The Peanut Grower, July 2014

PEANUTGROWERPEANUTGROWERTheThe

THE PEANUT PRODUCER'S MARKETING & PRODUCTION MAGAZINEwww.peanutgrower.com

ONE GROWERPUBLISHING, LLC

THE PEANUT PRODUCER'S MARKETING & PRODUCTION MAGAZINEwww.peanutgrower.com

JULY 2014JULY 2014

Climate OutlookClimate Outlook

Keeping Good Records

Late-Season Tips

Keeping Good Records

Late-Season Tips

PG July cover_CF 11/13 template 6/12/14 9:09 AM

• Detachable alloy steel spears pierce modules without damage• Minimizes stalks pinned against module and transported to gin• Lower maintenance, no moving parts or hydraulics• Fastest and easiest operated module handler available• Priced thousands of dollars less than other module handlers

Cotton Spear Round Module

Handler

Tommy Wilkins—Kennett, MO

Hal McCay—McCay Gin, Cordele, GA

Sammy Henderson—Cairo Farmers Gin, Humboldt, TN

PATENT # USD700,918S

PG0714 Layout_CF 11/13 template 6/10/14 9:02 AM

Departments4 Editor’s Note

All I could do was marvel at the gold-brown sand.

5 News BriefsApproved sampling technology to improve buying point efficiency.

6 Market WatchContracts return, likely because of weather patterns.

20 New ProductsNew insecticide option; expanded irrigation opportunities.

21 Peanut PointersOne disease prefers hot, dry weather conditions.

JULY 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 3

The

JULY 2014PEANUTGROWERVolume 26 • Number 7

Cover photo byAmanda Huber

10 Mid-Season To Harvest: What Are The Challenges?Use these tips to bring in a successful harvest, plus meet the new Extension peanut specialist in Georgia.

12 Climate Outlook El Niño means a wet, cool fall and winter for most of Georgia and surrounding areas.

14 Recordkeeping: Beyond The RequirementsAdditional information on conditions can help you defend proper application and make future pesticide decisions.

18 Know The Rules On Saving SeedConsider whether the risk involved in saving seed is too great and the assurances with certified seed are worth the cost.

10

Features

14

3toc 0714 v3_CF 11/13 template 6/13/14 8:36 AM

I have lived in the sand hills all my lifeand toughened my feet on hot, tan-col-ored grains. I grew used to the gritty feelof it in places it shouldn’t be: my shoes,my eyes, my hair and even my bed attimes!

As a kid, any attempt to build castleswith it dissolved into rounded moundsof shifting sands. You could bother a doo-dle bug, who for whatever reason decidedthe sand was his favored place and wassmart enough to create a cone of death foran unsuspecting ant.

Still, I knew it beat the heck out ofpavement and working with it just tooktime. For instance, when we were building our house and wanted some of thepower lines run underground, the sand became a true nemesis. The line hadto be buried at a certain depth, but because the sand kept sliding back intoplace and caving in, we had to dig the trench several feet deeper and muchwider than we would have had the soil held any moisture at all. We eventu-ally got the wire buried properly, it just took a lot more time, thanks to thedry, flowing sand.

This spring, as I watched a moldboard plow turn up the gold-brown sandand it stayed perfectly in place without sliding back to the lowest point, all Icould do was marvel at it. I wasn’t the only one.

Farming a few sandy fields near where I live is Vince Dean, who has alsolived in sand hills his whole life. “Can you believe how much moisture thereis?” he said, as I helped him pick up a few roots from the field.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it before,” was my reply, but I knew it wouldbe good for the peanut seed going in the ground that day.

Thankfully, we have continued to get timely rains and his crop and othersI’ve seen are coming along nicely. I hope your crop is as well and that yourharvest is successful.

John BeasleyExtension AgronomistAuburn UniversityDell CottonPeanut Growers CooperativeMarketing Assn., Franklin, VAKris BalkcomAgri-Program AssociateAuburn UniversityCraig KvienCoastal Plain ExperimentStation,Tifton, GA

Jason WoodwardExtension Plant Pathologist Texas A & M UniversityDavid Jordan Extension AgronomistNorth Carolina State UniversityGlen HarrisExtension AgronomistUniversity of GeorgiaJason FerrellExtension Weed SpecialistUniversity of Florida

The Peanut Grower (ISSN 1042-9379) is an agribusinessmagazine for U.S. peanut producers. Published in eightmonthly issues, January through July and November.Annual subscriptions are $40.00. Single Copy price is$5.00. Annual overseas subscriptions are $70.00, includ-ing Canada/Mexico. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis,TN. Copyright © 2014 One Grower Publishing, LLC, allrights reserved except where otherwise noted. ThePeanut Grower ® is a registered trademark, whichreserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office in association with the registration.POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO SUN-BELT FULFILLMENT SERVICES, 307 SOUTHGATECOURT, Brentwood, TN 37027-7987. All statements,including product claims, are those of the person or organ-ization making the statement or claim. The publisher doesnot adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and anysuch statement or claim does not necessarily reflect theopinion of the publisher. Printed in the USA.

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

EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION

Editor Amanda Huber

[email protected]

Copy Editor Carroll Smith

[email protected]

Art DirectorCarol Watson

ADMINISTRATION

Publisher/Vice PresidentLia Guthrie (901) 497-3689

[email protected]

Associate PublisherCarroll Smith (901) 767-4020

Editorial Director Tommy Horton (901) 767-4020

[email protected]

Sales ManagerScott Emerson (386) 462-1532

[email protected]

Circulation ManagerJanet Owens (229) 386-8809

Production ManagerKathy Killingsworth (800) 888-9784

[email protected]

For circulation changesor change of address, call

(800) 888-9784

Mike Lamensdorf PRESIDENT/TREASURER

Lia Guthrie PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT

One Grower Publishing, LLC1010 June Rd., Suite 102, Memphis, Tennessee, 38119

Phone: 901-767-4020

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

ONE GROWERPUBLISHING, LLC

4/ THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

A Surprising Turn This Spring

4ednote0714v1.qxp_04editor's note PGR0704 v3.qxd 6/11/14 4:00 PM

Standards Board Nominees SoughtUSDA is seeking nominations for

peanut producers and industry repre-sentatives to serve on the Peanut Stan-dards Board. The board consists of 18members with representation equally di-vided between peanut producers and in-dustry representatives. Representation isdivided among three regions: the South-east (Alabama, Georgia and Florida), theSouthwest (Texas, Oklahoma and NewMexico), and the Virginia/Carolinas.

Each region has three producer seatsand three industry representative seats,each with staggered terms. The Secre-tary of Ag will appoint one producerand one industry representative fromeach region to succeed members whoseterms expire on June 30, 2014. The sixnew members will serve terms endingon June 30, 2017.

The Peanut Standards Board consultswith USDA regarding quality and han-dling standards for domestically pro-duced and imported peanuts. The boardplays a key role in representing the U.S.peanut industry on issues affecting qual-ity and marketability.

The deadline is July 14, 2014. Visitwww.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandards-Board for forms, or contact Jennie M.Varela at 863-324-3375 or by email [email protected] or [email protected].

Getting The Farm Bill Ready USDA is working quickly to write

the regulations needed to fully imple-ment the provisions of the AgricultureAct of 2014, but the group charged withcarrying out the task is also trying tomake sure they get it right.

“The Secretary charged me and ourteam with getting the implementationdone as quickly as we could because heknew that farmers, ranchers andlandowners needed certainty,” saysDeputy Secretary Krysta Harden, whoheads USDA’s Farm Bill implementa-tion task force.

“But he also said to us ‘get it right,’”she says. “‘Make sure that it’s done fairly.Make sure you listen to people. Mostimportantly, make sure that it works forfarmers and for ranchers. A lot of goodthings on paper don’t make a lot of sensewhen it gets on the ground, and we aretrying very hard to make sure that itdoes.’

“I am so proud that we still find away in agriculture to work together toget results for the people and the thingswe care so deeply about,” says Harden,who has worked for members of Con-gress, the American Soybean Associa-tion, as CEO of the National Associationof Conservation Districts and at USDAduring her career.

“We are quickly moving to otherthings,” she says. “One of the shiningnew examples in the Farm Bill is in con-servation, one of the things that is verynear and dear to my heart. It’s called theRegional Conservation Partnership Pro-gram or RCPP.”

Harden says RCPP, one of manyacronyms in the new Farm Bill, is anexpanded approach to putting conser-vation efforts on the land that will bringin new partners and leverage federal dol-lars with those from the private sector.

New Georgia FSA Director Dr. Fred Harrison, of Winterville,

Ga., has been appointed Farm ServiceAgency executive director for Georgia.The owner and operator of HarrisonFarms, Harrison has served as the Deanof the College of Agriculture, HomeEconomics and Allied Programs at FortValley State University. He previouslyserved the college as Administrator/Di-rector of the Cooperative Extension Pro-gram and as Interim Dean.

Harrison earned his doctorate fromOhio State University in Extension Pro-gram Development, Administration andCommunity Resource Development. Hehas served on the Georgia Rural Devel-opment Council.

As Georgia’s FSA Director, Harrisonwill use his agricultural background andexperience in service to oversee FSA pro-grams that protect agricultural practicesto ensure a safe, affordable, abundantand nutritious food supply.

Hardy Farms Unveils New Roaster Georgia has a new peanut roasting

and packaging plant in Hawkinsville.Brad Hardy and the Hardy Farms teamunveiled the new roasting and packag-ing facility recently to a crowd of friendsand peanut industry members. Con-gratulations were offered by many, in-cluding Brian Kemp, Georgia Secretaryof State, and Gary Black, Georgia Com-missioner of Agriculture. Dr. Gary Ab-bott, of St. Luke Episcopal Church, of-fered a blessing for the facility.

Hardy said the new facility was in-spired by a request for one-ounce sou-venir packages of roasted peanuts to beused by the Georgia Farm Bureau andother organizations.

In Brief:

JULY 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER /5

• USDA seeks six new members forappointment to Standards Board.

• Farm Bill team moving quickly tocomplete regs., touts conservation.

• Georgia’s new Farm Service Agencydirector: Dr. Fred Harrison.

• Hardy Farms opens new roasting,packaging facility in Hawkinsville.

• New sampling technology to in-crease buying point efficiency.

• APC starts manufacturer food safetymentoring program.

• NPB education program asks con-sumers to follow the “Journey ofthe Peanut Butter Jar.”

5,8,9nb0714v4.qxp_news briefsv2.qxd 6/11/14 4:00 PM

6 / THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2014

The peanut industry appears strongwith growth in the domestic market andwith the export market down slightlybut still moving. The over-supply con-tinues to depress prices, and if acreage isas much as USDA is reporting, priceswill remain low. Producers must be op-timistic if, after knowing the over-sup-ply of peanuts exists, they plant morepeanuts anyway, hoping and trustingthat something will happen and mar-kets will improve.

This year, the farmer had few com-peting crops that showed any profit, andthe weather was a factor delaying cornplanting and even delaying cotton andpeanuts. The late planting is likely toimpact average yields at harvest if re-search holds true.

Peanut Acreage How many acres were planted in

peanuts? That’s a good question and amajor marketing factor. USDA will givethe industry another planted acreage es-timate on June 30, but the actual plantedacreage as reported by farmers will notbe known until late July or August aftercrop insurance reporting deadlines.

USDA’s Economic Research Service’searly surveys estimated farmers wouldincrease peanut acreage by 29 percent to1.4 million acres, nationwide, and thebig surprise was that Georgia would in-crease 53 percent over last year. However,when prices dropped to $400 per ton inthe Southeast, some producers switchedto 80 cents-per-pound cotton, and thepeanut acreage increase in Georgiashould be less than what was reported.

Supply And DemandThe first indication as to crop size of

U.S. peanuts for 2014-15 was a forecastthat peanut farmers would produce

2,677,500 tons. The USDA chartshowed harvested acres would be1,348,000 with an average yield of 3,971pounds per acre. With total U.S. de-mand at 2,536,000 tons, that’s an in-crease over demand by 5.2 percent in-cluding all disappearance.

Ending stocks now show 1,208,500tons, again a large carry-over that willkeep prices down. Domestic food usefor peanuts is predicted to increase 2.1percent, while data show a 3.0 percentincrease after nine months. Exports areforecast to decrease 2.6 percent; how-ever, totals after eight months show 11percent down.

ContractingThe wet spring has caused a return of

peanut contracts to the Southeast in or-der to get farmers to commit tonnage.Instead of the 50/50 option contract of-fered earlier, peanut farmers in the

Southeast have firm contracts for runnerpeanuts at the $425 per-ton option level,basis grade. Some are being offered a$25 per-ton seed contract or a total of$450 per ton. One sheller was offering$440 per-ton option contracts with anadditional $10 per-ton hauling bonusor a total of $450 per ton.

Market improvement seems to beweather influenced. It also appears thatmanufacturers were successful in con-vincing farmers to grow high-oleicpeanuts, although seed was limited andearly contracts at $475 per ton werequickly signed.

In the Southwest, contracts weremostly Virginias at $625 per-ton optioncontracts with Spanish at $600 per tonand high-oleic runners at $475 per ton.Water continues to be an issue for theSouthwest region, suffering from theworst drought in decades. The regionhas received rains during planting, whichdoes give farmers some hope.

The Virginia-Carolina region reports$525 per ton for Virginias and $475 perton for high-oleic runners.

Peanut ProgramLike a cloud over the peanut market,

the “generic” cotton base that might beconverted to peanut production con-tinues to be a concern in that it couldcause overplanting with the incentivebeing the PLC payment using the $535per-ton reference price. Cotton leadersand key peanut leaders are convinced itwill not happen.

Non-base peanut producers are con-cerned that the “cotton” factor has al-ready affected the peanut market, andsome think it could get ugly and ex-pensive if USDA does not act sensiblyin writing the regulations. USDA offi-cials are aware of the issue, but the Farm

J. Tyron SpearmanContributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

Weather is likely reason behindreturn of contracts

Leading Market Indicators(June 10, 2014)

•2014 - Acreage estimate - up 29% - 1,376,000 acres

•2014 - Production estimate - up 28% - 2,677,500 tons

•2013 - Harvest Acres - dn 35% - 1,042,000 acres

•2014 Average yield estimate - 3,791 lbs/A - dn 35 lbs/A

•2013 Market Loan - 1,432,215 tons

•2013 - Loan Redemptions - 1,237,713 tons

•2013-14 Usage (9 mo.) - up 3.0%

•2013-14 Exports (8 mo.) - dn 11.8%

•National Posted Price (per ton):Runners $424.74, Spanish $404.93,Virginia/Valencia $428.38.

6-7 mw 0714v4.qxp_market watchv2.qxd 6/11/14 4:02 PM

Bill may tie their hands.

Export ProspectsThe United States could regain vol-

ume in world markets if Argentina con-tinues to have harvest problems causedby continuous wet weather. China andIndia are expected to lower peanut plant-ings 10 percent and 8 percent, respec-tively. The U.S. 2013 peanut crop isavailable at the lowest representativeprices. A speaker at the InternationalPeanut Forum said the current funda-mentals of world peanut supply and de-mand indicate a firmer world market af-ter October 2015 if acreages are reduced.

Total U.S. peanut export volumes aredown 11.8 percent for the year as in-shells remain down almost 30 percent.Peanut butter exports remain strong up29.8 percent for the year. Raw-shelledpeanuts are down 9.2 percent. Chinahas not returned as a buyer.

UnknownsThe boat has been launched for the

grower this season. Mostly contracted,

peanut farmers will work to make agood, top-quality crop as they battle theweather, which could be a significantmarketing factor before harvest. Don’tlook for the Farm Bill regulations untillate fall, likely after harvest.

We’re hoping the planted acreage is upabout 15 percent, but USDA is usuallyright on target. The new Farm Bill hasa lot of options and, together, maybe wecan learn what will keep us all in thepeanut business. PG


RENEW your subscription online!Peanut Grower is sent free to qualified subscribers. But postal regulations require that we update our subscriber records annually. It only takes a few minutes to renew your subscription online (or to sign up to receive it as a new subscriber).

Simply go to:

www.peanutgrower.comClick on the “Subscribe” tab and fill in the form.

Submit your form when you’re finished!

The Web site has current information from our editors, market news information, archives of past issues and useful links. Sign on today to update your record and see the latest in peanut news!

6-7 mw 0714v4.qxp_market watchv2.qxd 6/11/14 4:02 PM

USDA OKs New Sampling TechnologyThe automated pulsating divider for

the pneumatic sampler developed andtested by the National Peanut ResearchLaboratory, in cooperation with Ala-bama and Georgia Federal State In-spection Services, has been officially ap-proved by USDA-AMS and can be usedduring the 2014 farmer-stock peanutharvest season.

The divider system automaticallysenses the amount of peanuts in the binand determines the number of divisionsrequired to give a consistent 3,600 gramsample. Research has shown that no dif-ferences in any farmer-stock grade fac-tors will result, but the need to reducethe grade sample size is eliminated. Thiswill reduce the amount of excess peanutshandled in the grading room and in-crease buying point efficiency.

For more information, call Jade Paulwith Advanced Control Solutions at678-643-5795 or visit www.acs-ga.com.

Genomic ConferenceOfficials from Argentina are review-

ing requirements to join the Interna-tional Peanut Genome Initiative. If theywere to join, any data towards the effortwill be combined with field data fromBrazil, China, India and the UnitedStates and that of 20 other plant popu-lations that have been found to have de-sired traits and collected in the last threeyears. This phenotypical data will beused to associate with gene markers forthe desired traits.

The 7th International Peanut Ge-nomic Conference will be held in Sa-vannah, Ga., at the Savannah MarriottRiverfront on Nov. 11-14, 2014. Morethan 100 delegates are expected fromnine countries. This meeting helps setthe strategic plan for genomic researchfor the next five years. A full report ofPeanut Genomic Initiative accomplish-ments is available from the AmericanPeanut Council. Contact Christina Tay-lor at [email protected] to requestthe report.

Research Meeting Planned Producers and all peanut industry

members are invited to attend the 46thAnnual Meeting of the American PeanutResearch and Education Society, July 8-10, 2014, at the Menger Hotel in SanAntonio, Texas.

Industry researchers will spend threedays presenting scientific and industry-trending presentations. The programdraft contains 104 research papers andpresentations ranging from Extensiontechniques, breeding, biotechnology andgenetics, plant pathology and nematol-ogy, seed technology and physiology,plus other topics relating to the pro-duction and processing of peanuts.

Research is also presented in a postersession, and graduate students can makepresentations and compete in the JoeSugg Graduate Student Competition.

Complete details of the meeting canbe found at www.apresinc.com.

Mentors For Smaller Manufacturers With the assistance of major peanut

product manufacturers, the AmericanPeanut Council has established a foodsafety mentoring program to assist smallpeanut product manufacturers.

The new Food Safety ModernizationAct requires more thorough food safetymanagement programs and compliance,so this program links small manufac-turers, who may lack in-house expertise,with experienced food safety profes-sionals from larger manufacturing com-panies. There is no cost to participate inthe program, and all information is keptstrictly confidential.

Manufacturers of all sizes know thatfood safety is at the forefront of allprocesses. From farm to table, peanutsis a food product and care must be takento keep them clean and preserve thequality product.

For more information on the manu-facturer mentoring program offered bythe APC, contact Patrick Archer byphone at 703-838-9500 or by email [email protected].

• July 8-10, 2014 – American PeanutResearch and Education Society An-nual Meeting, Menger Hotel, San An-tonio, Texas. More than 100 re-search presentations are expected.Go to www.apresinc.com for regis-tration information.

• July 10, 2014 – Sunbelt AgriculturalExposition Field Day, Spence Field,Moultrie, Ga. Shuttles begin at 9:00a.m. For more information, call 229-985-1968 or go to www.sunbelt-expo.com.

• July 24-26, 2014 – 16th AnnualSouthern Peanut Growers Confer-ence, Edgewater Beach Resort,Panama City Beach, Fla. For more in-formation, visit www.southern-peanutfarmers.org.

• Aug. 5-6, 2014 – American PeanutShellers Association and NationalPeanut Buying Points AssociationPre-Harvest Joint Convention, LakeBlackshear Resort & Golf Club,Cordele, Ga. For hotel reservations,call 800-459-1230. For meeting in-formation, call 229-888-2508, 229-386-1716 or visit the website www.peanut-shellers.org.

• Aug. 13, 2014 – Southeast GeorgiaResearch and Education CenterField Day, Midville, Ga. For informa-tion, call 478-589-7472.

• Aug. 20, 2014 – Southwest GeorgiaResearch and Education CenterField Day, Plains, Ga. For informa-tion, call 229-824-4375.

• Sept. 16-18, 2014 – Georgia PeanutTour. The tour will highlight Savan-nah and surrounding areas. For moreinformation, visit the tour blog atwww.gapeanuttour.wordpress.com.

Calendar:




NPB Changes Peanut Packs To Show Heart Check Logo The National Peanut Board has changed the face of its pop-

ular, lightly salted peanut packs to reflect the new brandlogo, “The Perfectly Powerful Peanut.” The contents havealso changed: the packs contain a different peanut type –runners – and have increased in size from one-half ounce toa one-ounce pack.

“We’ll be able to continue to use the popular gourmetVirginia-type peanuts in the sample bags; however, the ben-efit of this new vendor is that we have the flexibility to letconsumers sample any type of peanut,” said Bob Parker, Na-tional Peanut Board president and CEO.

Another important component of the new packaging is thatit displays the American Heart Association Heart Check logo,as well as The Peanut Institute logo. The Peanut Institute ob-tained the Heart Check from the AHA on behalf of the en-tire industry.

According to the Institute, “The Heart Check mark is themost recognized food symbol on the market today. A majorityof grocery shoppers trust the Heart Check most to guidethem in making heart-healthy food purchases.

“It’s fitting that oil-roasted and salted peanuts and un-salted in-shell peanuts qualify for the Heart Check becausepeanuts contain mostly good fats, are a good source of fiberand are naturally low in sodium,” said Pat Kearney, TPI pro-gram director.

Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, including peanuts, as partof a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce therisk of heart disease.

“Peanut industry organizations interested in being a partof the Heart Check program should contact The Peanut In-

stitute as each product label needs to be reviewed individu-ally,” said Kearney.

The National Peanut Board makes its peanut sample packsavailable as giveaways at consumer and industry events andoffers the packs to state peanut producer organizations uponrequest. Call the NPB at 678-424-5750 for more informa-tion or to request peanuts.

Consumers Can Follow ‘The Journey Of A PB Jar’ The National Peanut Board has launched an online con-

sumer educational series called, “The Journey of a Peanut But-ter Jar.” This series invites readers to learn about how theirfavorite jar of peanut butter supports farming families, com-munities, the economy and the environment through personalstories, facts and profiles.

The home base for “The Journey of a Peanut Butter Jar”series is the National Peanut Board blog at www.national-peanutboard.org/blog, which includes artwork that com-plements the natural and wholesome qualities of peanuts andconnects all parts of the process back to the farm.

NPB kicks off the series this month with a focus on plant-ing. In August, NPB will highlight how researchers are con-tributing to the success of the plants in the field. October willcover the people of the harvest season, including buyingpoints and shellers. In November, the focus will be on themanufacturers’ perspective and consumers enjoying peanutbutter. Also, in November, NPB will celebrate NationalPeanut Butter Lovers Month by sharing an infographic high-lighting key points about the series with consumer mediaand bloggers. The journey wraps up in December with a fo-cus on how peanut butter supports the global communitythrough exports and ready-to-use-therapeutic foods.


The 2014 planting season was alittle more stretched out acrossthe belt because of rains andlingering cool temperatures.

But as that gave way to warm, sunnyweather, the seedlings took off and rowclosure came quickly. Now, it’s on to mid-and late-season production strategies be-fore the harvest trigger can be pulled.

Scott Monfort, peanut specialist forClemson University, says South Carolinais estimated to have 90,000 to 95,000acres this year.

“Most of the peanut crop statewidelooks very good,” he says. “Planted acreswill be about 65 percent Virginias and35 percent runners. Bailey and Sugg arethe top Virginia varieties and Florida-07,Georgia-09B and FloRun-107 are the toprunner varieties.”

Aim To Stay AheadMonfort says soil moisture was ade-

quate across most of the state for plant-ing, and problems with germination orstand establishment were few and only infields with little or no moisture.

“Weed management is at the top ofthe priority list for growers, with diseasemanagement and gypsum applicationsnot far behind,” Monfort says. “For themost part growers are staying ahead anddoing an excellent job so far.

“Another issue growers are dealing withis thrips. Thrips pressure has been ex-tremely heavy this year, and significantdamage has been observed in a few fields.Peanut fields where Cruiser Maxx Peanutor in-furrow imidacloprid were applied

need to be scouted to determine if an ad-ditional foliar insecticide is needed,” Mon-fort says.

Keep Weeds Knocked BackMaria Balota, assistant professor from

the Tidewater Agricultural Research andExtension Center, Virginia Tech, says inVirginia 18,000 acres of peanuts wereplanted, which is about 2,000 more thanlast year, and there was no significantthrips damage observed to that point.

David Wright, cooperative Extensionspecialist with the University of Florida,says peanuts were a little behind normal


Mid-Season To Harvest: What Are The Challenges?

Use these tips to bring in a successful crop.

By Amanda Huber

Tips To Season’s End:• Be timely with inputs, especially fungicides.

• Apply herbicides when weeds are small for maximum control, especially pigweed.

• Keep up with irrigation needs, particularly during peak bloom and pod fill.

• Don’t forget to supply needed calcium.

• Know what insects are more likely for given weather conditions.

• Consider using a weather advisory for leaf spot.

• Scout, scout, scout.

• Maturity can be sped up or delayed depending on conditions.

• Don’t dig based solely on days after planting or before a freeze or frost is forecast.

10-11har0714v4_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/13/14 8:03 AM


but the dry, warm weather has allowedthe crop to catch up quickly.

“We are seeing some thrips damage,and weeds are beginning to emerge withtreatment beginning in some fields,” hesays. “We expect to see a flush of weedsas summer showers emerge.”

Watch For Insect OutbreaksAyanava Majumdar, Extension ento-

mologist for Alabama Cooperative Ex-tension, reported that thrips activity washigh in early planted peanuts and use ofrescue insecticide was needed in those

fields with excessive feeding damage.“With additional heat units and dry

weather, we may see increasing activityof other major pests like corn earwormand loopers in peanuts in the comingmonth,” he says. “Persistent dry weathermay favor insect pests like lesser cornstalkborer, which is already active in high num-bers in many areas of the state based ontrap catches.

“Producers should scout weekly ormore frequently if their field has a historyof insect pest problems or if the weatherseems unfavorable.” PG

UGA Names New AgronomistMaking the move from South Car-

olina to Georgia, Scott Monfort ac-cepted an offer to become the nextUniversity of Georgia, Peanut Exten-sion Agronomist, filling the spot left va-cant when John Beasley left for AuburnUniversity.

Monfort has been the state Exten-sion peanut specialist at Clemson Uni-versity since 2011 where he continueda long tradition of developing and im-plementing the Extension and appliedresearch peanut production programsto support the Extension agents andproducers in South Carolina.

The University of Georgia is whereMonfort earned both his Bachelor’sand Master’s degrees focusing on plantpathology. He earned his doctorate atthe University of Arkansas.

Monfort grew up around Georgiaagriculture and became a county agentin Worth County, one of the largestpeanut-producing counties in the state.

“Through working with the peanutgrowers in Worth County, I learnedfirsthand how devastating plant dis-eases could become if not managed. Ialso learned that diseases are only partof the equation and that you need toapproach pest management as part ofthe overall production system,” he says.

He also says he looks forward to be-ing a part of the peanut team at theUniversity of Georgia.

10-11har0714v4_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/13/14 8:08 AM

R ecently, the likelihood of anEl Niño developing during latesummer or fall has been men-tioned in the news. Climatol-

ogists have been following this carefullybecause we know that El Niño, and its op-posite, La Niña, is one of the best pre-dictors of seasonal climate variations thatwe have for the Southeast.

“El Niño” refers to a semi-regularwarming of ocean water off the coast ofPeru and Ecuador in South America.They usually occur once every three tofive years. El Niño is usually observed

around Christmas and was first namedto link its appearance to the coming of theChrist Child. La Niña marks the coolingof oceans.

Warm Water MovementScientific study has shown that El Niño

and the opposite phenomena, collectivelyreferred to as El Niño Southern Oscilla-tion or ENSO, are part of an atmosphericcirculation that stretches across the globewhile changing weather patterns in manyplaces far from the Pacific Ocean. Signsof an imminent El Niño are usually first

seen in the western and central equatorialPacific Ocean far from the coastlines ofPeru and Ecuador.

This year, climatologists are observinga large mass of unusually warm watermoving from west to east across the equa-torial Pacific Ocean in response to weak-ening trade winds, which usually pile thewarmest water in the western PacificOcean. If the wave of warm water con-tinues to move to the east, an El Niñoshould develop by mid- to late summer.Normally, an El Niño will continue tostrengthen into winter and diminish


Climate Outlook

El Niño means a wet, cool fall and winter for most of Georgia and surrounding areas.

By Pam Knox, Agricultural Climatologist

National Weather Service Southern Region, Current Year-To-Date Departure From NormalPrecipitation, 5/23/14.

12-13clim0714v7.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/11/14 4:03 PM


slowly during spring.

A Wet Harvest?In El Niño falls and winters, southern

Georgia and Alabama often experiencecool and wet conditions due to the move-ment of the subtropical jet stream over theregion. The subtropical jet is an area ofstrong winds high in the atmosphere thatpushes low pressure centers and its asso-ciated weather around, leading to cool

and cloudy conditions and ample rain-fall underneath it. In strong El Niños,this effect can extend north and covermost of Alabama and Georgia with cooland wet conditions.

Some scientists believe this year may beanother strong El Niño, similar to theone from 1997 to 1998, while othersthink it should be closer to average con-ditions. Currently, climatologists are pre-dicting a 65 percent chance of El Niño oc-

curring by fall 2014, with some scientistsgoing as high as 85 percent.

The good news is that if El Niño de-velops in late summer, the number oftropical storms and hurricanes is usuallylower than in non-El Niño years. Thisshould mean drier conditions for the har-vest season. However, once the late falland early winter rains start, it may behard to get into the fields if harvest is be-hind schedule. PG

Current ConditionsWet conditions dominated many

parts of the peanut-growing regionsin Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinasand Virginia in the early season. Bycomparison, continuing drought hasplagued Texas and Oklahoma, al-though recent rains have broughtsome limited relief to the area.

The heaviest rains fell in a bandalong the Florida panhandle into thevery southern counties of Alabamaand Georgia, leaving standing wateron many fields. Following this, a pe-riod of dry weather helped improvefield conditions quite a bit.

The warmer and wetter-than-nor-mal conditions are likely to continueacross the area except in Texas andOklahoma, where there are equalchances for above, below and nearnormal conditions, according toNOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

Management fact sheets are avail-able at AgroClimate.com. Use theselearning resources and interactive toolsto improve climate resilience in youroperation, improving resource-use effi-ciency and reducing climate risks.

Topics include the following:

• High-Residue Cover Crops: Re-duce variability in yields, improve soilhealth are the topcis of the High-Residue Cover Crops video

• Sod-based Rotation: Perennialgrass in a conventional rotation to im-prove soil organic matter and increaseroot zone depth

• Conservation Tillage: Reducing

tillage to decrease runoff and save timeon field operations

Sensor-based Nitrogen Appli-cation: Optical sensing for adjustingNitrogen applications for different fieldareas

• Microirrigation: Drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation for more efficient wa-ter application

• Subsurface Drip Irrigation:More efficient irrigation delivery that canbe cost-competitive for agronomic crops

• Variable-rate Irrigation: Sub-field scale adjustments in irrigationdepth for more efficient irrigation

• Soil Moisture Monitoring: Meas-uring soil moisture for more efficient ir-rigation

• Crop Insurance: Summary of cropinsurance coverage options in theSoutheastern United States

• Individual Yield Policies: Ba-sics of individual yield policies in theSoutheastern United States

Find these fact sheets, plus other tools,calculators and management aids atwww.agroclimate.org.

Climate-Focused Management Tools And Resources From AgroClimate

12-13clim0714v7.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/11/14 4:04 PM

Recordkeeping requirements forpesticide applications differ de-pending on the agency doingthe checking. So what is a pro-

ducer or pesticide applicator to do tomake sure their records are completeenough to show every effort is being madeto apply pesticides in a legal and propermanner? Record details that may not berequired, per se, but show an “above andbeyond” approach to recordkeeping.

In the article, “Beyond the Require-ments: Smart Items That Should BeRecorded,” which can be found on thePesticide Environmental Stewarship web-site, author Carol Ramsay, pesticide ed-ucation specialist with Washington StateUniversity, offers the following list ofitems to record for every application.

Ramsay says while certain states may al-ready require some of the items, record-ing these details may prove invaluable indefending your proper application.

“Without accurate, thorough records,you end up relying on neighbors’ recordswhich can, at times, be significantly dif-ferent from the condition under whichyou made the application,” she says.

Smart Pesticide Application Records• Air temperature during the appli-

cation, taken in the area of the appli-cation: Record the temperature in Fahren-heit. Take readings several times duringthe application and note the time of theserecordings. Some labels have restrictionson air temperatures. Do not rely onweather stations that are not directly as-sociated with the field.

• Cloud conditions: Make note of sun,partial sun or clouds. Climatic conditionsdirectly influence pesticide efficacy.

• Crop variety: If you plant a new cropvariety, it may be good to record thischange since different sensitivities tochemicals and pests are known to occurbetween varieties.

• Name of person for whom the ap-plication was made: This is for customapplicators. Note client information. Cus-

tom applicators are required to provideapplication records to their clients.

• Nozzle manufacturer, make andsize: Document that your equipment wasset up to deliver label-specified dropletsize or spray volume by recording the noz-zle manufacturer, nozzle make and size.For example, Teejet XR110001, CP03.

• Pest timing: Record the pest stagewhen application was made. Herbicideexample – preplant, preemergence, poste-


Recordkeeping: Beyond The Requirements

Additional information on conditions can help you defend proper application and make future pesticide decisions.

14-16 pest0714v4.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/11/14 4:04 PM

mergence at 30 DAP, etc. • Reasons for delaying an applica-

tion: Record any management decisionregarding delaying an application. For ex-ample, due to the sensitive crop that sitsjust north of the field, I waited until June12 to make this application when therewas a five mph north wind.

• Reasons for halting an application:If for any reason you make the consciousdecision to halt an application, make noteof the reason. For example, stopped ap-plication when the school bus approachedat 3:35 and waited until 3:45 when busand children were clearly removed fromthe scene.

• Reasons for terminating an appli-cation: If for any reason you make theconscious decision to abort an applica-tion, make note of the reason. For exam-ple, stopped application at 2:15 pm whenwind shifted from the Southeast to theSouthwest.

• Sensitive areas downwind of treat-ment area: Note any sensitive site thatyou recognized to protect in your records.These could include, but are not limitedto schools, daycare centers, organic crops,sensitive plants, wildlife preserves, etc.

• Required spray droplet classifica-tion: Check nozzle manufacturer litera-ture for spray droplet classification basedon nozzle size, pressure and speed. Manyherbicide labels require a medium orcoarse droplet. Document droplet sizeand how your equipment was set up todeliver it.

• Spray tank concentration: Recordthe total volume of spray made up bynoting both the amount of product andthe total spray volume mixed. For exam-ple, two pints in 30 gallons water or fourpounds in 50 gallons water.

• Sprayer operating pressure: 20pounds per square inch, 40 pounds persquare inch, etc.

• Start and stop times: Record thetime the application started and whenyou stopped. Start a new applicationrecord if you take an hour break for lunchor for any other reason. Recording stoptime defines the application time block,which can be compared to environmen-tal and other conditions that occurredduring that period.

• Surfactants and other adjuvants:Note the product name and spray mixrate of any adjuvants (buffers, surfactants,wetting agents, spreaders, dyes, oils, etc).Use this information to assess possiblereasons for changes in efficacy and cropsafety.

• Wind direction during the appli-cation, taken in the area of the appli-cation: Record the direction from whichthe wind is blowing. Use something likea piece of flagging tape on an electricfence post to assess wind direction. For ex-ample, if you are looking eastward andthe wind and flagging is blowing towardyou from the east, you record an eastwind. When you apply in areas with con-cerns for off-target movement, considerusing a compass reading for wind direc-

tion, such as 80 to 95 degrees from theeast. Radio and television reports do notsuffice.

• Wind speed during the application,taken in the area of the application:Purchase a quality anemometer or windmeter to measure wind speed. There areseveral in the market ranging from $40 to$120. Take readings several times duringthe application and record the range, forexample, 4.5-5.8 mph. Do not simply re-port calm or gusty. PG

For more information on proper pesti-cide use and handling, visit the PesticideEnvironmental Stewardship website atwww.pesticidestewardship.org.


Document, Document,Document

Documentation is part of the Good Ag

Practices everyone should follow as a

producer of a food crop. Remember the

mantra, “If it’s not documented, it is not

done.”

Adequate documentation not only ben-

efits the individual grower in his operation,

but also provides key elements to the

basic food safety system. Keeping pes-

ticide application records should be one

part of the greater body of documentation

maintained in a peanut production oper-

ation. Growers should also recognize that

these records are important to food safety

enhancement.

Important documentation records in-

clude, but are not limited to: details of

prior farm ownership and cropping his-

tory; information regarding variety and

plant date; crop management activities

during the growing season; pesticide ap-

plication information; worker training; fer-

tilizer and soil amendment use history;

pest reports from scouts or consultants;

equipment maintenance and sanitation

schedules. PG

14-16 pest0714v4.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/11/14 4:05 PM

Pearman Peanut Digger-Shaker-InverterChoose Pearman when every peanut counts!

• 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 8 Row Models – 26 to 40 inches, single or twin rows• Gently harvest ALL Varieties: Runners, Spanish, Virginia and Valencia• Parallel Digging Chains and Three Simple Inverting Rods help save Peanuts• Ask about our PENCO Single Disc Liquid Fertilizer row units and Peanut

Moisture Sample Shellers

PEARMAN CORPORATION351 SHAKY BAY ROAD CHULA GA 31733 USA

Phone: 229-382-9947 Fax: 229-382-1362www.pearmancorp.com [email protected]

Pearman Model 60636 inch twin row runners


University of Geor-gia researcherRobert Schmitzwas recently se-

lected by the journal Cell asone of 40 most accomplishedyoung scientists under the ageof 40 who are shaping cur-rent and future trends in bi-ology. The featured re-searchers were chosen by thejournal’s editorial board tocommemorate Cell’s 40th an-niversary.

“It’s very exciting to be recognized by such a prestigious or-ganization so early in my career,” says Schmitz, an assistant pro-fessor of genetics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.“I hope we can use this recognition as a springboard to bolsterthe momentum in building our research program.”

Reading Cell SignalsSchmitz’s research focuses on plant epigenetics. His labora-

tory is particularly interested in exploring a phenomenon knownas DNA methylation and how this process affects the expres-sion of traits of plants used in both agriculture and basic research.

DNA methylation is a kind of signal that cells use to turn spe-cific genes off. A plant may, for example, inherit genes from its

parents that make it more drought-tolerant or able to producemore fruit, but because these segments of DNA have undergonemethylation, the potentially advantageous genes are switched off.

Developing Beneficial TraitsSchmitz takes advantage of advances in sequencing technol-

ogy to map the genome of different plants and identify whichsegments of DNA have undergone methylation. His laboratorymay then explore ways to reverse the methylation process andobserve the effects on the plant.

“In any given plant, reversing methylation randomly through-out the genome may have a positive or negative effect, or it mayhave no observable effect at all,” Schmitz said. “But we knowthat some of the diversity in plants that we see in nature is con-trolled by DNA methylation, and we want to figure out howwe can alter the methylation status of these genes to develop agri-culturally beneficial traits.”

Impressive Work At UGA“I was really excited to come here because of the major plant

genomes that come out of UGA,” says Schmitz, who joinedUGA in September 2013. “I can’t think of any school that hasassembled and published more plant genomes, and these willbe extremely helpful in my own research.”

Schmitz is already working closely with fellow UGA re-searchers on 35 plant species, including peanuts, soybeans andcorn. PG

UGA Geneticist Honored

Selected as one of the Top 40 under age 40, Robert Schmitz may help unlock the potential of peanut DNA.

17v1_marketing v2.qxd 6/13/14 8:12 AM

uestions about saving seed arise each year, and be-cause not knowing the rules can cost you consid-erably, it is always a topic worth visiting. As ad-vancements in seed technology increase, so do thelegal protections placed on those advancements.

Producers should consider that the risk involved in saving seedmay be too great and the assurancesgiven to purchased seed are worth theextra cost.

Benefit Of Genetically Pure SeedObtaining a uniform stand is one of

the keys to producing high peanutyields and reducing the incidence ofdisease. Starting with high quality, ge-netically pure peanut seed is necessaryfor that type of desired stand.

Certified seed production has alwaysrequired special provisions that includemeeting certification rules and higherstandards in terms of calcium, field har-vest, drying, grading and storage. Spe-cial handling during shelling, treating,bagging and transportation are also re-quirements for seed growers.

Legal ProtectionsAll of the current varieties of peanut

grown in the United States have PlantVariety Protection Act (PVP) coverageor are covered by a U.S. Utility Patent.Without the consent from the owner, a person is prohibited fromselling, marketing, offering, delivering, consigning, exchangingor exposing the variety for sale and also from soliciting to buy,transfer or possess it in any way, as well as other protections.

A Limit On Amount SavedVarieties covered by PVP can be saved for planting by a

farmer on his/her own farm, but may not be sold to other farm-ers outside of the seed certification system. Producers can onlysave enough seed to plant their own holdings, equal to or lessthan the amount of seed purchased originally. In other words,

if the producer bought seed to cover 100 acres, he cannot saveseed to produce more than 100 acres.

Patents are issued to anyone who invents a product or processthat is novel, meaning that no other person has made, sold orpublished a description of the product or process prior to theapplication to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

A seed variety protected by a patent maynot be saved for seed.

Patent Coverage On High OleicsAs varieties with the high-oleic oil

chemistry continue to garner more acres,producers should be aware that any ofthe varieties with this characteristic arecovered by a utility patent. There areno provisions for saving seed of high-oleic peanut. Custom shelling, cleaningor storage of high-oleic peanuts is alsoan infringement of the patent. High-oleic seed production is licensed by theUniversity of Florida through the FloridaFoundation Seed Producers.

In addition to PVP and patenting,variety owners may place restrictions onseed production through licensing agree-ments. In the United States, mostpeanut varieties are developed by uni-versities or the USDA, and seed pro-duction and marketing is licensed toprivate companies. Sometimes a varietyis licensed exclusively to one company,

and other times varieties are licensed to all interested compa-nies. In the case of exclusive licenses, the original licensee cansub-license the variety to other seed producers.

Prior to saving any seed of a variety planted from certifiedseed, it is a good idea to make sure that seed production is notrestricted by PVP, patent or licensing protections. Contact thecertified seed organization in your state to learn the specifics ofseed protection. PG

For more information, visit these websites: www.certifiedseed.orgor www.ffsp.net.


Know The Rules On Saving Seed

In most cases, the risks outweigh the benefits.

Q

Thinking of Saving Seed:• Know the real costs in terms of production,

shelling, treating and storage.

• Germination tests are conducted on all pur-chased certified seed.

• For germination problems on saved seed, thereis no recourse.

• It is illegal to save seed protected by a patent,which includes high-oleic varieties.

• Check with the certified seed organization inyour state before saving seed.

new180714v4.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/12/14 3:44 PM

We catch all the dirt for you...no good info is left behind.



Gowan Ends Distribution Of Moncut Flutolanil (Moncut 70DF Fungicide

and Moncoat MZ Fungicide) has been astrong-performing fungicide in GowanCompany’s portfolio since 2005 and ispart of the SDHI chemistry group, whichis a group of fungicides that have excel-lent activity on Rhizoctonia.

With increased competition in thisgroup, it was determined that NichinoAmerica will not renew the distributionagreement with Gowan and instead willmarket the Flutolanil brands of Moncutand Moncoat MZ to distribution cus-tomers through their own organization.

Gowan thanks all of the customers andgrowers who have helped make Flutolanilone of the top products for Rhizoctoniacontrol over the years, and they remaindedicated to providing new, innovativeplant protection solutions to the market.

Gowan will continue to be a valuablemarketing partner for Nichino America inother supply agreements.

Nichino America will acquire market-ing and distribution rights of Moncutand Moncoat MZ on July 1, 2014.

Tempest Dual-Action InsecticideA new pest management tool combines

two highly effective insecticides with ad-vanced adjuvant technology and is avail-able from Helena Chemical Company.Tempest Dual-Action Insecticide featuresquick knockdown and long residual con-trol of sucking and chewing insects on avariety of crops, including soybeans, cot-ton, potatoes, tree nuts and vegetables.

Tempest is a 1:1 ratio of bifenthrin andimidacloprid co-formulated with an “in-can” adjuvant system. These two provenactives equip Tempest with the ability to

control pests by contact or ingestion,while translocating rapidly through planttissue for long-term protection fromaphids and other sucking and chewinginsects.

The built-in adjuvant system enhancesthe application through improved cover-age, deposition and retention. It also im-proves compatibility with other tankmixpartners and improves performance oflow-volume spray applications, resultingin improved penetration into the cropcanopy. Tempest is compatible with foliar-applied nutritionals and a wide range ofother agrichemicals.

Tempest has Environmental ProtectionAgency approval for aerial and groundapplications and chemigation on over 50crops and more than 100 insects acrossthe country. For availability by state, con-tact your local Helena representative.

Valley Expands Options For VFlexCorner System

Valley Irrigation has added three newoptions to its VFlex Corner to givegrowers exactly what they need to irri-gate additional acres on their farms.

The VFlex Corner, which was in-troduced last fall, is expanding grow-ers’ options by offering electronic sprin-kler sequencing, an additional cornerlength and an inverted corner.

Electronic sequencing provides moreprecise water application and betteruniformity. It continually measures thecorner angle and the rate of change ofthe angle to dynamically calculate thecorrect sprinkler sequencing for spe-cific field needs.

The addition of electronic sequenc-ing enables the VFlex to offer a new305-foot corner length and the invertedcorner option for irrigation of moreacres in fields that aren’t quite square.The inverted corner, which movesahead of the center pivot, is often abetter fit on part-circle fields and givesgrowers another way to design a cornerfor their fields’ exact needs.

Learn more about the VFlex Cornerat www.ValleyIrrigation.com/vflex.

20np0714v3_news briefsv2.qxd 6/11/14 4:05 PM


Several soilborne fungi arecapable of causing diseasesthat limit peanut yield.However, the majority of thesepathogens are not active underdrought conditions. Oneexception to that rule isAspergillus crown rot, whichis caused by Aspergillus nigerand can actually be moresevere under hot, dry andwindy conditions.

The fungus can be found inmost fields soils and has beenisolated from contaminated

seed. Plants infected with A. niger have a dark brownappearance and water-soaked, sunken lesions may also benoticeable. The formation of black masses of fungal spores,such as in the picture, is a characteristic feature of this dis-ease. Sporulation typically occurs at or just below the soilsurface.

While the majority of infections occur within the firstfour to six weeks after planting, mortality can occurthroughout the growing season if favorable environmentalconditions are experienced. In addition to high tempera-tures, fluctuations in soil moisture can lead to an increase indisease incidence. Such conditions may be common, espe-cially where the irrigation events are delayed as a result ofwater being shared with other crops or redirected to otherpivots. High evapotranspiration rates also lead to dramaticfluctuations in soil mois-ture levels.

Losses from crown rotare generally low, andyield reductions do nottypically occur, thus fun-gicide applications arenot warranted. Culturalpractices that minimizeinfections from occurringinclude minimizing theamount of soil thrown onseedlings if cultivation isbeing conducted andmaintaining uniform soilmoisture levels when pos-sible, especially duringpegging.

July brings us to focus ondisease control programs fromthe perspective of leaf spotand stem rot. In NorthCarolina, the first spray isgenerally applied at R3, withfollow-up sprays spaced twoweeks apart or applied basedon the advisory system.

A key to maintaining fungi-cides in the future is a goodresistance management pro-gram, and this always involvesrotation of modes of action.In the V-C, we also deal withSclerotinia blight, and good

options are available there as well. Growers are correcting micronutrient deficiencies, which

include boron and manganese. In terms of gypsum, ifweather patterns happen to be like 2013, there might bechallenges to getting gypsum out. At the time of writingthis column, the weather in July is an unknown. But toquote Astor Perry, former peanut specialist at NCSU, sec-ondhand from Gene Sullivan, who was also a formerExtension specialist at NCSU, he said he believed he wouldput gypsum out after peanuts were harvested if he had to.The point is that gypsum is critical for Virginia markettypes and even delayed applications provide value no mat-ter what the delay is caused by.

Aside from disease, there will also be insect pests thatcause problems, especiallyfoliage feeders. Check localthresholds for these with aknowledge that resistance mayoccur in the population.

Some weeds will haveslipped through and cleanupwill be needed there as well.The potential for mixing pesti-cides and other products, suchas fertilizers or Apogee, exists.Use some caution when mix-ing, making sure efficacy, cropsafety and settling of materialsin the tank are considered.

If anyone notices a nitrogendeficiency, get ammonium sul-fate out as soon as possible

JASON WOODWARDTexas Agri-Life Extension

Plant Pathologist

DAVID JORDANNorth Carolina State

UniversityExtension Agronomist

Aspergillus: Exception To Rule How Critical Is Calcium?

21-22 0714v4.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/13/14 11:52 AM

because time is the enemy late in the season. You can’t dab-ble around with the rate as it will take 120 pounds actual Nto correct a real nitrogen deficiency.

For Apogee, apply at 50 percent row closure and thenrepeat two to three weeks later. Applying Apogee with spraygrade ammonium sulfate or with liquid nitrogen in thespray solution is critical for adequate performance of thisproduct. There is a little nuance to all of the suggestions andcomments above. Check with Extension folks, consultants,reputable agribusiness people and other farmers when mak-ing these decisions.

Despite the wet spring andmad scramble to plant ontime, the majority of thepeanut crop in the Southeastgot planted close to “on time.”Maybe this was a good thingin some ways as it made grow-ers very conscious of timing,not only at planting but every-thing else that goes into man-aging the crop.

By mid-July, most of thecrop should be approachingthe 60 days-after-plantingmark. Besides sticking to a

good fungicide program and an irrigation schedule, maybeby monitoring soil moisture and using an app, the cropshould be entering the time of peak pod fill. At this time,the peanut is looking to absorb lots of calcium that has beendissolved in the soil solution and comes directly through thehull and into the developing nut.

Unfortunately, there are no obvious above-ground leafsymptoms for calcium deficiency. Tissue sampling maycatch the problem, but if you do not expect a problem, cal-cium deficiency is usually not detected until harvest whenyou see “pops.” Double check your strategy to provide calci-um to the pegging zone because it is not too late!

I get this question all the time, “How late is too late toput out gypsum?” Sixty days after planting is not as good as30 days after planting (early bloom), but as long as you getrain or irrigation, this timing should still be beneficial. Sincepeak pod fill occurs approximately 60 to 90 days after plant-ing, I would say that 100 days after planting and beyond istoo late.

I get the same question about boron, how late is too late?Since boron is important for pollination and fruiting, theofficial recommendation is to apply with early fungicidesaround early bloom. If you forgot to apply boron, 60 daysafter planting is not too late, but 100 days probably is, justlike gypsum.

Going back to calcium, if you didn’t apply gypsum andyou are second guessing whether you will have enough cal-

cium, there is also the option of putting out calcium chlo-ride through the pivot. This is not as good as gypsum interms of building calcium levels in the soil, but research hasshown that as long as you put enough, which is 10 to 20 gal-lons per acre, calcium chloride can increase the level of cal-cium in the developing nuts and provide some insurance orpeace of mind. The timing for this is also around 60 to 70days after planting.

The 2014 peanut season hasbeen similar to last season asfar as decent rains and moder-ate temperatures. My biggestconcern is the late start thisyear. Very few peanuts wereplanted early because of thecool, wet weather. The greatestpercentage of the crop wasplanted the end of May.Therefore, we are dependenton good weather duringAugust and September. Theseare not typically months withsignificant rainfall unless we

encounter storms. I hope it’s a blessing in disguise as to thereason why we have such a late crop this year.

Keep scouting and stay on top of diseases. There are somenew fungicide materials out this year so be sure to check andcompare costs.

KRIS BALKCOMAuburn University

Agri-Program Associate


GLENDON HARRIS, JR.University of GeorgiaExtension Agronomist

Stay On Top Of Diseases

How Late Is Too Late?

21-22 0714v4.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 6/13/14 11:52 AM

Food is not enough.Without essential nutrientsmillions of children will die.

WithoutFood is n

tt essential nutrientsnot enough.

nutrients.

millionsWithout

f of childrent t essential nutrients

en will die.nutrients

w.w.peanutbutt us at

ease consider

butt foerfortheh

onsider donating

orthehungry.y.org

donating

U.U.S. donations

.S. donations are tax deductib

ax deductible

world.nourished c. peanut ind

humanitaria

d children around dustry to helpn initiative of the


The Industry Standard for High Production Peanuts.

Enhances Pegging and Pod SetImproves Grade and Quality

Stimulates Plants Immune SystemField Proven and University Tested

TRIANGLE CHEMICAL CARDINAL CHEMICALSycamore, GA (800) 277-1121Albany, GA (800) 780-7401Ashburn, GA (229) 567-9661Donalsonville, GA (800) 738-8229Statesboro, GA (877) 489-8763Sylvester, GA (229) 776-5514Groveland, FL (877) 724-8787Venus, FL (866) 893-7848Plant City, FL (813) 754-3083Williston, FL (352) 215-0834Aberdeen, MS (662) 369-2733

Kinston, NC (800) 326-0743Wilson, NC (252) 291-6007Windsor, NC (252) 794-4117New Bern, NC (252) 638-1196Edenton, NC (252) 482-2090Aberdeen, NC (910) 944-7878Greensboro, NC (336) 621-0381Wilmington, NC (910) 254-9800Linwood, NC (336) 242-6043Williamston, NC (252) 792-3627Hobbsville, NC (252) 221-4397Conway, NC (252) 585-0150

Sycamore, GAAlbany, GAAshburn, GADonalsonville, GAStatesboro, GA

TRIANG

(800) 277-1121(800) 780-7401(229) 567-9661

Donalsonville, GA (800) 738-8229Statesboro, GA (877) 489-8763

Kinston, NCWilson, NCWindsorNew Bern, NCEdenton, NC

LE CHEMICAL C

Kinston, NC (800) 326-0743Wilson, NC (252) 291-6007Windsor, NC (252) 794-4117New Bern, NC (252) 638-1196Edenton, NC (252) 482-2090

CARDINAL CHEMICAL

Sylvester, GAGroveland, FLVenus, FLPlant City, FLWilliston, FLAberdeen, MS

(229) 776-5514(877) 724-8787(866) 893-7848(813) 754-3083(352) 215-0834(662) 369-2733

Aberdeen, NCGreensboro, NCWilmington, NCLinwood, NCWilliamston, NCHobbsville, NCConway

Aberdeen, NC (910) 944-7878Greensboro, NC (336) 621-0381Wilmington, NC (910) 254-9800Linwood, NC (336) 242-6043Williamston, NC (252) 792-3627Hobbsville, NC (252) 221-4397Conway, NC (252) 585-0150


The Peanut Grower, July 2014

Documents

Transcript of The Peanut Grower, July 2014