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News, events, and happenings in Colquitt County agriculture.

The big story is the weather forecast for the end of the week. The seven day graphical tropical weather outlook from NOAA shows some potential for bad weather. Peanut maturity clinics will be held at the same time this week, which is every day starting first thing in the morning. Peanuts are running later this year, according to samples brought into the clinics. Georgia 06G is running at least in the mid- to late 140’s.

A couple words from Dr. Bob Kemerait, UGA Plant Pathologist, on the current weather situation and how that impacts peanut decisions this week.

As of now, we really do not know what to expect, but there ARE a few things in my wheelhouse I would consider.

1.  IF you have growers contemplating a fungicide application on peanuts before the anticipated rains, I will factor in a) how long until digging and b) how much disease is in the field.   Just because a storm may come doesn’t mean we need to spray. 

2. I would consider whether fungicide is justified for cotton and areolate mildew. THAT depends on a) time until defoliation, b) current state of the crop, and, sadly, how much damage might occur from the storm.

3. To dig or not to dig? I would not dig early because of tomato spotted wilt- I would wait for harvest maturity. I would dig early if defoliation from leaf spot is more than 50% or damage from white mold approaches 50%. I would rather the peanuts be in the ground as a storm hits, unless disease (as above) is such that the threat of losses following the storm is too great. In that case I would dig before the storm.

The image below shows a diseased peanut stem covered up with rough, black, fungal structures (stroma). This is a sure sign of Diplodia collar rot (Lasiodiplodia theobromae) which is almost always found in association with plants crashing from tomato spotted wilt virus.  This sign (black, rough stroma typically on slate gray limbs) will help you differentiate this disease from white mold or CBR.

Diploidia collar rot, Colquitt County, 2024-Kichler

Spider mites! I received a call or two about spiders mites in peanut.  According to Dr. Mark Abney, UGA Peanut Entomologist, “Fields with less than two weeks to dig that are in decent shape will probably be fine even if the mites get heavy. I would be reluctant NOT to treat mites in fields with three weeks or more weeks to go before digging.”  This information was from his latest blog post.

Spider Mites, Colquitt County, September 2024–Kichler

What is labelled for spider mites in peanut?  I am glad you asked because the recommendations from the UGA Pest Management handbook are listed below.

I got morning glory in my peanuts!!! Since we are so close to harvest, our best option would be Aim at 1-2 oz/A. Apply 7 days before digging for the late-season desiccation/defoliation of annual morningglories (Ipomoea spp.). Aim is less effective on smallflower morningglory. Use in combination with either a NIS (0.25% v/v) or COC (1% v/v). Aim may cause peanut leaf spotting or burning. Use at least 15 GPA for optimum results. Do not graze or feed peanut hay to livestock. Only 1 application per season is permitted. Rain-free period is 6–8 hours.

When are the bolls mature enough to open with a boll opener?  I had a question or two about this last week. The sharp knife method is when the uppermost bolls that are expected to contribute to yield are cut with a knife or pipe cutter to evaluate their maturity. Bolls are mature enough to open with ethephon when they have developed seeds with brown seed coats and cotyledons. Below is an example of which bolls are mature enough to open.  (Source: Application of Cotton Defoliation Aids in Alabama).  

Cotton: The table below shows “three way” rates based on weather.  Not sure how much defoliating we are going to do this week.

What do I do about grass and morninglory during cotton defoliation?  According to Dr. Hand’s slide that he presented at the cotton and peanut harvest meeting last month.  Glyphosate is effective on grasses. If morningglory is troubling you, then he said to drop the Folex out of “three way” and replace with a PPO inhibitor such as ET or Aim. The recommendations from the UGA Pest Management Handbook is below.

I had a question or two about winter annual forages this week.  As fall approaches, cattle growers need to think about winter annual forages. Please establish winter annuals on well-drained, fertile soils when possible. If your pasture or field is poorly drained consider ryegrass as it is a better option than the small grains. Growers should consider treating seed with an approved fungicide before planting. Seedling diseases such as Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, and others reduce stands when planting in the warmer months of September and October, especially in South Georgia.

These forages can be seeded in late September to late October in the Coastal Plain region. If late fall and early winter grazing are desired (lower Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions only), plant during the earlier side of the planting window and into a prepared seedbed. During the late fall and early winter, growers should avoid overgrazing these pastures. For best results, maintain at least 2 ½ in. of stubble height of the winter annuals.

More information about winter annual forages can be found in the past blog post Establishment of Winter Annual Forages!!

Have a great week,

Jeremy M. Kichler

Colquitt County Extension Coordinator

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