Harvest Progresses Even With Dry Weather – Alabama Peanut Producers Association

As the 2019 peanut growing season comes to an end, we have continued to see the differences in growing conditions from one year to the next, like the extreme temperatures and the spotted and sparsely scattered rain showers we have experienced this year. Even Alabama’s peanut acreage has been reduced from 163,000 acres in 2018 to around 158,000 in 2019, according to USDA.

 

This year has shown us probably the most Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) pressure in the past 10 years. It has not only been in GA O6G’s, but across all varieties around the state. The new FloRun 331 has also had double the amount of TSWV hits compared to other varieties. We need to take notice of that so we don’t place FloRun 331 in a susceptible situation in the future. In addition to TSWV pressure, many growers have battled weeds all season long due to the lack of rainfall to incorporate residual herbicides.

 

Over 30 percent of the Alabama peanut crop has been harvested. We still need adequate moisture for digging peanuts and finishing up harvest. Even with the extreme weather conditions, the crop still seems to be on time (140 dap), with the pod blast method, for the fields that we have checked with the exception of some that are really dry.

 

(Information provided by Kris Balkcom, Auburn University, Extension Specialist)