Based on maturity checks and field visits, peanut maturity has slowed due to cooler nights and dry soil. Leaf spot is becoming more obvious. When plants have lost 50% or more of their leaves, that’s a trigger to dig. In some fields, vine condition will determine digging date. Below are recent comments from Dr. Monfort out UGA Peanut Agronomist.
” We are into the 3rd or so week with no rain with the little potential rain for the next 10 Days. The non-irrigated crop either has completely stopped or is very close to stopping which means peanut are starting to come loose in the hull. With this in mind, I would encourage growers to try to dig what they can to save what they have on the vine. Some of these non-irrigated acres are going to have to wait for a rain to get them inverted.
I have also received calls about irrigated peanuts not moving on the board. Some of these fields are the result of growers not continuing to irrigate over the last 3 weeks others are due to the cooler weather. Either way, the peanuts are not coloring up as good as they should. You need to base your recommendation on the peanut hull color and what the peanuts actually look like. One thing you could do if the peanuts are not moving on the board and have been at the same date range for a few weeks is have the grower dig enough for a load and see what they grade. this could help make their decision to dig or wait.”