mrabney
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There is one thing I know to be true right now: nobody wants to spend another penny spraying anything on the 2025 peanut crop. Unfortunately, I have gotten several reports of heavy velvetbean caterpillar infestations in peanut fields in south-central Georgia over the last several days. One of them was in a field that was…
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At the risk of jinxing the whole dang thing, the question I have gotten most in recent days from peanut farmers, county agents, and consultants has been, “Where are the caterpillars?” The short answer is that I don’t know where the caterpillars are. Caterpillar pressure has been lighter than average across most of Georgia in…
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Late July and early August are generally prime time for foliage feeding caterpillars in Georgia peanut fields. Caterpillar pressure has been relatively light so far in 2025, but I have gotten a couple reports of fields at or near threshold over the last few days. A mix of species can and will be found in…
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It is the first of July, and the Georgia peanut crop is looking very good as a whole. Insect pressure has been pretty average to this point in the season. Lesser cornstalk borer (LCB) has been the most serious and widespread insect issue of 2025 so far. Growers need to continue scouting fields for LCB…
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Insect scouting schools will be conducted on June 2, 2025 in Tifton and June 10, 2025 in Midville. Crops to be covered include cotton, peanuts, and soybean. These programs offer basic information on insect pest identification and damage, natural enemies, and scouting procedures. The training will serve as an introduction to insect monitoring for new…
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LCB larva in a peanut stem.
Posted in: LCB -
This post will serve as my annual, early-season reminder about thrips and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus management. Research has shown that for every 1% TSWV found in a peanut field at harvest time, we can expect about a 20 pound reduction in per-acre yield. TSWV management is over when the furrow closes. Making good management…
Posted in: Thrips -
Two spotted spider mites are widespread in Georgia peanut fields as we approach the final weeks of the 2024 growing season. Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions, and they are often more abundant in fields where broad spectrum insecticides have been applied. The recent cooler, cloudy, rainy conditions in the state may have slowed…
Posted in: spider mite -
Among the items on a long list of things that will need attention after this week’s storm has passed is scouting peanut fields for insect pests. We are already experiencing higher than “normal” caterpillar pressure this year, and we are now entering the portion of the season when velvetbean caterpillar and soybean looper typically show…
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Many peanut fields in Georgia received much needed rain over the past two weeks. This does not mean that lesser cornstalk borers (LCB) will be gone from those fields. Rain DOES NOT kill LCBs. Cool moist conditions are not favorable for the pest, but in situations where populations are already high, sporadic rainfall will have…