southeastern peanut farmer - april 2016
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A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.
Inside:n Disease Guidebook
n Insect Guidebook
7 Florida Peanut ProducersAssociation holds annual meetingThe Florida Peanut ProducersAssociation held their 41st annualmeeting recently where they electednew board members, receivedreports from the National PeanutBoard and presented theOutstanding Young Peanut FarmerAward.
10 2016 Disease GuidebookThe 2016 Southeastern PeanutFarmer’s Disease Guidebook features information on management of leaf spot, southernblight, fungicide resistance, disease control on a budget, andresearch updates on new products.
16 2016 Insect Guidebook The 2016 Southeastern PeanutFarmer’s Insect Guidebook featuresinformation on scouting peanuts, spider mites, three cornered alfalfahoppers, thrips, burrower bugs andleaf loss studies.
Contents
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 3
Southeastern Peanut Farmer is published six times a year
(Jan./Feb., March, April, May/June, July/Aug., and
Oct./Nov.) by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.
The publisher is not responsible for copy omission, typo-
graphical errors, or any unintentional errors that may
occur, other than to correct it in the following issue. Any
erroneous reflection which may occur in the columns of
Southeastern Peanut Farmer will be corrected upon
brought to the attention of the editor. (Phone 229-386-
3690.)
Postmaster: Send address changes (Form 3579) to
Southeastern Peanut Farmer, P.O. Box 706, Tifton,
Georgia, 31793.
Circulation is free to qualified peanut growers and others
allied to the industry. Periodical postage paid at Tifton,
Georgia and additional mailing office.
Editorial Content: Editorial copy from sources outside
of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation is sometimes
presented for the information and interest of our mem-
bers. Such material may, or may not, coincide with offi-
cial Southern Peanut Farmers Federation policies.
Publication of material does not necessarily imply its
endorsement by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.
For editorial concerns call 229-386-3690. No portion of
this or past issues of the Southeastern Peanut Farmermay be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the
written consent of the editor. By-lined articles appearing
in this publication represent views of the authors and not
necessarily those of the publisher.
Advertising: The Publisher reserves the right to refuse
any advertisement. Corrections to advertisements must be
made after the first run. All billing offers subject to credit
review. Advertisements contained in this publication do
not represent an endorsement by the Southeastern PeanutFarmer or the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. Use
of trade names in this publication is for the purpose of
providing specific information and is not a guarantee nor
warranty of products named. For advertising concerns
call 229-386-3690.
April 2016
Joy Carter Crosby
Editor
229-386-3690
Director of Advertising
Jessie Bland
Contributing Writers
John [email protected]
Teresa [email protected]
Southeastern Peanut Farmer
P.O. Box 706, Tifton, Ga. 31793
445 Fulwood Blvd., Tifton, Ga. 31794
ISSN: 0038-3694
D e p a r t m e n t s :Checkoff Report ..................................................................................Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association,
Georgia Peanut Commission and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association
Washington Outlook ............................................................................
Southern Peanut Growers Update ........................................................
8
21
22
Cover Photo: Mark Abney, University of Georgia Extension peanut entomologist, discusses the
importance of scouting peanuts at a field day. Photo by Joy Crosby.
4 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
Promoting Our Crop - The Peanut
(Let us know about your event. Please send detailsto the editor at [email protected].
Another National Peanut Month is in the books and the industry
did a great job of promoting peanuts and peanut butter to
consumers. Through a variety of methods, industry organizations
were able to reach out to consumers, food enthusiasts, chefs,
nutritionist and more. I even noticed many farmers taking part in activities
by sharing items on their personal social media pages. As one planning
various events throughout the month of March for National Peanut Month,
this makes me proud.
During the month of March, the findings of a new study conducted by
The Bantam Group, on behalf of the National Peanut Board, were released
during National Peanut Month. The research from the study showed that:
Peanut butter and peanuts are the No. 1 and No. 2 most consumedfor both Millennials and the General Market. The findings are in line with
USDA’s Economic Research Service data, which shows peanuts are the
most consumed nut in America.
Half of Millennials surveyed eat peanut butter at least once a week,and say they are more likely to eat peanuts and peanut butter on a daily
basis
Millennials are also significantly less likely than the General Marketto eat peanut butter on a sandwich with bread or on crackers. Instead, they
are more likely to eat peanuts and peanut butter in non-traditional ways such
as in smoothies and sauces
In the press release issued by the National Peanut Board, Bob Parker,
president and CEO of NPB had this to say, “This study confirmed what we
continue to see every day. No matter how old we are, our love for peanuts
and peanut butter is as strong as ever. It also showed that Millennials are
more aware and informed about the food they choose to consume, and they
eat peanuts and peanut products for their nutritional benefits, versatility and
great taste.”
Studies such as this one, help us see where we are and the difference
we are making as we promote our crop here in the U.S. and abroad. As we
continue our efforts through promotional efforts, I urge you to stay informed
so when you have the opportunity to promote peanuts at a local school, fair,
festival or other event, you are ready and armed with the knowledge to help
continue to increase consumption.
The Bantam study surveyed 750 Millennials (ages of 18-37) and 750
General Market consumers who have eaten peanuts or other peanut products
― and/or purchased any of them for someone in their household ― at least
once in the past month.
In addition to the promotion of peanuts, the industry continues to step
up by supporting Peanut Proud, the humanitarian
relief organization. Peanut Proud continues to lead
the way in donating peanut butter to food banks for
special events and those in disaster situations.
During the month of March, peanut butter was
donated to food banks in Georgia and Virginia. An
additional donation was made to food banks in
Louisiana due to the recent flooding in the area. All
of these donations would not be possible without the
support from individuals, organizations, businesses
and more. So, if you have not made a donation to
Peanut Proud yet, then I encourage you to visit their
website at peanutproud.com and do so. t
u USA Peanut Congress, June 25-29, 2016, Charleston Place Hotel,
Charleston, S.C. For more information visit
peanut-shellers.org or call 229-888-2508.
u American Peanut Research EducationSociety Annual Meeting, July 12-14, 2016,
Hilton Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, Fla. For
more information visit apresinc.com or call
229-329-2949.
u Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day, July 14, 2016,Moultrie, Ga. For more information visit
sunbeltexpo.com or call 229-985-1968.
u Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 21-23, 2016, Sandestin Golf and Beach
Resort, Miramar Beach, Fla. For more
information visit southernpeanutfarmers.org or
call 229-386-3470.
u American Peanut Shellers Associationand National Peanut Buying Points
Association Pre-Harvest Meeting,
Aug. 2-3, 2016, Lake Blackshear Resort and
Golf Club, Cordele, Ga. For more information
visit peanut-shellers.org or call 229-888-2508.
u Brooklet Peanut Festival, Aug. 20, 2016.For more information visit the festival’s
website at brookletpeanutfestival.com.
u Georgia Peanut Tour, Sept. 13-15, 2016,Tifton, Ga. and surrounding area. For more
information visit the tour blog at
georgiapeanuttour.com.
u Plains Peanut Festival, Sept. 24, 2016.For more information visit plainsgeorgia.com.
u Central Florida Peanut Festival, Oct. 1,2016, Williston, Fla. For more information
visit willistonfl.com.
u Georgia Peanut Festival, Oct. 15, 2016,Sylvester, Ga. For more information visit
gapeanutfestival.org.
u Sunbelt Ag Expo, Oct. 18-20, 2016,Moultrie, Ga. For more information visit
sunbeltexpo.com or call 229-985-1968.
u Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting,Dec. 3-5, 2016, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more
information visit gfb.org.
Editorial Calendar of Events
Joy Carter CrosbyEditor
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 5
Georgia Peanut Commission increasesresearch funding for 2016
The Georgia Peanut
Commission (GPC) board
of directors has approved
$423,036 in research
project funding for the 2016-17 research
budget year. This action was taken during
the commission’s March board meeting.
The research projects approved include
30 project proposals submitted from the
University of Georgia and USDA
Agricultural Research Service.
“We are proud of our close
relationship and partnership with research
institutions in the state,” says Donald
Chase, GPC Research Committee
chairman. “Peanut growers are pleased to
invest in the future by providing monetary
support for research and education that
has continued to demonstrate a return on
our investment. Due to the continuing
success enjoyed by Georgia peanut
farmers over the past few
years, we were able to
increase research funding
again for 2016.”
Georgia’s peanut growers
invest $2 per ton annually
toward GPC programs which
includes research, promotion
and education. Research
comprises 22 percent of
available funds in the
commission’s budget.
The research programs
primarily focus on peanut
breeding for higher yield and
improved quality; economics;
conservation methods; irrigation and
water management; pests, weed and
disease management; and peanut allergy
research.
For additional information and a
complete list of the research projects
funded by the Georgia Peanut
Commission visit www.gapeanuts.com. t
BY JOY CROSBY
The commission approves $423,036 in peanut research projects
Bill Branch, University of Georgia peanut breeder, discusses
some of his research on new varieties funded by the Georgia
Peanut Commission during a field day.
Washington County
farmers James and
Brooke Hitchcock
were among the top
10 finalists from the nation that competed
at the 60th annual National Young
Farmers Awards Congress in Cincinnati,
Ohio. This is the oldest farmer recogni-
tion program in the United States.
The program is sponsored by John
Deere, administered by the Outstanding
Farmers of America and supported by the
U.S. Jaycees and the National Association
of County Agricultural Agents.
James and Brooke were nominated
by Brent Allen, Washington County
Extension Agent, and were named the
Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year by
the Georgia Association of County
Agricultural Agents in November 2015.
Their application was also submitted to
the national competition where they were
selected as one of the 25 semi-finalists
and then as one of the top 10 finalists in
the nation.
Each step in the process required a
lengthy application that looked at details
of the farming operation, conservation
efforts and community involvement. This
competition did not just look at the size of
the operation but included an evaluation
of how well rounded the individuals were.
James and Brooke Hitchcock of
Tennille, Georgia, are the parents of
Moriah, JW and Samuel and farm in
partnership with his father, Waylon and
brother, Jonathan. They currently farm
over 2,000 acres of row crops which
includes corn, cotton, peanuts and
soybeans. They also have a 200 plus head
herd of beef cattle and a bottle calf
operation.
James serves on the Farm Service
Agency County Committee (committee
chair), Washington County Farm Bureau
Board of Directors, Washington County
Cattlemen’s Association Board of
Directors and the Washington County
Extension Advisory Committee. James
and Brooke are also very active members
of Friendship Baptist Church. t
6 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
BY BRENT ALLENWASHINGTON CO. EXTENSION COORDINATOR
Hitchcock family compete in NationalYoung Farmers Awards Congress
James and Brooke Hitchcock were recently
named one of the top 10 finalists in the
National Young Farmers Awards Congress.
USDA seeks nominees forPeanut Standards Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for peanut
producers and industry representatives to serve on the Peanut
Standards Board.
The board consists of 18 members with representation equally
divided between peanut producers and industry representatives.
Representation is divided among three regions: the Southeast
(Alabama, Georgia, and Florida), the Southwest (Texas,
Oklahoma, and New Mexico), and Virginia/North Carolina. Each
region has three producer seats and three industry representative
seats with staggered 3-year terms.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will appoint one producer
and one industry representative from each region to succeed
members whose terms expire on June 30, 2016. The six new
members will serve terms ending on June 30, 2019.
The 2002 Farm Bill established the Peanut Standards Board
to consult with USDA regarding quality and handling standards
for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The board plays
a key role in representing the U.S. peanut industry on issues
affecting quality and marketability.
Nominations are due by May 2, 2016. For nominating forms
and additional board information, call 863-837-1551 or visit:
www.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandardsBoard.
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 7
Alarge crowd of farmers
and their families attended
the 41st Annual
Membership Meeting of
the Florida Peanut Producers Association
recently held in Marianna, Florida. The
evening’s events included the election of
three directors, FPPA and National Peanut
Board activities report and the presenta-
tion of the Florida Young Peanut Farmer
award.
James Marshall, Baker, Florida, was
elected to serve a three-year term on the
FPPA board during the annual meeting.
He replaces Nick Marshall, Baker,
Florida, who retired due to term limits.
Members also reelected Jerry Mills Jr.,
Morriston, Florida, and Bud Baggett,
Marianna, Florida, to serve another 3-year
term. The FPPA officers elected include
President - Andy Robinson, Williston,
Florida, Vice President - Michael Davis,
Graceville, Florida and Sec./Treas. -
David DeFelix, Campbellton, Florida.
Jeffrey Spencer, a Farm Credit of
Florida representative presented the
Young Peanut Farmer of the Year Award
to Blaire Colvin of Micanopy, Florida.
Colvin has been involved in the fami-
ly farm since she was a child. The minute
her legs were long enough to reach the
clutch her father Danny had her move
from riding the fender to being an opera-
tor whether it be tillage work or picking
peanuts. She worked on the farm for
many years growing up and was involved
in many jobs on the farm related to
peanut production.
Following high school
graduation, she began pur-
suing an undergraduate
degree in Agronomy at the
University of Florida.
During her undergraduate
degree Colvin was active
in many agricultural stu-
dent organizations on cam-
pus. She served as presi-
dent of the Agronomy &
Soils Club, president of the
Professional Agricultural
Sorority Sigma Alpha, she
was a College of
Agricultural and Life
Sciences Ambassador, and
a member of the
Agricultural Honors society
Alpha Zeta.
Through all of these
organizations Colvin actively advocated
for and educated others about Florida
agriculture and specifically Florida peanut
production. In addition to her involvement
in student organizations, Colvin was also
actively involved in practical agricultural
research aimed at solving problems that
Florida growers face. She worked on
many projects focused on peanut maturity
and production.
She then continued her education and
received her Master’s degree in
Agronomy from the University of Florida
in 2015. During her Master’s she worked
on a variety of practical research projects
designed to address
challenges facing
peanut growers in the
Southeast. During all
of her schooling she
was still actively work-
ing on the family farm.
After the comple-
tion of her master’s
degree she became an
official co-owner of the
family business and
currently manages all
aspects of the operation
(employees, equipment,
planting, irrigation, fer-
tilization, spraying, har-
vesting, etc.) along with her father Danny
Colvin. This coming year Colvin Farms
will grow 600 acres of high oleic peanuts,
250 acres of snap beans, and 250 acres of
carrots.
She has just recently started pursuing
her doctorate degree in Agronomy and
hopes to use the combination of her scien-
tific knowledge gained at the University
of Florida and her practical real life
knowledge gained on the family peanut
farm to continue to grow her own opera-
tion and to help other farmers in the state
increase productivity and face the many
challenges to come in agriculture. t
Florida Peanut Producers Associationholds 41st Annual Membership Meeting
Andy Robinson, FPPA president, presents
Nick Marshall of Baker, Fla., with a plaque in
recognition of his dedicated service while
serving on the FPPA Board of Directors for the
past six years.
Jeffrey Spencer, (left) Farm Credit of Florida representative,
presents the Farm Credit/FPPA Young Peanut Farmer Award to
Blaire Colvin of Micanopy, Fla., during FPPA’s annual meeting.
Pictured left to right: Spencer, Colvin and Andy Robinson,
president of the Florida Peanut Producers Association.
Members of the Florida Peanut Producers Association board. Pictured
left to right: Joe Tillman, Altha; Michael Davis, Graceville; Bud
Baggett, Marianna; Andy Robinson, Williston; Jerry Mills Jr., Morriston;
David DeFelix, Campbellton; and Chuck Hatch, Branford
Not pictured are: Steven Godwin, Jay; and James Marshall, Baker.
BY KEN BARTON
8 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
Checkoff ReportInvestments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry.
Mississippi Peanut Growers Association
celebrates National Peanut Month
The Mississippi Peanut
Growers Association cele-
brated March - National
Peanut Month by donating
peanut product gift baskets
to five television stations
across the state. This dona-
tion led to numerous on-air
interviews at the stations
for Malcolm Broome,
MPGA executive director.
The stations included
morning shows in
Columbus and Meridian,
midday show in Jackson,
and the 4 p.m. show on the Gulf Coast.
“It continues to amaze me how many people don’t know
how peanuts are grown, and even that they produce the nuts
underground,” Broome says. “This is the fourth year for this
program which received publicity for the Mississippi Peanut
Growers Association and information on peanut production
and new peanut products, all at a cost the association would
not be able to purchase.”
Broome reports getting emails and telephone calls follow-
ing the programs asking questions from how to grow peanuts,
didn’t know they were so healthy, to where can I find more
information on peanuts.
Steve Schill, (left) of WCBI in
Columbus, Miss., interviews Malcolm
Broome, (right) MPGA executive
director, about peanuts and National
Peanut Month.
The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) promoted peanuts throughout
the month of March through a variety of promotions including a twitter
party, media tours, PB&J Day, welcome center promotion and more.
To kick off National Peanut
Month, GPC sponsored a Twitter
party through Foodiechats. The
event provided GPC an opportunity
to reach consumers, food enthusi-
asts, chefs, nutritionists and more
through an hour long Q&A party on
Twitter. The event focused on
#PeanutPrower with 1,309 tweets and an
estimated 1.7 million impressions.
The GPC also teamed up with Parker
Wallace, an Atlanta based food enthusiast and
chef, for a media tour in six cities throughout
Georgia. Parker is creator of What’s on
Parker’s Plate and she demonstrated a variety
of peanut inspired meals for breakfast, lunch,
dinner and snack on television stations in
Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, Columbus, Albany
and Macon, Georgia.
The annual Georgia PB&J Day was held
March 16, at the Georgia State Capitol in
Atlanta. Exhibitors from the peanut industry
served PB&Js, grilled PB&Js, country-fried
peanuts, boiled peanuts and more. During the
special program celebrating National Peanut
Month, Sen. John Wilkinson, chairman of the
Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
Committee, and Rep. Tom McCall, chairman
of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
Committee, presented resolutions highlighting
the importance of peanuts to Georgia’s econo-
my. The GPC and Peanut Proud donated
10,080 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta
Community Food Bank to celebrate National
Peanut Month and National Nutrition Month
during the annual PB&J Day.
Tourists traveling throughout Georgia
were able to learn more about the importance
of peanuts to Georgia’s economy by stopping
by one of the 11 visitor information centers
entering the state. The GPC provided the visi-
tor information centers with peanuts and
recipes to give to tourists as they stopped to learn more about Georgia.
The GPC also exhibited at the Georgia Ag Awareness Day at the State
Capitol and the Peanut Proud Festival in Blakely, Georgia. View photos
from all National Peanut Month events at gapeanuts.com.
Georgia Peanut Commission promotes peanuts
The Twitter party generated an
estimated 1.7 million impressions.
Parker Wallace, (right) pro-
ducer of What’s on Parkers
Plate, is interviewed by
Karla Heath-Sands, anchor
for WALB’s Today in
Georgia show in Albany.
Georgia Peanut Commission
and Peanut Proud donated
10,080 jars of peanut butter
to the Atlanta Community
Food Bank.
The Georgia Peanut
Commission exhibited at
the Peanut Proud Expo.
March - National Peanut Month promotions across the Southeast
The Alabama Peanut Producers
Association (APPA) celebrated
March – National Peanut Month with
a variety of promotions during the
entire month. In addition to posting
photos and information on social
media, APPA staff members
appeared on various radio and
television stations promoting the
health benefits of peanuts as well as
the farmers that grow them. Peanut
gift baskets from APPA were also
given away at the participating
media outlets.
Alabama Peanut Growers Association
celebrates National Peanut Month
Following a live interview
on WOOF-FM 99.7 in
Dothan, Ala. are (L-R)
John Houston, WOOF
99.7 radio morning host,
Caleb Bristow, APPA exec-
utive director, and Derrick
Jonzun, weekend DJ.
More than 600 high school
students from a seven county area in
southeast Alabama attended an Ag
Career Day recently held at Landmark
Park in Dothan, Alabama. Numerous
company representatives were on hand
to educate the students on a wide
variety of professions related to
agriculture. The Alabama Peanut
Producers Association exhibited at the
one day event.
The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC)
promoted peanuts at the Folds of Honor QuikTrip
500. During the race weekend, GPC distributed
22,500 packs of Georgia peanuts and information to
race fans. David Ragan, Georgia native and driver
of the number 23 car, stopped by the GPC exhibit to
sign autographs
during events on
Friday, Feb. 26. In
addition to the
exhibit, the GPC
will promote
peanuts year-round at the Atlanta Motor Speedway
with a billboard and digital signage at the entrance to
the speedway.
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 9
Reports from the:Alabama Peanut Producers AssociationFlorida Peanut Producers AssociationGeorgia Peanut CommissionMississippi Peanut Growers Association
Georgia Peanut Commission exhibits at Atlanta Motor Speedway
APPA exhibits at Alabama Food Service and Nutrition Exposition
Teresa Mays, (right) APPA information
specialist, visits with students at an Ag
Career Day held at Landmark Park in
Dothan, Ala.
APPA donates gift baskets for
Azalea Dogwood Pageant
The 52nd
Annual Azalea
Dogwood
Pageant, spon-
sored by Dothan
Leisure Services
and the National
Peanut Festival,
was held
Saturday, March
19, at the Dothan
Opera House in
Dothan, Alabama.
There were three
areas of competition: Maid of Honor,
Princess and Queen. Contestants must
maintain a “C” or above scholastic
average. Winners in each of the three
categories received a large peanut gift
basket from the Alabama Peanut
Producers Association.
Amanda Goforth,
administrative secre-
tary for Dothan
Leisure Services, is
pictured with the
baskets donated by
APPA.
David Ragan, signs autographs at the
Georgia Peanut Commission exhibit in
the Fan Zone during race weekend at
the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA)
recently participated in the 38th Alabama Food Service
and Nutrition Exposition held in Montgomery, Alabama,
on March 11, 2016. The theme for this year’s event was
“Home Grown Healthy” and featured a special VIP
breakfast sampling. As part of the morning segment,
APPA staff grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
for foodservice professionals to taste.
“People are more likely to consume fresh fruits and
vegetables when they are of high quality,” says Marget-
Ann Leonard, chairman of the 2016 expo. “When they
are well-nourished, children learn better.”
Leonard also explained that currently, there are several organizations working to
connect farmers to markets for their products. “Whether it’s direct to the consumer,
through restaurants or with buyers for schools, hospitals and other institutions, the time
is now for home grown healthy,” Leonard says.
The meeting is sponsored each year by the Alabama Association of Nutrition and
Foodservice Professionals, the Alabama Dietetic Association and the Alabama School
Nutrition Association.
APPA exhibits at career day
Teresa Mays, APPA information
specialist, exhibits at the Alabama
Food Service and Nutrition Expo
in Montgomery, Ala.
The Georgia Peanut Commission bill-
board at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Florida Peanut Producers Association open scholarship program
The Florida Peanut Producers Association announces the opening of their 2016
Scholarship Award Program. Two $1,200 scholarships will be awarded to deserving high
school seniors and/or college students. The applicant or someone in the applicant’s
family must be an actively producing peanut grower, not necessarily a member of the
FPPA. It is the intent of the Scholarship Award Committee, however, that the award
recipients attend a Florida junior college or four-year university.
For an application contact the FPPA office at 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 1, Marianna,
Florida, 32448, call 850-526-2590 or download the application online at flpeanuts.com.
The scholarship applications must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2016.
University of Georgia plant
pathologist Albert
Culbreath spent the 2015
growing season evaluating
ten runner peanut varieties to see which
ones have the best resistance or tolerance
to late leaf spot.
The test included new varieties that
have been released in the past few years
as well as the widely grown Georgia-06G.
In the test, the varieties TUFRunner
511 and Georgia-13M had the most leaf
spot damage. The least amount of leaf
spot was seen on the new TifNV High
O/L and Georgia-14M varieties.
TUFRunner 511 and Georgia-13M have
many positive attributes, but growers will
need to stay ahead of the leaf spot
epidemics in these cultivars.
“The new cultivars Georgia-14M and
TifNV High O/L both showed consider-
able resistance to late leaf spot, in
addition to their resistance to tomato
spotted wilt virus and root-knot
nematodes,” Culbreath says. “We’re plan-
ning trials for 2016 to determine how
many fungicide applications will be
needed for leaf spot control in these
cultivars, and whether we can grow them
without fungicides.”
Other varieties were in between these
extremes. These other varieties, rated
from least to the most leaf spot, were
Georgia-12Y, TUFRunner 727,
TUFRunner 297, Florun 107, Georgia-
06G and Georgia-09B. Although
Georgia-12Y doesn’t have a high level of
resistance to late leaf spot, it appears to
have considerable tolerance to the disease.
So it may allow reduction in fungicide
applications for leaf spot control as well.
Planting date also has an effect on
leaf spot damage. Characterization of that
effect is an objective of the thesis research
of Brian Jordan, one of Culbreath’s
graduate students. In a comparison of the
Georgia-12Y and the Georgia-06G
varieties, Jordan and Culbreath reported
that final leaf spot severity was less on
both varieties when planted on April 20.
The severity of the leaf spot for both
varieties increased as planting was
delayed. The final planting on May 25
had the most leaf spot.
The effects of planting date are
almost directly opposite for leaf spot and
tomato spotted wilt. Planting in April
typically represents higher risk to tomato
spotted wilt than later plantings.
However Georgia-12Y, Georgia-14N, and
TifNV High O/L all have resistance to
TSWV that should allow use of earlier
planting dates, thereby allowing growers
to benefit from both resistance and plant-
ing date effects on leaf spot. t
Rating runners on leaf spot resistance
BY JOHN LEIDNER
10 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
DISEASE GUIDEBOOK2016
Variety selection can result
in lower disease control
expenditures, according to
Austin Hagan, Alabama
Extension plant pathologist. For instance,
Hagan says the Georgia-12Y variety
could be selected for planting in fields
with a high incidence of white mold.
“The 12Y is white mold resistant,”
Hagan says. “It is late in maturity and a
good variety for April planting.”
In Hagan’s tests, he varied seeding
rates in plantings of the Georgia-06G,
Georgia-09B and Georgia-12Y varieties.
As seeding rates increased from three to
four to six to eight seed per foot, the
incidence of white mold increased for
both 06G and 09B. That’s to be expected,
as white mold is normally worse with
higher seeding rates. However, the 12Y
had uniformly low incidence of white
mold, with less than one percent of plants
infected, even with eight seed per foot.
By contrast, the Georgia-09B,
Georgia-13M, and TUFRunner 511
varieties are especially susceptible to leaf
spot. Hagan adds that TUFRunner 727
and TUFRunner 511 are among the
highest risks for suffering tomato spotted
wilt losses, so reduced tillage, twin row
spacing, delayed planting, and Thimet
in-furrow will reduce the risk for tomato
spotted wilt virus in these varieties.
For fields with severe nematodes, the
Tifguard and Georgia-14N varieties
would be a good choice. “Tifguard and
Georgia-14N may not always yield as
well as Georgia-06G, but both yield best
in fields with high root knot nematode
populations,” Hagan adds. t
Variety selection helps disease program
BY JOHN LEIDNER
Peanut leaf infestation of early leaf spot.
12 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
There’s no conclusive proof,
but there’s strong circum-
stantial evidence that leaf
spot is becoming resistant
to widely used strobilurin fungicides.
University of Georgia plant patholo-
gist Albert Culbreath recently tested the
strobilurin peanut fungicides Headline
and Abound. He reports that when these
two fungicides were used alone, they did
not perform nearly as well as they had in
previous years.
In 2015, he also tested the new fungi-
cide Elatus. Elatus contains azoxystrobin,
the same active ingredient in Abound, and
benzovindiflupyr, another active ingredi-
ent fungicide.
“Elatus performed very well for leaf
spot control under heavy late season
pressure in fields where full rates of
Abound did not,” Culbreath says.
Similarly, the fungicide Priaxor,
which contains pyraclostrobin, the active
ingredient in Headline, plus fluxapyroxad,
performed very well in 2015 when
Headline alone did not. Benzovindiflupyr
and fluxapyroxad are both succinate
dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI)
fungicides, and seem to be excellent
mixing partners with strobilurin
fungicides for leaf spot control.
“Although resistance to the
strobilurin fungicides has not been
demonstrated conclusively for the leaf
spot pathogens, it is very much
suspected,” Culbreath says.
“Dr. Katherine Stevenson, also with
UGA, is a plant pathologist who
specializes in fungicide resistance,”
Culbreath adds. “We’re working with her
to determine whether we’re dealing with
resistance to this class of fungicide, and if
so, how widespread it is in occurrence.”
Using fungicides with two different
modes of action should help to prolong
the useful life of fungicides, even when
resistant populations of leaf spot develop
to one of the fungicides, according to
Culbreath. He says that 2015 test results
with Priaxor and Elatus, both examples
of mixtures of two fungicides with
different modes of action, support that
hypothesis. t
Suspected fungicide resistance
BY JOHN LEIDNER
University of Georgia plant
pathologist Albert Culbreath has
examined the fungicide/nematicide
component of the new Velum Total
nematicide, and found that it shows good
potential for helping to control early
season leaf spot.
Fluopyram is the active ingredient of
the fungicide/nematicide portion of
Velum Total. Previous research showed
that Velum Total was active against
nematodes and thrips. The work by
Culbreath indicates that this product can
provide a triple whammy against three
major peanut problems—nematodes,
thrips and also early leaf spot.
Culbreath used in-furrow
applications of Velum Total and compared
these to in-furrow applications of the
fungicide Proline.
To make sure that early leaf spot was
abundant and a threat to peanuts,
Culbreath planted these peanut plots in
August one year and in September the
next year. He said the peanuts were
planted after severe early leaf spot
epidemics were seen in earlier planted
unsprayed border rows.
Following the in-furrow applications
of Velum Total and Proline, Culbreath
measured leaf spot incidence at regular
intervals following planting. He
concluded that the in-furrow Velum Total
provided good early leaf spot control
under heavy disease pressure during both
years of the study.
The in-furrow Velum Total delayed
the onset of early leaf spot in the peanut
plots. Under heavy disease pressure, the
in-furrow fluopyram was similar to the
prothioconazole in Proline during 2014
tests. But during 2015, the fluopyram
provided better results than the
prothioconazole.
Culbreath says use of in-furrow
applications of Velum Total just for leaf
spot control alone would not be justified,
and that banded applications of Proline, at
21 days after planting would probably
provide longer leaf spot control than the
in-furrow Velum Total.
While banded Proline may provide
longer control of leaf spot, the in-furrow
Velum Total may have a place in a leaf
spot management regime.
“I wouldn’t use Velum Total only for
leaf spot,” Culbreath says, “but if you
need it for nematode control or to help
manage cylindrocladium black rot (CBR),
the fluopyram in Velum Total may allow
you to cut out an additional leaf spot
fungicide application.” t
Velum for leaf spotFighting plant diseases can be an
expensive component of growing
peanuts. Austin Hagan, Extension plant
pathologist in Alabama, says fungicides
for leaf spot and white mold account for
10-20 percent of total variable costs.
He says crop rotation and planting
dates are practices that can affect peanut
diseases and overall spending in growing
peanuts. For instance, Hagan says that
by planting early, growers will minimize
leaf spot and risk getting more white
mold and spotted wilt. By planting later,
he says there should be less white mold
and spotted wilt but more leaf spot.
Hagan suggests that Orthene or its
equivalent could be used as a lower cost
control for thrips. “We needed two
applications of Orthene for thrips control
last year,” Hagan says. “We did, howev-
er, not see a yield bump from Orthene
but did with Thimet 20G and Velum
Total.”
Likewise, generic fungicides for leaf
spot and white mold can be used. He
suggests using a fungicide scheduling
program such as Peanut Rx may pay off
for growers who are using premium
fungicides. “Rx will be good for use
with premium fungicides, and it is well
suited for peanuts with good rotations,”
Hagan says. t
Disease controlon a budget
Disease Guidebook
BY JOHN LEIDNER
BY JOHN LEIDNER
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 13
Nicholas Dufault,
University of Florida plant
pathologist, says crop
rotation is always
important for peanut disease management.
He says it’s possible to get yield-limiting
diseases even when high quality fungicide
sprays are applied.
“Fungicides don’t control all
diseases,” Dufault says. “You also need to
get good leaf coverage with leaf spot
fungicides such as chlorothalonil. It’s like
suntan lotion—don’t leave a bare spot.”
One way to get better coverage is by
increasing your water volume used to
apply the fungicide. He uses 20 gallons of
water per acre in his test plots to make
sure he gets good coverage with
chlorothalonil.
Overall, Dufault believes farmers will
have more success in preventing rather
than trying to cure peanut diseases. For
soilborne diseases it is important to get
the fungicide into the soil, he advises.
Dufault says that rust, early and late
leaf spot will vary by location in Florida.
For instance, in 2015, he notes that rust
was worse in Quincy, while late leaf spot
was worse in Marianna and early leaf spot
was the major leaf disease in Citra.
His research has also observed
considerable differences in the ability of
fungicides to control early leaf spot, late
leaf spot and rust.
Based on data from his tests in 2014
and 2015, Dufault says Abound is weak in
controlling early and late leaf spot but
strong on rust control. Tebuconazole was
weak on late leaf spot but moderate to
strong in controlling rust and early leaf
spot. Headline was weak on early leaf
spot, moderate in controlling late leaf spot
and strong in controlling rust. Tilt was
weak on late leaf spot and moderate to
strong in controlling both early leaf spot
and rust. t
How to get the best use of fungicides
Targeting southern blight or stem rot
Alan Henn, Extension plant
pathologist in Mississippi,
is targeting southern blight
or stem rot in his peanut
tests. This is the disease many farmers
call white mold. Henn doesn’t call it that
because other disease organisms such as
Sclerotinia minor also produce what could
be called a white mold.
Whatever it’s called, the disease is
difficult to control because it is in the soil
and causes yield losses before the above-
ground symptoms are seen. “In heavy
soils, you don’t see it above ground until
later in the season,” Henn says. “This
happens in the silt-loam soils found in the
Mississippi Delta.”
To best control the disease in these
heavier soils, Henn recommends using 30
gallons of water per acre, and/or
nighttime spraying to make sure the
fungicide soaks into the soil where it is
needed. “Get it to the base of the roots,”
he advises. “The more water you use, the
better.”
Henn’s peanut studies are focusing on
application timing and if it makes a
difference what fungicide is applied
when. In his 2015 timing test, he used
Fontelis fungicide at 20 ounces per acre
because it was the most consistent
fungicide among all locations in his 2013
and 2014 tests. He started applications 40
days after 100 percent emergence and
then at two-week or longer intervals. The
test plots received two, three, four or
seven applications.
There were
three of these
fungicide timing
plots in his 2015
tests. One was dug
before he could
evaluate the plots
and the data was
lost. One did not
receive any rain
after late June. A
third plot received
light showers after
late June and
provided Henn with
some useful data.
This plot was
dry. Its rows did not
lap. Yet it had
enough small showers that wilt was not
bad. He concluded that timing does make
a difference. Total kernel weight was a lot
higher for certain treatments, according to
Henn.
He found that two traditional
applications at about 60 and 90 days after
emergence were as good as or better than
any treatment but the seven applications.
The two traditional applications made a
big difference, and produced higher yields
than not treating at all.
“It looks as though almost any time is
okay to apply the Fontelis, but the
applications at 60 and 90 days were
optimal when balancing costs and
returns,” Henn adds.
In another 2015 test, he applied
Abound, Fontelis and Provost fungicides
at the same timings used in the other 2015
study.
“It doesn’t seem to make a difference
which fungicide you use when, as long as
the fungicide is effective on southern
blight,” Henn says.
“Tebuconazole is also reasonably
effective against southern blight,” Henn
says, “but I would not rely on it for leaf
spot control.” For leaf spot, he prefers to
see applications of chlorothalonil
fungicides. t
Early hit of southern blight or stem rot on peanuts can be found in fields
across the Southeast.
Disease Guidebook
BY JOHN LEIDNER
BY JOHN LEIDNER
14 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
Priaxor is a new fungicide
from BASF designed as a
replacement product for
Headline fungicide.
Headline has been a premium product
for leaf spot control, but it has been erratic
as a control of soil borne diseases,
according to University of Georgia plant
pathologist Tim Brenneman.
Priaxor is a combination of
pyraclostrobin, the active ingredient in
Headline, and a new fungicide with the
common name of fluxapyroxad. Headline
had the tendency to cling to the leaves, and
would not wash off into the ground. That
probably helped its activity against early
and late leaf spot, but may have hindered
its activity against Sclerotium rolfsii, the
fungus that causes white mold.
“The fungicide needs to get to the soil
to provide good control of soilborne
diseases,” Brenneman says.
For peanuts, Priaxor is labeled at four
to eight fluid ounces per application and
up to three applications per year. For
control of both leaf spot and soilborne
diseases, BASF recommends using Priaxor
in two of the first three sprays. The
company says only six sprays for leaf spot
will be needed if Priaxor is the first spray
product.
With in-furrow applications, Priaxor
treatments trailed both Proline and Velum
Total in leaf spot control.
When tested at rates of four, six or
eight ounces per acre, all three Priaxor
rates gave surprisingly similar control of
white mold and leaf spot, according to
Brenneman. However, white mold is a
tougher target, and he suggests the higher
use rates for this disease.
University of Georgia plant
pathologist Albert Culbreath looked
closely at Priaxor as a control for leaf spot.
In his tests, Priaxor was superior to
Headline for leaf spot control.
Brenneman concludes that Priaxor is a
premium fungicide for leaf spot control,
and is a solution for what he calls the
“erosion of efficacy” seen in Group 11
fungicides such as Abound Headline. He
says while Priaxor is not the best choice
for in-furrow applications, it appears to
have good activity on white mold as a
broadcast spray. He plans additional
testing to see how effective Priaxor will be
against other diseases such as Rhizoctonia
limb rot and Cylindrocladium black rot. t
Priaxor vs. Headline
Nicholas Dufault,
University of Florida plant
pathologist, says generic
peanut fungicides may be
less expensive, but they don’t always
produce the highest yields.
He cites a study from Jay, Florida,
conducted by John Atkins. It showed that
the more expensive brand name
fungicides (non-generic) produced higher
yields and net profits than generic
fungicides.
Using data from his various fungicide
trial work in Citra, Florida, he is able to
relatively compare generic and
non-generic fungicide programs. “We get
2,000 pounds more from generic
fungicides than from not spraying at all,”
Dufault says.
He says Provost, Fontelis and Priaxor
are among some of the well known brand
name non-generic fungicides. “Non-
generic fungicides generally give more of
a yield boost,” Dufault says.
Based on his tests, he says the brand
name, non-generic fungicides can increase
spray costs by about $40 to 60 per acre
while potentially adding about 400
pounds per acre to the final peanut yield.
Fungicide rotation is critical for
quality disease control, however, it is
important to consider a spray program
that rotates in non-generic fungicides to
control additional diseases than what is
controlled by generic fungicides alone.
Dufault says that rotating fungicides also
will help prevent the likelihood of
selecting for fungal disease organisms
with resistance.
In his tests at Citra, applications of
chlorothalonil only increased yields by
500 pounds per acre. These tests also
included spray programs based on the
fungicides Abound, Convoy, Provost,
tebuconazole and Fontelis. All of these
fungicide programs increased yields over
that obtained from the chlorothalonil only
with the Provost program tending to
produce the highest yields, according to
Dufault.
His data showed that the Provost-
based program added nearly 2,000 pounds
in yield to the 500 extra pounds produced
chlorothalonil alone. The spray programs
based on tebuconazole, Abound and
Fontelis increased yields by about 1,000
pounds over those from the
chlorothalonil-only program. The Convoy
based programs usually increased yields
the least compared to the other fungicide
programs.
Dufault said one possible reason the
Convoy programs did not increase yields
as much as the other programs is because
there was little white mold observed in
these plots. “Convoy is a better choice for
white mold control than for leaf spot,” he
explains.
“By increasing your crop rotation and
by using non-generic fungicides, you will
increase yields and control diseases,”
Dufault says. “It will only take two or
three sprays to get 500, 1000, or even
2,300 pounds in higher yields when you
use non-generic fungicides.”
“It pays for a farmer to spend a little
more on a brand name fungicide,
especially if you use fungicides at the
right time by using a prescription
approach such as Peanut Rx,” Dufault
says. t
The case for non-generic fungicides
Tim Brenneman, University of Georgia plant
pathologist, has tested Priaxor for white mold
control in peanuts.
Disease Guidebook
BY JOHN LEIDNER
BY JOHN LEIDNER
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 15
An early-season Proline application is a fairly new
peanut disease control recommendation,
according to University of Georgia Extension
plant pathologist Bob Kemerait.
Proline can provide season-long benefits in white mold
control along with possible control of Rhizoctonia limb rot.
Good results have been obtained with Proline after peanut
emergence at the full rate of 5.7 fluid ounces per acre in a
banded application over the young peanut plants.
Kemerait says such a treatment also represents a significant
financial investment. He says growers should keep in mind that
Proline is not likely to provide all of the white mold control that
is needed, and that early-season Proline should be followed by a
standard soilborne fungicide program.
The full 5.7-ounce rate should be banded over young peanut
plants, whether they are growing in single or in twin rows.
Tests in 2011 suggested that the yield benefits from the
early Proline would be improved with a single treatment at five
weeks after planting. In this test, treatment at the five-week date
outyielded treatments applied two weeks after planting. The
ideal application time will likely vary from one season to
another based on weather conditions, according to Kemerait.
“The ideal application time will likely vary from one season
to another based on weather conditions,” Kemerait says, “but the
optimum window is likely three-to-five weeks after planting.”
The early-season Proline will also give growers a head start
in controlling leaf spot, according to Kemerait. t
BY JOHN LEIDNER
Make the most of Proline
Europe clamps downon fungicide residue
Disease Guidebook
BY JOHN LEIDNER
The European Union has reduced the maximum
residue level for propiconazole on imported
peanuts from the 2016 crop, according to Austin
Hagan, Alabama Extension plant pathologist.
Propiconazole is an active ingredient in Tilt, Tilt-Bravo,
Bumper, Propimax and Artisan.
Hagan says the 2015 crop is unaffected, and no other crops
are affected. The EPA registration for the active ingredient is
also unaffected. Farmers should not apply propiconazole to any
peanuts that have a chance of being exported.
“It is still legal to use propiconazole, but you don’t know if
your peanuts will end up going to Europe, the safe bet is not to
use it,” Hagan says.
Despite the clampdown on propiconazole residues, Hagan
says Syngenta plans to re-register this fungicide product on
peanut in Europe. t
“We do not see enough
scouting of our state’s peanut
acreage,” says University of
Georgia Extension
entomologist Mark Abney.
Clearly, Abney would like to see
more peanut farmers scout their own
acres, or hire competent consultants who
provide professional scouting services.
For example, Abney says it can cost
up to $16 per acre for premium
insecticides that target foliage feeding
insects. “You may be wasting that money
if you don’t scout your peanuts,” he
explains.
Abney says growers often put out
insecticides when they are applying
fungicides. “You don’t always have to
treat for insects,” he adds. “And if you do
treat for insects, that treatment should be
based on the results of scouting.”
Scouting can also pay off when
insects such as spider mites migrate from
adjacent fields into peanuts. In such cases,
the best treatment could be to just spray
the perimeters of peanut fields.
Abney and other entomologists
recommend spraying insect pests when
their numbers exceed those of economic
thresholds. For some insect pests, these
treatment thresholds either do not exist or
are out of date. “Even in the absence of
thresholds, it is important to scout for
these pests,” Abney adds.
According to Abney, scouting will
help ensure that insecticides are applied
only when they are needed. Scouting also
helps to make sure that insecticide
applications will be timely and will
prevent yield losses.
Scouting can save you a lot of money
that you’d be spending if you apply
insecticides based on gut instincts or
based on what your neighbors are doing.
So the biggest value from scouting may
come from savings on insecticide
applications that are not needed. Abney
says, “The recommendation not to spray
may be the most profitable one your
consultant or scout can make for you.”
Ayanava Majumdar, Extension
entomologist in Alabama, has developed a
chart that tells when to scout for major
peanut insect pests.
The chart identifies months when
insect pest activity is considered normal,
and the months when pest activity peaks.
Under normal pest activity, Majumdar
recommends weekly scouting in peanut
fields. Under periods when pest activity
tends to peak, he recommends intensify-
ing crop scouting.
Peak activity for thrips tends to occur
during April. For foliage feeders such as
corn earworm, tobacco budworm, beet
armyworm, fall armyworm, loopers, green
cloverworm and velvetbean caterpillar,
the peak months are likely to be July or
August. Spider mites and burrower bugs
peak during August and September,
according to Majumdar.
August is the peak month for root-
worms, lesser cornstalk borers and three
cornered alfalfa hoppers. t
Scouting Calendar
16 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
When to scout for what
April May June July August September
Thrips
Corn earworm
Tobacco
budworm
Beet armyworm
Fall armyworm
Loopers
Green cloverworm,
velvetbean caterpillar
Spider mite
Rootworm
Lesser cornstalk borer
Burrower bug
TCAH
Normal activity period - weekly crop scouting
Peak activity period - intensive crop scouting recommended
2016INSECT GUIDEBOOK
BY JOHN LEIDNER
Spider mites tend to be a
problem on peanuts during
hot, dry weather, especially in
non-irrigated fields. Jeff Gore,
Mississippi State University entomologist
based at Stoneville, says spider mites are
an occasional problem in peanuts, but they
can be devastating when they do occur.
“There are not a lot of spider mite controls
available for their management, making
them even more important,” he says.
Comite II is the only miticide current-
ly labeled for use in peanuts. It’s also true
that spraying insecticides to control foliage
feeding insects and applications of granular
Lorsban can make spider mite populations
worse. These flared populations of spider
mites can be especially difficult to control
in peanuts.
One reason that spider mite control is
difficult is due to the tendency of immature
spider mites to spend most of the time on
the undersides of leaves making coverage
of the product used very important.
Gore has tested several insecticides for
mite control and reports that a combination
of Comite II and bifenthrin (brand name
Brigade) obtained good control. Control of
spider mites was relatively poor when
either of those products were applied
alone. Applying bifenthrin, or any other
pyrethroid, alone when spider mites are
present in peanut can result in rapid
increases in mite populations.
Gore has obtained good results in
trials with several products that are not
currently registered for use on peanut.
With the help of Alan Henn, one of these
products may become available through the
IR-4 program. Henn serves as the IR-4
coordinator for Mississippi. IR-4 is head-
quartered at Rutgers University in New
Jersey and is a cooperative program by
university scientists aimed at getting
chemical controls labeled for use on minor
crops. t
Spider mite controls Leaf loss studies
Three cornered alfalfa hoppers
Ever since he became Georgia
Extension entomologist
several years ago, Mark
Abney has been working
hard to identify practical treatment
thresholds for peanut insect pests.
One of those pests is the three
cornered alfalfa hopper. University of
Georgia graduate student Brendan Beyer
has been part of these studies. The insect
punctures and girdles the peanut stems.
Beyer calls the pest a phloem feeder
because it deprives the plant of the juices it
needs to grow. There are normally two
population peaks of adult hoppers per
season, according to Beyer.
“Three cornered alfalfa hoppers are
abundant in fields, but there has been little
documentation of yield loss,” Beyer says.
He estimates about half of Georgia peanuts
are treated for three cornered alfalfa
hoppers, mostly during July.
To test the treatment threshold, Beyer
built small screened cages and grew three
plants of Georgia-06G peanuts in each
cage. He also added immature alfalfa
hopper nymphs to the cages. The
treatments included zero, one, five, or ten
nymphs per plant. These treatments were
based off of a preliminary threshold of one
nymphs per plant.
He looked at early infestations in June
and late infestations in early September,
and rated the plants as low, medium or
high for girdling. He notes that peanut
plants become tougher late in the season,
and as a result, they are not as easy for the
pests to damage the stems through
girdling.
The studies showed no correlation
between girdling and plant biomass, but a
weak correlation between girdling and
yield was observed. Beyer concluded that
low to moderate infestations will not affect
plant biomass. Based on his data, he said
three cornered alfalfa hoppers could reduce
peanut yield, additional research is still
needed. His later tests will simulate a
heavier infestation by adding 20 nymphs
per plant.
Beyer also notes that it is difficult to
scout three cornered alfalfa hoppers in the
nymph stage because they are so small and
so hard to see. He has also not seen any
connection between three cornered alfalfa
hoppers and peanut diseases, but this pos-
sible relationship needs additional study. t
Insect Guidebook
BY JOHN LEIDNER
BY JOHN LEIDNER
Caterpillar insects
damage peanuts
primarily by
defoliating the plants.
Whether or not to spray for
caterpillars depends on how much
yield loss to expect. It’s also true that
peanuts have a remarkable ability to
outgrow much of the leaf loss caused
by insects without hurting yields.
The question is how much leaf
loss can peanuts stand before they
start losing yield.
Entomology studies in
Mississippi suggest that the yield
losses from foliage feeding insects
will depend on when during plant
growth that the leaves are lost.
Jeff Gore, Mississippi State
University entomologist based in
Stoneville, says that it is not unusual
for two, three or more species of
caterpillars to cause defoliation at the
same time.
“We want to identify our
treatment threshold, and base it on
the defoliation percentage,” Gore
says.
In 2014, he intentionally
defoliated peanut plants in an attempt
to establish treatment thresholds.
Yields decreased from 100 percent
defoliation when the plants were 110
days old. Later in the growing
season, there was little or no yield
reduction from defoliation, according
to Gore.
In 2014, yields were reduced
when defoliation took place at 35, 50,
65, 80 and 95 days after planting. In
2015, yield losses in the test were
greatest when defoliation took place
at 110 days after emergence.
In another phase of the 2015
tests, defoliation at various levels
took place at 40 and 80 days after
planting. Overall, peanuts defoliated
40 days after planting yielded much
higher than those defoliated 80 days
after planting. The lowest yields in
this test came from 100 percent
defoliation 80 days after planting.
“We also saw significant yield
reduction with 20 percent defoliation
80 days after planting,” Gore says. t
BY JOHN LEIDNER
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 17
18 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
Thrips have gotten strongerT
obacco thrips resistance to
neonicotinoid insecticides
is becoming widespread
across the Southeast and
the Mid-South, reports Ames Herbert,
Virginia Tech entomologist.
So far, resistant tobacco thrips
populations have been identified in
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi Tennessee,
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas according
to Herbert. He and his colleagues collect-
ed thrips populations from five locations
in Virginia last year, and found that thrips
were resistant to Gaucho at four locations
with survival rates that ranged from 13
percent to 60 percent, and resistant to
Cruiser at all locations with survival rates
that ranged from 16 percent to 44 percent.
Herbert and his colleagues also
evaluated some newer insecticides for
thrips control. One of these was Velum
Total by Bayer CropScience which
contains the same insecticide as Admire
Pro. Others were Verimark and Exirel
which are products of Dupont. Both have
the same active ingredient but Verimark is
applied as a liquid in-furrow treatment
and Exirel is applied as a foliar spray.
Herbert said both products provide
control of thrips but the foliar applied
Exirel does a consistently better job
compared with Verimark
Radiant by Dow AgroSciences is not
a new product but was also evaluated and
generally performed better at a three-
ounce rate than at one-and-a-half ounces.
“Thimet, and AMVAC products, is
Thimet,” Herbert says. “It has worked for
30 years, and it still provides good
control.”
In their counts of immature thrips
following treatment, the scientists
reported that combinations of Cruiser
Maxx seed treatment, a product of
Syngenta, plus either Thimet or Admire
Pro provided better control than Cruiser
Maxx plus Orthene, or Cruiser Max or
Dynasty alone.
Herbert said the top performing
combinations included Cruiser Maxx plus
Admire Pro in-furrow plus Orthene
broadcast. Also performing well were
Cruiser Maxx plus Admire Pro, Cruiser
Max plus Thimet plus Orthene, and
Admire Pro plus Orthene.
University of Georgia Extension
entomologist Mark Abney says yield
losses from thrips are usually much
higher in North Carolina and Virginia
than what he sees in Georgia.
Though he has not tested Exirel or
Verimark, he has looked at Velum Total,
and it looks to be a good product for
thrips control. “This is not unexpected,”
Abney says, “because the active
ingredient in Velum is the same as that in
Admire Pro. That product has been
around for a long time. I try to remind
growers that Velum Total targets both
nematodes and thrips. For growers who
do not need the nematode control, the
Admire Pro is a much cheaper way to
control the thrips.” t
New viruses from ThripsSpotted wilt is bad enough, but now
there are new virus threats transmitted to
peanuts by thrips. University of Georgia
entomologists Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan
and Mark Abney have seen a spike in what
appears to be spotted wilt incidence or
something similar during 2014 and 2015.
Their latest studies are designed to
find out if close relatives of tomato
spotted wilt virus are causing the increase
in disease incidence, especially that seen
on the widely grown Georgia-06G variety.
In particular, they’re looking for the
Groundnut ringspot virus and the Tomato
chlorotic spot virus. So far, these viruses
have not been found in Georgia, but they
have shown up in South Florida. Like
tomato spotted wilt virus, these viruses
transmitted by thrips, and are called
tospoviruses.
As in many instances before, it may
be a matter of time before these viruses
move from Florida into Georgia, according
to Srinivasan. He suggests that it would be
prudent to start monitoring peanut varieties
for their susceptibility and tolerance to
these new viruses. t
Thrips getting stronger in Mississippi
Jeff Gore, Mississippi State
University entomologist who
works in Stoneville, is
concerned that thrips are
developing resistance to thiamethoxam,
the insecticide component of CruiserMaxx
Peanuts.
At-planting insecticides are
recommended in Mississippi to control
thrips and other early season insect pests.
Gore says CruiserMaxx Peanuts usually
produced similar yields to peanuts grown
with other at-planting insecticides. In tests
conducted during 2015, CruiserMaxx
resulted in a 540-pound per acre yield
benefit over untreated peanuts compared
to 881 pounds for Thimet, and more than
1,100 pounds per acre for both Velum
Total and Admire Pro. However, he notes
that thrips resistance to Cruiser jumped
dramatically from 2014 levels to those
seen in 2015.
Velum Total is a nematicide that
contains the same imidacloprid insecticide
active ingredient as Admire Pro.
“I get questions every year about
spraying thrips in peanuts,” Gore says.
“All of the historical data said don’t worry
about spraying for thrips. That was
because the older varieties were
susceptible to tomato spotted wilt virus
and the virus spread to more plants after
thrips were sprayed.
In tests on thrips control in 2014, he
saw significant yield increases from foliar
sprays with acephate. The test area also
had extensive peanut injury from Valor
herbicide where heavy rains occurred as
the peanuts were emerging and that may
explain why they saw the benefit from the
foliar sprays.
“We saw some depressed yields from
the Valor, but the peanuts can overcome
some of that with a thrips control
treatment,” Gore observed. “Our current
recommendation to farmers will be to use
foliar applications for thrips where we see
any kind of early season stress. Currently,
we are continuing research to look at the
impact of multiple early season stresses,
including thrips, on peanut yields.” t
Insect Guidebook
BY JOHN LEIDNER
BY JOHN LEIDNER BY JOHN LEIDNER
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 19
A trap for Burrower Bugs
Burrower bugs pose a big threat to peanuts, according to University of
Georgia Extension entomologist Mark Abney. The pest is sporadic
and spends a lot of time in the soil. The pest is difficult to monitor
on a wide scale, and is elusive to scout on a field scale.
Weather also has an impact on burrower bug activity. There seems to be fewer
bugs and less damage during rainy weather.
One of the main ways that burrower bugs hurt farmers is in grading at the
buying point. Peanuts free of burrower bugs often grade seg 1, while those with
burrower bug infestations are classified as seg 2 or damaged peanuts.
“There are relatively few peanuts that are Seg 2 from burrowing bugs, but if
you have them, then it is bad,” Abney says.
Abney says Georgia studies
during 2014 and earlier studies in
Texas indicated that a light trap
might be effective in collecting the
bugs when they are mating or
moving from one location to
another.
Abney says commercial insect
light traps are expensive, about
$500 each. So he worked with
some of his colleagues to come up
with a lower cost light trap, one
that would cost only about $100
each. Abney credits his colleague
Glen Raines for developing the
lower cost light trap.
The traps were equipped with
solar chargers that would turn on
at dusk and turn off at dawn.
During the 2015 tests, they
collected no burrower bugs in the
light traps, mainly because of frequent evening thunderstorms that reduced the
flights of the bugs.
Abney plans to use the light traps again this year, starting in June when the
bug flights tend to peak. He and his colleagues are also looking at alternative
designs to create larger trap openings that might capture more bugs.
If the light trapping is successful, Abney hopes to develop a risk assessment
tool that would advise growers when to use cultural practices such as deep land
turning or irrigation, along with chemical treatments such as Lorsban.
Lorsban, however, is an organosphosphate insecticide that is being targeted by
regulatory officials for elimination. If Lorsban is banned, Abney hopes nighttime
foliar spraying may offer a possible alternative control. t
Insect Guidebook
BY JOHN LEIDNER
For additional information
throughout the growing
season, check out Mark
Abney’s blog at:
blog.extension.uga.edu/peanutent
Mark Abney, University of Georgia Extension peanut
entomologist, plans to begin using the light traps in
2016 in June when the burrower bug flights tend to
peak.
House Agriculture Committee reviews
USDA organization and administration of
programsIn two separate hearings, the U.S. House Agriculture
Committee reviewed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
(USDA) current structure and program administration. The
hearings included senior USDA officials from all of the
agencies.
Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, commented, “It is our
responsibility as committee members to work in tandem with
USDA, advocating on behalf of American consumers and
producers. It is also our responsibility to provide rigorous
oversight of USDA activities. On both accounts, I have
enjoyed working with Secretary Vilsack and his team, and I
thank them for their participation this week. Hearing from
every mission area at USDA over a two-day period provides a
unique opportunity to see how all of the various parts of
USDA work together. I hope to continue these conversations as
we move forward.”
USDA recognizes success of school
breakfast programThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commemo-
rated the 50th anniversary of its School Breakfast Program by
shining a light on the positive impacts of school breakfast.
Over the course of this administration, participation in school
breakfast programs has increased by almost 27 percent; more
than 14 million students are now eating school breakfast each
day.
To help support the ongoing success of the School
Breakfast Program and other child nutrition programs,
Agriculture Undersecretary Kevin Concannon announced that
USDA will award up to $6.8 million in competitive Team
Nutrition Training Grants to help schools and child care sites
sustain the implementation of the healthier meals made possi-
ble by the bipartisan Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010.
“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the School
Breakfast Program, we reflect on the great strides the program
has made in strengthening the health and nutrition of children
in America. The School Breakfast Program allows millions of
students to start their day with a well-balanced breakfast,
which, in turn, is linked to better performance in the class-
room, better attendance, and better health,” Concannon says.
USDA research found that students with access to school
breakfast tend to have a better overall diet and a lower body
mass index (BMI) than did nonparticipants. Other research has
shown that students who consume breakfast make greater
strides on standardized tests, pay attention and behave better in
class, and are less frequently tardy, absent or visiting the
nurse’s office.
Washington Outlookby Robert L. Redding Jr.
20 Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2016
Senate fails to move the GMO labeling billWith the new Vermont genetically modified organism (GMO)
labeling law set to begin on July 1, the U.S. Senate rebuked the
Senate Agriculture Committee’s effort to head off the impact from
the Vermont law. The Biotechnology Labeling Solutions bill has
not been rescheduled for consideration to date.
Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas,
commented after the 48-49 floor vote failed to invoke cloture:
“For more than a year, I have called on my colleagues across
the aisle to come to the negotiating table to address the problems
facing the nation’s marketplace should states continue to mandate
confusing and differing biotechnology labeling standards. I have
repeatedly put forward proposals to protect farmers, manufactur-
ers, retailers, and consumers. I have been flexible and have
compromised in order to address concerns about making informa-
tion available to consumers. Simply put, if we are to have a
solution, opponents of our bill must be willing to do the same.
And yet opponents of this approach would not put forward a
proposal for a vote. Why is that? Will their proposals pass the
Senate or better yet, the House? In short, where is their solution?
Without their own solution, opponents of this bill must favor
the status quo. We cannot stand on the sidelines and risk
increasing costs for consumers and further uncertainty in the
marketplace for farmers and manufacturers. If we do not act,
everyone loses. I have acted to provide a responsible, enforceable,
scientific and proactive approach to arm consumers with the
information they want to make informed choices about what to
put on the dinner table.
But most important, I respect the work of our farmers and
ranchers that produce the food and fiber to feed a troubled and
hungry world. Farmers, manufacturers and consumers should ask
their Senator if they can say the same.
My approach to labeling acknowledges what many American
consumers forget: our food is abundant, affordable and safe. We
must continue our reliance on science and technology to ensure
our continued prosperity. I remain at the ready to work on a
solution to a critical problem that will face every American every
day.”
Ag Data AvailabiltyA number of farm organizations are showing increased
interest in how new technologies and data are impacting farmers.
This includes issues of security, information availability relative
to equipment repair, ownership of the information, telematics, etc.
Some states are now considering legislation to address farmer
concerns about the availability of information from equipment
and technology providers.
This is an issue that has been debated at great length in the
automobile industry.
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 21
Members of Class IX of
the Peanut Leadership
Academy visited
Washington D.C.
Feb. 28 – March 3 for the fourth and final
session of the leadership program before
graduating this upcoming summer. During
the session, attendees had the opportunity
to hear from industry representatives and
discuss policy development, U.S. trade
and export markets, as well as receive
overall updates on the U.S. peanut
industry.
Day one of the session consisted of
meetings with industry representatives
including: Bob Redding, The Redding
Firm; Ashley Jones and Sharon Bomer
Lauritsen, U.S. Trade Representative;
Robbie Minnich, senior government
relations representative, National Cotton
Council; Jay Howell, Howell Associates;
representatives of the U.S. House
Committee on Agriculture; Patrick Archer
and Stephanie Grunenfelder, American
Peanut Council; Richard Flournoy, USDA
Risk Management Agency; and Leigh
Allen, National Black Growers Council.
During this time, participants were able to
learn more about the trade and export
market, particularly as it relates to
peanuts, as well as hear how agricultural
industry groups are working on their
behalf.
Day two kicked off by meeting with
legislators on Capitol Hill. During these
meetings, participants were able to visit
with U.S. senators and representatives
from the peanut-producing states in the
Southeast, Virginia/Carolina area and
Texas. PLA participants were able to
discuss concerns related to their respec-
tive states, as well as express gratitude for
their delegation’s service and support. To
conclude day two, participants had a spe-
cial opportunity to meet with Rep. Mike
Conaway, R-Texas, chairman of the
House Committee on Agriculture and
USDA Farm and Foreign Agriculture
Services chief of staff, Ben Thomas.
The Peanut Leadership Academy,
coordinated by the Southern Peanut
Farmers Federation and sponsored by
Syngenta Crop Protection and the
American Peanut Shellers Association,
provides leadership training for young
farmers and sheller representatives
throughout the peanut industry. Through
the training, participants gain valuable
leadership skills to be used in the future
and gain insight into many different types
of issues the peanut industry faces.
Additional information on the Peanut
Leadership Academy is available online at
www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. t
Peanut Leadership Academy travels to Washington D.C.
BY JESSIE BLAND
Peanut Leadership Academy participants meet with Rep. Mike Conaway, chairman of the House
Committee on Agriculture. Pictured left to right, front row: Jessie Bland, Georgia Peanut Commission;
Russ Walters, Alabama; B. Jones, Mississippi; Brian Byrd, Alabama; Kelton Coleman, Texas;
Congressman Conaway; Jeremy Sessions, Alabama; Shelly Nutt, Texas Peanut Producers
Association; Levi Findley, Florida; Frank Moore, Syngenta; Meredith Rogers, Georgia; back row:
Japheth Saecker, Birdsong Peanuts; Trey Sanchez, Florida; Marshall Speake, Alabama; Paul Huber,
Birdsong Peanuts; Jeremy Rolling, Florida; Mike Wood, Syngenta; Caleb Bristow, Alabama Peanut
Producers Association; Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association; Austin Warbington,
Georgia; Lee Prather, Syngenta; Colton Farrow, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts; and Bubba Curry,
Georgia.
Peanut Leadership Academy participants meet with USDA FFAS Chief of Staff Ben Thomas. Pictured
left to right, front row: John Powell, American Peanut Shellers Association; Colton Farrow, Golden
Peanut and Tree Nuts; Levi Findley, Florida; Jessie Bland, Georgia Peanut Commission; Chief of Staff
Ben Thomas; Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association; Brian Byrd, Alabama; Frank Moore,
Syngenta; Austin Warbington, Georgia; Jeremy Sessions, Alabama; Lee Prather, Syngenta; back row:
Caleb Bristow, Alabama Peanut Producers Association; Bubba Curry, Georgia; B. Jones, Mississippi;
Russ Walters, Alabama; Paul Huber, Birdsong Peanuts; Marshall Speake, Alabama; Jeremy Rolling,
Florida; Kelton Coleman, Texas; Trey Sanchez, Florida; Meredith Rogers, Georgia; Shelly Nutt, Texas
Peanut Producers Association; Mike Wood, Syngenta; and Japheth Saecker, Birdsong Peanuts.
Southern Peanut Growers and Georgia
Peanut Commission exhibit at the
Southern Women’s Show in SavannahSouthern Peanut
Growers and Georgia Peanut
Commission exhibited at the
Southern Women’s Show
February 26 - 28 in
Savannah, Georgia. Nearly
13,000 people attended the
three-day show at the
Savannah International
Trade & Convention Center.
The exhibit featured the
new peanut field backdrop
and visits with two local
peanut farmers, Joe
Boddiford and Andy Owens.
Guests could pick up recipes and recipe brochures, sample
peanut butter dishes such as Peanut Butter Toffee Dip and
Peanut Butter Gelato, and receive promotional items such as
peanut butter spreaders, cutting boards and measuring cups.
Don Koehler took the Celebrity Cooking Stage each day
to entertain the guests while showing them how to make
Peanut Butter Gelato and Peanutty Peach Crisp, Savannah
Style BBQ gone Nuts and Peanut Apple Chutney, and Spicy
Shrimp with PB Dipping Sauce.
Southern Peanut Growers will exhibit at the Southern
Women's Show in Nashville, Tenn. April 14 - 17. The
Nashville show is one of the largest Southern Women's
Shows with nearly 40,000 people in attendance each year.
Cooking demonstrations each day will feature Mother's Day
Powered by Peanuts with recipes such as the Peanut Butter
Breakfast Bread Pudding.
Southern Peanut Growers
Marketing arm of Southern Peanut Growers1025 Sugar Pike Way · Canton, Georgia 30115
(770) 751-6615 · FAX (770) 751-6417
email: [email protected]
Visit our website at
http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com
Uncle Maddio’s Pizza introduces Thai flavors
with peanuts and peanut butter sauceUncle Maddio’s Pizza is offering
ThaiTastic Salad and Sriracha Chicken Pizza
in April and May. The two Southeast
Asian-flavored items are inspired by the
complex sweet-sour-salty-spicy flavor of
Thai cuisine. Both items feature a homemade
Thai peanut butter sauce, a sweet and spicy
honey Sriracha dressing and chopped
peanuts.
Uncle Maddio’s has partnered with the
Southern Peanut Growers and is committed
to sourcing its peanuts from American peanut
farmers for the Thai menu items. The
partnership will be supported by a joint
social media campaign between Uncle
Maddio's and the Southern Peanut Growers.
Uncle Maddio’s Pizza currently operates
almost 50 locations in 15 states, with more
than 275 units in development. Making more than 5 million pizzas a
year, Uncle Maddio’s is the category leader of the create-your-own,
fast casual pizza restaurants.
Southern Peanut Growers celebrates March,
National Peanut Month with a Twitter PartyTo celebrate the kick-off of
this year’s PB My Way: For Life
recipe contest, SPG hosted a
Twitter Party to foster online
discussion about peanut butter’s
versatility as an ingredient and
spark recipe ideas that incorporate
peanut butter into snack time,
family-tested, sweet celebrations
and fit fuel recipes. The party also
encouraged participation in SPG’s
PB My Way contest. Co-host Katie
Workman, author of “The Mom 100 Cookbook,” offered her own
creative culinary ideas and photos to this successful social event.
Leading up to the event, SPG promoted the Twitter Party via
targeted Twitter invites, Facebook posts, and Katie’s social media
mentions. By the day of the Twitter Party, fans and followers were
excited to chat about PB. The Twitter Party resulted in a 6 percent
increase in SPG’s Twitter followers and more than 1.7 million
impressions.
Georgia Peanut Commission vice chairman Joe Boddiford (left)
greets a consumer in the new peanut field backdrop while Andy
Owens, GPC advisory board member, (right) visits with consumers
checking out recipes and nutritional information at the Southern
Womens’ Show booth in Savannah.
Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut
Commission executive director,
presents a cooking demo on the
cooking stage during the Southern
Women’s Show in Savannah.
April 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer 23