Commodities: Fieldcrops: Peanuts: 2007 Peanut Update

The Importance of Rotation and Acreage Management

John P. Beasley, Jr.

Higher corn prices and lack of peanut contract offers prior to the end of 2006 have producers considering planting more corn and less peanut in 2007. Only time will tell if this will hold true.

Research has clearly shown that peanut responds with higher yield and grade to a long rotation. The University of Georgia’s recommendation is to plant peanut in the same field once every three years or longer. When peanut is planted in the same field every other year, or two out of three years, yield potential decreases (see chart below). The worse case scenario is when peanut is planted in the same field in consecutive years. The only time it is recommended to plant peanut in the same field in back-to-back years is when: a) it is the first time that peanut is planted in a field or, (b) if it has been a very long time since peanut was planted in a field (a minimum of 7years or preferably longer). When analyzing the production practices of the winners of the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club (top peanut yields in Georgia each year), the one key factor that each of the winners has is a long rotation. Most of the top yields in the state are following a minimum of four years between peanut crops in the same field.

Source: USDA - National Peanut Research Lab, Dawson, GA

Peanut acreage in Georgia increased from 545,000 acres in 2003, to 620,000 acres in 2004, to 750,000 acres in 2005, and back down to 680,000 acres in 2006. As we increase peanut acreage we reduce the acreage available for rotational crops such as cotton and corn. Cotton acreage has held relatively stable in the 1.2 – 1.3 million acre range the past three years. Most of the peanut acreage increase has come at the expense of corn acreage. Grass crops such as corn and grain sorghum are the best options for rotation. The peanut acreage increase in the southeast corner of our peanut belt has helped the cotton crop by reducing the pressure from nematodes. The data in the chart below shows the importance of rotation length and the crops used in rotation. Peanut responds to cotton and corn the same. As the years between crops increases, yield potential increases.

Source: USDA - National Peanut Research Lab, Dawson, GA
 
Will peanut acreage drop again in 2007??
There is a lot of discussion concerning increasing corn acreage in 2007 in Georgia due to the increased demand and higher prices (about $4.00 per bushel in late fall 2006). This is despite the high price of nitrogen over the past two years. Only time will tell how much peanut acreage will drop in response to these other factors. Please keep in mind the importance of a long rotation to yield potential of peanut when deciding what crops to plant in each field in 2007. An increase in corn acreage will help peanut rotations. Any time we can incorporate more acreage of a grass crop like corn in a rotation sequence it will improve peanut yield potential.

Some producers may be considering planting peanut in 2007 where soybean was planted in 2006. This would not be a wise decision. The fastest spreading disease in Georgia at this time is Cylindrocladium black rot, or CBR. The fungal organism that causes CBR causes red root rot in soybean. The best way to control CBR is with a long rotation (minimum of 5 years between peanut crops in an infected field). Planting peanut following soybean in a field that has CBR is perpetuating the problem. It would be no different than planting peanut following peanut.

Planted acreage for crop years 2003-2006 in Georgia.

Source: USDA – National Agricultural Statistics Service

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