerait with the 2021 Southern Region Excellence in Extension Award. “When we mention model Extension specialists, Bob’s name comes to mind. His technical expertise, passion and people skills are the foundation for the impact he has on both our agent workforce and the commodities he supports,” says Laura Perry Johnson, UGA Cooperative Extension associate dean. “Kemerait is a true public servant in all aspects of his life.” In July, Kemerait was chosen as the recipient of The American Phytopathological Society 2021 Excellence in International Service Award for “outstanding contributions to plant pathology by APS members for countries other than their own.” Peanut Rx Kemerait joined UGA on March 1, 2000, two days after completing requirements for his doctoral program at the University of Florida. “That was a leap year, so I moved to Tifton on Feb. 29 and started my job on March 1,” he says. “I was fortunate that what I did for my Ph.D. project — working with peanuts, working with farmers, working with county agents — allowed me to step right into this role. There was a learning curve, but what I had been doing was directly applicable to what I am doing now.” When Kemerait began studying plant pathology, researchers were using a tool called the Tomato Spotted Wilt Risk Index to determine producer risk for the disease. Building on the TSWV risk index, Kemerait worked with 20 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist Bob Kemerait talks about peanut diseases during the Georgia Peanut Tour in Midville, Georgia, in 2014.

UGA plant pathologists Albert Culbreath and Tim Brenneman to develop a separate fungal disease risk index. Eventually, Kemerait suggested merging the indices into one that both determined the risk for a number of diseases and provided management recommendations for producers based on their results. “What we were designing would not only be a risk index that would tell you if your risk was higher or lower for certain problems based on the information you put in but how you could manage diseases both before planting and during the growing season,” Kemerait says. “We developed programs where we could recommend how often to spray based on risk. It was all research-based and we documented all of the results.” The team’s efforts and the results of the tool captured the attention of international agricultural company Syngenta, which became a corporate partner to support the new tool. “Syngenta was willing to partner with us because they were of the opinion that whatever was good for the growers was good for them — because whatever keeps the growers profitable is what is going to keep their company strong,” Kemerait says. “Today a number of companies support Peanut Rx, and I think this truly shows the trust and partnership between UGA Extension and the agricultural industry. PEANUTGROWER.COM

“The Peanut Rx tool, at its core, is using everything we know from our research. It involves everything we have done and everything we are doing at UGA across disciplines — from agronomy to entomology, even to weed science — captured in a relatively simple document growers can use. The whole package is now available in an online form that encompasses everything we know about the biology of these pathogens, the development of these diseases, and how growers can affect risk. All of the research, not only from Georgia, but from other institutions, is right there,” he says

Former President Jimmy Carter (center) talks with UGA scientists Glen Harris (left) and Bob Kemerait during the Georgia Peanut Tour in 2017

You can look around the country and around the world at others who have used Peanut Rx as a building point,” Kemerait says. Peanut Ambassador Beyond the impact his involvement with Peanut Rx has made, Kemerait has pursued his enthusiasm for international research and Extension work in peanut production. When he first came to UGA, he asked his supervisors about the possibility of working abroad, which led to peanut-related projects in Guyana, Haiti and the Philippines. “Peanut farmers everywhere are struggling with the same problems our famers have here in Georgia.” Kemerait adds, “I am blessed to be a part of UGA Extension. It’s the very best job in the world. We are family.” PG Article by Maria M. Lameiras, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

UGA CAES/EXTENSION

Getting To Growers Growers have embraced the system, in large part due to the effort of UGA Extension agents who have brought the tool into the field. “Our Extension agents are the tip of the spear out there. They are the educators and recognize that these factors — variety, planting date, row spacing, seed spacing — all have an impact on disease. The agents are the ones who are really driving the implementation at the farm level,” Kemerait says. As research progresses on important and emerging diseases and pests, that information is added to the system. “We are constantly making annotations. It’s a living document,” he says. Kemerait currently heads a committee of researchers from UGA, UF, Auburn University, Clemson University and Mississippi State University that convenes every year to assess Peanut Rx and add the latest available research-based information to the tool. “All of the research, all of the variety testing, the surveys, will go in and we will adjust it to whatever is new or changing,” he says. “Efforts are now underway to incorporate climate predictions. We are looking to use real-time modeling information on the impact of climate, which is going to affect your disease and insect risk.” The success of the Peanut Rx risk index has inspired other risk index tools in agriculture. “That, to me, is the true measure of the impact of Peanut Rx:

TWITTER: @PEANUTGROWER

JANUARY 2022 • THE PEANUT GROWER /

Expect A Warm Winter Strong La Niña effects are most associated with severe drought.

et and warm are growing conditions Alabama producers are familiar with. However, they are not as accustomed to the same weather during the winter season. The National Weather Service has released the winter forecast and predicts climate will be under the influence of the La Niña phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. ENSO is an ocean-atmospheric phenomenon that affects temperature and precipitation in the Southeast. Alabama Cooperative Extension system precision agriculture specialist Brenda Ortiz says the signals for a La Niña winter are strong. She is encouraging producers to pay attention to the climate patterns as they prepare for winter crop planting and management. About ENSO ENSO is the interannual fluctuation of the atmosphere-ocean system in the equatorial Pacific, and it has three phases: warm (El Niño), cold (La Niña), and neutral. The NWS anticipates a La Niña winter — which means significantly warmLa Niña Characteristics: er weather for Alabama. Duration — La Niña can last for It also includes rainfall one to three years. expectations above average in northwest Alabama and Weather Events — The likelihood of tornadoes and severe below average in southern weather increases in Alabama counties. and Georgia. A number of interPrecipitation — Winter is drier national science agenin the central and southern parts cies work cooperatively but wetter in the northern part. to monitor the ENSO system. Data collected Temperature — Of all phases, La Niña is the warmest in the worldwide helps characsouthern part. Winters are terize the strength of each warmer in all locations of the ENSO phase as well as state. predict changes over time. “Scientists use these predictions to anticipate the impacts that will occur during the months that follow the onset of one of the weather events,” Ortiz says. Impacts on Alabama Farms Because the impact of ENSO is stronger during the winter, the absence of cold weather can affect pest and disease pressures, aquifer refilling and crop growth — including both winter crops and fruit crops. Ortiz says with advance notice, there are some things producers can plan ahead for. “The influence of either La Niña or El Niño on the south22 /

THE PEANUT GROWER • JANUARY 2022

eastern climate does not usually last a full year,” she says. “However, if the signal is very strong, the influence could last more than a year. Farmers should track the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast in case La Niña increases. Previous strong events are connected to the most severe Southeast droughts: 1974 to 1976, 1999 and 2001.” On average, La Niña brings more rain to northwest Alabama during the winter months, so stream flows are higher, which enables farmers to pull more water into their irrigation ponds. Additional Resources For more information, producers can read the Alabama Extension publication “El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Its Impact on Alabama’s Climate” about the El Niño and La Niña phases of ENSO. Also, episode 27 of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast is about preparation for the ENSO phase. Producers can also contact Ortiz at bvo0001@aces.edu or visit www.aces.edu. The Apple Book “Climate and Crops” is available for download in the Apple Book store. Article by Katie Nichols, Alabama Cooperative Extension System communications specialist PEANUTGROWER.COM

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SEED TREATMENT

11/29/21 11:25 AM

Peanut Grower January 2022

Articles inside

Seed Treatments: A First Line Of Defense

A Difference You Can See

UGA Pathologist Recognized For Excellence In Extension

Expect A Warm Winter