The fair was fun, the expo was fun, but I’m glad to be home for a little while. Finally, we got a little rain on Sunday, and I had to hunt for my jacket this morning. My grazing is a few weeks behind
Defoliation Rates:
Thidiazuron: 2 to 4 oz/acre – all dependent on how quickly your growers will go to the field for harvest. I think this product improves the efficacy of the entire tank, so I don’t want to completely remove it just yet.
Folex: 12 to 14 oz/acre – can be reduced to 10 oz on warmer days this week, but higher rates will be necessary as temperatures drop.
Ethephon: 32 to 42 oz/acre – cooler temps, higher rates.
We are getting to the point of the year where I may consider a Ginstar/Adios/Cutout + Ethephon tank-mix – I’d be looking at probably 6 to 7 oz/acre of Ginstar this week (I’d go up to 8, but some people don’t like that)
Peanuts:
I’ve heard reports of trailer loads of peanuts in other counties that have gone to Seg-3 due to aflatoxin. This situation poses a financial disaster for those growers, as the value of Seg-3 peanuts, which are likely to be crushed for oil, is significantly lower than that of Seg-1 peanuts, which are suitable for the edible market. Unfortunately, the extended dry weather has made the 2025 crop more susceptible to aflatoxin, similar to what occurred in the 2019 season. Aflatoxin is produced by two fungal species, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These fungi are particularly problematic when crops are grown under stressed conditions, such as heat and drought, and when peanuts are stored poorly—typically in environments with excessive moisture and humidity, along with damage from insects and rodents. Some growers are contemplating whether they can save the Seg-3 peanuts for seed to mitigate the significant loss in value. My advice is to avoid using Seg-3 peanuts for the 2026 planting season. This recommendation is not based on concerns about transferring 2025 aflatoxin directly into the 2026 crop. Rather, it’s crucial to prioritize high-quality seed for planting, as the quality of the seed sets the foundation for the entire growing season. Peanuts designated as Seg-3 may also be at a higher risk for issues such as seed rot (caused by Rhizopus) and seedling diseases, including Aspergillus crown rot (caused by A. Niger) and yellow mold (caused by A. flavus).