Peanuts: 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. However, these hot, dry conditions favor the development of spider mites. Additionally, the application of broad-spectrum insecticides like pyrethroids and acephate can exacerbate mite infestations. If you observe wilting and/or yellowing of plants near field borders, it is worth stopping to check for mites. Finding and treating mite infestations early is critical for successful management. Increasing spray volume when miticides are applied will improve efficacy; I would not spray mites with less than 15 gallons per acre, and I prefer 20 gallons per acre. Even with increased spray volume, two applications are often needed to control mite populations. Remember to scout and use thresholds to make management decisions. Applying insecticides to fields that are not at threshold reduces profit. Likewise, failing to manage an infestation that reaches threshold will result in economic loss.
Weather: We had a nasty little storm blow through on Tuesday. It knocked a bunch of corn down in several spots throughout the county. According to our Extension Climatologist, Pam Knox, we should be expecting rainy weather over the next week; it looks like the heaviest band will stretch from South Alabama across the Georgia Coastal Plain. The past few years, the tropics have been a little more active than they have been this year, but on average, our first hurricane in the Atlantic isn’t until around August 11th. Some long-range models show the potential for some development in the Atlantic in the next 2-3 weeks, although currently it is estimated at less than 20%. Oh, and it’s hot.
