EXTENSION REPORT

Trouble Shooting For Peanuts

During the crop year 2005 while trouble shooting peanuts, often even if I did not think fertility was the problem I would take a soil sample anyway.  Ninety per cent of these samples came back with low pH for peanuts.  I would highly suggest that peanut growers take a Peanut Pegging Zone Sample on any peanut field where they even slightly think the Calcium level for their peanuts is not adequate.  Do this after planting, but before peanuts start pegging.  Take a soil sample right in the row to a three inch depth and request a Peanut Pegging Zone Calcium Sample be run at the Auburn University Soil Testing Lab.  Peanut growers have too much invested in their crop to let insufficient Calcium to reduce their yields. If your pegging zone Calcium is medium, apply 250 pounds of gypsum at blooming time.  If your pegging zone Calcium is low, apply 500 pounds of gypsum.

Cotton Insect Outlook for June-Early July, Written by Dr. Ron Smith, Cotton Entomologist, Auburn University.

As in most years, tarnished plant bugs are abundant in central and south Alabama on daisy fleabane and along roadsides and field borders.  The majority of the population in mid-May was about 2 nd instar nymphs (less than one-half mature).  This means it will be about 14 plus days until they will be adults ready to migrate to cotton or other hosts.  Peak movement should begin and continue for the next couple of weeks.  The plant bug movement peak will be sharp but not of long duration about 7-10 days).  The oldest mature fields, those with pin head squares in early-mid June will become the preferred plant bug host and likely receive the most damage.  Treatment decisions should be based on the percent square retention of pin head squares.  Greater than 80 % retention is desirable.  If fields do not reach treatment thresholds in June they should be monitored for plant bug numbers through early to mid July.  After bloom it will be best to observe for damaged white blooms (dirty blooms).  Fifteen to 20 % dirty blooms in July should be used as a treatment threshold.  If central and south Alabama fields have not been sprayed for plant bugs by July 15-20, a clean up spray with a pyrethroid is often warranted. 

Email address: rpetcher@aces.edu
Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.