Nov 2014 Peanut Grower

PEANUTGROWERPEANUTGROWERTheThe

THE PEANUT PRODUCER'S MARKETING & PRODUCTION MAGAZINEwww.peanutgrower.com

ONE GROWERPUBLISHING, LLC

THE PEANUT PRODUCER'S MARKETING & PRODUCTION MAGAZINEwww.peanutgrower.com

NOVEMBER 2014NOVEMBER 2014

Inoculants: The Sustainable

Choice

Program Options,Important Dates

Farm BillUpdate:Farm BillUpdate:Program Options,Important Dates

Inoculants: The Sustainable

Choice

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Departments4 Editor’s Note

Comment period on WOTUS extended again; Congress acts.

5 News BriefsAverage price too high to trigger counter-cyclical payment.

6 Market WatchProducers need a profitable option for peanut rotations.

NOVEMBER 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER / 3

The

NOVEMBER 2014PEANUTGROWERVolume 26 • Number 8

Cover photo byAmanda Huber

10 Farm Program UpdateProducers have decisions to make regarding program options; plus, important program deadlines.

12 Farmer Of The Year Peanut farmer, Philip Grimes, is named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

I-1 Inoculant Guide• Unlocking Profit Potential• Promoting Efficiency and Sustainability• Get The Best Start Possible

12

Features

I-1

Look for thesupplement following page 12 in the Alabama, Florida, Georgia andMississippi versions of The PeanutGrower.

CornSouth

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The most difficult word to write is thevery first one. In fact, most times, I startby writing the body of an article, thencome back to that always-challenging firstsentence. So I can certainly appreciatewhen someone else starts an article witha clever opening line, such as, “If a ditchfills with rainwater – and nobody’s aroundto see it – can it still be regulated by theEnvironmental Protection Agency?”

That was the opening line by TennilleTracy from The Wall Street Journal Wash-ington Wire on an article regarding theEPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-neers proposed rule, called Waters of theU.S. (WOTUS), defining the scope of waters protected under the Clean Wa-ter Act. The article was an update on the issue, which is important for you toknow about since it will directly affect all farmers.

Two things have happened recently concerning WOTUS. First, the EPAhas once again extended the comment period, which now ends on Nov. 14,2014. Secondly, some members of the House of Representatives finally wokeup and realized the EPA is circumventing all of their authority (again), and abill called the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach ProtectionAct of 2014 was drafted. The House passed the bill by a vote of 262 to 152.However, the Senate is unlikely to pass such a bill unless the election changesthe party with a majority, which will be interesting to watch on election night.Of course, the White House has threatened to veto the House’s bill.

At the Sunbelt Ag Expo in mid-October, the Georgia Agribusiness Coun-cil and the Georgia Farm Bureau collected more than 1,100 signatures on a12-foot banner emblazoned with the slogan “Ditch the Rule.” The signing hadto be stopped after only a few hours, not because they were running out ofpeople willing to sign the banner, but because they ran out of space on thebanner for people to sign. To learn more about the issue or to submit com-ments if you have not done so already, go to the American Farm Bureau’s web-site, http://ditchtherule.fb.org. You don’t want to have to pull a permit everytime a ditch fills with rainwater.

John BeasleyExtension AgronomistAuburn UniversityDell CottonPeanut Growers CooperativeMarketing Assn., Franklin, VAKris BalkcomAgri-Program AssociateAuburn UniversityCraig KvienCoastal Plain ExperimentStation,Tifton, GA

Jason WoodwardExtension Plant Pathologist Texas A & M UniversityDavid Jordan Extension AgronomistNorth Carolina State UniversityGlen HarrisExtension AgronomistUniversity of GeorgiaJason FerrellExtension Weed SpecialistUniversity of Florida

The Peanut Grower (ISSN 1042-9379) is an agribusinessmagazine for U.S. peanut producers. Published in eightmonthly issues, January through July and November.Annual subscriptions are $40.00. Single Copy price is$5.00. Annual overseas subscriptions are $70.00, includ-ing Canada/Mexico. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis,TN. Copyright © 2014 One Grower Publishing, LLC, allrights reserved except where otherwise noted. ThePeanut Grower ® is a registered trademark, whichreserves all rights granted by the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office in association with the registration.POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO SUN-BELT FULFILLMENT SERVICES, 307 SOUTHGATECOURT, Brentwood, TN 37027-7987. All statements,including product claims, are those of the person or organ-ization making the statement or claim. The publisher doesnot adopt any such statement or claim as its own, and anysuch statement or claim does not necessarily reflect theopinion of the publisher. Printed in the USA.

One Grower Publishing, LLC, also publishes CottonFarming, Rice Farming, Soybean South and Corn South.

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4/ THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2014

Comment Period On WOTUSExtended Again

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No Payment On 2013 CropUSDA has announced that no

counter-cyclical payment will be madeon 2013 crop peanuts.

The National Ag Statistics Servicepublishes the peanut market year aver-age price received by farmers by stateand nationwide. The published priceswill trigger payments on a farm base ifprices are below the target price. Forpeanuts, the old Farm Bill target pricewas $495, and if the U.S. average pricewas below the target price, a counter-cyclical payment would be made.

In the new Farm Bill, payments are is-sued when the effective price of a cov-ered commodity is less than the respec-tive reference price for that commodityestablished in the statute for 2014-2018crops. The effective price equals thehigher of the market year average priceor the national average loan rate. ThePLC payment is equal to 85 percent ofthe base acres of the covered commod-ity times the difference between the ref-erence price, which is $535 per ton inthe new Farm Bill, and the effective pricetimes the PLC payment yield for thecovered commodity.

The marketing year ended for peanutsJuly 31, and USDA issued the 2013 av-erage price for peanuts at $498 per ton,which is above the $495 per ton targetprice; therefore, no counter-cyclical pay-ment will be issued for 2013.

Industry Loses Great Ambassador The National Peanut Board was sad-

dened to report that Don Self, 55, NPBdelegate from Mississippi, lost his life ina farm accident.

Don was integral in establishing Mis-sissippi as a major peanut-producingstate on the National Peanut Board in2008 and had served on the board sincethat time. He proudly served as the chairof the Domestic Promotions Commit-tee and traveled for the board from NewYork to California promoting peanuts.He was a member of the Mississippi

Peanut Growers Association and theMonroe County School Board. He alsoserved as a deacon at New Prospect Bap-tist Church, where he was the AWANACommander, church musician (guitar)and soloist.

The Mississippi Peanut Growers As-sociation announced the establishmentof the Don Self Memorial Scholarship.The scholarship will be managed by theMississippi State University Foundationand contributions are tax deductible.The goal is to raise $25,000 to makethis an endowed scholarship and to gen-erate at least an annual $1,000 scholar-ship in perpetuity. Contributors maymake a one-time donation or make anannual pledge for up to five years.

Anyone wishing to donate shouldmake the check to “MSU Foundation,Inc.,” and note that it is in memory ofDon Self. The mailing address is MSUFoundation, Inc., P.O. Box 9760, BostBuilding, Rm 204A, Mississippi State,MS 39762.

Don is survived by his parents, hiswife Lisa, son Nathan, daughter-in-lawTara, daughter Alexis, son-in-law Hankand four grandchildren.

Georgia FSIS Opens New Office Georgia Federal-State Shipping Point

Inspection Service (GA FSIS), now lo-cated in the Pecan Grove Industrial Parkin Albany, celebrated the new buildingwith an open house and ribbon cutting.

GA FSIS president and chief financialofficer, T.E. Moye said, “The City of Al-bany has the infrastructure to enable usto serve not only Georgia but the entireSoutheast. The new facility will allowfor continued growth the organizationhas seen over the last several years. Thebuilding was designed with advancedtechnology and a bigger training facility.”

Since 1927, the Federal State Inspec-tion Service has provided an honest, im-partial, efficient and accurate third partyservice to the members of the agriculturalcommunity. GA FSIS inspects more

than 35 commodities, including peanuts,many different fruits and vegetables andpecans. FSIS ensures the shipment ofhigh-quality produce and enhancesGeorgia’s reputation as a supplier of su-perior agricultural products.

GA FSIS currently staffs 120 em-ployees and will hire approximately 800more for the upcoming peanut farmer-stock season.

Moye said, “We see it as our respon-sibility to ensure that the farmers’ cropis graded with integrity, which allowsthe shelling plant the ability to segre-gate by quality and condition.”

GA FSIS also sells equipment neces-sary for peanut inspection. Their main-tenance department services the equip-ment, guaranteeing that it is within theUSDA regulations required for peanutinspection.

For information, call 229-432-6201or visit their website at www.gafsis.com.

In Brief:

NOVEMBER 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER /5

• USDA figures 2013 average price at$498 per ton, three dollars abovethe amount needed to trigger acounter-cyclical payment.

• Mississippi growers announce es-tablishment of memorial scholar-ship for Don Self.

• Georgia federal-state inspectionservice opens new facility to meetgrowing needs of commodities.

• National Peanut Buying Points tohold convention in January, onemonth ahead from this year.

• Peanut Proud makes much-neededpeanut butter donations to severalfood banks this fall.

• The American Peanut Council hostsseveral international groups on farmand processing plant tours.

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6 / THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2014

The U.S. peanut market wants togrow and expand, but the mar-ket’s dynamics seem to have ad-

justed to one step forward and two stepsback. The industry tries to minimizerisks, but many unknowns have all seg-ments nervous, and answers are neededso a true, fair market can prevail.

Market UnknownsLots of questions remain to be an-

swered on the 2014 crop. How hasdrought impacted quantity and qualityin Georgia, Florida, Alabama and SouthCarolina where 80 percent of thepeanuts are grown? How bad will afla-toxin be? Can U.S. peanuts meet Euro-pean Union quality requirements andkeep that momentum?

Blanching capacity is maxed out andon-time delivery may be a problem. Thelogistics of keeping good quality irri-gated peanuts separate from drylandpeanuts is a challenge at the buyingpoint and sheller.

Another unknown is farmer-stockcontracts. Today, peanut contracts are amystifying dilemma. The shellers aretrying to find a balance...buy a reason-able supply of peanuts at a reasonableprice for their customers while keepingthe farmer profitable.

About 50 percent of the 2014 peanutcrop is not contracted. Should thefarmer accept a possible $425 per ton orplace in the loan for $355 per ton andwait until later? Shellers are reluctant tooffer higher prices as it could encouragemore plantings next season.

Few OptionsCultivatable land is limited and the

farmer must decide what to plant andhow much. With corn, cotton and soy-beans at record low prices, peanut con-

tracts offered by the sheller will impactacreage planted to peanuts, especiallynext season. The farmers have some safe-guard with a program minimum of $355per ton paid at delivery and can marketthe peanuts from storage within ninemonths. What if all the commodity op-tions were profitable and rotations couldbe made to maximize yields?

Another issue is the 2014 Farm Bill.Options keep coming and the farmerhas to first figure out how to payout thisyear, then plan for next year when all thecards have not been dealt. The peanutprogram was supposed to bring stability.That seems like a joke with the boomand bust of the last two years and no endin that volatility when looking ahead.

Farmers with a peanut or farm basemust visit their Farm Service Agency of-fice to update yields and reallocate baseacres. Then come the options...Agricul-ture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Cov-erage plus a new peanut revenue pro-gram that has another choice of yield

protection or revenue protection or rev-enue production with a harvest price ex-clusion...all unknowns.

Market ProtectionWhile the market is trying to absorb

this, the old market loan assistance pro-gram changes with a new $535 per tonreference price, formerly the $495 targetprice. If a farm does not have a base,this does not apply, yet the contractprices and acreage are influenced for theentire industry. Many farmers have re-ported that the payment limits in thenew bill will eliminate most peanutfarmers from participating or saving thefarm in the new Farm Bill.

Meanwhile, markets are dealing withestimates and deliveries of old croppeanuts. Pricing the new 2014 crop isnon-existent. The U.S. peanut crop for2014/15 is now estimated at 2,491,050tons based on harvesting 1,307,000 acresaveraging 3,800 pounds per acre.

Production is estimated to be up 19percent over last year and acreage is up25 percent. The supply chart now showsbeginning stocks of 926,000 tons plus2014 production or a total U.S. supplyof 3,417,050 tons. The October esti-mate was almost the same as Septemberas the trade thinks the drought will lowerUSDA’s figures.

U.S. And World DemandDomestic food use for peanuts is pre-

dicted to increase 1.8 percent for theyear, but posted a 2.1 percent increaselast year. All categories showed an in-crease: peanuts in candy up 3.6 percent,peanut snacks are up 7.3 percent, peanutbutter is up one percent and in-shellshad a 0.2 percent increase. Peanuts arestill a great buy, a super nutritious prod-uct and consumers are more aware of

J. Tyron SpearmanContributing Editor, The Peanut Grower

Producers need a profitable rotation partner for peanuts

Leading Market Indicators(Oct. 10, 2014)

•2014 - Acreage estimate - up 25% - 1,307,000 acres

•2014 - Production estimate - up 19% - 2,491,050 tons

•2014 -Average yield estimate - 3,812 lbs/A - dn 35 lbs/A

•2013 - Market Loan - 10,017 tons

•2013 - Loan Redemptions - 1,442,198 tons

•2013 -14 Domestic Usage (12 mo.) + up 2.1%

•2013 -14 Exports (12 mo.) - dn -10.18%

•National Posted Price (per ton):Runners $424.86, Spanish $404.91,Virginia/Valencia $427.79.

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this and are helping the peanut industryto grow.

USA peanut exports are doing re-markable, down only slightly from therecord last year. Peanut butter exportsare up an amazing 21 percent, raw-shelled peanuts are down only 5.4 per-cent for the year, but were up 11 percentin July. In-shell shipments were down26 percent for the year, but July was upsix percent.

U.S. peanuts are the lowest-priced ori-gin peanuts as Argentine offers are higherafter a tough growing season. New cropprices in Argentina are the lowest in thepast four years. Their farmers are facingwhat U.S. farmers may face in the spring:No crops look profitable on paper. Chinahas returned to the market with downacreage and the 28 percent duty isstalling U.S. shipments to China.

What’s Ahead?Overall, the peanut industry senses

an expanding and growing market withconsumers liking their product and agovernment program that could en-

courage expansion. To be successful, allsegments have to be profitable. The timehas come to examine all of the options,especially farmers, plug in a profitable

plan for farmers, buying points, shellersand manufacturers. Stay tuned. Of allthe years in peanuts, this next yearshould be an exciting one. PG


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NPBPA Announces Annual Convention Rodney Locke, of Locke Farm Cen-

ter in Dawson, Ga., recently announcedthe 2015 National Peanut Buying PointsAssociation Annual Convention will beJan. 8-11, 2015, at Charleston PlaceHotel, Charleston, S.C. Anyone inter-ested in the peanut industry is invited toattend. This year’s conference is about amonth earlier and will begin on Thurs-day, instead of Friday, with a travel dayhome on Sunday.

The theme of this year’s meeting is“Peanut Power and Managing Risks!”The 2014 Farm Bill unveiled more toolsfor managing risk in peanuts, plus ahigher reference price that could influ-ence peanut markets. World supply anddemand is likely to have more of an im-pact on peanut acreage in the future.The program will include updates onthe power of the peanut on the farm, atthe buying point, at the shelling plantand an update on the nutritious prod-ucts made from peanuts.

Packets will be mailed to all NPBPAmembers, but if you would like to re-ceive a packet, contact Angela at [email protected].

Guilty Verdict In Salmonella CaseA federal jury convicted Stewart Par-

nell, owner of Peanut Corporation ofAmerica, for numerous counts, includ-ing conspiracy, wire fraud and obstruc-tion of justice related to shipping taintedpeanut butter to customers and fakingresults of the lab tests.

Parnell’s brother, Michael Parnell, wasalso found guilty of multiple charges in-cluding fraud from lab results, but wasacquitted of shipping the product. MaryWilkerson, quality assurance manager,was found guilty of obstruction of jus-tice for hiding information about thesalmonella problems from investigators.

Sentencing will come later in the caseand the judge chose to allow the threeto remain free on bond. Parnell’s at-torney told an Associated Press reporter,“We respect the jury’s work and the jury

system, but we believe this was thewrong result. We’ll continue to fight forStewart at sentencing and in an appeal.”

The trial lasted seven weeks in Al-bany, Ga., and is said to be the first timecorporate executives and plant workerswere tried in a food-safety related case.

National Peanut Board AppointmentsUSDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently

made board member and alternate boardmember appointments for six states onthe National Peanut Board. For Ala-bama, Ed White is the reappointedboard member and Tom Corcoran isthe reappointed alternate member. ForArkansas, Gregory Gill is the new boardmember and Gregory Baltz is the newalternate member. In Florida, JefferyPittman is the newly appointed boardmember.

For North Carolina, Dan Ward ofClarkton is the newly appointed boardmember and Raymond Garner, Jr. is thenew alternate member. For Virginia,John Crumpler II is the reappointedboard member, and Paul Rogers III isthe reappointed alternate member.

Sadly, Mississippi will require a newelection due to the passing of Don Self,who had been reappointed as alternatemember. Joe Morgan was appointed thenew board member, and The Missis-sippi Peanut Growers Association willhold a nominations election to selectfirst and second choices for an alternateto the board.

The nomination election will takeplace during a meeting on Nov. 18,2014, at 10:30 a.m. (CST) at the Mis-sissippi Farm Bureau, 6311 RidgewoodRoad, in Jackson, Miss. All eligiblepeanut producers, who are those en-gaged in the production and sale ofpeanuts and who own or share the own-ership and risk of loss of the crop, are en-couraged to participate.

USDA requires two nominees fromeach state for the position of alternate.The NPB will submit Mississippi’snominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agri-

culture, who makes the appointments.The National Peanut Board encour-

ages inclusion of persons of any race,color, national origin, gender, religion,age, disability, political beliefs, sexualorientation and marital or family sta-tus. NPB encourages all persons whoqualify as peanut producers to attendthe meeting and run for nomination.It is USDA’s policy that membership onindustry-government boards and com-mittees accurately reflect the diversityof individuals served by the programs.

All appointees will serve three-yearterms beginning Jan. 1, 2015, and end-ing on Dec. 31, 2017, with the excep-tion of an Arkansas member and an al-ternate member who will beginimmediately and end on Dec. 31, 2016.

• Oct. 31-Nov. 9, 2014 - NationalPeanut Festival, Dothan, Ala. Formore information, visit www.na-tionalpeanutfestival.com.

• Dec. 7-9, 2014 - Georgia Farm Bu-reau, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more in-formation, visit www.gfb.org.

• Dec. 10-13, 2014 - American PeanutCouncil Winter Conference, Wash-ington Marriott Hotel, Washington,D.C. For more information, visitwww.peanutsusa.com.

• Jan. 8-11, 2015 - National PeanutBuying Points Association AnnualConvention, Charleston Place Hotel,Charleston, S.C. Packets will bemailed to members, but anyonewanting to receive an informationpacket should email Angela [email protected]

• July 14-16, 2015 - American PeanutResearch and Education Society An-nual Meeting, Francis Marion Hotel,Charleston, S.C. For more informa-tion, visit www.apresinc.com.

Calendar:




International Groups In Peanut Belt The American Peanut Council (APC)

hosted three groups of international vis-itors, both importers and manufactur-ing groups, that toured the peanut beltduring the harvest.

In September, peanut importers andmanufacturers from Japan were in Suf-folk, Va., to visit the North Car-olina/Virginia region. A team fromChina visited the Albany, Ga., area inOctober, touring farms and area shellingplants, plus a visit to the NationalPeanut Lab in Dawson.

A group of Mexican manufacturesand importers were in Gruene, Texas, inlate October to visit peanut farms andprocessing plants in the area.

The APC is the official cooperatorwith USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Serv-ice in promoting export peanuts for theUnited States.

NPB Launches Allergy Website Coinciding with the start of school,

the National Peanut Board (NPB)launched PeanutAllergyFacts.org, awebsite for parents, schools, foodserviceexecutives and manufacturers. The siteis designed to provide science-based in-formation about peanut and food aller-gies, as well as links to resources abouteffective allergy management.

The new site is part of an awarenesscampaign based on consumer researchthat revealed significant misconceptionsabout food allergies and allergy man-agement. Study participants perceivedpeanut allergies to affect 24 percent ofthe U.S. population or 40 times the ratereported by the National Institutes ofHealth, which says that 0.6 percent ofAmericans have a true peanut allergy.

“While 99 percent of Americans cansafely enjoy the nutritional benefits ofpeanuts, it’s imperative that we all beconscientious of the way we prepare,share and consume food,” said BobParker, NPB president and CEO. “Weare committed to finding a solution.”

Fall Peanut Butter Donations Mike Kubicek, executive director of the Oklahoma Peanut Commission, is pic-

tured with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, who is tasting some of the PeanutProud peanut butter distributed to visitors at the Septemberfest event on the Gov-ernor’s Mansion lawn. The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma also received sixpallets of Peanut Proud peanut butter to distribute as needed.

Some of the other Peanut Proud donations made in the fall include a deliv-ery to the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico, Clovis, in cooperation with theNew Mexico Peanut Grower, a delivery to the South Plains Food Bank in Lub-bock, Texas, partnering with the Texas Peanut Producers Board, and a deliveryto Manna Food Pantries, Pensacola, Fla., in conjunction with the Florida PeanutProducers Association.


As peanut harvest got underway,USDA unveiled some of thenew programs available to pro-ducers through enactment of

the 2014 Farm Bill. Those programs aresaid to help producers better manage riskand provide the safety net needed in theagriculture business.

“Farming is one of the riskiest busi-nesses in the world,” said Secretary of AgTom Vilsack. “These new programs helpensure that risk can be effectively managedso that families don’t lose farms that havebeen passed down through generationsbecause of events beyond their control.Unlike the old direct payment program,which paid farmers in good years andbad, these new initiatives are based onmarket forces and include county – andindividual – coverage options. These re-forms provide a much more rational ap-proach to helping farmers manage risk.”


Farm Bill

UpdateProducers have

decisions to make regarding

program coverage.

Program Option Tool

Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) are two op-tions commodity producers have as a farm safety net from the 2014 Farm Bill,which ended direct payments. Producers will have until the end of March to se-lect which program works best for their businesses.

Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas,corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, drypeas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grainrice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cot-ton is no longer a covered commodity.

To help farmers choose between the ARC and PLC programs, USDA helpedcreate online tools that allow farmers to enter information about their operationand see projections about what each program will mean for them under possi-ble future scenarios.

The new tools are now available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc. Answers tofrequently asked questions can be found at http://askfsa.custhelp.com.

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Program OptionsThe new programs, Agricultural Risk

Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage(PLC), are cornerstones of the commod-ity farm safety net programs in the 2014Farm Bill. Both programs offer farmersprotection when market forces cause sub-stantial drops in crop prices and/or rev-enues. Producers will have through earlyspring of 2015 to select which programworks best for their businesses.

“We’re committed to giving farmers asmuch information as we can so they canmake an informed decision between theseprograms,” said Vilsack. “These resourceswill help farm owners and producers boilthe information down, understand whattheir options are, and ultimately makethe best decision on which choice is rightfor them.”

New Crop Insurance Option Besides new program options, peanut

producers will also have the opportunityto participate in a new crop insurance op-tion, the peanut revenue policy, that willbe available for eligible peanut produc-ers. The policy, approved by the FederalCrop Insurance Corporation (FCIC)Board of Directors, paves the way forUSDA’s Risk Management Agency tomake it broadly available to producers forthe 2015 crop year in all counties whereyield-based insurance coverage is currentlyoffered.

The peanut revenue policy is one ofseveral new risk management options au-thorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. TheGeorgia Peanut Commission and theWestern Peanut Growers developed thepolicy under section 508(h) of the FederalCrop Insurance Act, which allows privateentities to design and submit crop insur-ance products to the FCIC Board.

Managing Risk“This policy will help extend revenue

insurance coverage to peanut producers tohelp them manage risks,” said DeputySecretary Krysta Harden. “My parents arehardworking peanut producers in a smalltown in southwest Georgia, so I knowfirst-hand how important this new policywill be to provide a lifeline to farmers af-fected by events beyond their control.”

Georgia Peanut Commission advisoryboard member and producer Andy Bell,says, “I have represented the Georgia

Peanut Commission on the crop insur-ance working group for a number of years,and I’m pleased to see final approval ofrevenue insurance options for growers.The revenue-based insurance providesgrowers with another tool to aid in theproduction risk of growing peanuts.”

Replant Provision“Also included is an increase in the re-

plant provision and improved quality ad-justment provisions that will allow grow-ers the ability to complete a claim atharvest,” Bell says.

The new insurance policy, which will

be offered through the federal crop in-surance program, replaces current peanutcrop provisions. The policy will be basedon the Common Crop Insurance Policycurrently available for other major com-modities and provide growers with achoice of Yield Protection, Revenue Pro-tection, and Revenue Protection with theHarvest Price Exclusion. Available cover-age levels will range from 50 percent to 85percent.

Information on the new peanut rev-enue policy for 2015 will be available onUSDA’s Risk Management Agency’s web-site later this year. PG

Important Program Deadlines:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the following as key dates forfarm owners and producers regarding new 2014 Farm Bill established pro-grams, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). Ac-cording to USDA, the new programs, designed to help producers better man-age risk, usher in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs indecades.

Dates producers need to know are as follows: Sept. 29, 2014 - Feb. 27, 2015:Land owners may visit their local Farm Service Agency office to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres. Nov. 17, 2014 - March 31, 2015:Producers make a one-time election of either ARC or PLC for the 2014through 2018 crop years.Mid-April 2015 - Summer 2015:Producers sign contracts for 2014 and 2015 crop years.October 2015:Payments for 2014 crop year, if needed.


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South Georgia farmer PhilipGrimes, who was nominated byformer University of Georgia Ex-tension agent Brian Tankersley,

was selected as the Swisher Sweets/SunbeltExpo Southeastern Farmer of the Year inmid-October at the Expo. He creditedhis success in the field to the UGA Ex-tension service.

“It’s a very humbling experience,” saidGrimes, who is the first Georgia farmer towin the award since 2010. “Extension isvery important to what we do as far asmaking decisions based on what they’retelling us.”

Extra Good ManagerGrimes has farmed for 37 years and

operates 2,210 acres with peanuts, cot-ton, cantaloupes, broccoli, snap beans andcorn. The Grimes family’s farming busi-ness has grown from 200 acres of rentedfarmland in the mid-1970s. The biggestportion of his land – 850 acres – isplanted in cotton, but he also operatesDocia Farms and a state-of-the-art can-taloupe packing shed.

“Philip has been outstanding in hisyields. He does an extra amount of man-agement. You can go back to probablyfive years ago and ask him what heplanted on a certain field and he could tellyou when he planted in that field and hecan tell you what the field made,” Tanker-sley said.

A Passion For FarmingWith the Southeastern Farmer of the

Year award, Grimes wins a $15,000 cashprize and use of a Massey Ferguson trac-tor for a year from Massey FergusonNorth America.

“I love to farm, and (I) am real pas-sionate about my crops,” said Grimes,who is a member of the Tift County FarmBureau, Tift County Extension Leader-ship Advisory Group and was named theChamber of Commerce Farmer of theYear. “I’ve been blessed by God, and he’sguided me for years and years. It’s just ablessing that I have what I have.” PG

Article by Clint Thompson, Universityof Georgia, College of Agricultural and En-vironmental Sciences.


Farmer Of The Year

South Georgia peanut farmer, Philip Grimes, is named Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

At right, Philip Grimes, Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year,is pictured with University of Georgia President Jere Morehead.

12 award1114v3.qxp_Peanut pointers v2.qxd 10/17/14 9:15 AM Page 12

November 2014

Sponsored byBASF

INOCULANT GUIDE

I-Guide 1114 v12_I-1-7Inoculant Guide1104 v2.qxd 10/17/14 11:30 AM Page 1

I hope you enjoy and find value in this year’s Peanut Inoculant Guide. And, from all of us at BASF, I wish you success in 2015.

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NOVEMBER 2014 • THE PEANUT GROWER / I-3

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INOCULANT GUIDE

The yield potential of each seedis at its maximum when it isput into the ground. Decisionssuch as crop rotation and field

selection help the seed reach its full po-tential. Irrigation and pest managementhelp protect that yield potential. How-ever, stresses, such as disease pressure,drought and not being timely with in-puts, lowers the bar on what yields can beachieved.

Peanut profitability is reached throughhigh yields or by cutting production costs.Reducing inputs to cut production costscan negatively impact yields, thereby re-ducing the profit margin. A better plan isto focus on giving the crop every possibleopportunity to achieve that maximumyield potential.

More Yield, More ProfitProfitability involves putting all the

pieces together from the inputs with afixed cost to those variables that are trulykey components such as timing but haveno actual cost, to bring about a qualityproduct that yields above what is neededto cover those costs. Valuable yield is wait-ing in each peanut seed and the profit

potential begins in the root zone.One critical component to peanut

growth is the inoculation process. Re-searchers agree that peanuts respond bet-ter to the nitrogen fixation provided byrhizobia bacteria than it does to direct ap-plication of nitrogen fertilizer.

The question is, “Should you trust thatviable, peanut-specific rhizobia is in thesoil in sufficient amount to properlynodulate the crop or should you makesure it is there?”

A lack of viable, peanut-specific rhizo-bia in the soil and in close proximity tothe seed means that time is lost while theseedling waits for bacteria to arrive. Thelack of nitrogen slows the growth processand allows for problems, such as disease,to attack the sluggish seedling.

Placing a fresh, high quality inoculantin a concentrated area around the seedwhere it can enter into the root quicklywill give that emerging peanut plant thebest start. At the earliest opportunity, thebeneficial bacteria can enter into the rootsand begin multiplying, making nitrogenquickly available to the plant. From here,vigorous growth is achieved, and canopyclosure is attained more rapidly. IG

Unlocking Profit Potential

ContentsI-3 Unlocking Profit

PotentialAchieving great yields begins with the seed and in the root zone.

I-4 A Commitment ToEfficiencyUsing an inoculant is a choice for sustainability.

I-6 The Research Proves ItStudies show the importance of inoculant use.

I-8 Get The BestStart PossibleSet yourself up for success by using a fresh inoculant every year.

I-10 Inoculant Q & AAnswers to the most common questions about inoculants.


A Commitment To EfficiencyApplying an inoculant to peanut is a choice for sustainability.

For centuries now, agriculturalproducers have known that tobring forth crops from the soilrequired care of that soil and of

the water and other resources. To stay inone place and farm the same area of landrequired a long-term view of agricultureproduction. Any farmer who has wantedto stay in business or have something topass down to the next generation has al-ways worked to be create a sustainableagriculture system.

Harness The Plant’s Own PowerOne concept of sustainable agriculture

is to make efficient use of natural re-sources. As a legume, the peanut planthas a most efficient way of securing ni-trogen readily available from the air. Ni-trogen provided any other way would notbe ecologically aware as through the mu-tual relationship the peanut plant has withrhizobia bacteria.

Taking advantage of the relationshipbetween nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteriaand the host legume, peanut, is simplybeing sustainable. The plant supplies anenvironment, nutrients and organic sub-strate in which the microbial Rhizobiumcan grow and thrive. In turn, the rhizo-bia reduce atmospheric nitrogen to a formthe plant can use. Consider the high en-ergy requirements to make synthetic fer-tilizers and you’ll appreciate the power ofthe peanut plant and his humble side-kick, rhizobia bacteria.

Choose To Be SustainableApplying an inoculant at planting en-

sures that an adequateamount of peanut-spe-cific bacteria will bepresent in the soil inclose contact withpeanut seed and rootswhere infection, the be-ginning of the symbi-otic relationship, canoccur. Strains of rhizo-bia may already be pres-ent in the soil, but theirnumbers or their speci-ficity to a particularlegume are usually farless than optimum.

To choose to add aninoculant so that theplant can do what it isnormally supposed to do or be the mostefficient is the sustainable choice.

Doing More With LessJust as peanut seed have been improved

upon and now contain resistance to cer-tain diseases or tolerance to insect pres-sure, inoculant products have also un-dergone a transformation to greatlyimprove the product performance andgive more value to the farmer.

The BioStacked technology containedin BASF inoculant products combinesbeneficial biologicals with multiple modesof action as a system to provide more con-sistent and dependable performance acrossa broad range of environmental condi-tions.

BioStacked technology can provide im-proved nodulation and nitrogen fixation

in legumes. These synergistic componentsalso improve nutrient update, plant vigorand yield potential.

Always Working TogetherTo help producers be more successful,

BASF conducts extensive research in thelaboratory as well as in the field, and part-ners with farmers and other customers toincorporate input and feedback. Thesenew ideas and technologies will help farm-ers get the most out of every acre andachieve higher yields, healthier plants andmaximum profit potential.

Despite the challenges, producers de-liver on their commitment to respect na-ture and be stewards of the land. BASF iscommitted to partnering with farmers toenable them to continue growing food inan efficient and sustainable way. IG

I-4 / THE PEANUT GROWER • NOVEMBER 2014



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INOCULANT GUIDE

BASF Is Committed To Sustainable Agriculture

BASF defines sustainable agriculture as achieving more yield from existing land, using lesswater and energy, while ensuring the profitability of farming, caring for the environment andmeeting the needs of society and future generations.

Specifically, BASF believes that sustainable agriculture:

• is an integral part of society. Prosperous agriculture is part of a stable and reliable social envi-ronment, and sustainable agriculture should therefore be an integral part of political and eco-nomic debate.

• depends on farmers. As stewards of the land, farmers are ultimately responsible for puttingsustainable agriculture into practice on a daily basis. BASF is committed to partnering with farm-ers to enable them to continue growing food in an efficient and sustainable way.

• saves resources and protects the environment. Fact-based scientific principles should be usedto improve farming efficiency, which will be necessary if we are to increase agriculture produc-tion over the coming decades and make the most efficient use of natural resources.

• is dynamic. Farming techniques, socio-economic factors and the ecological environment in cul-tural landscapes can change. Farming concepts, which are exclusively driven to maintain thestatus quo or to re-establish historical farming practices, should not be implemented on a largescale basis when better alternative solutions are available.

• requires a diversity of solutions. There are many types of farms and methods of farming,including conventional, integrated crop and pest management and precision farming. BASF sup-plies products, technologies and services for all types of sustainable farming methods, and sup-ports the co-existence of all these systems at the farm level.

• needs collaboration and partnership. Farming in the future should ensure farmers an adequateincome, protect the land and provide abundant, healthy and affordable food. This can only beachieved through increased and broader investment in agricultural research by governments andindustry, joint partnerships, dialogue, and the responsible, thoughtful behavior of all involved.

• looks to the future. New answers need to be found through innovative agricultural research initiatives, and the development and use of new agricultural technologies.

• needs research and innovation. While new technologies require careful and detailed assess-ments of their associated risks and benefits, the exclusive or disproportionate consideration ofrisk only, isolated from the benefits, is not the right way to successfully implement the principlesof sustainable agriculture.

• needs to be quantified and managed. Products in development by BASF will help to provideclear measurement of sustainability programs.

• needs dialogue. BASF engages in ongoing stakeholder dialogue and consultation with feed-back integrated into its sustainable agriculture programs and initiatives.



The Research Proves ItStudies show the importance of inoculant use.

Researchers continue to learnmore about the unique rela-tionship peanuts have with thebacteria that inhabit their roots

and form nodules that allow the plant tocollect nitrogen from the air and convertit into a usable compound for the plant.

Scott Tubbs, University of Georgiacropping systems agronomist, has con-ducted some of the more recent researchon inoculant use.

In one study, he looked at applying liq-uid inoculants in-furrow at planting onnew ground. Tubbs found that the inoc-ulated peanuts out-yielded the non-inoc-ulated peanuts, not necessarily at a sta-tistical difference as far as data analysis,but enough to be an economical differ-ence to the producer and enough to havepaid for the use of the product.

In another research project, Tubbsfound that foliage color is not the bestindicator of an inoculant failure. Tubbsfound that foliage color may differ to agreater extent based on genetics than itdoes based on inoculated versus non-in-oculated peanuts.

Don’t Go By Color“A grower should not depend solely on

foliage color to determine an inoculantfailure,” he says. “You have to get belowthe surface, see that the nodules are thereand that they are active.”

Finally, in another aspect of getting tothe root of the matter, Tubbs studied thenodulation achieved through inoculationof peanut plants.

“We conducted an experiment wherethe roots of the peanut were carefully cut

off of the plant, and then the noduleswere slowly and carefully pulled off of theroot cuttings. We then weighed the nod-ules from the different plants.

“As expected, the plants that had aninoculant applied had much more nodu-lation than the untreated check plants.The inoculated peanuts did better thanthe untreated check on all variables.”

Starter Fertilizer Can Be CostlyIn a study on the use of starter fertil-

izer, Tubbs found that the use of starterfertilizer decreased profitability. In oneyear he found that starter fertilizer de-creased profitability by $24 to $29 peracre, and the next year, profit was de-creased from $15 to $54 per acre, exceptat the rate of 15 pounds of N per acre.

“In most years, it takes merely a 50-to80-pound-per acre increase in yield tocover the cost of the inoculant applicationat planting,” he says.

Evidence supporting the yearly use of

inoculants and the price for not doing socontinues to mount. IG

Placing an inoculant inthe root zone leads to:• A vigorously growing crop

with a better yield potential.

• A greater ability to withstanddisease pressure than peanuts under stress.

• A good start with the use of fresh rhizobia versus poten-tially sluggish indigenous rhizobia.

• A low-cost way to ensure theproper strain of bacteria is present.

• Savings from using the peanuts’ natural nitrogen-fix-ing ability.


Always read and follow label directions. Apogee, Cadre, Poast, Priaxor and Prowl are registered trademarks of BASF. ©2014 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved. APN 14-MKT-0047

Give the peanuts what they want. Take control of weeds with

Cadre® herbicide, and apply Priaxor® fungicide for 21-day control of

leaf spot, overall Plant Health and increased yield potential – because

healthy plants are productive plants.

Ask your BASF Authorized Retailer about the Peanut Portfolio today.

SITAATSE CRHE

UCDIEFSS AEMOE C

REOMSTHETONS A

RRHE


Get The Best Start PossibleSet yourself up for success by using a fresh inoculant every year.


Cleaning products advertise theability to kill harmful bacteriain the home. Horror moviesfeed on the fear of harmful

bacteria causing a plague to sweep acrossthe populations. The truth is bacteria geta bad rap, but they are critically impor-tant. Where would we be without bacte-ria to breakdown waste of every form?You can imagine.

For legumes like the peanut, bacteriaare a beautiful thing, a true partner ingetting the job done for the producer.Rhizobia bacteria stand at the ready tomarch into the roots of developing peanutplants and do their job of converting at-mospheric nitrogen into a form the plantscan use. All the bacteria ask in return isa little nourishment and a place to stay.

Benefits From Day OnePutting rhizobia into the soil at plant-

ing benefits the plant’s health from thetime it germinates.

Because it’s the natural way to dothings, inoculants are cost effective. The

How do you choose the most effective inoculant?

• Start Fresh – All Vault peanut inoculants are made fresh every yearand the amount of active rhizobia is guaranteed. Each product con-tains a freshness/expiration date.

• Select Advanced Rhizobia – All Vault peanut inoculants are madewith the most advanced Bradyrhizobium bacteria for optimum compat-ibility and viability.

• Stack On The Benefits – Vault Liquid with BioStacked Technologycombines multiple beneficial biological components in one product.



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INOCULANT GUIDE

peanut plant benefits from the use of aninoculant from day one. By the time alack of nitrogen is realized, the plant hasalready lost yield. With an inoculant, theplants are healthier and more vigorousright from planting, plus some productshave added protection against seedlingdisease.

If you do apply apply nitrogen fertil-izer too early, you are taking away fromthe bottom line in multiple ways. First,fertilizer is expensive, and much more ex-

pensive than inoculant at times. Moreimportantly, if you have too much earlynitrogen fertilization, the rhizobia in thesoil don’t do their job. The plant takesup the nitrogen that’s been added to thesoil and doesn’t use the more ef-ficient method from the symbi-otic relationship with the rhizo-bia. What happens long termwhen the fertilizer is used up?The crop will not have thenodulation caused by the mul-tiplying rhizobia, and nitrogendeficiency is a real possibility.

Make A Plan For 2015This year’s wet weather left

many low spots in fields satu-rated at times. These anaerobicconditions impact the rhizobiapopulation in the soil, and goodnodulation is essential to high

yields because it is the main source of ni-trogen from seedling stage to maturity.Using a fresh, robust product to put rhi-zobia back into the soil will be importantin 2015. IG

From 2014 Peanut InformationDavid Jordan, North Carolina State University Extension peanut specialist

Growers should inoculate their peanut seed or fields to ensure that adequate lev-els of rhizobia are present in each field. The data in Table 3-16 are from multiplelocations and years and give an indication of the possible response of peanuts toinoculant applied as a liquid or granular in the seed furrow.

While peanut response to rotation is often predictable, response to inoculantand rotation combinations is less predictable. Therefore, peanuts should be inoc-ulated in all years regardless of previous rotation history to minimize risk andmaintain yield.

Generally, a peanut plant with 15 nodules by 40 days after emergence has ad-equate nodulation. Oftentimes, foliar symptoms of nitrogen deficiency will be ap-parent by this time if nodulation is not effective.

Later in the season, the plant will need many more nodules, more than 100,for optimum growth, development and yield. If fewer than 15 nodules are noted40 days after emergence, especially if peanut foliage is yellow, growers should con-sider application of ammonium sulfate. IG

Inoculant Tips:

• Extreme conditions, such as heat, drought or flooding, can reduce rhizobiapopulations in the soil.

• Know the factors that affect successful nodulation of the crop.

• Do not rely on foliage color as different varieties vary in color.

• The number of years between planting may not be the most accurate way to determine whether or not to apply an inoculant.

• Greater yield can be achieved through the use of an inoculant.

Table 3-16. Peanut Yield Response in Fields without a History of Peanutsversus Fields with Frequent Plantings of Peanuts (1999–2013).

Inoculant Use New peanut fields Fields with recent history of peanuts

No inoculant 3,413 lbs/A 4,185 lbs/AInoculant 4,895 lbs/A 4,370 lbs/ADifference 1,482 lbs/A 185 lbs/ANumber of trials 32 32Years 1999-2013 1999-2013


Q. Why should I use an inoculant?A. As a legume crop, peanuts can supply their own nitrogen,

but only if rhizobia bacterium is available in the root zone andin close proximity to the emerging seedling to enter into the rootand begin fixing atmospheric nitrogen. To do this successfullyand with the utmost efficiency, there also needs to be a suffi-cient quantity of bacteria that is in vigorous condition to moveinto the roots and multiply quickly.

Q. Do I need to apply an inoculant every year?A. Although bacteria can survive in the soil for many years,

today’s inoculant products are far superior to bacteria found na-tively in the soil. Producers need a product that is ready to col-onize in the root, form nodules and begin fixing nitrogen asquickly as possible. Because it is a live organism, rhizobia alreadyin the soil and not applied fresh at planting has spent its ener-gies just trying to survive in the soil and may not be the vigor-ous product producers’ need.

In some areas, such as the Southwest, fresh inoculant mustbe added every year because of the harsh field conditions. Liq-uid, in-furrow products have been found to work best in witharid, dry soils. Even in the Southeast, conditions such as hightemperatures or water-logged soils can exist that make it a soundinvestment to add new inoculant every year.

Conditions that can affect the viability of the rhizobia in thesoil are as follows:

• Acidity: rhizobia and/or their effectiveness may be reducedin soils with a pH below 5.5 or above 8.0.

• Organic matter: rhizobia survive better in soils with in-creased organic matter.

• Temperature: rhizobia populations can be reduced in hot,dry soils– particularly at planting– or may not be available toshallow-planted seed. Cool soil temperatures may slow bacte-ria movement into the roots.

• Drought: Moisture is needed for rhizobia to survive. Pro-longed drought, combined with high temperatures, can reducelevels.

• Flooding: In contrast, flooding and the depletion of oxy-gen in the root zone will also kill the bacteria.

• Competition: Other strains of bacteria and soil organismscompeting for moisture and nutrients may reduce the amount

of rhizobia.• Plant stress: Any practice or conditions that puts stress on

the plant can reduce the nutrients available to the bacteriathereby reducing formulation of nodules.

• Nitrogen level: Formation of nodules can be reduced withapplied fertilizer nitrogen levels as low as 30 pounds per acrein the soil.

• Seed treatments or pesticides: Some products are toxic tothe bacteria.

• Soil conditions such as compaction and erosion may reducerhizobia populations.

Re-introducing fresh, robust Rhizobia through a quality in-oculant product will help ensure that these conditions are notaffecting the potential nodulation of the peanut crop.

Q. Can I use leftover soybean inoculant for peanuts?A. No. The product may be similar in name, but the species

of bacteria needed for these two legume crops are different.Bacteria know what their primary host is and the signal chem-icals sent out from the roots of the soybean are different thanthose sent out by peanut. The soil is full of many differenttypes of bacteria, but those signal chemicals tell exactly whichbacteria to respond. Putting a soybean inoculant is simply wast-ing money.

Today’s inoculant products may contain more than the bac-


Inoculant

Q & A

Good nodulation is essential for high yields because it is the mainsource of nitrogen from seedling to maturity.


teria. For example, Vault Liquid peanut inoculant, withBioStacked technology, delivers not only peanut-specific robustrhizobia bacteria, but also Integral biofungicide for enhanceroot vigor, nutrient uptake and suppression of Rhizoctonia andFusarium root rot.

To get the benefits of nitrogen fixation and the resulting vig-orous root growth, disease protection and, ultimately, a boostin yields, an inoculant specially produced for peanuts should beused.

Q. What do I need to remember about handling and ap-plying an inoculant?

A. An inoculant should be bought fresh each year for maxi-mum viability. Inoculants should be kept completely away fromdirect sunlight, and are best stored at temperatures from 40 to77 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not freeze the product. Once a pack-age has been opened, use it within 24 hours.

At application, make sure the inoculant is placed in direct con-tact with the seed for maximum uptake. If planting conditionsare less than ideal, consider using a little more than the rec-ommended rate. If water is used as a carrier for the inoculant,chlorine-free water, such as well or rain water, should be used.

Refer to the product label for further care and handling in-structions and for application rates.

In the soil and ready to move into growing peanut seedlingroots to begin converting atmospheric nitrogen into somethingusable for the plant is just where rhizobia want to be.

Q. How can I get the best efficacy from an inoculant prod-uct at planting?

A. It starts with selecting the right product fresh every year.

Then, it needs to be stored and handled properly in that timebetween delivery and planting, as mentioned above.

At planting, proper calibration of application equipment isimportant. Check all nozzles and spray tips, and make sureeverything is clean, in working order and calibrated correctly.

Remember that heavy applications of nitrogen too soon af-ter planting may hurt or lessen the activity of the rhizobia bac-teria. Nitrogen-fixation through the symbiotic relationship withpeanut-specific bacteria is the best, most efficient and sustain-able way to supply the plant with nitrogen.

Q. What does a grower need to know in order to choosethe most effective inoculant product?

A. Inoculant products are thoroughly field tested. Evaluateuniversity field trials, in your area if possible, to determine whatinoculant product might work best in your production system.

Without adequate nodulation, you won’t have the yields youneed. What a grower should look for in an inoculant product,first and foremost, is something specific to peanuts. You needa product with a high volume of rhizobia in it – such as can befound in liquid inoculant products, which provide a lot morerhizobia than other formulations.

Q. How do I make sure the inoculant is working?A. Peanut growers should target two key times to scout their

nodulation. First, scout five to six weeks after planting to assessearly nodulation in advance of decisions about applying mid-season nitrogen. Second, checking late-season nodulation frommid-August to early September will confirm early observationsand or flag fields that nodulated poorly.

For poorly nodulated fields, try to examine why nodulationdid not occur to the amount desired and what can be done toenhance nodulation in next year’s crop.

Obvious signs where the inoculant was misapplied are yellowrows or even spotty green/yellow areas throughout the field orlight pea-green field color suggesting nitrogen deficiency.

Common causes of minimal to no taproot nodulation despiteinoculant application are as follows:

• Poor placement of in-furrow granular or liquid inoculant.Make sure the liquid stream is coming right in on top of theseed and that granular drop hoses do likewise.

• Shallow planting, less than one and a half inches, espe-cially at one inch, particularly for liquid inoculants, where sur-face soil may become hot or dry out. Death of inoculum andreduced nodulation may also occur when little soil is drug backover the seed even if planted deeper.

• Large amounts of starter nitrogen near the seed at rates be-ginning near 30 pounds per acre. This will reduce nodule de-velopment, and larger applications of mid-season nitrogen canreduce peak nodulation as peanut plants take the lazy approachand use the fertilizer before fostering nodule development.

• Incompatibility with other products applied at planting. Al-ways read and follow the label for product compatibility orconsult your inoculant company representative. IG

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INOCULANT GUIDE


To determine if a nodule is active, slice it open and look for a pink toreddish color.


Always read and follow label directions. Vault and Integral are registered trademarks of BASF. *Yield data based on independent yield trials conducted in 2010, 2011 and 2012 at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA. ©2014 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved. APN 14-MKT-0047

1,200 LBS PER ACRE?

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To learn more, visit agproducts.basf.us or ask your BASF Authorized Retailer today.

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,2000 LBLB

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Nov 2014 Peanut Grower