april 2015 - southeastern peanut farmer

A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Inside:n Sod-based rotation for peanuts

n Disease & Insect Guidebook

n Martin family wins national award

6 Sod-based rotation great forpeanutsUniversity of Florida studies continue toshow the many benefits to peanuts fromsod-based crop rotation. Researcherssays crop rotation may determine theprofitability of peanuts in 2015 and highyields from good rotations may be theonly way to return a profit.

10 2015 Disease GuidebookThe 2015 Southeastern PeanutFarmer’s Disease Guidebook features information on the newPeanut Rx app, management ofleaf and southern blight and infoon a new fungicide and nematicidefor farmers to use in 2015.

15 Martin family wins NationalOutstanding Young FarmerAward Christopher Martin, Hawkinsville,Georgia, recently won the NationalOutstanding Young Farmer award at aceremony held in New Jersey. Learnmore about the Martin family in thisarticle.

Contents

April 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 3

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, typo-

graphical 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 229-386-

3690.)

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 mem-

bers. Such material may, or may not, coincide with offi-

cial 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 Farmermay 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 PeanutFarmer 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.

April 2015

Joy Carter Crosby

Editor

[email protected]

229-386-3690

Contributing Writers

John Leidner

[email protected]

Teresa Mays

[email protected]

Jessie Bland

[email protected]

Southeastern Peanut Farmer

P.O. Box 706, Tifton, Ga. 31793

445 Fulwood Blvd., Tifton, Ga. 31794

ISSN: 0038-3694

D e p a r t m e n t s :Checkoff Report ..................................................................................Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association,

Georgia Peanut Commission and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

Washington Outlook ............................................................................

Southern Peanut Growers Update ........................................................

8

20

22

Cover Photo: Martin family named national winners in the Outstanding Young Farmer Award.

Pictured left to right: Wellsley, Grantson, Ginger and Christopher Martin of Hawkinsville, Georgia.

4 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2015

2015 - International Year of Soils

(Let us know about your event. Please send detailsto the editor at [email protected].

We have all played with dirt at one time in our life as children,

whether it was making mud pies or playing farm with our toy

tractors. Even though we enjoyed the dirt as children; now as

adults we know the dirt or soil is vastly more important than

what we may have ever imagined. Soil is a living and life-giving natural

resource which is valuable to farmers across the U.S. and abroad. In fact

soils are so important that 2015 is being recognized as the International Year

of Soils.

As world population and food production demands rise, keeping our soil

healthy and productive is of paramount importance. So much so that the

Naitonal Resources Conservation Service believes improving the health of

our nation’s soil is one of the most important conservation endeavors of our

time.

Healthy soils are the foundation of the food system. Our soils are the

basis for agriculture and the medium in which nearly all food-producing

plants grow. Healthy soils produce healthy crops that in turn nourish people

and animals. Indeed, soil quality is directly linked to food quality and

quantity.

With a global population that is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050,

compounded by competition for land and water resources and the impact of

climate change, our current and future food security hinges on our ability to

increase yields and food quality using the soils that are already under

production today.

Many farmers today follow conservation

agriculture methods that help maintain and improve

their soil. Conservation agriculture methods follow

three principles (minimal soil disturbance, permanent

soil cover and crop rotations) to improve soil condi-

tions, reduce land degradation and boost yields.

Throughout 2015, you can learn more about soil

health awareness on the NRCS website. The

resources on the website are designed to help visitors

understand the basics and benefits of soil health and

to learn more about soil health management systems

from farmers across the U.S. t

u USA Peanut Congress, June 13-17, 2015, Omni Grove Park Inn,

Asheville, N.C. For more information visit

peanut-shellers.org or call 229-888-2508.

u Stripling Irrigation Research Park FieldDay, July 8, 2015, Camilla, Ga. For more

information visit striplingpark.org or call

229-522-3623.

u Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day, July 9,2015, Moultrie, Ga. For more information visit

sunbeltagexpo.com or call 229-985-1968.

u American Peanut Research &Education Society Annual Meeting,

July 14-16, 2015, Francis Marion Hotel,

Charleston, S.C. For more information visit

apresinc.com or call 229-329-2949.

u Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 23-25, 2015, Callaway Gardens, Pine

Mountain, Ga. For more information visit

southernpeanutfarmers.org or call

229-386-3470.

u American Peanut Shellers AssociationPre-Harvest Meeting, Aug. 4-5, 2015, Lake

Blackshear Resort & Golf Club, Cordele, Ga.

For more information, call 229-888-2508 or

visit www.peanut-shellers.org.

u Brooklet Peanut Festival, Aug. 15,2015. For more information visit the festival’s

website at brookletpeanutfestival.com.

u Georgia Peanut Tour, Sept. 15-17, 2015,Thomasville, Ga. and surrounding area. For

more information visit the tour blog at

gapeanuttour.wordpress.com.

u Plains Peanut Festival, Sept. 26, 2015.For more information visit plainsgeorgia.com.

u Sunbelt Ag Expo, Oct. 20-22, 2015. Formore information visit sunbeltagexpo.com or

call 229-985-1968.

u Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting,Dec. 6-8, 2015, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more

information visit gfb.org.

u American Peanut Council WinterConference, Dec. 8-10, 2015, Atlanta, Ga.

Editorial Calendar of Events

Joy Carter CrosbyEditor

Soils maintain a diverse community of

organisms that:

n help control insect and weed pests andplant disease

n form beneficial symbiotic associationswith plant roots

n recycle essential plant nutrients

n improve soil structure

n Ninety-five percent of our food is directly or indirectly producedon our soils.

n Sustainable soil management could produce up to 58 percentmore food.

n Soils serve as a buffer to protect delicate plant roots from drasticfluctuations in temperature.

Learn more online at nrcs.usda.gov

University of Florida studies

continue to show the many

benefits to peanuts from

sod-based crop rotation.

Jim Marois, University of Florida

plant pathologist, recently reported on

crop rotation research he conducted with

University of Florida agronomist David

Wright. Their studies took place at the

North Florida Research and Education

Center in Marianna, Florida.

In the test, a 160-acre field was divid-

ed into quadrants of about 40 acres each.

The rotation featured two years of bahia-

grass, followed by a year of peanuts and

then a year of cotton.

In similar trials at Quincy, Florida,

scientists planted continuous peanuts for

four years to establish high levels of dis-

ease for fungicide research trials. These

trials are on the same Dothan sandy loam

soil as the crop rotation studies.

The sod-based rotation featured

peanuts grown once every four years after

a year of cotton and two years of bahia-

grass. The Quincy site also had a conven-

tional rotation of two years of cotton fol-

lowed by peanuts.

Peanut yields were low, only 1,600

pounds per acre where continuous peanuts

were grown with no fungicides. Adding a

standard fungicide program to the contin-

uous peanuts increased peanut yields to

3,800 pounds per acre. And when a

nematicide such as Velum from Bayer

CropSciences was added, the continuous

peanuts yielded 4,900 pounds per acre.

The peanuts in the conventional rota-

tion with two years of cotton followed by

a year of peanuts yielded 6,500 pounds

per acre without irrigation and 7,000

pounds per acre with irrigation.

Peanuts in the non-irrigated sod-

based rotation yielded 7,000 pounds per

acre, while those in the irrigated sod-

based rotation yielded 8,000 pounds per

acre.

Marois says the take-home lesson is

that crop rotations work, but sod rotations

work better. He adds that continuous

peanuts set the stage for declining yields

along with a buildup of disease organisms

such as those that cause white mold.

Crop rotation may determine the

profitability of peanuts in 2015, according

to Marois. He says during years when

crop prices are down, high yields from

good rotations may be the only way to

return a profit. t


Sod-based rotation still greatfor peanuts

University of Florida studies continue to show the many benefits to peanuts from sod-based crop

rotation. The sod-based rotation featured peanuts grown once every four years after a year of

cotton and two years of bahiagrass.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

appointed three producers and four indus-

try representatives to serve on the Peanut

Standards Board. Six members will serve

on the board through June 30, 2017. A

seventh member will fill a current vacan-

cy through June, 2015.

The Peanut Standards Board is made

up of 18 members representing the

Southeast Region, which covers Alabama,

Georgia and Florida; the Southwest

Region, covering Texas, Oklahoma and

New Mexico; and the Virginia-North

Carolina Region. One-third of the board is

appointed each year.

Selected were producer Marty

McLendon of Leary, Georgia, and indus-

try representative Elizabeth Kaye Smith

of Cumming, Georgia, to represent the

Southeast Region and producer Marshall

Wayne Baker of Portales, New Mexico,

and industry representative Byron Charles

Warnken of Pleasanton, Texas to represent

the Southwest Region. Producer James

Wilson Mason of Harrellsville, North

Carolina, and industry representative

Kathryn Olivia Swinson of Mount Olive,

North Carolina, will represent the

Virginia-North Carolina Region. James

Carlton Gray, Jr. of Courtland, Virginia,

was selected to fill an industry representa-

tive vacancy for the Virginia-North

Carolina Region, which ends June 30.

The Peanut Standards Board is

authorized under the Farm Security and

Rural Investment Act of 2002. t

Secretary Vilsack Appoints Peanut Standards Board Members

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Approximately 300 peanut

farmers and their families

attended the Florida

Peanut Producers

Association Annual Membership Meeting

held March 19 in Marianna, Florida.

During the evening’s events, two

members were elected to serve three-year

terms on the FPPA Board of Directors:

Jeffrey Pittman of Bascom and Michael

Davis of Graceville. They replace the two

positions vacated by Steve Jordan of

Bascom and Henry McCrone of

Blountstown due to term limits.

New officers elected during the meet-

ing include Andy Robinson, president

from Williston, Nick Marshall, vice presi-

dent from Baker, and David DeFelix, sec-

retary/treasurer from

Campbellton.

The Farm

Credit/FPPA Young Peanut

Farmer Award was pre-

sented to 5th generation

farmer Travis Smith of Jay,

Florida. Smith started his

farming career as a young-

ster when he could barely

see over the steering wheel

of his father’s tractor.

Several years ago, he

was a recipient of a schol-

arship from the Florida

Peanut Producers

Association, which is

indicative that when a per-

son is successful at win-

ning an honor early in life,

they go on to be successful

in other things.

Today, he still assists his father while

farming more than 200 acres of his own

in which he manages to do quite well.

Last year, he averaged more than 4,500

lbs. per acre with his peanuts.

This year, Smith will have more than

230 acres of row crops along with manag-

ing a small herd of cattle.

Smith is married to Brittany and they

have three children: Leah, Lexie and Tate.

Smith is a member of the Florida Peanut

Producers Association and is active in the

Young Farmers and Ranchers program.

He and his family are members of the

Century Church of Christ. In his spare

time, Smith loves to hunt, fish and bow

fish.

The evening’s program also consisted

of promotional highlights from Leslie

Wagner, executive director of Southern

Peanut Growers. Cathy Johnson, commu-

nications specialist of the National Peanut

Board, discussed some of the new market-

ing initiatives underway at the NPB. t

Florida Peanut Producers Associationholds 40th Annual Membership Meeting

BY JOY CROSBY


Florida Peanut Producers Association board

members retire at annual meeting. Pictured left

to right: Henry McCrone of Blountstown, Ken

Barton, FPPA executive director, and Steve

Jordan of Bascom. McCrone and Jordan

received plaques in recognition of their dedicat-

ed service while serving on the FPPA Board of

Directors for the past six years.

Ken Barton, (left) Florida Peanut Producers Association executive

director, presents the Farm Credit/FPPA Young Peanut Farmer

Award to Travis Smith of Jay, Fla., during FPPA’s annual meeting.

Pictured left to right: Barton, Smith, Leah, Lexie, Brittany, Tate

and Mike Digmon, Farm Credit of Northwest Florida.

Members of the Florida Peanut Producers Association board. Pictured

left to right: Jeffrey Pittman, Bascom; Michael Davis, Graceville; Nick

Marshall, Baker; Chuck Hatch, Branford; Andy Robinson, Williston;

David DeFelix, Campbellton, and Ken Barton, FPPA executive

director. Not pictured are: Steven Godwin, Jay; Bud Baggett,

Marianna; and Jerry Mills, Jr., Morriston.

2015 FPPA Board of Directors

President- Andy Robinson, Williston

Vice President- Nick Marshall, Baker

Sec./Treas. - David DeFelix, Campbellton

Jeffrey Pittman, Bascom

Michael Davis, Graceville

Chuck Hatch, Branford

Steven Godwin, Jay

Bud Baggett, Marianna

Jerry Mills, Jr., Morriston

Check out the new FPPA website at: flpeanuts.com.

tian nutritionist and consultant

to the National Peanut Board.

Digital banner ads are also air-

ing on the CBS46 website and

the Weather Channel’s website.

The Georgia Peanut Commission has part-

nered with CBS46 in Atlanta through television

shows, health fair and digital advertising on the

website. The promotion is part of the co-promo-

tion project with the

Naitonal Peanut Board.

In Feburary, hun-

dreds visited the

Georgia Peanut

Commission booth at

the Parents: Be Smart,

Be Healthy Atlanta

Expo at Cumberland

Mall. The GPC staff

distributed peanut sam-

ples, pb spreaders,

nutritional information and recipes to all atten-

dees.

Several segments have also aired on CBS46’s

Atlanta Plugged In show featuring grilling dishes

by Don Koehler and heart healthy and toddler

meals by Sherry Coleman Collins, registred dieti-

The Alabama Peanut Producers

Association (APPA) exhibited at the

37th annual Alabama Food Service and

Nutrition Expo, which is sponsored by

the Alabama Association of Nutrition &

Foodservice Professionals, Alabama

Dietetic Association and Alabama

School Nutrition Association. As part of

this year’s participation, APPA hosted a

break-out session entitled “Peanuts - The

Truth.” Sherry Coleman Collins, registered dietitian nutritionist and consultant

for the National Peanut Board gave a standing room only educational seminar

concerning food allergies, which included an in-depth look at peanut allergy

concerns.


Checkoff ReportInvestments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry.

Mississippi Peanut Growers Association promotes peanuts

at Diabetes Foundation Super Conference

Alabama Peanut Producers Association exhibits at Alabama

Food Service and Nutrition ExpoThe Florida State Hospital in

Chattahoochee held their 26th annual Health

Fair for State Hospital employees. The Florida

Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) was one

of 55 exhibitors to

attend the event. The

heart healthy peanut

was popular with

employees and other

Health Fair

exhibitors. The FPPA

focused on the heart

health benefits of

peanuts and peanut

products while pro-

viding complimentary

bags of Florida

Roasted Peanuts that

display the Heart Healthy Check from the

American Heart Association. Heart health

information and recipe brochures were also

provided to attendees.

Florida peanuts at health fair

The Mississippi Diabetes Foundation Super Conference was held Feb. 21,

2015, in Jackson, Mississippi. This conference is held annually for those with

diabetes so they can learn more by hearing from highly recognized specialists

in the field of diabetic education and visiting with participants at industry

booths in the trade show. The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association had an

educational booth and provided copies of a Peanuts and Diabetes publication

for attendees. There were nearly 400 attendees at the conference and many

stopped by the MPGA booth asking about how peanuts grow and why peanuts

were important to those with diabetes. For the past five years, MPGA has been

an active sponsor of the diabetes walks. Since the first walk in 2010 until now,

MPGA has made some contact with about 20,000 participants in this program,

hopefully getting them to see the value of peanut products in their life.

Baldwin promotes Georgia peanuts at rodeos across the U.S.

Matt Baldwin, bullfighter, promotes Georgia

peanuts at rodeos across the U.S. Baldwin pro-

motes peanuts by wearing the Georgia peanuts

logo on his clothing, signing autograph sheets

with a peanut recipe and handing out sample

packs of peanuts at rodeos. The Championship

Bull Riding (CBR) events are also televised on Fox Sports One network reach-

ing 68 million households. More info is available online at cbrbull.com.

Sherry Saunders and

Roberta Stewart present

an employee of the Florida

State Hospital with a

peanut gift basket door

prize.

Sherry Coleman

Collins (left),

National Peanut

Board consultant,

visits with an

attendee during the

Alabama Food

Service and

Nutrition Expo.

Georgia Peanut Commission partners

with CBS46 in Atlanta

Georgia Peanut

Commission project coordi-

nator Jessie Bland visits

with consumers during the

health expo at Cumberland

Mall in Atlanta, Georgia.

Don Koehler, (right)

Georgia Peanut

Commission executive

director, demonstrates

grilling recipes using

peanut butter, with

Annalee Penny, host

of Atlanta Plugged In.

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) promoted peanuts

throughout the month of March by sponsoring the #34 car at the

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR race, hosting the annual

PB&J Day at the state capitol, participating in the Georgia Ag Day

and Peanut Proud and distributing

peanuts at the state’s welcome centers.

The GPC kicked off the month long

celebration by sponsoring Joe Nemechek

in the NASCAR race held March 1 at the

Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Georgia

Peanuts logo was on display on both

sides of the rear panel of the car.

The annual Georgia PB&J Day was

held March 3, 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 pro-

gram celebrating National Peanut Month,

Sen. John Wilkinson, chairman of the

Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs

Committee, and Rep. Buddy Harden, vice

chairman of the House Agriculture and

Consumer Affairs Committee, presented

resolutions highlighting the importance of

peanuts to Georgia’s economy.

The GPC and Peanut Proud donated

more than 10,000 jars of peanut butter to

the Atlanta Community Food Bank to cel-

ebrate National Peanut Month and

National Nutrition Month during the

annual PB&J Day.

Tourists traveling throughout

Georgia were able to learn more about the

importance of peanuts to Georgia’s econ-

omy by stopping by one of the 11 visitor

information centers entering the state.

The GPC provided the visitor information

centers with peanuts and recipes to give

to tourists as they stopped to learn more

about Georgia.

The GPC also exhibited at the

Georgia Ag Awareness Day at the State

Capitol and the Peanut Proud Festival in

Blakely, Georgia. View photos from all

National Peanut Month events at

gapeanuts.com.

The Alabama Peanut Producers

Association (APPA) celebrated

National Peanut Month by expanding

promotional efforts to several media

outlets across the state including

Dothan, Montgomery, Birmingham,

Mobile and Huntsville.

The first appearance was on

Dothan’s WDHN-TV 18 Top of the

Morning Show with host Charlie Platt.

APPA’s Caleb Bristow and Jim Cravey

demonstrated how to grill unique

peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and

pepper jelly roll-ups. A record number

of staff interviews and appearances

were also documented including six

television station appearances, live

interviews on eight radio stations and

numerous newspaper articles. Peanut

gift baskets and peanut butter cookie

trays were also delivered to each

media location by APPA staff mem-

bers.

In addition to the media efforts,

APPA exhibited at the Taste of

Alabama legislative reception, March

4, 2015, at the Alabama Farmers

Federation’s home office in

Montgomery. One of the items sampled

during the event was grilled PB&Js.


Reports from the:Alabama Peanut Producers AssociationFlorida Peanut Producers AssociationGeorgia Peanut CommissionMississippi Peanut Growers Association

Alabama Peanut Producers Association Georgia Peanut Commission

March National Peanut Month television promotions –

MPGA prepared “peanut goody baskets” that got Malcolm

Broome, MPGA Executive Director live interviews at 5 TV sta-

tions across the State during first week of March. The baskets

were used as talking points since they contained all kinds of

peanuts and peanut products and peanut facts. Each interview

was at least 5 minutes plus one station even allowed time for 3

peanut breakfast items to be prepared on their kitchen set. Two

other stations taped additional interview footage to be shown

through the month. For a very small cost, we get quite a bang

for the buck as the saying goes and even received positive

responses from viewers!

Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

March - National Peanut Month promotions across the Southeast

Caleb Bristow, (center)

APPA executive director,

presents a peanut gift bas-

ket to radio brodcasters at

WOOF 997 in Dothan, Ala.

Teresa Mays, (left) APPA

information specialist,

presents a peanut gift

basket to Tonya Terry,

WSFA 12 News anchor.

APPA staff members

attending the Taste of

Alabama include (left to

right) Jim Cravey, Caleb

Bristow and Carole Granger.

Joe Nemechek samples

Georgia peanuts prior to

the NASCAR race.

Georgia PB&J Day atten-

dees with Gov. Nathan

Deal and Commissioner of

Agriculture Gary Black.

Georgia Peanut Commission

and Peanut Proud donated

more than 10,000 jars of

peanut butter to the Atlanta

Community Food Bank.

Peanut exhbit at the

Ringgold visitor informa-

tion center on Interstate

75 in Georgia.


The new Peanut Rx smart

phone app is available for

iPhone and Android

phones. The idea for the

app had its origin in annual meetings with

the Peanut Rx team says University of

Georgia Extension plant pathologist Bob

Kemerait.

Kemerait worked with colleagues in

Georgia and neighboring states who are

on the Peanut Rx Committee to update

risk factors and treatment options for vari-

ous peanut diseases.

The final Peanut Rx smart phone

package was put together by a

Pennsylvania-based firm, ZedX, Inc.

In essence, Peanut Rx is a disease

risk index that allows growers in the

Southeast to predict relative disease risk

for the upcoming season based on man-

agement practices.

The Peanut Rx smart phone app is

available free at the App Store for iPhones

and at Google Play for Android phones.

Kemerait hopes that many growers

and others interested in peanut diseases

will download and use the app. He antici-

pates making additional improvements in

the app as he receives feedback from

users during and after this first year

of widespread availability.

The app has information on dis-

ease treatments from fungicide manu-

facturers, and can be used to help

make decisions on specific farms and

fields, according to Kemerait.

“So it is all there,” he adds. “It

expands the opportunities for the

users, and provides more information

for the users than either the Peanut

Rx versions on a card or in the

Georgia Peanut Update Extension

publication. The best feature of this

smart phone version is that it allows

you to make decisions.”

The overall Peanut Rx is a risk

management tool for diseases of

peanuts, and is updated each year by

scientists at the University of

Georgia, University of Florida, Auburn

University and Mississippi State

University.

An important aspect of Peanut Rx is

the assessment of varieties for resistance

to tomato spotted wilt virus, leaf spot,

limb rot and white mold or stem rot. With

Rx, growers have the opportunity to select

varieties with improved resistance and to

tailor a fungicide program appropriate for

the total risk in the field, to include the

variety planted.

The app allows growers to ask ‘what

if” questions to see how various manage-

ment practices will change the risks for

specific diseases. Data used in the app

remain with the smart phone user and are

not shared with other devices. t

DISEASE GUIDEBOOK

Peanut Rx smart phone app

Save on fungicides with new varietiesUniversity of Georgia plant patholo-

gist Tim Brenneman says new peanut

varieties are changing the economics of

disease control.

His tests during 2013 and 2014

showed that expensive fungicide applica-

tions tended to pay for themselves and

produce profitable yields when applied to

the widely grown Georgia-06G variety.

It was a different story for the new

Georgia-12Y variety known for its resist-

ance to white mold. With 12Y, the highest

profits came from applications of low-

cost fungicides.

Brenneman explains that the tests

included low-cost treatments such as a

chlorothalonil formulation such as Bravo,

or a combination of chlorothalonil and

tebuconazole. These were compared to

more expensive fungicide programs such

as those that included Fontelis and banded

Proline treatments.

His most expensive treatment at a

cost of about $117 per acre included

Bravo, Proline, tebuconazole and Fontelis.

By comparison, a treatment of Bravo

alone cost about $42 per acre, and Bravo

plus tebuconazole cost about $50 per acre.

The tests with the various fungicides

applied to the 06G and the 12Y took place

in a field with a long history of white

mold.

During both 2013 and 2014, the 12Y

variety showed much more resistance to

white mold. Brenneman said the 12Y had

about one third of the disease incidence as

06G across all treatments.

Brenneman says it is important to

know disease risk levels by using tools

such as Peanut Rx. “New fungicides are

really effective, but are more expensive,”

he says. “New cultivars with improved

resistance are changing the economics of

disease management.” t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

BY JOHN LEIDNER

In-furrow and early banded fun-

gicide applications are aimed at

early season control of soil-

borne peanut diseases. But this

use of these fungicides can also give

peanuts some protection from leaf spot,

according to Albert Culbreath, University

of Georgia plant pathologist.

He was prompted to study this topic

after seeing promising results from in-fur-

row Proline in helping to control

Cylindrocladium black rot (CBR) and in

suppressing stem rot or white mold.

In some of these tests, he planted

peanuts during August and September and

adjacent to established peanuts where leaf

spot outbreaks were at epidemic levels.

In this situation with heavy disease

pressure, in-furrow Proline provided

about 30 days of protection from leaf

spot. “But residual effects were not long

enough to indicate that in-furrow applica-

tions would be of much benefit for leaf

spot control in typical situations.”

In some of his tests, he concentrated

the broadcast fungicide rate and applied it

in a narrow one-foot-wide band 21 days

after planting. Where leaf spot infected

peanuts early, Culbreath applied Proline

or Headline fungicides in the 12-inch

bands three weeks after planting. He saw

that these applications prevented leaf spot

for three weeks or longer.

“Results from three years indicate

that banded applications of these fungi-

cides three weeks after planting may pro-

vide adequate control of leaf spot until

subsequent applications are needed for

white mold control,” Culbreath says.

Overall, Culbreath said banded appli-

cations of Proline, Headline or Priaxor 21

days after planting provided 20 to 25 days

of control before leaf spot incidence

increased sharply.

In 2014, Culbreath compared the new

BASF fungicide Priaxor to Headline for

leaf spot control in several experiments.

Culbreath said that before 2014, we had

very limited information on efficacy of

Priaxor compared to Headline and other

fungicides, so we wanted to get as much

information as we could in 2014.

Fortunately, we had heavy pressure from

leaf spot in most trials, so it was a rigor-

ous test. He found that Priaxor was com-

parable to or superior to Headline against

early or late leaf spot. Based on his 2014

studies, Culbreath says direct substitution

of Priaxor for Headline should work well

for leaf spot control.

Priaxor is a mix of two active ingre-

dients, fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin,

with two different modes of action. This

should help prolong the efficacy of the

product in the event that resistant popula-

tions of leaf spot fungi develop to one of

the fungicide groups, according to

Culbreath. Pyraclostrobin is the same

active ingredient as found in Headline.

He also conducted tests at Plains,

Georgia in 2014 to compare fungicides in

plots where leaf spot was already estab-

lished. He called these the “delayed appli-

cation” tests. He conducted similar trials

since 2009.

In these tests, Proline alone or

Proline plus Topsin showed potential as

an alternative to Headline for use where

leaf spot epidemics are in progress. He

also noted that mixtures of Proline and

Topsin provided leaf spot control that was

similar to that from 9 ounces of Headline

per acre. In 2014, a mix of Alto plus

Topsin did well in stopping leaf spot epi-

demics that were already in progress.

Priaxor also provided better control than

Headline when applied in this manner in

2014, according to Culbreath. t


Peanut leaf infestation of early leaf spot.

The latest leaf spot results

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Where Tifguard fitsGrowers planting fields with severe damaging levels

of peanut root-knot nematodes should consider planting the

Tifguard runner peanut variety, says University of Georgia

Extension plant pathologist Bob Kemerait.

Tifguard is nearly immune to the peanut root-knot

nematode and does not need to be treated with a nemati-

cide.

Kemerait says the concern that some have expressed

over weak peg strength in Tifguard remains difficult to

verify. He says growers should give significant importance

to the near immunity of this variety to the peanut root-knot

nematode and keep any concerns about peg strength in

proper perspective given the impact this pest can have on

yield. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Disease Guidebook


Alan Henn, Mississippi

State University Extension

plant pathologist, has

spent the past two years

testing early fungicide applications to

control southern blight.

In his tests, Henn used seven fungi-

cides applied with 20 gallons of water per

acre. He ran the sprayer at 33 pounds of

pressure per square inch and equipped it

with two nozzles per row. “We wanted to

make sure the fungicide got to the base of

the plant where the disease starts,” he

says.

In timing the applications, he tested

three different dates. These were at 100

percent plant emergence, 20 days after

100 percent plant emergence and 40 days

after 100 percent plant emergence. The

applications 40 days after 100 percent

emergence provided the most consistent

control. Of the seven fungicides tested,

Convoy and Fontelis were the most con-

sistent in reducing the incidence of south-

ern blight. In individual fields the low-

cost treatment of generic tebuconazole

was about as effective as a more expen-

sive treatment of Provost and Proline.

These tests were conducted in fields

with a history of southern blight. The

application date of 40 days after 100 per-

cent emergence coincided with the time

that peanut vines from adjacent rows had

not quite met in the row middles.

Henn prefers to call the disease

southern blight or stem rot. He says the

term white mold is confusing. Both

Sclerotium rolfsii and Sclerotinia minor

produce white mycelia growth on peanuts,

and different fungicides are required to

control southern blight and Sclerotinia

blight. Both diseases are found in

Mississippi fields.

This past year on farms with silty

type soils in the Mississippi Delta, he

found southern blight infecting peanut

pods below the ground level. The above

ground leaves and stems appeared

healthy, but when he used a shovel to dig

up the plants, he found southern blight

disease symptoms on the roots.

To combat such outbreaks, he recom-

mends an early season fungicide applica-

tion with enough water to move the fungi-

cide into the soil where the disease is

active. University of Georgia studies have

shown that since peanut leaves fold up at

night, nighttime applications allow more

of the fungicide to enter the soil instead

of being stopped by the leaves. Henn says

use at least 20 gallons of water per acre.

You need to drench the soil with the fun-

gicide. “The fungicide doesn’t do as much

good if it only hits the leaves,” and your

target is southern blight he adds. t

Timing southern blight applications

Early hit of southern blight or stem rot on peanuts can be found in fields across the Southeast.

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Abound in-furrowUniversity of Georgia plant patholo-

gist Tim Brenneman says Abound fungi-

cide has been shown to reduce Aspergillus

crown rot and to improve young peanut

stands.

Aspergillus crown rot is often a prob-

lem, according to Brenneman, and it can

lead growers to question if they need to

replant their stands.

He says Abound shows great poten-

tial as an in-furrow treatment to help

insure good early stands. Even Abound at

low in-furrow rates of 2.9 ounces per acre

were beneficial in improving stands in

these tests.

Final peanut stands were similar from

Abound application, whether the rate was

2.9 ounces per acre or 11.6 ounces per

acre.

At this low rate, the cost was only

about $3 to $4 per acre for Abound in-fur-

row applied in single rows.

Brenneman says azoxystrobin, the

active ingredient in Abound, will be avail-

able in generic formulations this year, so

it may be even less expensive to apply.

The studies also showed the value of

a seed treatment with Dynasty. Where

Dynasty was omitted, stands were as

sparse as one plant per foot, but where

Dynasty was used on seed, the stands

were much better, about four plants per

foot of row. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Disease Guidebook

Peanut field with stand issues related to a bad

seed lot with high levels of Aspergillus crown

rot in the background versus a good seed lot

with little disease in the foreground.

Peanut farmers will be able to

use a new nematicide this

year. It’s named Velum Total,

and it helps control both

nematodes and thrips.

Velum Total is a product of Bayer

CropScience. The product is a combination

of two active ingredients, fluopyram and

imidacloprid.

University of Georgia Extension plant

pathologist Bob Kemerait says fluopyram is

a member of the SDHI (succinate dehydro-

genase inhibitor) class of chemistries and it

affects nematodes in the same way that

other SDHI fungicides such as Fontelis and

Convoy affect fungal pathogens.

Imidacloprid is an insecticide sold as

Admire and under other brand names.

Kemerait says Velum Total is an effec-

tive tool for managing nematodes and

thrips. In University of Georgia studies,

Velum Total reduced nematode damage to

peanuts and increased yields in plots com-

pared to those that received no nematicide.

Kemerait says the Velum Total has per-

formed as well as or better than Temik with

applications at planting. Research will con-

tinue to determine how best to replace the

benefits of the popular pegging-time appli-

cation of Temik.

Velum Total will be launched on a lim-

ited basis this year for the Southeast, and

will become more widely marketed in 2016.

The label will allow for application in both

peanuts and cotton.

A liquid formulation of Velum Total

allows applications in-furrow at planting.

Velum Total can be applied this way without

hurting liquid seed inoculants.

The product will also find uses in

chemigation. The fluopyram component of

Velum Total was originally developed as a

fungicide, but it is not effective on seedling

diseases caused by Pythium or Rhizoctonia

organisms. So a conventional seed treatment

will still be needed for peanuts.

Velum Total is a bit different from the

no-longer-used Temik. Velum Total actually

kills nematodes while Temik was a nematis-

tat in that it confused or injured nematodes

and prevented them from infesting crop

roots.

In addition to controlling nematodes

and thrips, the new product should also be

effective on aphids, leafhoppers and white-

flies.

Velum Total also shows promise in sup-

pressing leaf spot. University of Georgia

plant pathologist Albert Culbreath reported

that in-furrow applications of 5.7 fluid

ounces of Proline per acre controlled early

leaf spot for about 28 days after application.

He noted that in-furrow applications of 18

fluid ounces of Velum Total provided even

longer control in 2014. He plans to continue

work to determine whether the in-furrow

application can subsitute for an early season

leaf spot spray. However, Culbreath says it

is still too early to suggest doing that.

The application rate for peanuts will be

18 fluid ounces per acre. The Velum Total

label prohibits the application of more than

19 fluid ounces per acre per year. The label

also prohibits grazing of treated fields and

prohibits feeding hay from treated fields. t

Elatus is a new fungicide for

peanuts from Syngenta that

should be approved in time

to use during the 2015 grow-

ing season. Elatus will offer control for both

leaf spot and soilborne diseases.

The main advantage of Elatus is that it

produces residual control of Sclerotium rolf-

sii, the fungus that causes stem rot.

The diseases controlled by Elatus

include southern stem rot, Rhizoctonia limb

rot, early and late leaf spot. It should also

provide excellent control of peanut rust.

Results have been mixed when Elatus was

used to treat Cylindrocladium black rot

(CBR) and Sclerotinia blight.

Elatus consists of solatenol, a new

broad-spectrum fungicide active ingredient,

and azoxystrobin, the active ingredient in

Abound fungicide.

Patent protection has expired for

azoxystrobin which should become avail-

able in generic formulations. Syngenta is

developing Elatus as its replacement for

Abound.

The solatenol portion is a third genera-

tion SDHI (succinate dehydrogenase

inhibitor) fungicide, and is considered a

group 7 fungicide by the industry’s

Fungicide Resistance Action Committee.

This information is important to know so

that growers can rotate fungicide groups to

prevent diseases from developing resistance.

University of Georgia Extension plant

pathologist Bob Kemerait says Elatus per-

formed well in 2014 tests. As a combination

of a strobilurin and an SDHI fungicide,

Elatus offers a broad spectrum of activity

against peanut diseases, according to

Kemerait.

University of Georgia plant pathologist

Albert Culbreath reports that Elatus per-

formed as well as Headline in his tests in

2014 for controlling leaf spot. “Elatus is

good on early and late leaf spot. But it looks

to be better for duration or protection fungi-

cide than a curative treatment,” Culbreath

adds.

For leaf spot control, Elatus performed

better than Fontelis in Culbreath’s tests.

Both Elatus and Fontelis were better than

the chlorothalonil standard. In another trial

that included only three fungicide applica-

tions, Elatus was similar to Priaxor for leaf

spot control and better than Proline.

Culbreath says that Elatus applications will

probably be timed for optimal control of

stem rot, also known locally as “white

mold.” Based on his studies, Elatus should

also do a good job of controlling leaf spot.

University of Georgia plant pathologist

Tim Brenneman says Elatus will probably

be targeted for use during the middle of the

soilborne disease treatment season. This is

when the risk of yield loss is high.

Brenneman says other lower cost

chemistries can be used early and late in the

treatment season.

Syngenta data suggests that in some of

the early trials, stem rot (white mold) infec-

tion rates were less than 10 percent for

Elatus-treated peanuts, compared to about

40 percent for untreated controls. Yields in

these trials were increased by 2,000 pounds

per acre over untreated peanuts and by 800

pounds per acre over industry standard fun-

gicide applications. t


BY JOHN LEIDNER

Syngenta introduces Elatus, a new fungicide for growers

Bayer CropScience introduces Velum Total, a new nematicide for growers

BY JOHN LEIDNER

Disease Guidebook


Though the extent to which chlorothalonil, market-

ed under various names such as Bravo, Echo,

Equus and Chloronil, will be in short-supply dur-

ing the 2015 growing season is unclear, most in

the crop protection industry believe a shortage will be a reality.

There are likely several reasons for such; however one is cer-

tainly that global demand for this chemistry has increased and

has affected our supply in the peanut fields of Georgia.

Bob Kemerait, Extension plant pathologist at the University

of Georgia, has recommended that peanut growers should con-

tact their fungicide dealer and inquire as to the availability of

chlorothalonil this season. Once the level of supply is estab-

lished, growers can then decide how best to make up for any

shortage.

Kemerait notes that there is any number of ways to extend

use of chlorothalonil, as through tank-mixing with other fungi-

cides for leaf spot control and even through replacing applica-

tions of chlorothalonil with other products.

“While a shortage of a back-bone product like

chlorothalonil is cause for awareness, the sky is not falling,”

Kemerait says. “Finding replacements can be confusing, even

for me; however there are plenty of alternatives.”

For example, 1.5 pt/A chlorothalonil can be replaced with

15 fl oz/A ELAST (NOT 1.5 pt/A as some growers may have

heard Kemerait state during peanut production meetings this

past winter in Georgia) or a pint of chlorothalonil can be mixed

with products like Alto, Tilt, Bumper, Topsin-M, etc. There real-

ly are some good options available.

According to Kemerait, effective management strategies for

good leaf spot control include:

• The first two applications of chlorothalonil (30 and 40

days after planting (DAP)) can be removed if Proline, 5.7 lf

oz/A is banded at approximately 35 DAP and a Provost program

is initiated at 60 DAP. The first two chlorothalonil applications

can also be omitted if Priaxor is used on the crop approximately

45 DAP.

• Chlorothalonil can be extended by tank mixing a reduced

rate (e.g. 1.0 pt/A rather than 1.5 pt/A) with 2 fl oz/A

Tilt/Bumper, 5 fl oz/A Topsin-M, or Alto, 5 fl oz/A

• Tilt-Bravo or Echo-Propimax can be substituted for

chlorothalonil.

• An application of Elast (15 fl oz/A) can be used to

replace an application of chlorothalonil.

• For a single application during a season, Topsin-M,

10 fl oz/A, can replace an application chlorothalonil.

• Absolute (trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole, 3.5 fl oz/A) and

Stratego (trifloxystrobin + propiconazole, 7.0 fl oz/A) can be

substituted for chlorothalonil.

Chlorothalonil update


Christopher and Ginger

Martin of Hawkinsville,

Georgia, were selected

national winners at the

59th annual National Outstanding Young

Farmers (NOYF) Awards Congress held

Feb. 12-15 in Cherry Hill, N.J. 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, Tom

Steever of Brownfield Ag News,

announced the four national winners after

10 finalists were interviewed at the annual

awards congress. The three other national

winners for 2014 are from California,

North Dakota, and Kentucky. 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 2016.

Christopher Martin grew up in

Pulaski County in a farming family. His

father and uncle farmed together as

Martin Brothers Farms and Christopher

got his first start in agriculture working

part time for them while in high school.

After high school he attended ABAC and

earned an Associate’s Degree in Agri-

Business and then a Bachelor’s in

Business Management from Georgia

College and State University.

After college Martin started his own

Agri-consulting business that covered

13,000 acres across nine counties. Martin

specialized in scouting, soil sampling, and

irrigation services for cotton, peanuts,

watermelons, soybeans, and pecans. The

consulting business, while successful, was

not his dream. His dream was always to

farm.

“It is impossible to explain why I

wanted to farm so badly,” Martin says. “I

simply always knew I would.”

At the age of 27 he had saved enough

money to start farming on his own. In his

first year he farmed 535 acres of cotton

and peanuts and 20 acres of watermelons

without help, equipment, or financing

from anyone. Twelve years later, he now

farms nearly 3,400 acres of cotton,

peanuts, wheat, rye, and corn. All of

which is voluntarily under strict conserva-

tion practices. He also participates in mul-

tiple research and development plots

including the University of Georgia

(UGA) Extension On-Farm Cotton

Variety Trials.

The Martin farm has hosted extensive

research, development, and plot testing

for state agencies and private companies.

The studies include a “rolling rye” pilot

program through the NRCS with an

objective to provide sunlight-blocking

ground cover to diminish the germination

of pigweed during primary crop planting.

Ensuring that his farm is environmentally

and economically sound is a primary goal

for Martin. His conscientious farming

methods earned him the title of district

Soil Conservationist of the Year in 2004,

and he is one of 20 farmers nationwide to

participate in a five-year soil quality

study.

In 2009, he was one of four Georgia

farmers nominated to the Peanut

Leadership Academy, an elite two-year

program, where he gained more knowl-

edge about the peanut industry, participat-

ed in media training and learned more

about legislation issues facing the peanut

industry.

“Christopher is the type of farmer

that every county extension agent loves to

work with. He has always worked very

closely with Extension and has helped

with many UGA Extension on-farm

research trials,” says Mark Freeman

Pulaski County Extension agent. “He is

on the forefront of new technology and is

always willing to try new techniques or

varieties that come available.”

He is married to his wife Ginger and

they have two children, son Grantson and

daughter Wellsley where they live in

Hawkinsville.

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 spon-

sored 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

Martin family named national winners inOutstanding Young Farmers Program

Mark Freeman, Pulaski County Extension agent, presents Christopher Martin and family with a

plaque for winning the National Outstanding Young Farmers Award at a special recognition

banquet held in Hawksinville, Ga. Pictured left to right: Freeman, Christopher, Ginger, Wellsley and

Grantson Martin.

BY JOY CROSBY


Thrips pressure in seedling

peanut in 2014 was high in

Georgia for the second year in a

row, and like 2013, thrips migra-

tion into peanut fields occurred

later than the historical average.

The question now is: Will

increased thrips pressure in late

May become the new normal? While we cannot predict

what will happen in 2015, growers should be aware that

thrips flights can occur anytime from mid-April to early

June.

It is important that we continue to use the recom-

mendations found in Peanut Rx for reducing thrips pres-

sure and Tomato spotted wilt virus. Phorate (Thimet®) is

still the only insecticide that has been shown to reduce

TSWV incidence in peanut, and it provides good protec-

tion against direct feeding damage. In-furrow applica-

tions of liquid imidacloprid (Admire Pro®) have shown

good efficacy against thrips in a number of University

trials in recent years. To date, seed treatments in peanut

have not provided adequate thrips suppression in years

with heavy pest pressure.

It is common to see some thrips feeding injury on

peanut seedlings regardless of what at-plant insecticide

is used; no insecticide will be completely effective 100

percent of the time. The impact of direct thrips feeding

on yield and time to maturity is not well understood.

Until economic thresholds are available, minimizing

crop stress will continue to be an important considera-

tion in making thrips management decisions.

ThripsLesser cornstalk borer (LCB) is probably

the most destructive insect pest of peanut in

Georgia, and 2014 was an outbreak year.

Though some growers escaped with little or

no damage, LCB infestations were common in

non-irrigated peanut fields across much of the

growing region. There is no chemical insecti-

cide available that can eliminate LCB in

peanut.

Some promising results were seen in

2014 insecticide research trials, but additional

data are needed before any changes will be

made to the University of Georgia manage-

ment recommendations. Granular chloropyri-

fos (Lorsban® 15G) is recommended for LCB

control; to be effective, this product requires

rainfall or irrigation soon after application.

Hot, dry conditions are favorable for LCB

outbreaks, but damaging pest populations do

not always occur even under ideal environ-

mental conditions. Growers should be aware

that while possible, lesser cornstalk borer out-

breaks in back to back years would be very

uncommon. Regular scouting is the best way

to determine if pests are present at damaging

levels in peanut.

Lesser Cornstalk Borer

The same hot, dry conditions that

favored lesser cornstalk borer population

growth also contributed to very heavy two

spotted spider mite (TSSM) pressure in

2014. Non-irrigated fields and the dry

corners around pivots were commonly

infested.

Management options for TSSM in

peanut are essentially limited to one active

ingredient, propargite (e.g. Comite®). There were many cases of very

heavy spider mite pressure in fields where the pyrethroid insecticide

bifenthrin was applied either for caterpillar or spider mite control.

While products with the active ingredient bifenthrin list spider mites

on their labels, this active ingredient is not recommended for spider

mite control in peanut in Georgia except in very rare cases. The use of

a pyrethroid in fields where TSSM is present usually results in a tem-

porary, short-term decline in mite populations followed by a rapid and

dramatic increase in pest numbers.

Detecting and treating TSSM infestations before they become

severe is critical to achieving acceptable control. By the time plants are

covered with mites and webbing and begin to turn yellow/bronze, no

chemical treatment is capable of bringing mite populations in check.

Scout regularly and avoid using pyrethroid insecticides in fields where

even low populations of spider mites have been observed.

Two Spotted Spider Mite

INSECT GUIDEBOOK

Thrips damage.Lesser cornstalk borer

moth on peanut foliage.

Two spotted spider mites on

peanut foliage.

Lesser cornstalk borer

larva on peanut stem.

Lesser cornstalk borer

damage to peanut pod.

University of Georgia Extension

Peanut Insect Survey

Your answers can help us improve

management of important pests like

Burrower Bug and Lesser Cornstalk Borer.

Grower Response is Critical

The online survey takes about 10-20

minutes to complete and you must be

18 years of age or older to participate.

Every peanut grower who responds

can enter to win a

Stihl MS291 chainsaw.

Visit gapeanuts.com to

complete the survey.

Burrower bug continues to be a signifi-

cant threat to Georgia peanuts, and after two

years of little to no pressure, the insect caused

severe damage to portions of the crop in

2014. The burrower bug joins lesser cornstalk

borer and two spotted spider mite as pests that

thrive in hot, dry conditions. While some-

times a problem in irrigated fields, all three of

these pests are most prevalent and damaging

in the state’s non-irrigated acreage. Granular

chloropyrifos (Lorsban® 15G) is the only

insecticide that has been shown to have any

efficacy against burrower bug, and it does not

provide complete control. The factors that are

known to increase the risk of burrower bug

damage are conservation tillage and hot, dry

soil conditions. Conversely, deep turning and

irrigation reduce the likelihood of infestations.

Many growers have asked the question, “Will

abandoning conservation tillage in favor of a turning plow eliminate the bur-

rower bug problem?” Previous research suggests that the risk of damage will

decline, but there are no certainties. Burrower bug damage has been reported

in Georgia from fields that were turned prior to planting. Work is currently

underway to quantify the risk associated with different production practices,

location, soil type, etc. In the near term, management options available to

growers who have experienced significant losses due to burrower bug are lim-

ited to deep turning and application of granular chloropyrifos.

Burrower Bug

There are several species of caterpillar

pests that feed on peanut foliage, and in high

numbers they can cause economic loss.

Scouting is the only way to know for sure if

insecticide treatment is needed. Growers

should keep a close eye on seedling peanuts

for infestations of tobacco budworm that can

very quickly defoliate young plants. While

early season tobacco budworm infestations do

not occur in every field, they have become more common in recent years.

There is no published threshold for caterpillars on seedling peanut, so growers,

Extension agents, and consultants will have to use their best judgment when

making treatment decisions. The threshold for caterpillars later in the season

ranges from 4 to 8 insects per row foot depending on the condition of the

plants. The higher threshold can be used in healthy, vigorously growing peanut,

while stressed, slow growing fields should be treated at the lower end of the

threshold range. There is almost always more than one caterpillar species in a

field at any given time. It is important to identify the species present and know

which are the most abundant because not all insecticides are equally effective

against all species. Caterpillars present in peanut fields at digging can cause a

problem if they begin to feed on pegs after the plants are inverted. Growers are

strongly encouraged to scout just before digging and consider treating fields if

moderate numbers of caterpillars are present.

Foliage feeding caterpillars

Three corneredalfalfa hopper

The three cornered

alfalfa hopper (TCAH)

has become one of the

most commonly treated

insect pests in south-

east peanut fields. At

this time, there is no

science-based econom-

ic threshold for TCAH

in peanut. Research is

underway to determine

the economic threshold,

but in the meantime we

are left to make deci-

sions based on our

experience and best

guess. While the insect

is not difficult to kill, it

is highly mobile, and

re-infestation of treated

fields can happen

quickly. It is thought

that the immature

stages of the insect are

responsible for most of

the stem girdling dam-

age we see in peanut, but the immature stages

are much more difficult to detect than the adults.

The broad spectrum insecticides used to control

TCAH have relatively short residual activity and

can flare secondary pests like two spotted spider

mite. We do not want to ignore TCAH, but we

also encourage growers not to be too aggressive

with their management practices. We are usually

better off if we can avoid an insecticide spray

and conserve our beneficial insects as long as

possible.

Burrower Bug

Burrower Bug damage to peanuts.

Caterpillar on peanut leaves.

Three cornered alfalfa

hopper nymph.


hopper adult.


hopper girdle on peanuts.

Insect Guidebook


Information contained in the

Insect Guidebook was provided by

Mark Abney, University of Georgia

Extension Entomologist.

For additional information throughout

the growing season, check out Abney’s

blog at:

blog.extension.uga.edu/peanutent

Thursday, July 231:00 - 6:30 p.m. Conference Registration6:30 p.m. Welcoming Reception 7:00 p.m. Welcoming Dinner

Sponsored by Bayer CropScience

Friday, July 246:30 a.m. Syngenta Start Strong 5K & Fun Run8:00 a.m. Prayer Breakfast

Featuring The Akins

9:30 a.m. General Session I Research - The Future is Now

10:30 a.m. Spouse Program Refreshment Break

10:45 a.m. General Session I continuedResearch - The Future is Now

11:45 a.m. Luncheon

1:15 p.m. General Session IIThe Future Generation

2:00 p.m. Survey on Future Conferences

7:00 p.m. Cookout at Robin LakeSponsored by DupontAdditional events include: FSU Flying High Circus*Movie at Robin Lake Beach* Limited Availability

Saturday, July 257:30 a.m. Breakfast - Farm Press Peanut

Profitability Awards

9:15 a.m. General Session IIIThe Future in Washington, D.C.Refreshment Break

Noon Lunch on your own and afternoon free!

12:30 - 6 p.m. Golf Tournament7:00 p.m. Reception7:30 p.m. Dinner and Entertainment

Sponsored by Syngenta

The 17th Annual Southern

Peanut Growers Conference

is set for July 23-25, 2015

at Callaway Gardens, Pine

Mountain, Georgia. The three-day event

provides farmers with information peanut

production, legislative issues, marketing

and promotions.

The theme for the 2015 conference,

Planting Our Future, sets the stage for the

general sessions that will provide innova-

tive information on research, the future

generation of farmers and the future of

polictics and trade development in

Washington, D.C. The research focused

session also allows growers to join in by

answering questions and providing input

for the speakers. U.S. Congressman Ted

Yoho, R-Florida, will speak during the

legislative session.

Additional conference information is

available at southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

Southern Peanut Growers Conferenceset for July 23-25 at Callaway Gardens


2015 Tentative Schedule

Additional activitiesEach room reservation provides free

access to the following:

n Robin Lake beach area for swimming and sunbathing

n Florida State University’s Flying High Circus

n Tour of the Gardens

n Children’s Playgrounds

n Giant Chess and Checker sets

n Miniature Golf

n Table Tennis

n Suffleboard

Discounted activities for conference

attendees and registered guests at

Callaway Gardens:

n Aqua Island

n Paddle boats

n The Excelerator (inflatable waterslide)

n Rock Climbing Wall

n Spider Jump (bungee jumping)

n Bouncy House

n Trapeze Adventure

n Roadster (pedal kart)

n Waterskiing, Wakeboarding & Tubing

n Fishing

n Canoe or Kayak rental

n Treetop Adventure - zip line & obstacle course

Participants of Class IX of

the Peanut Leadership

Academy met March 9-11,

in Albany, Georgia, for the

second session of the two year 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, partici-

pants heard from Georgia Farm Bureau’s

Agriculture in the Classroom coordinator,

Donna Rocker, and learned ways to advo-

cate for peanuts and agriculture to com-

munities and consumers. They also were

presented an overview of the peanut

industry’s humanitarian organization,

Peanut Proud from Gregg Grimsley, who

serves as president of the organization.

Participants concluded the day by review-

ing proper dinner etiquette with Joy

Crosby, director of communications at the

Georgia Peanut Commission, and engaged

in a dialogue about current industry

issues.

Participants began day two bright and

early at Birdsong Peanuts’ shelling facili-

ty in Sylvester, and then traveled to Tifton

where they toured Kelley Manufacturing

Co.’s facility, visited the Georgia Peanut

Commission’s office and heard from

Dr. Corley Holbrook and Dr. Craig Kvien

about current research at the National

Enviromentally Sound Production

Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL). The

day concluded with a tour of Tara Foods’

peanut butter manufacturing facility in

Albany.

To wrap the session up, par-

ticipants attended the APSA

Industry Spring Conference

where they heard from various

industry representatives covering

a variety of topics from market-

ing to research. They were also

introduced to the meeting atten-

dees 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 and the American

Peanut Shellers Association. For

more information on the Peanut

Leadership Academy, visit

southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

BY JESSIE BLAND

Peanut Leadership Academymeets for session II in Georgia

Participants in the Peanut Leadership Academy discuss key industry issues during session II held

in Albany, Georgia.

National Peanut Board

Dexter Gilbert, Campbellton, Florida

Meredith Rogers, Camilla, Georgia

North Carolina

Wade Stanaland, Bladenboro

Texas

Kelton Coleman, Lamesa

Virginia

West Drake, Newsoms

Sheller Representatives

Colton Farrow, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts

Paul Huber, Birdsong Peanuts

Japheth Saecker, Birdsong Peanuts

Learn more at:

southernpeanutfarmers.org

Peanut Leadership Academy Class IX members Alabama

Brian Byrd, Ariton

Jeremy Sessions, Grand Bay

Marshall Speake, Eufaula

Russ Walters, Andalusia

Florida

Levi Findley, Jay

Jeremy Rolling, Westville

Trey Sanchez, Old Town

Georgia

Bubba Curry, Shellman

Justin Harrell, Nicholls

Jeff Heard, Newton

Zack Thaggard, Leesburg

Austin Warbington, Pinehurst

Mississippi

B. Jones, Ridgeland


USDA releases actively engaged

definitionThe U.S. Department of Agriculture has

released its proposed rule to limit payments includ-

ing its new definition of “actively engaged.” All

stakeholders interested in submitting comments on

the proposal have until May 26, 2015, to do so.

The current definition of “actively engaged” was

established in 1987.

The proposed rule limits farm payments to

individuals who may be designated as farm man-

agers but are not actively engaged in farm manage-

ment. In the farm bill, Congress gave USDA the

authority to address this loophole for joint ventures

and general partnerships, while exempting family

farm operations from being impacted by the new

rule USDA ultimately implements.

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) and

the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation (SPFF)

are reviewing the USDA proposal and will submit

comments. The GPC and SPFF are working with

other major agricultural organizations on this most

important issue for peanut producers.

The House subcommittee on General Farm

Commodities and Risk Management Chairman

Rick Crawford called the newly proposed “actively

engaged” regulations “arbitrary and capricious,”

noting that the regulation “ignores the remarkable

diversity and complexity in agriculture today.”

2016 Budget process heads to

conference The House and Senate have passed their 2016

budget legislation which includes some cuts to

agriculture. The House bill includes $1 billion in

cuts for agriculture and major reforms for SNAP or

food stamps. The Senate package includes $1 bil-

lion in agricultural program cuts and an additional

$14 billion reduction in conservation, natural

resource and energy programs. House and Senate

budget negotiators will now work out the differ-

ences in the two bills.

It is important to note that the anti-agriculture

amendments proposed did not become part of

either bill. In the Senate, the GPC and SPFF were

concerned about crop insurance amendments pro-

posed by Senator Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, including

an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) test. Senate

Leadership did not allow the amendment to come

up.

Washington Outlookby Robert L. Redding Jr.


Ag Committees review 2014 Farm Bill implementationBoth the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate

Committee on Agriculture called hearings to review the implementation of the

2014 Farm Bill. The House subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and

Risk Management held a hearing that included witnesses Brandon Willis,

Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management

Agency and Val Dolcini, Administrator, USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

The subcommittee’s chairman is Congressman Rick Crawford, R-

Arkansas. Chairman Crawford spoke at the 2014 Southern Peanut Farmers

Conference in Panama City, Florida.

Chairman Crawford commented at the hearing: “While the 2014 farm bill

was drafted during a period of record-high prices, producers are now experi-

encing a staggering 43 percent drop in net farm income,” Crawford says.

“Current conditions are going to test the farm bill and its ability to mitigate

and respond to growing financial stress in farm country. I firmly believe that

the situation calls for the farm bill to be implemented in the most farmer-

friendly manner possible within the limits of the law.”

The Senate Agriculture Committee also held a hearing on the 2014 Farm

Bill implementation. Ronnie Lee, peanut and cotton farmer from Bronwood,

Georgia, testified at the hearing.

In his testimony, Lee stated: “Like other commodities, the peanut market

fluctuates and peanut prices are low at this time. The University of Georgia’s

National Center for Peanut Competitiveness (NCPC) has been monitoring

peanut acres through its representative farms for many years. These represen-

tative farms stretch across all regions of the peanut belt. The NCPC reports

that the 2014 certified planted peanut acreage of 1,342,689 acres was below

2005, 2008 and 2012 certified acres. These three years are high acreage points

for U.S. peanut plantings. The 2015 peanut planted acreage would require a

28 percent increase over the 2008-12 Olympic average of peanut planted

acreage to exceed acreage in 2005 and 2012.

The runner variety of peanuts comprises about 80 percent of U.S. peanut

consumption. Runners are used primarily for peanut butter. For all varieties of

peanuts, processors need approximately three to four months carryover. When

evaluating the supply and demand of the 2014 crop, we will have approxi-

mately a 120 day carryover, for all peanuts, when we begin the 2015 crop

year. Runner peanuts will have approximately a 99 day carryover, which is a

very tight market for runner peanuts.”

Lee continued with comments on implementation and the new Peanut

Revenue Insurance Program: “The peanut industry is pleased with the peanut

provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill. I would also like to acknowledge USDA’s

implementation of the farm bill to date. Although all regulations are not final-

ized, the department has done a good job of farm bill implementation in a

timely manner. In addition, Congress included a new Peanut Revenue

Insurance Program in the 2014 Farm Bill. The Risk Management Agency

(RMA) team worked with stakeholders to establish this new program. RMA’s

effort was an inclusive process and has produced an insurance tool that we

believe will benefit farmers. We are in an educational stage with peanut

organizations and land grants providing information to producers about the

new insurance policy.”


State

Area Planted

2013 2014 20151

Percent of

Previous

Year

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (percent)

Alabama 140 175 185 106

Florida 140 175 160 91

Georgia 430 600 720 120

Mississippi 34 32 33 103

New Mexico 7 5 5 100

North Carolina 82 94 94 100

Oklahoma 17 12 19 158

South Carolina 81 112 115 103

Texas 120 130 130 100

Virginia 16 19 20 105

United States 1,067 1,345 1,481 109

USDA releases prospective

planting numbers The USDA’S National Agricultural Statistics

Service has released it’s March 31, 2015

Prospective Planting projections. For peanuts,

U.S. 2015 plantings are expected to increase 9

percent as compared to the 2014 crop. In

Georgia, producers are projected to plant 20 per-

cent more acres in 2015 than in 2014.

It is important to note that, according to the

National Center for Peanut Competitiveness that

2014 certified peanut acreage was below 2005,

2008 and 2012 certified peanut acreage. In addi-

tion, U.S. 2015 planted acreage would require a

22 percent increase over 2014 acreage to exceed

acreage in 2005 and 2012. NASS projections

have a 9 percent peanut acreage increase nation-

ally.

Finally, 2015 peanut planted acreage would

require a 28 percent increase over the 2008-2012

Olympic average of peanut planted acreage to

exceed acreage in 2005 and 2012.

Peanut Area Planted - States and United States: 2013-2015

1 Intended plantings in 2015 as indicated by reports from farmers.

Source: USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service March 31, 2015 Prospective Planting Report.

USDA-NASS March Peanut Planting Intentions What does it really say?

The U.S. peanut industry is

adjusting to the 2014 Farm

Bill and the associated com-

peting crops depressed mar-

ket prices. While comments have been

made about the potential significant

increase in peanut acreage over last year

due to the farm bill, the USDA-NASS

March 2015 planting intentions did not

support those views.

Since 2008, under the 2008 Farm

Bill, the March 2015 peanut planting

intentions would rank 3rd in total U.S.

peanut acreage. While 2012 had the

largest acreage under the 2008 Farm Bill,

that acreage was approximately 19,000

acres less than the 2005 peanut acreage

which was under the 2002 Farm Bill. If

one looks at what the acreage was under

the previous peanut program where there

was a quota program in place, the 2012

peanut acreage was only approximately 6

percent above the 2001 peanut acreage.

For 2015, NASS reports that peanut

farmers are going to plant only approxi-

mately 90 percent of what they planted in

2012. This implies that U.S. peanut farm-

ers are going to plant less than their 2001

peanut acreage under the quota program

to the level of approximately 60,000

acres.

Several interesting facts can be

gleaned from the USDA-NASS March

2015 Planting Intentions report. First,

peanut farmers are very cognizant of the

importance of rotation in their farming

operation even in the environment of

depressed commodity prices for their

alternative crops. Peanut farmers know

that if their peanut rotation is shortened

this will lead to increase disease and weed

issues and reduce future peanut yields.

While there may be a one year benefit to

shortening the rotation, they know in the

long run the sustainability of their opera-

tion will be severely damaged.

Second, the 2014 Farm Bill has not

lead to significant increases in peanut

acreage as predicted by many opponents

of the peanut title. As indicated earlier,

the 2015 peanut acreage intentions are

below acreage levels during the quota

program, 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. In

fact, one would expect the 2015 planting

intentions even if the 2008 Farm Bill still

existed given the depressed cotton and

corn prices.

The last insight is in regards to the

“generic” base introduced in the 2014

Farm Bill. Some individuals stated

unequivocally that “generic” base would

cause an avalanche of peanut acreage.

While this event did not occur in 2014,

many argued that the reason it did not

happen is that planting time and passage

of the 2014 Farm Bill were too close and

farmers had not had time to understand

the farm bill. Yet, the 2015 planting inten-

tions did not support those views.

Both Mississippi and South Carolina

have minimal peanut base but significant

“generic” base. Yet, when compared to

2012, South Carolina peanut acreage is

only 5 percent above their 2012 level and

Mississippi is at only 63 percent of their

2012 level. Texas and Georgia are two of

the major cotton states. Texas is intending

to plant only 87 percent of their 2012

peanut acreage level with no change from

2014 planting level. While Georgia’s

2015 intentions are approximately 20 per-

cent above 2014, the intentions are only

98 percent of the 2012 acreage level. If

generic base was to have such a major

impact, those four states should have seen

significant increases. t

BY THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA NATIONALCENTER FOR PEANUT COMPETITIVENESS

Southern Peanut Growers and Georgia

Peanut Commission promote peanuts at

Southern Women’s Show in SavannahSouthern Peanut Growers (SPG) and the Georgia

Peanut Commission (GPC) teamed up to promote peanuts

at the Southern

Women’s Show in

Savannah, Georgia,

March 6-8.

Approximately 13,000

people attended the

three-day event.

Peanuts had a

booth space and five

cooking demonstration times on the Celebrity Cooking

Stage during the show. Friday was Peanut Lovers Day at

the show and the first 250 people in line received a Peanut

Butter: Spread the Love cutting board.

Georgia Grinders, a new

Georgia-grown and pro-

duced hand-crafted peanut

butter, sampled their product

at the show on Peanut

Lovers Day and secured

Chef Bobby J., Chef de

Cuisine at Leoci’s in

Savannah, for one of the

cooking demonstrations that

day. Chef Bobby J. made

Chicken Croquettes with Peanut & Hot Pepper Jelly Sauce

during his demonstration.

The SPG and GPC distributed peanuts, recipe cards,

peanut butter product samples and nutrition information

from the booth all three days.

Southern Peanut Growers

Marketing arm of Southern Peanut Growers1025 Sugar Pike Way · Canton, Georgia 30115

(770) 751-6615 · FAX (770) 751-6417

email: [email protected]

Visit our website at

http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com

#PBFaves Twitter Party kicks off March,

National Peanut MonthTo celebrate the kick-off of

this year’s PB My Way: All-Time

Favorites Recipe Contest,

Southern Peanut Growers (SPG)

hosted a Twitter Party on March

10, to foster online discussion

about peanut butter’s versatility

as an ingredient and spark recipe

ideas incorporating peanut butter

into breakfast or brunch, holiday

dishes, family favorites and

dreamy desserts. The party also

encouraged participation in

SPG’s PB My Way contest. Co-hosts Bruce Weinstein and Mark

Scarbrough, cookbook authors of “The Ultimate Peanut Butter Book,”

offered their own creative culinary ideas and photos to this successful

social event.

The SPG promoted the Twitter Party through Twitter invites, a

Facebook post, Bruce and Mark’s online mentions and a few online

calendar listings. By the day of the Twitter Party, fans and followers

were excited to chat about peanut butter. The Twitter Party resulted in

442,652 impressions.

The Twitter Party resulted in a huge boost to SPG’s Twitter pro-

file in new fans, engagement and multiplied content. Key statistics for

@pnutbutterlover include: 175 new Twitter followers, a 23 percent

increase of overall Twitter followers and 1,700,000 impressions.

Peanut Butter BBQ SauceIngredients:8 oz. can tomato sauce

1/4 cup honey

3 Tbsp. creamy peanut

butter

1 Tbsp. stone ground

Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. red chili pepper

paste

1 Tbsp. zesty horseradish

mustard

Marinade Directions:Mix all ingredients together and use as a dip or to brush on meat

while cooking.

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC), along with

Southern Peanut Growers (SPG), attended the Georgia

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference, March 18,

in Augusta, Georgia. During the exhibitor portion of the

conference, representatives from GPC and SPG had the

opportunity to visit with attendees about peanuts and

peanut nutrition. Peanut samples, peanut recipe cards and

recent peanut nutritional research information were provid-

ed to approximately 300 attendees.

Southern Peanut Growers and Georgia

Peanut Commission participate in nutritional

conference


Most peanut producers

have made their

ARC/PLC program elec-

tions and the farms with

peanut base and/or generic base should

have chosen PLC for peanuts. Farmers now

have until June 1 to add a person, spouse or

legal entity to their farm at the local Farm

Service Agency office.

“The main message is if a farmer has a

significant peanut base on a farm and the

farmer plans to plant a lot of peanuts on a

farm in 2015, the farmer may be at risk of

leaving significant payments on the table

because of maxing out the payment limit of

$125,000 per person or legal entity,” says

Nathan Smith, University of Georgia

Extension peanut economist. “The end

result would be having grown several tons

of peanuts that ended up with a lower price

than expected.”

A spreadsheet has been developed by

Stanley Fletcher with the National Center

for Peanut Competitiveness that will help a

farmer estimate the program payments and

effective price of peanuts. The spreadsheet

will calculate the number of entities

required given the average peanut price

received on production, PLC payment yield,

generic acres with peanuts planted, and

expected yield. The spreadsheet is posted

on the Georgia Peanut Commission website

at gapeanuts.com and the UGA Peanuts

website at ugapeanuts.com.

For example, assume the average price

offered for peanuts in 2015 is $385 per ton.

Next assume the national marketing year

(season) average price for peanuts ends up

at $415 per ton. Farm 1234 has one entity,

500 acres of peanut base, a 2 ton PLC pay-

ment yield, 500 acres of generic base allot-

ted to peanuts, a 2.5 ton expected peanut

yield, and 750 acres of peanut planted on

the farm. In this case the farm would be

leaving $64,108 of payments on the table

and average $399 per ton effective price for

the peanuts produced. The farm needs to

add an entity, such as adding a spouse and

the result would raise the payment limit to

$250,000 for the farm and increase the

effective price to $427 per ton.

“The other important consideration for

payment limits is the potential of marketing

loan gains (MLG) being applied to the

payment limit,” Smith says. “If prices are

low due to a large supply, it’s possible the

National Posted Price (NPP) for Peanuts

could drop below $355 per ton.”

The NPP is the repayment rate for the

marketing loan for peanuts. If the NPP falls

below $355, say to $325, then a marketing

loan gain of $30 per ton is realized if the

loan peanuts are redeemed at $325. Besides

getting a 1099 form come tax season, the

$30 MLG will be applied to the payment

limit. In the case above, the $30 MLG is

based on the expected yield and total plant-

ed peanut acres, resulting in a $67,500 total

MLG. This would put the farm above the

total payment limit by $6,608. To keep from

leaving money on the table in this case,

another entity is needed or additional quar-

ter or third at least.

Ownership interest for direct attribu-

tion of payments is based on ownership

interest that a person or legal entity holds in

a legal entity on June 1 of the current year.

So, to add an entity with ownership interest,

it needs to be done by June 1. Check with

the local FSA office to determine how to

add a spouse, partner, or member of a legal

entity. t

June deadline to add a legal entity

BY JOY CROSBY

april 2015 - southeastern peanut farmer

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