Dr. Bob K:
“Thanks to Rome Ethredge for sending me picture(s) of the first Aspergillus crown rot on peanut (see below) he has seen this year. Given the near-100-degree heat headed our way, we are likely to see much more soon as our seed-treatment and in-furrow fungicides WILL be tested.
Aspergillus crown rot is most severe in periods of very hot and dry weather early in the season, especially in non-irrigated fields and where seed of reduced quality is planted. The disease is characterized by rapid wilt and death sporadic plants in a field with shredded taproots and often black, sooty sporulation. Aspergillus crown rot is often found in association with lesser corn stalk borers. In severe cases, re-planting may be required.”
Excerpts from May’s Peanut Pointers:
Weather and Climate Outlook for May 2021
By Pam Knox, Agricultural Climatologist
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is showing that in the second half of May, drier and
warmer conditions are more likely, and that this pattern is likely to continue through at least early
summer. I will post [about significant events] in my blog at https://site.extension.uga.edu/climate/.
Entomology
By Mark Abney
From an insect pest perspective, May is usually all about thrips. Here are some things to know:
- Thrips abundance and movement are affected by weather. A model developed at NC State
University can be used to view predicted thrips infestation in your area.
https://products.climate.ncsu.edu/ag/cottontip/ - An in-furrow insecticide application is recommended by UGA for thrips management in peanut.
The options are: phorate (Thimet), aldicarb (AgLogic), and imidacloprid (Admire Pro and others).
a. Acephate (Orthene) is NOT LABELED as an in-furrow liquid application in GA peanut.
b. Phorate is the only insecticide known to reduce the risk of Tomato spotted wilt virus.
If May is hot and dry we can expect to see some lesser cornstalk borers by the end of the month. They
seem to appear first in Southwest GA, but no area of the state is immune. Check out this video for tips
on scouting for LCB early in the season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAtivdqATV0
Early Season Irrigation Considerations for Peanut Production
By Wesley Porter, Extension Precision Ag and Irrigation Specialist & David
Hall, Extension Water Educator
The simplest method is the UGA Checkbook in Figure 1 below. UGA Extension has developed a quick and
easy irrigation scheduling guide that is laminated and contains the four major row crops grown in
Georgia. The guide can be downloaded at Irrigation Reference Guide for Corn, Cotton, Peanuts, and
Soybeans | UGA Cooperative Extension. [Whereas] Soil moisture sensors provide the most accurate means of monitoring available soil moisture. Monitoring the root zone and available moisture present is a great tool in irrigation scheduling
In-Field Planter Considerations
By Simerjeet Virk, Extension Precision Ag Specialist & Wesley Porter, Extension Precision Ag and Irrigation Specialist
If you haven’t started planting peanuts yet, there is still time to PERFORM A THOROUGH
PLANTER CHECK using the planter checklist available here Row Crop Planter Checklist: Tips to
Achieve Successful Stand Establishment | UGA Cooperative Extension. Remember to take care
of any major issues or parts that needs to be replaced before you get out in the field and start
planting.
Seed Details
By Scott Monfort
The peanut planting season has begun. Several thousand acres were planted during the first part of
April. A majority of the peanuts emerged and look pretty good considering the cold temperatures they
experienced.
Seed quality seems to be leaps and bounds better than last year with most seed germination
percentages being in the 85 to 95% range.
The recommended seeding rate is 6 seed per foot on singles and 6-7 seed per foot on twins. Based on our
research, there are no yield benefits for increased seed over the recommended rates. Seed is expensive
and for every seed per foot planted it costs an estimated $18-20 per acre.
Comments on Peanut Cultivars:
Georgia-12Y – This cultivar has increased in acreage the last few years. Please make sure your growers
plant Georgia-12Y before May 12th. Yield potential goes down after May 12th. Please make sure growers
utilize a good fungicide program also as Georgia-12Y is more susceptible to Rhizoctonia Limb Rot. It also
is a later maturing cultivar ranging 150-155 days after planting.
Georgia-16HO – This cultivar is a high oleic cultivar and has a maturity range of 140 to 145 days after
planting. Growers need to utilize a good fungicide program as it is slightly more susceptible to leafspot
compared to Georgia-06G.
Georgia-18RU – This cultivar has a maturity range of 140 to 145 days after planting. Georgia-18RU is
slightly more susceptible to TSWV. Georgia-18RU performed very comparable to Georgia-06G in yield
and grade over the last 2 years.
Georgia-20VHO – This is the newest cultivar released by Dr. Bill Branch. This cultivar is high oleic with a
potential maturity of 145 days after planting (still working on maturity research). This cultivar does have
a more compact growth habit and darker foliage color.
Cultivar trials for 2021 are located on-farm in Berrien, Early, Ben Hill, Bleckley, Tattnall, Bulloch, and
Colquitt counties and at the Midville station.