Commodities: Fieldcrops: Peanuts: 2008 Peanut Update

2008 Peanut Update

The Importance of Rotation and Acreage Management

R. Scott Tubbs and John P. Beasley, Jr.

As mentioned in the 2007 Peanut Update, higher corn prices and a lack of peanut contract offers at the end of 2006 did lead to more corn and less peanut being planted in 2007.  At 530,000 acres, it was peanut’s smallest land commitment since 2002.  While corn prices remain high, the demand for water and fertilizer make it costly to produce a good crop.  Couple that with aggressive 2008 contract offers for peanut in late 2007, and it is anticipated that land planted to peanut will increase in 2008 after two consecutive years of declining acreage.

Planted acreage for crop years 2003-2007 in Georgia.

Source: USDA – National Agricultural Statistics Service

The University of Georgia recommends a minimum of three years between peanut crops in the same field.  Research has consistently shown higher yields and grade when a long rotation is in place.  The winners of the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club’s top peanut yield awards all have one thing in common – a long rotation (typically four years or more between peanut crops in the same field).  The only time two consecutive peanut crops should ever be considered is if peanut has not been planted in at least the last 7 years in that field.

Since contracts well in excess of $500 per ton have already been offered for 2008 peanuts, there will be temptations to plant peanuts in fields that have had peanuts in the last two years.  There is potential for a short-term gain if this is done, especially if contracts are lower next year.  However, this is not advisable from a sustainability standpoint and could end up being more costly over time.  Short-term rotations have great potential to increase major pest issues in peanut, including diseases, weeds, nematodes, and insects.  In the long run, extra measures must be taken to control a problem that could have been avoided by adhering to a proper rotation.  There is a serious risk involved if sound production practices are abandoned to chase the current market.  If the same market price is offered next year, making the difference between a two and a three year rotation, then the mistake of a short-term rotation this year becomes magnified.  Yields would be sacrificed and additional pest problems could be introduced to boot.

Markets are difficult to predict, but long-term rotations have consistent data to prove its benefits.  The gamble of trying to secure a larger payout this year can be offset with the stability in sustainable systems.  When extra time and resources do not have to be devoted to getting avoidable problems under control, operations are easier to manage and allow the grower to commit his/her time to other profitable activities.  Thus, the higher yields of peanut and the other crops in rotation pay off in smaller increments, but on a steady basis.

 The crops used in rotation with peanut are also important considerations.  The increase in soybean acreage in 2007 may have some producers considering planting peanut where soybean was planted last year.  This decision could have devastating consequences.  The fastest spreading disease in Georgia presently is Cylindrocladium black rot (CBR).  This is a soilborne disease caused by the same fungal organism that causes red root rot in soybean.  Therefore, in terms of reducing incidence of CBR by rotating non-hosts, planting peanut after a soybean crop would be just as deleterious as consecutive peanut crops.  If CBR does become an issue, the best mechanism for control is to remove peanut and soybean from rotations for a minimum of 5 years.  It is also suggested to clean equipment and shoes after being in a field with CBR to decrease the likelihood of spreading to other fields.

Non-leguminous crops such as corn, cotton, and grain sorghum are some of the best options for rotation with peanut.  Cotton acreage has held relatively stable at around 1.2 to 1.4 million acres in recent years, but took a dip in 2007 because of the increases in corn and soybean acreage.  The drop in cotton acreage would be a concern for future peanut rotations if it wasn’t offset by the increase in corn acreage.  Cotton and corn acreage combined has regularly been between 1.6 and 1.7 million acres, so that total was down slightly in 2007.  Since peanut should be rotated with these crops about every 3 years, it is important for the combined acreage of cotton and corn to remain around 3 times the acreage of peanut.  However, keeping peanut out of the rotation for an additional year, or rotation with other non-leguminous crops can compensate for any deviations in this pattern.

The chart below further defends the importance of length of rotation and also shows that peanut response to either cotton or corn in the rotation is essentially the same.  Note the potential increase in yield as the years between crops increases (PN = peanut, CR = corn, CT = cotton).

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