PEANUT HARVEST GUIDEBOOK

2022 Peanut Harvest Guidebook

Planning for Harvest in an Unpredictable Economy

By Abby Himburg Richardson

Carl Sanders and Jonathan Sanders of Alabama inspect their peanut picker during the 2021 peanut harvest.

Despite many hopes, 2022 has turned out to be just as unpredictable as the last two years. As if harvest wasn’t arbitrary enough, add in the extremely fragile economy and supply shortages and farmers have one of the most capricious harvest seasons in decades. Therefore, it is more important than ever for farmers to take the necessary precautions to prevent their harvest season from being one of the worst ones yet.

According to Kris Balkcom, Auburn University Extension peanut specialist, buying parts ahead of time could be the key to having a more successful and less stressful harvest season this year. "We see less and less parts available at stores and it will only continue to get worse during harvest as these parts are in high demand," Balkcom says.

The price of peanut blades may remain the same but farmers may have issues with availability in a couple of months. Balkcom recommends for farmers to go ahead and purchase one set of blades for every 10-15 acres of planted peanuts. "Hopefully you won’t need them but if you do, you’ll have them," Balkcom says. "Also, the blades don’t go bad, so you’ll have them for next year."

Balkcom also recommends for farmers to go ahead and purchase a few extra bearings, sprockets and belts. "We have no way of knowing what parts might be impossible to come by in a few months," he says. "This simple task could be the difference in saving you money in the long run."

Balkcom encourages farmers to check their equipment now instead of waiting until right before harvest to do so. If repairs are needed, he suggests for farmers to get the equipment into the shop for repairs now. Between supply shortages and staff shortages, farmers may experience a longer than usual turnaround time at the repair shop.

“If you know that your peanut picker is on its last leg, I would defi nitely purchase a new one before harvest," Balkcom says. "Now is the time to buy that extra piece of equipment you’ve been putting off purchasing.”

Summer preparation can pay off big when it comes time to harvest.

“Try to fi nd ways to shift the focus away from the day-to-day stress of harvest by preparing now,” says Chris Parker, associate director of the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center. “This year will most likely pose challenges we’ve never experienced, but hopefully only man-made issues.”

This harvest season may push farmers to become more innovative than ever. Parker encourages farmers to be patient this season and focus on what they can do to creatively fi x those issues that do arise.

“Having faith, family and a fl y rod goes a long way,” Parker says.

As harvest grows closer, Parker also recommends for farmers to keep spraying. Not applying a late fungicide spray never saves any money in the long run, he adds. Farmers need to protect those leaves until the digger pulls into the fi eld. "We all know that the weather is unpredictable," Parker says. “One lunch break watching the weather channel can change your entire harvest strategy when something sneaks into the gulf.”

Another challenge facing farmers is fi nding labor during harvest. Parker and Balkcom suggest for farmers to reach out to their local high school agricultural education teacher for short term labor needs. The teachers may have students interested in farming that hasn’t had the opportunity to work on a farm. If farmers reach out now and fi nd a student, then they will have time to train them and have them ready to go for harvest.

The last tip from Balkcom includes taking advantage of local pod blasting clinics. The extension service host clinics in locations across Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi so Balkcom recommends for growers to check with their local extension offi ce to see if one is being hosted in their area. Pod blasting is a great way to gauge optimal harvest time.

Harvest is always unpredictable and this year will be no different. However, by planning ahead and taking a few extra steps, it might just save farmers major time and stress. 

HARVEST GUIDEBOOK Optimum peanut Maturity

Determining When to Dig

By Joy Crosby

Knowing when to dig is the age old question as harvest nears. Research has shown through the years that peanuts harvested too early or too late can have reduced yields by 500 to 700 pounds per acre.

Farmers may get restless come August and September, when wanting to get in the fi eld but University of Georgia Extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort urges farmers to be patient and slow down. "Don't try to get in a hurry and dig improperly. That can cause damage to the peanuts as we're harvesting," Monfort says.

Monfort also encourages farmers not to dig peanuts if they are too wet or too dry. He reminds farmers that digging under those conditions could result in pulling peanuts off the vine.

According to Monfort, each individual fi eld should be addressed at harvest time. "Farmers can plant the same variety on the same day in different fi elds and the peanuts may still mature at a different rate due to soil type differences, climate and weather differences and pest problem differences," Monfort says. "Checking each fi eld individually is also important since the peanuts may not mature in the order in which they were planted."

One of the best ways to determine maturity of the peanut crop is through the hull-scrape method or pod blasting and using the peanut profi le board. The hull scrape method is based on color changes in the middle layer of the peanut hull as the nut matures.

Farmers can take random samples of peanuts from their fi eld and scrape off the outer layer of the peanut hull. The inner hulls will show a range of colors, from white to black. The darker the color, the more mature the crop.

Hulls that are white or yellow are immature. The orange to brown hulls are close to maturity. The dark brown hulls are mature, and the black hulls are either mature or a bit over-mature.

Monfort encourages farmers to make sure they get a good representative sample from the fi eld. He suggests pulling from at least fi ve places in the fi eld. Those pulls should be all over the fi eld, not just on the edges.

Lastly, farmers must weigh out their options on when to harvest due to several factors including the number of acres to be harvested, equipment availability, labor and impending weather conditions. 

One of the best ways to determine maturity of the peanut crop is through the hull-scrape method or pod blasting and using the peanut profi le board.

Stay Safe this Harvest Season

Follow these simple reminders to have a safe harvest season.

1. Turn off power before adjusting, servicing or unclogging power-driven machinery. 2. Make sure loads being towed are properly hitched to the drawbar and that pins and chains are in place. 3. Display slow-moving vehicle signs on machinery towed or driven on the highways. 4. Have shields and guards in place and maintained at all times. 5. Inspect and maintain all hydraulic hoses and couplings. 6. Make sure tires are properly infl ated. 7. Inspect and maintain all machinery, equipment and tools to keep them in proper working condition. 8. Have fi rst-aid kits available and develop an emergency plan.

AMADAS Industries has made a signifi cant new investment to grow their Southeast base of operations, adding a 54,000 square feet building on ten acres of land. The new location at 1611 Krug Street in Albany, Georgia, will include an expanded parts department, enhanced service operations, as well as manufacturing, paint, & assembly capabilities.

AMADAS Industries’ investment reinforces their enduring commitment to customers and community in Georgia and grows employment opportunities by offering new skilled jobs to the workforce in Albany and the surrounding counties.

“Albany has been our Georgia home for more than 40 years, and we are pleased to continue our growth here. We are making thoughtful investments in our plant, our people, and our processes to provide our customers with outstanding parts and service support, and to expand our manufacturing operations” says Jimmy Adams, AMADAS president and CEO.

The new facility is now fully operational with parts and service, as all inventory and operational staff have been relocated from the former AMADAS facility on South Slappey Boulevard in Albany. AMADAS is currently hiring for a number of positions in manufacturing, service, and parts operations.

For nearly 60 years, AMADAS has worked diligently to advance the technology of specialty agricultural and industrial equipment. AMADAS is an acronym that stands for American Made; Advanced Design; Absolute Service.

For more information on the products and services offered by AMADAS visit www.amadas.com. 

Harvest Equipment Checklist

Peanut Digger

Pre-harvest Checklist • Check the entire machine for loose or worn parts. • Make sure the plow shanks are not bent and the digger blades run level. • Straighten any bent rattler bars. • Check all bearings and the gear box oil level. • Check coulters and vine cutters for proper location and condition. • Align the inversion rods before digging (see operator manual for proper spacing). • Check for binding or unusual noises by operating the machine briefl y. • Have plenty of extra digger blades on hand.

Harvest Season Checklist • Check digger blades for proper sharpness and depth. • Coulters should cut vines leaving no clumps. • Check the fl ow of material through the digger. Make sure ground speed is synchronized to produce a smooth fl ow of vines and soil into the digger. • Make sure drive belts are tight. • Check for proper vine inversion and inversion rod spacing.

Combine maintenance checklist

Pre-harvest Checklist • Clean inside and out, removing all dirt and residue from the previous crop. • Check for loose, bent, broken, or missing parts such as pickup springs, cylinder springs and stripper springs. • Check air lift ducts for holes, lodged objects and dirt buildup. • Make sure all shields are functional and in good shape. • Replace the “Slow Moving Vehicle” sign if it is not in good condition.

Harvest Season Checklist • Adjust settings according to windrow conditions. Remember, no combination of settings will remain optimal throughout a given day. • Check combined peanuts periodically for LSK’s and foreign material. • Check chaff passing through the combine for excessive pod loss. If problems occur, adjust stripper spring settings.