April 2017 - Southeastern Peanut Farmer by SEPF

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Peanut Disease Guidebook Peanut Insect Guidebook McMillan testifies at farm bill hearing A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Contents April 2017

Joy Carter Crosby Editor joycrosby@gapeanuts.com 229-386-3690

The 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer’s Disease Guidebook features information on management of leaf spot, white mold and nematodes, as well as a look at chemigation, exotic diseases and suspected resistance.

Director of Advertising Jessie Bland jessie@gapeanuts.com Contributing Writers John Leidner johnleidner@bellsouth.net Teresa Mays Teresa2@alpeanuts.com Southeastern Peanut Farmer P.O. Box 706, Tifton, Ga. 31793 445 Fulwood Blvd., Tifton, Ga. 31794 ISSN: 0038-3694 Southeastern Peanut Farmer is published six times a year (Jan./Feb., March, April, May/June, July/Aug., and Oct./Nov.) by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. The publisher is not responsible for copy omission, typographical errors, or any unintentional errors that may occur, other than to correct it in the following issue. Any erroneous reflection which may occur in the columns of Southeastern Peanut Farmer will be corrected upon brought to the attention of the editor. (Phone 229-3863690.) Postmaster: Send address changes (Form 3579) to Southeastern Peanut Farmer, P.O. Box 706, Tifton, Georgia, 31793. Circulation is free to qualified peanut growers and others allied to the industry. Periodical postage paid at Tifton, Georgia and additional mailing office. Editorial Content: Editorial copy from sources outside of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Southern Peanut Farmers Federation policies. Publication of material does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. For editorial concerns call 229-386-3690. No portion of this or past issues of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the written consent of the editor. By-lined articles appearing in this publication represent views of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. Advertising: The Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Corrections to advertisements must be made after the first run. All billing offers subject to credit review. Advertisements contained in this publication do not represent an endorsement by the Southeastern Peanut Farmer or the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. Use of trade names in this publication is for the purpose of providing specific information and is not a guarantee nor warranty of products named. For advertising concerns call 229-386-3690.

Disease Guidebook

Insect Guidebook The 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer’s Insect Guidebook features information on control of thrips, burrower bugs, southern corn rootworm, lesser cornstalk borers, spider mites and insecticide updates for 2017.

McMillan testifies before U.S. House Ag subcommittee Tim McMillan, farmer from Enigma, Georgia, testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Managment for the 2018 Farm Bill. McMillan testified on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Departments: Checkoff Report .................................................................................. 8 Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

Washington Outlook ............................................................................ 24 Southern Peanut Growers Update ........................................................ 26 Cover Photo: Cloudy skies and long periods of rainfall and dew on the ground are all conducive to peanut leaf spot diseases.

April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Editorial

Calendar of Events

Can you Shell Out?

ow do you show your love for peanuts? Do you tell your neighbor, prepare your favorite peanut dishes for a family reunion or visit with school children about how peanuts grow? Maybe you just secretly love peanuts and show your appreciation to the peanut itself by indulging in all things peanut related every day of the week. So, no matter how you show your peanut love, now it’s your turn to shell-out the love and participate in the National Peanut Board’s shell-out campaign. The National Peanut Board recently launched a new “Shell Out” campaign. Shell-Out celebrates a fun way for people to show their love for peanuts. The campaign partners with former professional football superstar Charles “Peanut” Tillman, who became the ultimate Shell Out when he accepted the nickname “Peanut.” He will be in action Shelling Out his comical campaign with a funny series on how to Shell Out. Shell Out comes to life through an integrated campaign March 15 – June 15, encouraging people to show their love for peanuts on social media with the hashtag #ShellOut. In addition to help from Tillman, NPB will also be sharing ongoing snackable social media content from the Peanut Vendor. What does it mean exactly to be a Shell Out? Shell Out is a term of endearment for any peanut and peanut butter fanatic out there. It means that someone takes their peanut pride to the next level by doing something over-the-top for peanuts – it’s all about having fun and celebrating their favorite nut in a positive way! Be sure to follow @PeanutsHere on Twitter and Instagram for all the #ShellOut excitement. Also, don’t forget to show your love and Shell Out in the campaign too, because we all know farmers are the ones who love peanuts first! t

u USA Peanut Congress, June 24-28, 2017, Amelia Island, Fla. For more information visit peanut-shellers.org or call 229888-2508. u American Peanut Research Education Society Annual Meeting, July 11-13, 2017, Alburquerque, NM. For more information visit apres.org or call 229-3292949. u Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day, July 13, 2017, Moultrie, Ga. For more information visit sunbeltexpo.com or call 229-985-1968. u Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 20-22, 2017, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Miramar Beach, Fla. For more information visit southernpeanutfarmers.org or call 229-386-3470. u American Peanut Shellers Association and National Peanut Buying Points Association Pre-Harvest Meeting, Aug. 1-2, 2017, Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club, Cordele, Ga. For more information visit peanut-shellers.org or call 229-888-2508.

u Brooklet Peanut Festival, Aug. 19, 2017. For more information visit the festival’s website at brookletpeanutfestival.com. u Plains Peanut Festival, Sept. 23, 2017. For more information visit plainsgeorgia.com.

Joy Carter Crosby Editor

DID YOU KNOW? Did you know there is a “secret addiction” in the National Basketball Association’s locker rooms? It’s the PB&J sandwich. “In every NBA locker room, you'll see a variety of different foods on the table, but PB&J — if there’s a locker room that doesn’t have it, I haven’t seen it,” ESPN reporter Baxter Holmes reports. The origin of the sandwich’s league-wide residence traces back to a 20072008 season Boston Celtics anecdote. Kevin Garnett decreed one day when he was hungry that he wanted a PB&J. After playing well that game, he declared “We’re going to need PB&J in here every game now.” And so a sandwich revolution was born.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

u Central Florida Peanut Festival, Oct. 7, 2017, Williston, Fla. For more information visit willistonfl.com. u Sunbelt Ag Expo, Oct. 17-19, 2017, Moultrie, Ga. For more information visit sunbeltexpo.com or call 229-985-1968.

u Georgia Peanut Festival, Oct. 21, 2017, Sylvester, Ga. For more information visit gapeanutfestival.org. u National Peanut Festival, Nov. 3-12, 2017, Dothan, Ala. For more information visit nationalpeanutfestival.com. u Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Dec. 3-5, 2017, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more information visit gfb.org.

(Let us know about your event. Please send details to the editor at joycrosby@gapeanuts.com.

Peanut Leadership Academy meets for second session in Albany articipants of Class X of the Peanut Leadership Academy met March 6-8, in Albany, Georgia, for the second session of the 18-month program. During this session, peanut growers and sheller representatives had the opportunity to build on leadership development skills, as well as tour peanut industry facilities in the area. Participants also attended the American Peanut Shellers Association’s Industry Spring Conference. On day one of the session, participants heard from Darlene Cowart, chairman of The Peanut Institute and corporate director for food safety and quality at Birdsong Peanuts. Cowart gave the group a thorough overview of The Peanut Institute and provided numerous examples of research projects the organization is currently working on. The PLA participants were also given an etiquette presentation from Joy Crosby, director of communications at the Georgia Peanut Commission. The highlight of the afternoon was an industry issues discussion period. During this time participants had a chance to review various issues the peanut industry faces and give thoughts/feedback on what to do different and/or how to improve the

The Peanut Leadership Academy participants visited the Georgia Peanut Commission office building while on their tour of peanut industry in Tifton, Ga.

issue. Day two of the session was made up of area tours. The group began by traveling to Tifton and touring Kelley Manufacturing Co.’s facility, where they received the most up-to-date information from KMC and learned about the equipment fabrication process. Upon leaving KMC, the group traveled to the University of Georgia’s Coastal Plain Experiment Station and received

Peanut Leadership Academy Class X Alabama Nathan Bartl, Lillian Josh McCoy, Midland City Jeremie Redden, Seale Florida Blaire Colvin, Micanopy Ryan Jenkins, Pace Georgia Casey Cox, Camilla Douglas Harrell, Whigham Jonathan Mann, Surrency Adam McLendon, Leary Jason Sauls, Shellman Mississippi Trey Bullock, Hattiesburg North Carolina Zach Morris, Colerain

South Carolina Wesley Crider, Bamberg Texas Mason Becker, Brownfield Eddie Bergen, Seminole Michael Newhouse, Clarendon Virginia Paul Rogers, Wakefield National Peanut Board Jan Jones, Climax, Georgia Antron Williams, Rowesville, South Carolina Sheller Representatives Kyle Hord, Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts David Rushing, Birdsong Peanuts Marshall Spivey, Premium Peanuts LLC Russ Williams, Birdsong Peanuts

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

presentations from Corley Holbrook and Peggy Ozias-Akins about the peanut genetics research they are currently working on. While at the facility, the group also had the opportunity to tour UGA’s Future Farmstead, an energy independent experimental farmstead dedicated to developing and demonstrating advanced technologies which will enhance farmer efficiency. The group then visited the Georgia Peanut Commission office, where they had lunch and then traveled to Tara Foods in Albany, where they toured the peanut butter manufacturing facility. To wrap the session up, participants attended the APSA Industry Spring Conference where they heard from various industry representatives covering a variety of topics from marketing to research. They were also introduced to the meeting attendees and had an opportunity to visit with those in attendance. The Peanut Leadership Academy is coordinated by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and the American Peanut Shellers Association. For more information on the Peanut Leadership Academy, visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. t BY JESSIE BLAND

Boyd family named National Outstanding Young Farmers

Ben and Julie Anna Boyd of Sylvania, Ga., were recognized as national winners at the 61st annual National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Congress held Feb. 9-12 in Greenville, S.C.

Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, Ben Boyd testified before Congress to help shape agricultural policy. He doesn’t take such a responsibility lightly, saying, “I have the opportunity to be a spokesman for agriculture from the fence row to a national stage, and I hope this works to ensure I am not the last generation on this farm.” Together with Julie Anna, a thirdgeneration farmer and an agricultural education teacher, he hopes to pass on a family legacy of hard work and sacrifice to their son, Matt. Ben began his career raising cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, oats, hay, and beef cattle after earning degrees in agriculture and business management. His 16 years in farming have been shaped by his ability to respond to disaster. Installing irrigation as quickly as

possible was a priority since drought affected three of his first five years on the farm. In 2013, 68 inches of rain fell in just six months, requiring an entirely different set of management skills. Low prices, tornadoes, livestock deaths, windstorms, and even a hurricane have tested Ben’s adaptability, but with ingenuity and taking on custom work to stabilize his income, he has persevered and improved the farm’s soil health and water quality in the process. The NOYF program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the United States, selecting its first group of national winners in 1955. The program is sponsored by John Deere, administered by the Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA), and supported by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and the U.S. Jaycees. t

en and Julie Anna Boyd of Sylvania, Georgia, were selected national winners at the 61st annual National Outstanding Young Farmers Awards Congress held Feb. 9-12 in Greenville, South Carolina. Four national winners were selected from a group of 10 finalists for the award based on their progress in an agricultural career, extent of soil and water conservation practices, and contributions to the well-being of the community, state, and nation. Guest Master of Ceremonies, Orion Samuelson (WGN Radio and “This Week in AgriBusiness” on RFD-TV), announced the four national winners and interviewed them for his show. The three other national winners for 2017 are from Illinois, Mississippi, and Wisconsin. National winners received a savings bond from corporate sponsor John Deere and the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., during National Ag Week in 2018. As chair of the American Farm

April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Checkoff Report Investments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry.

U.S. peanut industry donates 30,000 jars of peanut butter to Capital Area Food Bank The U.S. peanut industry donated more than 30,000 jars of peanut butter to Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. on National Ag Day, March 21, 2017. The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest organization in the Washington metro area working to solve hunger and its companion problems: chronic undernutrition, heart disease, and obesity. The donation was made possible by the partners of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, which includes Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association. By partnering with 444 community organizations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, as well as delivering food directly into hard to reach areas, the CAFB is helping 540,000 people each year get access to good, healthy food. Donations from organizations such as the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation are essential to the food bank’s operations, and allow the Capital Area Food Bank to distribute 46 million pounds of food to its network of partner nonprofits each year. For additional details on the donation, visit the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation website at southernpeanutfarmers.org.

U.S. peanut industry representatives from the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, American Peanut Shellers Association and National Peanut Buying Points Association join with U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, (center) to donate 30,000 jars of peanut butter to the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C. on National Ag Day, March 21, 2017.

Georgia Peanut Commission host a variety of peanut promotions for National Peanut Month The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) promoted peanuts throughout the month of March through a variety of promotions. GPC kicked off the month-long celebration by exhibiting in the Fan Zone at the Atlanta Motor Speedway during the NASCAR race weekend held March 3-5, 2017. Also, GPC donated tickets to the Warrior Transition Team at Fort Benning so four soldiers who recently returned from deployment could attend the race. GPC sponsored a Twitter party through Foodiechats on March 13, 2017. The event provided GPC an opportunity to reach consumers, food enthusiasts, chefs, nutritionists and more through an hour long Q&A party on Twitter. The event focused on #PeanutPower with an estimated 1.2 million impressions. GPC partnered with schools throughout Southwest Georgia to celebrate Peanut Butter and Jelly Day in March. GPC donated peanuts, educational materials for teachers, coloring books and a copy of Janet Nolan’s, PB&J Hooray! book to the media centers. Participating schools include Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole and Worth counties.

Casey Cox, Mitchell County farmer, reads Janet Nolan’s, PB&J Hooray! book to PreK students in Mitchell County during PB&J Day.

The annual Georgia PB&J Day was held March 20, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. Exhibitors from the peanut industry served PB&Js, grilled PB&Js, country-fried peanuts, boiled peanuts and more. During the special program, Sen. John Wilkinson and Rep. Tom McCall presented resolutions highlighting the importance of peanuts to Georgia’s economy. Also, GPC and Peanut Proud donated 12,000 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank to celebrate National Peanut Month during the annual PB&J Day.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

GPC sponsored a special series, Proud to be a Georgia Farmer, with WTOC-TV in Savannah. The program highlighted five farmers in the viewing area every Thursday during the evening news in March. A special 30-min. show about the Georgia peanut industry aired on Saturday, March 25, covering peanut production, export marketing, research and promotions. GPC teamed up with Parker Wallace, an Atlanta based food enthusiast and chef, for a March - National Peanut Month media campaign in Georgia. Wallace is creator of What’s on Parker’s Plate and she demonstrated a variety of peanut inspired recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner on television stations in Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah. GPC also exhibited at the Georgia Nutrition and Dietetics Meeting and Peanut Proud Festival. GPC provided peanuts and recipes to the state’s 11 welcome centers for tourists and provided television media news teams throughout Georgia with a gift basket of Georgia peanut products. View photos and learn more about all of GPC’s National Peanut Month promotions online at gapeanuts.com.

Reports from the: Alabama Peanut Producers Association Florida Peanut Producers Association Georgia Peanut Commission Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

National Peanut Month promotions in Alabama As part of the 2017 March – National Peanut Month promotions, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) posted a daily contest on their Facebook page. The contest featured pictures of peanut products and asked viewers to guess the quantity of the featured item on that day. The person that guessed the closest to the actual number won that prize of the day. Each winner’s name and the correct answer to the question were posted on the APPA Facebook page. Other special promotions included sending peanut gift baskets to television stations across the state with peanut trivia for contests, and television appearances and peanut recipe demonstrations.

Peanuts promoted at Alabama Dietetic Association meeting

Sherry Coleman Collins (right), registered dietitian with the National Peanut Board, visits with an attendee at the Alabama Dietetic Association’s annual meeting, held March 2, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala.

Expert dietitian Sherry Coleman Collins, right, was a guest speaker on March 2, 2017 at the Alabama Dietetic Association’s annual meeting in Birmingham, Alabama. This meeting is held in conjunction with the 39th annual Alabama Food Service and Nutrition Expo. Collins, a registered dietitian, who works for the National Peanut Board, made a presentation entitled, “Preventing Peanut Allergies: Understanding the new guidelines for early feeding,” to the more than one hundred of the state’s nutrition experts. During the two-day conference, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association also exhibited at the expo and distributed peanut recipes, health information and peanuts.

Florida peanuts promoted at Taste of Florida Agriculture reception On March 8, 2017, the Florida Peanut Producers were present at the annual “Taste of Florida Agriculture” reception in the Capitol Courtyard in Tallahassee, Florida. During the event, FPPA staff had the chance to meet with Florida legislators and legislative staff to discuss the importance of agriculture and issues facing peanut growers as well. There were approximately 1,000 people in attendance. Pictured to the left, Sherry Saunders (right), FPPA staff, visits with an attendee at the reception.

Mississippi Peanut Growers exhibit at diabetes conference The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (MPGA) exhibited at the Mississippi Diabetes Foundation “Super Conference” in Jackson, Mississippi, Feb. 18, 2017. MPGA handed out educational booklets on Peanuts and Diabetes, Diabesity and Heart-Healthy Peanuts. There were more than 400 people registered for the one-day conference and a surprising number of the attendees were not aware of the role peanuts or peanut butter plays in their diabetes management. This is the fifth year MPGA attended the conference and they handed out their 1-ounce peanut bags featuring the Mississippi Diabetes Foundation logo.

National Peanut Month promotions in Mississippi The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association celebrated March National Peanut Month by giving five television stations across the state peanut gift baskets. Each basket included a variety of peanut products and a list of peanut facts. Many of the television stations used the facts for peanut trivia during their news show. Trivia questions ranged from how many peanuts are in a pint to how many peanut butter sandwiches can be made from an acre of peanuts. Malcolm Broome, MPGA executive director, was interviewed on the stations for two morning shows, two mid-day shows, and the 4 p.m. news show on the Gulf Coast. Two television stations taped additional interviews to be used on their news programs. This is the fifth year for this program which continues to garner a high level of media impressions for MPGA and peanut production in the state.

April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

2017 DISEASE GUIDEBOOK

Leaf spot tactics loudy skies along with long periods of rainfall and dew on the ground are all conducive to peanut leaf spot diseases, according to University of Florida plant pathologist Nicholas Dufault. He has confirmed observations from his plant pathology colleague Albert Culbreath at the University of Georgia that the fungicides Headline and Abound do not work as well on leaf spot as they have in the previous years. Dufault and Culbreath suggest avoiding the use of Headline or Abound as single fungicides for control of leaf spots. Dufault says farmers rarely face just one pathogen when fighting foliar diseases. For instance, he points to data from 2015 showing that rust is one of the main leaf diseases on peanut plots in Quincy, Florida, while early leaf spot is the primary culprit on plots in Citra, Florida, and late leaf spot is the main peanut leaf disease in Marianna, Florida. Based on his tests in 2015, Dufault observed that Abound was weak on early and late leaf spot but strong on rust. He said tebuconazole was weak on late leaf spot, moderate on rust and moderate to strong on early leaf spot. Meanwhile, he noted that Headline was moderate on late leaf spot, weak on early leaf spot and strong on rust. He noticed that Tilt was weak on late leaf spot, moderate to strong in controlling early leaf spot and moderate in controlling rust. He also reminds growers that Tilt or

Cloudy skies and long periods of rainfall and dew on the ground are all conducive to peanut leaf spot diseases.

propiconazole will likely be unavailable, mainly due to import restrictions from the European Union. For the quality control of leaf spot using moderately priced fungicides, he suggests mixing chlorothalonil or Topsin with Headline. He also notes that Alto combined with Bravo or chlorothalonil still provides good leaf spot control. Based on his plot studies, he suggests using two fungicides with different modes of action for leaf spot. He has also seen better overall control by using fungicides with three modes of action throughout the

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

season. He says each time he adds a fungicide with a different mode of action in a trial, he increases yields by 900 pounds per acre. Varieties vulnerable to leaf spot The newer peanut runner varieties Georgia-13M and TUFRunnerTM â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;511â&#x20AC;&#x2122; are highly susceptible to late leaf spot damage. Plant pathologists suggest that growers who are planting these varieties should deploy an aggressive fungicide program to contain leaf spot. Planting date can also impact leaf

Disease Guidebook spot pressure. University of Georgia plant pathologist Albert Culbreath says early planted peanuts are more likely to dodge leaf spot epidemics. “If you need to plant the 13M variety, you can likely dodge some of the leaf spot damage by early planting,” Culbreath says. In his plots in 2015 and 2016, peanuts planted before May 1 escaped leaf spot damage. Georgia-13M has excellent field resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), so planting this variety early should be feasible without greatly increasing problems with spotted wilt. Culbreath adds, “TUFRunnerTM ‘511’ is not as resistant to TSWV as Georgia13M. It has good resistance to the virus, but not enough that I would suggest using it with early planting dates. On the other hand, the Georgia-12Y runner variety is showing good tolerance to leaf spot diseases. Culbreath also has found that the Georgia-14N and TifNV-Hi O/L varieties show promise for reducing fungicide requirements for leaf spot control, especially if these varieties are planted early. Culbreath says, “In our trials, both Georgia-12Y and TifNV-High O/L have shown very strong resistance to TSWV, so both would be good candidates for early planting.” Why leaf spot control fails Alan Henn, Mississippi Extension plant pathologist, has listed several reasons why leaf spot spray programs perform poorly. “This last year, a late season fly-in of late leaf spot caused 85 percent or more defoliation and may have resulted in significant yield loss,” Henn says. He says the control of diseases such as leaf spot is more of a marathon than a sprint. Short crop rotations contribute to leaf spot damage. Henn says the pathogens that cause disease accumulate in peanut fields over time. Rotation allows other organisms to degrade these pathogens. “For late leaf spot, you need a crop rotation with at least two years out of peanuts,” Henn adds. “Leaf spots can persist on volunteers in shorter rotations.” When scouting peanuts, he suggests looking closely at your peanut foliage, especially under the plant canopy where moisture accumulates and provides a perfect habitat for early and late leaf spot fungi.

Among the reasons for control failures, the first on his list is delay in starting to spray. “It’s easy for leaf spot to get away from you when you miss or are late in applying the first fungicide spray,” Henn says. Once a spray program begins, control failure can also occur when there are delays between applications. Henn says such delays are often caused by weather conditions that keep sprayers out of fields. At times, Henn says, the weather is so conducive to disease development, it overwhelms what would otherwise be good prevention and control programs. Moisture from rain, dew or irrigation is conducive to the development of leaf spot diseases. He notes that rainfall immediately after a fungicide application can wash the fungicide away before it has time to

penetrate or adhere to the plants. Planting a susceptible variety is another reason why leaf spot control can fail, according to Henn. While no runner variety has complete resistance, Henn points out that the TUFRunnerTM ‘511’ and Georgia-13M runner varieties seem to be especially vulnerable to late leaf spot. Improper sprayer calibration is another cause of poor control. Henn says this often results in not enough fungicide applied to the crop. Henn says the final reason for poor leaf spot control is the overuse of a single class of fungicide. For instance, he says, azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin, or tebuconazole and prothioconazole can result in poor control, caused perhaps by the fungal pathogens developing resistance to the fungicides applied. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Resistance suspected Some widely used fungicides for controlling leaf spot seem to be losing their effectiveness. University of Georgia plant pathologist Albert Culbreath says Abound, Headline and Provost provided much better control of leaf spot several years ago compared to this past year. Culbreath has been comparing the leaf spot control from these fungicides with that from the chlorothalonil in Bravo. “Headline has slipped in control,” Culbreath says. “In our trials in 2015 and 2016, Headline was no better than Bravo. And two or three years ago, it would have been much better than Bravo.” Culbreath indicated that like Headline, Abound and Flint are strobilurin fungicides and they too have shown reduced efficacy in his trials. “Although resistance to strobilurin fungicides has not been demonstrated for the leaf spot pathogens, it is very much suspected,” Culbreath says. “We have seen substantial reduction in control provided by these fungicides relative to our standard chlorothalonil treatments.” He says the mixture of fungicides with two different modes of action should help prolong the efficacy of these products, even when leaf spot populations develop resistance to one of the fungicides in the mixture. Fungicides with a mix of two active ingredients include Priaxor and Elatus. Both of these fungicides provided better control than the strobilurin fungicide component did alone. “The fungicide Priaxor, which combines the strobilurin active ingredient in Headline with a succinate dehydrogenase inhibiting fungicide, fluxapyroxad, has done well in our trials.” “When applied at the same time and left for extended intervals before subsequent applications, even the lowest rate of Priaxor was superior to Headline for leaf spot control,” Culbreath adds. In this test, the low rate of Priaxor was four ounces per acre while Headline was applied at nine ounces per acre. Based on his tests in 2015 and 2016, Culbreath concludes that Priaxor should be better for leaf spot than Headline alone. Similarly, the fungicide Elatus performed well in Culbreath’s 2015 and 2016 leaf spot control tests. He notes, Elatus contains azoxystrobin and the succinate dehydrogenase inhibiting fungicide, solatenol. That combination performed well Resistance suspected - continued on page 12

April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Disease Guidebook

Prototype sprayer for white mold control niversity of Georgia plant pathologist Tim Brenneman is testing a prototype fungicide sprayer aimed at improving control of white mold. Southern stem rot or white mold has been the worst disease of peanuts in the Southeast for the past several years. It attacks the crown of the plant along with the pods and pegs. Brenneman says white mold is difficult to control because it often stays below ground. “We have good fungicides but they won’t control underground white mold if they don’t get down to the soil,” Brenneman says. In an attempt to get fungicide to the crown of the plants, lower stems and pegs, Brenneman has been using a new prototype sprayer that features a 2-inch PVC pipe ahead of the spray nozzles. The PVC pipe pushes down the peanut stems and foliage to keep them from interfering with the fungicide spray. This insures that more of the spray will reach the crown and the ground, according to Brenneman. Brenneman calls the PVC pipe a

In this prototype sprayer, the PVC pipe pushes down foliage and stems so the fungicide coming from nozzles that follow can reach their targets at the plant crowns and the ground.

canopy opener. He reports that white mold incidence was essentially cut in half where the canopy opener was used in tests with the fungicide Priaxor. He reports that the canopy opener works well with Priaxor because this fungicide has a tendency to cling to the foliage. A similar test using Convoy did not show as much response, but 2016 was not a year of heavy vine growth. The more peanut vines there are, and the less rainfall when the fungicides are being applied, the more likely it will be to see a benefit from this

Resistance suspected - continued from page 11

under heavy late-season pressure in fields where full rates of Abound, with azoxystrobin as its active ingredient, alone provided little control. Culbreath surmised, “I believe mixtures with fungicides with different modes of action will be a a key factor in retaining utility of our strobilurin fungicides.” “Provost fungicide does not contain strobilurin fungicides, but likewise has not been as effective for leaf spot control as it has been in our trials,” Culbreath says. “We know we have resistance to the tebuconazole component of Provost,” Culbreath adds. “The prothioconazole component still provides better leaf spot control than chlorothalonil, but even it may have lost some efficacy.” From the tests in recent years, Culbreath observes that neither Headline nor Provost has had a failure of control. Still, neither is providing the outstanding control he saw during the years after they were first introduced. Culbreath indicated he is looking at fungicides with other modes of action that might provide additional leaf spot control when mixed with Provost. These studies also confirm the stability of chlorothalonil as a leaf spot control fungicide over many years of use. “Chlorothalonil has no curative activity, so it must be applied before infection occurs,” Culbreath says. “However, if applied in a timely manner, chlorothalonil is still an excellent fungicide for management of leaf spot.” t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

applicator. The PVC pipe works mechanically in a way similar to Brenneman’s projects on nighttime spraying. During nighttime hours, peanut leaves are folded up to allow more fungicide to reach the ground. Both methods are designed to help improve control of soilborne diseases, but would be particularly valuable in dryland fields where growers cannot apply irrigation to help move fungicides to the lower parts of the plants. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Velum Total good for Leaf Spot too The successful use of Velum Total for suppressing nematodes and thrips has prompted University of Georgia plant pathologist Albert Culbreath to examine the product for its potential use in limiting leaf spot. Fluopyram, the nematicide component of Velum Total, is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibiting (SDHI) fungicide that is also very active against early and late leaf spot pathogens. Culbreath studied the product during three years starting in 2014. In 2016, he found that in-furrow applications of Velum Total provided noticeable suppression of leaf spot for more than 90 days after planting. In-furrow application of Velum Total may allow growers to skip one early season fungicide spray for leaf spot, according to Culbreath. He says growers should not apply Velum Total just for leaf spot control. However, if they need to use Velum Total based on its nematode and soil borne disease control, a side benefit is that it should permit the skipping of one leaf spot spray. Saving a leaf spot fungicide application could help offset some of the cost of the nematicide treatment. Since Velum Total also includes imidacloprid for thrips control, Culbreath has evaluated the product for effects on thrips and tomato spotted wilt. Culbreath indicated that across seven trials conducted over the past four years, Velum Total has provided adequate control of thrips feeding injury, but has had no effect on incidence of tomato spotted wilt. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Disease Guidebook

2017 Product update University of Georgia plant pathologists Bob Kemerait, Albert Culbreath and Tim Brenneman have provided the following updates on peanut fungicides and nematicides for the 2017 growing season. n Telone II nematicide supplies will be limited, so contact distributors early if you might need it. n AgLogic 15G brand of aldicarb is an insecticide with nematicidal properties. There will be limited supplies for its corn cob/grit formulation, however supplies should be adequate for its gypsum formulation. n Provost Opti contains the same prothioconazole and tebuconazole active ingredients as the original Provost, however the new formulation should eliminate mixing problems. The application rate for Provost Opti will be 10 to 10.7 fluid ounces per acre. n Propiconazole will not likely be available to growers in 2017, and this will affect leaf spot control programs. Propiconazole is the active ingredient in Tilt, Tilt/Bravo, Artisan, Stratego and other fungicide brands. Possible alternatives to Tilt/Bravo include the following: Bravo plus Alto, chlorothalonil plus Eminent VP, chlorothalonil plus Topsin-M, or chlorothalonil plus Topguard. Growers can also replace two early applications of Tilt/Bravo with a single application of Priaxor at about 40 days after planting. Another possible replacement for Tilt/Bravo is Absolute which contains tebuconazole and trifloxystrobin. Another option is Mazinga which is a mix of chlorothalonil and tetraconazole. Tetraconazole is the active ingredient in Eminent, which has leaf spot activity but does not provide much control of soilborne diseases. n Arius ADV is the name of a new fungicide being introduced this season by Sipcam Agro. It is applied at a rate of 30 fluid ounces per acre. Arius ADV contains a pre-mix combination of chlorothalonil and azoxystrobin. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Chemigation looks promising University of Georgia plant pathologist Tim Brenneman says 60 to 90 days after planting is when fungicides are most needed to control white mold. He says it’s important to get the fungicide to the target, when white mold is below ground. He says irrigation helps wash fungicide into the plant crowns and into the soil where it is needed. During 2016, he conducted a test to show if chemigation (injecting the chemical into the irrigation water) could be effective in accomplishing the same thing. Chemigation performed very well in controlling white mold. “Chemigation should be a very effective way to treat white mold for those growers set up to do so,” Brenneman says. In the test, he used a split plot design that compared ground sprays using 20 gallons of water per acre against a chemigation treatment that applied 0.1 inch of water over the plots. The fungicides used included three applications of the following: Convoy, Elatus, Evito, Priaxor and Fontelis. All the treatments reduced the incidence of white mold, but for each of these fungicides, there was less disease with the chemigation treatments. The biggest improvement in disease control with chemigation versus ground sprays was with Priaxor. This fungicide is known for strong retention on the leaves, a trait that makes it an excellent leaf spot product. However, that characteristic can reduce the control of white mold which develops at or even below the soil surface. Ground sprays of

Priaxor reduced white mold levels, but chemigated applications were even better, and equaled any treatment in the test. Yields reflected the disease control results. While not always statistically significant, pod yields from plots where the fungicides were applied with chemigation generally outyielded those applied with ground sprays. The least amount of white mold and the highest yields came from the treatments with Elatus. If irrigated growers aren’t set up to chemigate, they can apply water to the field soon after a conventional fungicide application. To get the most out of white mold fungicides, Brenneman suggests using irrigation within 24 hours of application to wash fungicides into the soil. For non-irrigated fields, he says to apply fungicides just ahead of approaching rains or before sunrise when the peanut leaves are folded and allow the spray to penetrate the crop canopy. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Propulse helps on nematodes University of Georgia plant pathologist Tim Brenneman says the fungicide Propulse can be a big help to peanuts with pegging time applications. “We’re seeing reasonable white mold control and some benefits for root knot nematode control from Propulse,” Brenneman says. He says much of his work has been with chemigated Propulse applications that help flood the pegging zone with the material. Many growers want to spray it on and then wash it in with irrigation. That will probably work but we have less experience with that method. The cost of the product may also be an issue. “The big question on Propulse is whether or not it is an economical treatment,” Brenneman says. Propulse is a Bayer product that contains the active ingredients of fluopyram

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

and prothioconazole. It was originally introduced for use in peanuts for the control of Sclerotinia blight, Rhizoctonia limb rot and Cylindrocladium black rot. Auburn University plant pathologist Austin Hagan says Propulse contains the same fluopyram active ingredient for nematodes control that is included in Velum Total, and he notes that Propulse is labeled for application through an irrigation system. For nematode control, Propulse could be considered as something of a side-dress application. Propulse performs best for nematode control when accompanied by adequate applications of water to wash it into the soil. Hagan points out that Propulse is applied at a rate of 13.6 fluid ounces per acre along with 0.1 to 0.25 inches of water per acre. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Disease Guidebook

Watching for exotic diseases niversity of Georgia plant pathologist Tim Brenneman says peanut scientists are keeping a close watch on diseases that have attacked peanuts in other countries. The introduction of these new pathogens to our production areas could change the way we grow peanuts, often adding increased costs. He recalls that as far back as 1984, peanut scientists were worried about peanut stripe virus. He notes that tomato spotted wilt virus was first identified in peanuts from the Southeast during 1986, and the first yield losses from spotted wilt occurred during 1990. That disease nearly wiped out the peanut industry as we know it in the Southeastern United States. He and other plant pathologists are concerned that groundnut ringspot virus was confirmed in Florida during 2009. Brenneman says Florida is often the first landing spot in the U.S. for exotic diseases. Another potential peanut disease, tomato chlorotic spot virus, was found in Florida during 2012.

More diseases from warm winter University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist Bob Kemerait has been warning peanut farmers that warm winter temperatures could bring on unusually early soil infestations of root knot nematodes, along with early-season white mold on young peanut plants. He said the warm temperatures encouraged the growth of volunteer peanuts and cotton which can host damaging nematodes. Warm weather early in the peanut season can encourage white mold that attacks peanut plants near the soil surface. Auburn University plant pathologist Austin Hagan adds that warm winter weather supporting volunteer peanuts can result in increased thrips populations, and more tomato spotted wilt virus in high oleic susceptible varieties like TUFRunnerTM ‘511’ and TUFRunnerTM ‘297’. t

Smut in peanuts grown in South America. Peanut smut is spreading in Argentina near peanut shelling plants.

He also warns that scab and smut are two diseases that hurt yields of peanuts grown in South America. He says peanut smut is particularly damaging and is spreading in Argentina near peanut shelling plants. “The fungus can be in the soil or on the seed, and turns the developing seed into a dark mass of spores” Brenneman says. “There are other diseases that haven’t even been identified yet,” Brenneman says. As examples, he points to a

mysterious wilt that has devastated peanuts in parts of Nicaragua, and another disease that has caused root rot and premature death in Australian peanuts. In Australia the pathogen is reported to be Neocosmospora species, which we also have here but causes little if any damage. “The world is getting smaller,” Brenneman says. “This means that invasive disease species pose a threat and this threat will only escalate.” t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Resistance to Spotted Wilt Auburn University plant pathologist Austin Hagan say that losses from tomato spotted wilt virus have been low in Alabama during the past seven to eight years. He adds that there’s more than enough virus present to reduce yields, but that widely planted varieties seem to have good resistance to the virus. “Your best defense against spotted wilt is to use a resistant variety along with strip till planting,” Hagan says. “Also, you can delay planting, use a higher seeding rate and apply Thimet 20G to reduce spotted wilt.” Hagan says, “Thimet suppresses spotted wilt but we don’t know why.” He notes that peanut varieties with the least amount of virus tend to produce the best yields. He adds that new varieties with strong resistance to spotted wilt may allow farmers to reduce their peanut seeding rates.” Normally, low seeding rates tend to encourage spotted wilt development, however, Hagan says he has reduced seeding rates to as low as three seed per foot and saw no increase in spotted wilt. “So if you plant a resistant variety, you may be able to save some money by shaving your seeding rates,” he adds. Hagan says the newly released AU-NPL 17 runner variety is showing very good resistance to spotted wilt. t April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

2017 INSECT GUIDEBOOK Thrips: An every year pest hile thrips are an every year pest in the Southeast, it is impossible to tell exactly how severe they will be in any given growing season. University of Georgia Research and Extension entomologist Mark Abney describes thrips populations as having been moderate during every year since 2013. The pattern has been for the adult thrips to move into peanuts during early to mid May. These adults lay eggs, and it is the immature thrips from these eggs that cause most of the feeding injury seen on foliage. According to Abney, most growers use either seed treatments or insecticides

at planting to control thrips. He says foliar insecticides can reduce damage when no at-plant treatment is made or when the residual activity of at-plant treatments begins to diminish. Treatments are needed when thrips are seen but before severe damage is observed. “This is not as easy as it sounds,” Abney says. He notes that many foliar sprays targeting thrips are applied too late. He also says that thrips flights can occur anytime from mid April to early June. “It is important to use the recommendations found in Peanut Rx for reducing thrips pressure and tomato spotted wilt virus,” Abney says. Phorate (Thimet) is the only insecticide that reduces spotted

Where pyrethroids are needed Pyrethroid insecticides can create more problems in peanut fields than they solve, according to University of Georgia Research and Extension entomologist Mark Abney. Pyrethroids are low-cost, broad-spectrum insecticides that can kill beneficial insects and lead to outbreaks of secondary pests. For instance, Abney says that using pyrethroids will increase the risk of two spotted spider mite outbreaks in non-irrigated fields. He adds that spider mites are among the most difficult to control pests in peanuts. Abney also reports that many insect pests are no longer susceptible to pyrethroids. These include tobacco budworms, soybean loopers and most armyworms. Yet pyrethroids do have a place in peanut pest control. Abney says pyrethroids are the insecticides of choice for three cornered alfalfa hopper and potato leafhopper. Pyrethroids can also be a good choice for velvetbean caterpillar when conditions do not favor spider mite outbreaks. “Using pyrethroids only when scouting indicates that susceptible pests are present and the likelihood of secondary pest outbreak is low makes good economic and environmental sense,” Abney says. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

Thrips injury to peanuts.

wilt in peanuts, and it provides good protection from direct feeding damage. In-furrow applications of liquid imidacloprid (Admire Pro) have shown good results in a number of recent university trials. One concern is that tobacco thrips have developed resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid; however, no control failures due to resistance have been documented in Georgia, according to Abney. He adds that seed treatments do not provide adequate thrips suppression during years with heavy pressure. It’s common to see some thrips feeding injury on peanut seedlings, regardless of what at-plant insecticide is used. No insecticide will be completely effective, according to Abney. Abney adds that the impact of direct feeding on peanut yields and time to maturity is not well understood. He says, “Until economic thresholds are available, minimizing crop stress will be an important consideration in making thrips management decision.” t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Insect Guidebook

Dry weather pests

Burrower Bugs urrower bugs thrive in hot, dry conditions, according to University of Georgia Research and Extension entomologist Mark Abney. He says this pest caused damage during the 2016 growing season resulting in reduced peanut grades and lost profits. Abney says the burrower bug is only an occasional problem on irrigated fields. It is most likely to occur in non-irrigated peanuts. As with southern corn rootworms, granular chlorpyrifos is the only insecticide effective against the burrower bug, and it does not provide complete control, according to Abney. He says conservation tillage along with hot, dry soil conditions can increase the likelihood of burrower bug damage. Deep turning of land along with irrigation will reduce the likelihood of infestations. Abney says it is difficult to know if switching from conservation tillage to deep turning of the land will eliminate burrower bug problems. Research suggests the risk of damage will decline but there are no certainties, Abney adds. He says burrower bug damage has been reported from Georgia fields that were turned prior to planting. In the years ahead, growers should be able to look forward to using a risk index that would identify conditions when burrower bug damage is likely. Such an index would probably include information on production practices, locations and soil types. Abney says development of the risk index will require information from growers and buying points to identify fields where the pest is found along with production practices that may contribute to the outbreaks.

Burrower bug test results Mark Crosby, Extension agent in Swainsboro, Georgia, worked with Abney to conduct a test on burrower bug control in the peanut fields of Emanuel County, Georgia.

Burrower bugs thrive in hot, dry conditions and has the potential to cause damage in areas with conservation tillage and dryland fields across the Southeast.

Their work involved use of light traps along with maps of soil types to help track the pests. Burrower bugs were first identified in the county during 2010, and by 2014 had cost growers more than $500,000 in lost revenue, mainly due to lower peanut grades. They also conducted insecticide tests to compare imidacloprid and bifenthrin to the primary recommended control, Lorsban 15G. Bifenthrin is sold as either Brigade or one of many generic formulations. Imidacloprid is sold as Admire Pro or one of many generic formulations. The bifenthrin and imidacloprid were applied at night to see if that would improve control. They found that burrower bug damage was significantly reduced with treatments of Lorsban 15G. Additional research is being conducted to further evaluate the effect of imidacloprid and bifenthrin on burrower bug damage Deep turning reduces burrower bugs Stephanie Hollifield, Extension agent

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

in Brooks County, Georgia, worked with Abney and other Extension colleagues to measure the impact of several tillage practices on burrower bug damage. Their test compared three tillage treatments: strip tillage, vertical tillage and deep turning. The strip till peanuts were planted directly into the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cotton residue. The vertical tillage plots received two passes with a Case IH 335 VT vertical tillage implement. The deep turned plots were plowed with a Harrell 2805 5-bottom switch plow. Burrower bug populations at the test site were high as shown by the number of insects captured by light traps. Also, damage levels were greater than 35 percent in four of their six plots. Results showed that the burrower bug damage was dramatically reduced in the deep turned plots compared to strip tillage and vertical tillage treatments. These results support the results of previous studies in South Carolina that showed deep tillage can reduce the risk of burrower bug damage. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Insect Guidebook

Wet weather pests

Southern Corn Rootworms outhern corn rootworm is only an occasional pest for most growers in the Southeast, but infestations were severe in parts of Georgia during 2016, according to University of Georgia Research and Extension entomologist Mark Abney. Immature rootworms do not survive under dry conditions. They live below the soil surface and feed on developing peanut roots and pods. Infestations are almost always found in moist soils with high clay or organic matter content, according to Abney. He says irrigated high-clay soils in Southwest Georgia are at a higher risk for this pest than the coarse, sandy soils found in most of the peanut-growing regions of the state. Granular chlorpyrifos (Chlorpyrifos

Adult Southern corn rootworm is an occasional pest for peanut farmers in the Southeast.

15G) is the only recommended insecticide that will reduce populations of this pest. Abney adds that applications after the infestations are established are generally not effective. “This creates a serious

Alternatives to Lorsban for Lesser Cornstalk Borers Brian Hayes, Extension agent in Grady County, Georgia, has been working with Georgia Research and Extension entomologist Mark Abney in seeking replacements for granular chlorpyrifos, the insecticide sold as Lorsban. Currently, granular chlorpyrifos is the only insecticide recommended for lesser cornstalk borer control. However, chlorpyrifos can flare secondary pests such as caterpillars and two spotted spider mite, and it requires activation by rainfall or irrigation. In their tests, insecticides were sprayed to target lesser cornstalk borers in infested fields in Grady and Decatur counties. A host of treatments varied by timing and application methods such as in-furrow and at planting sprays along with banded and broadcast applications. Results from the first year of the study showed that the Prevathon and Diamond insecticides increased peanut yields and reduced lesser cornstalk borer damage to pods under very heavy insect pressure. However, they note that pressure from lesser cornstalk borers was low during the second year of the study. t

management challenge,” he says. Because these rootworm infestations are sporadic and since granular chlorpyrifos increases the likelihood of secondary pest outbreaks, the University of Georgia does not recommend treatment for all fields. Nevertheless, Abney says insecticide application would likely be warranted on irrigated fields with a high percent of clay and a history of southern corn rootworm damage. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently decided not to revoke food use tolerances for chlorpyrifos. Nevertheless, growers need additional choices for rootworm control. Abney says research is planned for 2017 to evaluate possible alternative insecticides for control of this insect. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

UGA Extension pesticide training fees, testing, credits to change in May One of University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s key commitments to the state and its farmers is to provide the training and information that private pesticide applicators need to ensure the safe use of pesticides. The way that UGA Extension offers trainings, exams and continuing education classes for pesticide applicators’ license renewals will change in the coming months. This change will ensure that UGA Extension can continue to provide pesticide safety education throughout the state, while staying in line with changes mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). UGA Extension has developed a state-specific curriculum and exam series for private pesticide applicators. To comply with EPA rule changes and to offer Georgia’s farmers and pesticide operators more focused, local instruction, the UGA Pesticide Education Program created a new curriculum and set in place an online training system which is available 24/7. While these changes will be more convenient for farmers and other private pesticide applicators, they will require a $25 fee for the online training program. The current program was free of charge. Along with the EPA rule change that allows for more local control over training, federal funds that previously supported training have been rolled back, so UGA Extension will have to charge fees to offset that loss of funding. This new system will take effect May 1, 2017. For more information about pesticide trainings, please contact your local UGA Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

BY JOHN LEIDNER April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Insect Guidebook

Automated insect traps for pest detection and monitoring New software and new traps will help provide a clearer picture of how insect pests are moving into Alabama peanuts this year, according to Ayanava Majumdar, Extension entomologist at Auburn University in Alabama. He is looking forward to using a new Z-Trap for tracking the movement of armyworms that are notorious for their interplant migration and rapid overlapping generations that feed on peanuts. He baits the traps with pheromone lure to attract specific species of insect pests. He is also using an integrated pest management software program called OpenScout where he has archived historic insect monitoring data. Both the OpenScout software and the Z-Traps are

Auburn University Extension entomologist Ayanava Majumdar looks forward to using smart insect traps that will forward information through cell phones on the pests that are captured.

Growers who use traps and trap counting software in their fields or orchards can monitor pest populations in real time and catch problems early, according to Spensa Technologies. Majumdar says OpenScout is great for keeping scouting records and data visualization. It is a GPS-enabled phone app and it generates printable reports from the app. Majumdar says he likes OpenScout because it integrates with the Z-Traps he’s planning to use. Farmers can continue to learn more about the use of these traps in peanuts by visiting the Alabama IPM website at, www.aces.edu/peanutipm. t

from Spensa Technologies, a firm based in West Lafayette, Indiana.

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Spider mite test results in peanuts Ayanava Majumdar, Alabama Extension entomologist, has conducted tests on controlling spider mites in peanuts. Spider mites are a major pest on peanuts that are aggravated by drought and/or indiscriminate insecticide use. He found that two applications of the synthetic pyrethroid bifenthrin applied 10 to 15 days apart killed beneficial insects and flared spider mite populations. He noticed most common species to be the two-spotted spider mite, but he also found a red spider mite (Tetranychus tumidellus) infestation after the chemical treatments.

He conducted the tests on Georgia06G peanuts at Clanton, Alabama, and used the insecticides Agri-Mek, Comite and Portal. At present, only Comite is registered on peanuts but producers need more options which is the motivation for the study. It is important for producers to manage caterpillars with minimal use of synthetic pyrethroids during a drought year to avoid spider mites. In the tests, untreated peanuts suffered a 29 percent yield loss in the absence of caterpillar feeding and disease stress indicating the rising threat from

such small pests. All miticides showed significant reduction in spider mite numbers with varying levels of residual. After 14 days, spider mite populations in Comite treated plots were slightly higher than plots treated with the other products. It is important to note that miticides with different mode of actions are available in the market today and this ongoing research is a step forward to have them registered on peanuts in future. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Resistance to Diamide insecticides Mississippi State University entomologist Jeff Gore and his colleagues across the Southern U.S. are starting to see resistance from soybean looper to diamide insecticides. Some of these insecticides include Prevathon, Besiege and Belt, though the registration for Belt has been cancelled. “We can use other insecticides besides diamides in peanuts, and obtain similar levels of control” Gore adds. His recommendations for control of bollworms and budworms include Prevathon, Besiege, Steward, Blackhawk, Radiant and Intrepid Edge. For fall armyworms, Gore recommends Prevathon, Besiege, Steward, Blackhawk, Radiant, Diamond, Intrepid and Intrepid Edge.

Diamond is his insecticide of choice for controlling fall armyworms. For cutworms, he suggests using Prevathon, Besiege, Steward, Blackhawk, Radiant, Diamond, Intrepid and Intrepid Edge. In general, Gore says pyrethroid insecticides don’t work well on the cutworm species that occur in peanuts. For soybean loopers, Gore suggests using the insecticides Steward, Blackhawk, Radiant, Intrepid and Intrepid Edge. He notes that growers should be cautious about soybean loopers developing resistance to insecticides. For rednecked peanutworms, Gore suggests using pyrethroids, or Prevathon, Besiege, Steward, Blackhawk, Radiant, Diamond, Intrepid or Intrepid Edge.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

“Almost any insecticide will kill rednecked peanutworm, though we rarely need to kill this pest in peanuts,” Gore says. For velvetbean caterpillar, his recommendations include pyrethroids, Prevathon, Besiege, Blackhawk, Radiant, Diamond, Intrepid and Intrepid Edge. In general, Gore suggests avoiding use of pyrethroid insecticides in peanuts because they can flare damaging populations of spider mites. Additionally, multiple species of caterpillar pests usually occur simultaneously in peanut, so it is important to choose an insecticide that will maximize control of the whole complex. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

Insect Guidebook

2017 Insecticide Updates Defoliation yanava Majumdar, Alabama Extension entomologist, has been updating growers on the status of several newer insecticide products. He has developed a peanut IPM slide chart as a handy tool for producers and crop advisors to quickly find pest scouting practices and management options. Always read the insecticide label before use as recommendations may change. n Imidacloprid is the active ingredient in Sherpa and Velum Total (neonicotinoid insecticides). Majumdar says imidacloprid is very good in early season applications to protect against small insects such as thrips. Thrips later in the season can be controlled with foliar insecticides such as spinetoram and acephate. n Besiege is a broad spectrum premix insecticide with a synthetic pyrethroid (Group 3, similar to Karate) and chlorantraniliprole (Group 28, similar to Prevathon registered in peanuts). Prevathon and Besiege attack the nervous system of insects in a different way than pyrethroids. Coragen rapidly stops insect feeding but kills the insects in one to three days. Coragen is primarily a stomach poison with long residual and translaminar action, meaning the product can move into the leaf tissue for greater effectiveness against pests. n Xentari is a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or natural selective insecticide that can be used in situations where there is insecticide resistance. As a Bt product, Xentari is biorational with short residual and stomach action, according to Majumdar. Bt acts only on caterpillars and is not likely to harm natural enemies. Bt insecticides can be tank-mixed with other products, and are ideal for use as preventive sprays where insect pest pressure is low. Xentari is a Bt product that is very effective on some tough-to-kill caterpillars such as armyworms, but needs to be sprayed every week to prevent caterpillar outbreaks. n Radiant is a good material for thrips control in pre-bloom peanuts, according to Majumdar. He notes that it will not control thrips located inside peanut flowers. Radiant provides quick knockdown of thrips populations, and offers residual control for 10-14 days. n Belt insecticide was an excellent control for caterpillar pests, but Majumdar says manufacturer Bayer has cancelled its registration due to EPA regulations. Belt is a selective insecticide just like Bt and has a very good residual with translaminar action. Majumdar says growers can use existing supplies of Belt until these supplies are depleted. It is a good idea to contact your pesticide dealer or company representative for any sudden change in regulations with existing stocks. n Intrepid Edge is another new premix insecticide with spinetoram (similar to Radiant) and methoxyfenozide (insect growth regulator). Majumdar says the insecticides Diamond or Dimilin will also target caterpillar pests, and either can be used to help space out applications of pyrethroids during hot summers. Growth regulator insecticides belonging to groups 15 and 18 are very useful for late-season caterpillar outbreaks during drought conditions when there is a strong chance of getting spider mites. He adds that growers should not overuse any one insecticide to reduce insecticide resistance. Overall, Majumdar suggests that the pesticide industry is moving toward more selective and long residual products that can reduce the number of applications and increase grower profits. Research in Alabama and Georgia is continuing to look at major pests like burrower bugs, spider mites, and caterpillars supported by grants from the National Peanut Board and producer associations. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

risks Chad Abbott, a Mississippi State University graduate student, has completed a study that shows what can happen when insects defoliate peanut plants. His research assessed the impact of defoliation or leaf loss at various times during the growing season and how this leaf loss impacted yields. In these tests, peanuts were defoliated at 35, 50, 65, 80, 95 and 110 days after emergence. The goal of his research is to come up with thresholds that growers and consultants can use in deciding to use insecticides to kill defoliating pests. He says insect treatment thresholds now in use may be outdated. “The defoliation in our tests simulates the insect defoliation we see from the green cloverworm, corn earworm and armyworms,” Abbott says. He found that the time of the defoliation makes a big difference in how peanut plants can respond. “If peanuts are defoliated early in the growing season, they can compensate,” Abbott says. “But if the defoliation occurs at 11 to 12 weeks after emergence, that’s when we see yield loss.” Abbott says peanuts are most vulnerable to defoliation during peak pod filling, about 80 days after emergence. “We found that 10 to 20 percent defoliation during this time resulted in significant yield loss,” Abbott says. “A 10 percent yield loss would warrant spending $19 to $22 per acre for a Prevathon insecticide treatment.” Mississippi State University entomologist Jeff Gore says, “No grower would allow 100 percent defoliation, but in this study we wanted to see when defoliation is damaging.” Gore said Abbott’s study showed more yield loss with defoliation at 80 days after emergence than at 40 days after emergence. The studies suggested that at 40 days after emergence, each 1 percent defoliation would lose 4.15 pounds per acre, while at 80 days after emergence, 1 percent defoliation would lose 13.6 pounds per acre. “You can lose 136 pounds of peanuts per acre with 10 percent defoliation at 80 days after planting,” Gore says. t BY JOHN LEIDNER

April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts invest in infrastructure

Farmax Merchandise to invest $5 million in Crisp County

Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts, a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company has announced that it is investing in significant infrastructure upgrades to improve speed and efficiency in handling farmer stock. The enhancements are targeted to be in place for the 2017 harvest season. “Our customers and suppliers have always counted on Golden Peanut’s great logistics, and now we’re making the system even better,” says Grant Belden, vice president for North American shelling. “We are investing across the board in additional drying vans, increasing our drying capacity by 13 percent. We’re installing new cleaners and handling equipment as we focus on operational excellence. We’re modernizing our buying point in Donalsonville, Georgia, by making major improvements in truck dumping and cleaning capabilities. Taken together, the result will be faster, more efficient service throughout our system for farmers and customers alike.” Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts is also offering farmers an extensive list of additional marketing services as well as access to grain elevator, transportation and warehouse facilities. “We’re pleased to be able to offer our farmer suppliers a full array of products and services to help them grow their businesses,” says Greg Mills, president of Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts. “From crop risk insurance to FOB trucking to access to elevators and warehouses, we want to make sure our suppliers benefit from the full range of ADM’s global resources.” In addition, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts is working with Agrible, Inc., to offer its grower suppliers a free subscription to Agrible’s Morning Farm Report 2017 Grower AgriBundle®, which provides tools to assist with forecasting yields, planning field operations, reducing waste and saving money. For more information on Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts’ array of farmer services and the free Agrible offer, farmers should contact their Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts representatives. t

Farmax Merchandise, a China-based peanut production and exporting company, will create more than 20 jobs and invest $5 million in a new peanut oil processing facility in Crisp County, Georgia. “We are very excited, as Farmax, to be establishing our new factory here in Georgia, which enables our new North American business expansion,” says Bill Deng, president and CEO of Farmax. “We are also pleased with the support we have received from the state and the county to help us grow.” Farmax is a subsidiary of Qingdao Hwa-Nuts Foodstuff Co., Ltd. New jobs at the Cordele facility will include positions in production. Qingdao Hwa-Nuts Foodstuff Co., Ltd. was established in 2004 and is located in one of the largest peanut bases of China - Qingdao, Shandong. It is a new-type production and export enterprise and serves customers all over the world including the U.S., EU, Canada, ASEAN, Russia, East European countries, Middle East and Australia/New Zealand. Farmax Merchandise is a branch of Qingdao Hwa-Nuts. t

Premium Peanut announces plans for expansion Premium Peanut announces plans to expand into the peanut oil market. Currently, the operation located on Barrington Road in Douglas, Georgia is the single-largest peanut shelling facility in the world, and began operations in January of 2016. The onsite expansion will include an investment of approximately $14 million to add a filtered crude peanut oil facility. The new operation will have the capacity to produce over 3 million gallons of peanut oil per year, and is planned to commence operations in early 2018. In addition, the company has announced plans to expand peanut shelling operations to 7-days-aweek beginning in September 2017. Together with the oil plant, this expanded level of production will result in the creation of up to 80 jobs over the next 12 months. Kent Fountain, president of Southeastern Gin & Peanut, and chairman of the board of Premium Peanut, states, “These expansions will further one of Premium Peanut’s key objectives, which is to ensure its grower-shareholders gain maximum value for their peanut crop, every year.” As a wholly-owned Georgia business, Premium Peanut’s grower-owners are all located in the South Georgia region, maximizing the economic benefit to the region from these expansions. “We have received a great reception in the market, both domestically and internationally, and are proud to commence these expansions so quickly after the start of shelling operations,” says Karl Zimmer, president & CEO of Premium Peanut. “Through these growth initiatives, we plan to expand our abilities to support customers with a stable, reliable, quality supply of peanuts and peanut oil.” t

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

Star Snacks to build roasting plant in Georgia A manufacturer and distributor of nuts, trail mixes and dried fruits will create 115 jobs and invest more than $18 million in a peanut roasting and packaging facility in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia. Jersey City, N.J.-based Star Snacks LLC will construct a 200,000-square-foot facility to source, roast and distribute peanuts grown in Southwest Georgia. The newly created jobs will include positions in manufacturing and processing. Star Snacks specializes in the production and distribution of salty snacks. The company’s services also include private labeling for brand name retailers, national and regional drug store chains, supermarkets and discount retailers. t

Census of Agriculture countdown begins for America’s Farmers and Ranchers merica’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to strongly represent agriculture in their communities and industry by taking part in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the census, to be mailed at the end of this year, is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches, and those who operate them. “The Census of Agriculture remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every county in the nation,” says NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “As such, census results are relied upon heavily by those who serve farmers and rural communities, including federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, extension educators, researchers, and farmers and ranchers

themselves.” The Census of Agriculture highlights land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, and other topics. The 2012 Census of Agriculture revealed that over three million farmers operated more than two million farms, spanning over 914 million acres. This was a four percent decrease in the number of U.S. farms from the previous census in 2007. However, agriculture sales, income, and expenses increased between 2007 and 2012. This telling information and thousands of other agriculture statistics are a direct result of responses to the Census of Agriculture. “Today, when data are so important,

there is strength in numbers,” says Hamer. “For farmers and ranchers, participation in the 2017 Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity to shape American agriculture – its policies, services, and assistance programs – for years to come.” Producers who are new to farming or did not receive a Census of Agriculture in 2012 still have time to sign up to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture report form by visiting agcensus.usda.gov and clicking on the ‘Make Sure You Are Counted’ button through June. NASS defines a farm as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year (2017). For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture and to see how census data are used, call (800) 727-9540 or visit agcensus.usda.gov. t

Georgia Peanut Commission increases funding for research projects in 2017 he Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors has approved $523,496 in research project funding for the 2017-18 research budget year. This action was taken during the commission’s March board meeting. The research projects approved include 32 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia and USDA Agricultural Research Service. “We are proud of our close relationship and partnership with research institutions in the state,” says Donald Chase, GPC Research Committee chairman. “Peanut growers are pleased to invest in the future by providing monetary support for research and education that has continued to demonstrate a return on our investment. Due to the continuing success enjoyed by Georgia peanut farmers over the past few years, we were

able to increase research funding again for 2017.” Georgia's peanut growers invest $2 per ton annually toward GPC programs which includes research, promotion and education. The research programs primarily focus on peanut breeding for higher yield and improved quality; economics; conservation methods; irrigation and water management; pests, weed and disease management. Additionally, GPC manages funding for the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative which includes research funding of $1,215,517 for projects in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. These projects are funded through the

National Peanut Board checkoff dollars from farmers. For additional information and a complete list of the research projects funded by the Georgia Peanut Commission visit www.gapeanuts.com. t

April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Washington Outlook by Robert L. Redding Jr.

McMillan testifies during U.S. House Agriculture subcommittee farm bill hearing Tim McMillan, farmer from Enigma, Georgia, testified April 4, 2017, at the hearing titled, “The Next Farm Bill: Commodity Policy Part II” before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. McMillan testified on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. The Federation’s member organizations produce approximately 80 percent of the U.S. peanut crop and include the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association. The oral testimony below was presented by McMillan at the hearing on behalf of the Federation. The complete written testimony is available online at southernpeanutfarmers.org. Good Morning Chairman Crawford, Ranking Member Nolan, and members of the Subcommittee. I am Tim McMillan and I am a seventh-generation family farmer from Berrien County, Georgia. I am testifying today on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation (Federation), the largest peanut grower organization in the United States. I want to be clear today that the peanut provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill have provided a safety net for peanut producers. If the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program had not been in place, I am afraid many farms in the Southeast would no longer exist because of the downturn in the farm economy which has plagued us the past three years. The Federation supports maintaining the current PLC program in the 2014 Farm Bill including these key provisions: • The current Reference Price for Peanuts • A Separate Peanut Payment Limit

(as established in the 2002 Farm Bill) • And Storage and Handling Provisions. The 2014 Farm Bill was drafted during a period of high prices. When we compare average prices in 2011-2012 to 2016 prices, we see a 39 percent decline in peanut prices. The USDA has projected the net farm income from 2013-17 to decline by 49.6 percent. I see the real impact of these numbers in the faces of my neighbors and hear it in discussions with lenders and our suppliers. The peanut Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program has worked but peanuts are not sufficient to carry an entire farming operation. Corn and cotton prices have been depressed and with the lack of a cotton PLC program, more pressure has been placed on growers to plant peanuts by lenders and others. Peanut growers know that rotation is critical for their cropping systems. However, during this period of a severely depressed farm economy, many farmers modified their crop rotations in order to survive. As a result, U.S. peanut yield has declined by approximately 13 percent.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2017

Although the increased peanut acreage has impacted yields and the cost of production, peanut acreage during the life of the 2014 Farm Bill is not out of line. During the life of the 2014 Farm Bill, average planted acres were only 16 percent more than the average acres planted during the years 2002-2013. What about the demand for Peanuts? Demand has kept pace with the supply of peanuts. U.S. per capita peanut consumption increased 12 percent from 2012 to 2016. Domestic demand and export demand have grown significantly in the last few years. The number of peanuts used for peanut butter has grown 64.4 percent since 2002 and 10 percent since 2014. When we take a closer look at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) export data, comparing the average exports of peanuts and peanut butter during the 2008 Farm Bill relative to the 2014 Farm Bill, we also see strong growth. Peanut exports increased by

approximately 71 percent. What About the Supply of Peanuts in the U.S.? In the current market, demand exceeds supply. Given this economic situation, early contract prices for the 2017 crop have been reported in the $475-$550/ton range. In addition, peanuts have not seen significant forfeitures at USDA. Marketplace indicators suggest there is not an oversupply of peanuts. According to the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness (NCPC), “The peanut program in the 2014 Farm Bill has not led to excessive peanut acreage.” What About the Impact of Generic Acres on Peanuts? Generic base acres are available to any covered commodity in the 2014 Farm Bill. This Committee wisely established a program allowing growers to keep these base acres. Without these base acres, the current struggling farm economy would be much worse. In conclusion, the Federation supports the peanut provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill and appreciates the opportunity to work with you as we move forward with the next farm bill. Thank you for allowing me to testify today. t

Chairman Conaway applauds Trump Administration’s action on WOTUS Recently, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, issued the following statement in response to President Trump ordering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to begin dismantling their controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. “Over the past eight years, EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have repeatedly ignored the concerns of our nation’s farmers and ranchers in their quest to implement the WOTUS rule. I applaud President Trump for taking the first steps to dismantle this egregious example of regulatory overreach.” The Southern Peanut Farmers Federation has joined other agricultural organizations in opposition to the U.S. EPA proposal.

Ag organizations call for confirmation of Gov. Perdue The Southern Peanut Farmers Federation joined 14 agriculture organizations with a letter on March 31, 2017 to Senate leadership urging the Senate to approve the President’s nomination of Governor Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture prior to their two-week recess in April. House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson also sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, and Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, encouraging the swift confirmation of Governor Sonny Perdue as the nation’s next Secretary of Agriculture. A confirmation vote by the U.S. Senate is scheduled for Monday, April 24, 2017.

April 2017 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Southern Peanut Growers Southern Peanut Growers promotes peanuts at Southern Women’s Shows in Georgia and Tennessee Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) and Georgia Peanut Commission exhibited at the Southern Women’s Show March 24-26 in Savannah, Georgia. About 10,000 people attended the three-day show at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. Southern Peanut Growers and Alabama Peanut Producers Association exhibited at the Nashville Southern Women’s Show March 30 – April 2. About 45,000 people attended the four-day show at Music City Center, Nashville, Tennessee. “Our focus at both shows included the distribution of the new Peanuts & Diabetes brochure and telling people about the recommendation to introduce peanuts early and how to introduce them early,” Leslie Wagner, SPG executive director says. SPG had a cooking demonstration on the Celebrity Cooking Stage each day of both shows. Don Koehler shared a Peanut Butter Quesadilla Salad, a Peanut Butter Apple Cake and a Broccoli & Cauliflower Salad Wrap at the Savannah show. Leslie Wagner, Caleb Bristow and Teresa Mays Teresa Mays, information specialist shared a Peanut Butter Frosting made with with the Alabama Peanut Producers powdered peanut butter, Peanutty Chicken Association, visits with consumers during the Southern Women’s Show Salad and a PB Satay Veggie Dip at the in Nashville, Tenn. Nashville show.

#AmericasPBFarmers Twitter Party reaches more than 200,000 people Southern Peanut Growers celebrated America’s PB Farmers during March, National Peanut Month with a social media campaign including profiles and recipes from some of our favorite peanut farmers in the Southeast. As part of the campaign, SPG hosted a Twitter party on Thursday, March 23 which resulted in a reach of more than 200,000 unique Twitter users. Through April 15, SPG will continue to encourage peanut butter lovers to make some of our farmers’ favorite recipes and share them on Instagram and Twitter as part of our #AmericasPBFarmers contest.

Marketing arm of

Don Koehler, executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission, presents a cooking demo on the main stage at the Southern Women’s Show in Savannah, Ga.

The Chatham County 4-H Food Product Competition Team receives advice from Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director, on their Georgia Peanut and Blueberry Muffins during the Southern Women’s Show in Savannah, Ga.

Visit Southern Peanut Growers at these upcoming events • April 20-22 – Georgia School Nutrition Association Meeting, Jekyll Island, Georgia • May 4-7 – Alabama Academy of Pediatrics meeting, San Destin, Florida • June 25-27 – USA Peanut Congress, Amelia Island, Florida • July 20-22 – Southern Peanut Growers Conference, San Destin, Florida

Southern Peanut Growers 1025 Sugar Pike Way · Canton, Georgia 30115 (770) 751-6615 · FAX (770) 751-6417 email: lpwagner@comcast.net Visit our website at http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com

19th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference July 20-22, 2017 Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort ark your calendars for the 19th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 20-22, 2017, at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Miramar Beach, Florida. This year’s conference offers farmers an opportunity to learn more about legislative issues, the peanut marketplace and production issues. The registration fee for growers is $145 which includes all conference events and meals. The registration deadline is June 30. The registration fee increases by $50 on July 1. To register and view the conference schedule visit southernpeanutfarmers.org. The theme for this year’s conference, “Navigating the Marketplace,” plans to focus on growth opportunities and new initiatives within the peanut industry. During one of the sessions, growers will be in the hot seat with a question and answer from University researchers regarding production practices. This session will provide researchers with information related to rotation practices, varieties planted, irrigation use and more for the Southeast. During the Saturday morning session at 9:00 a.m., the keynote address will be brought by U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers, member of the House Committee on Agriculture, and Austin Congressman Mike Rogers Scott, Chairman of the R-Alabama, member of the House Committee on Agriculture House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit. Following their presentations, Bob Redding, representative for the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation in Congressman Austin Scott Washington, D.C., will lead R-Georgia, Chairman of the a question and answer House Agriculture Committee’s session with congressional Subcommittee on Commodity staff regarding policy and Exchanges, Energy and Credit the 2018 Farm Bill. There are a number of activities for families at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort ranging from relaxation to recreation. Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort offers 7.5 miles of sugar white beaches, a spa, golf courses, tennis courts, five-acre Jolee Island Nature Park, 18 swimming pools, putt putt and a variety of activities at The Village of Baytowne Wharf from shopping to an adventure zone. There is definitely something for everyone at the 19th annual conference and the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort!

Tentative Schedule of Events Thursday, July 20 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. 1:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Hospitality & Ice Cream Social Conference Registration

6:30 p.m.

Welcoming Reception

7:00 p.m.

Welcoming Dinner

Friday, July 21 7:15 a.m.

Prayer Breakfast

8:30 a.m.

General Session I

10:00 a.m.

Spouse Program (pre-registration required)

10:15 a.m.

General Session II

11:30 a.m.

Luncheon

1:00 p.m.

General Session III

Saturday, July 22 7:15 a.m.

Breakfast - Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Awards

9:00 a.m.

General Session IV

Noon

Lunch on your own and afternoon free!

12:30 - 6 p.m.

Golf Tournament

7:00 p.m.

Reception

7:30 p.m.

Dinner and Entertainment

Conference Schedule will be updated online at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. Visit the website to register online too!