Any given row crop variety is only as good as the research and information behind it. This is just one of the reasons that Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Auburn University researchers thoroughly research seed varieties. A 15-year partnership between Alabama Extension Peanut Specialist, Kris Balkcom, and Dallas County peanut farmer, Randall Beers, is a testament to the effectiveness of on-farm trials.

Balkcom said one of the best things he can do as a researcher is to plant trials across the state. This allows him and others to get a better understanding of what works best in different soil types.

“It is good for Auburn to have researchers with boots on the ground and in the field throughout the state,” Balkcom said. “So many farmers aren’t near a research station. This means their growing conditions are very different and unique. It is important for us to understand where they are growing and the issues they face throughout the growing season.”

This year, on-farm trials and trials at experiment stations are experiencing heavy rainfall and accompanying crop stresses. Some locations in Alabama have received up to 15 inches in the last 10 days.

Peanut Acreage Outlook

Projections for 2023 peanut acreage indicate an increase of nearly 100,000 peanut acres nationwide. Alabama farmers have planted approximately 97% of the state’s peanut acreage thus far. The remaining peanut acres are on hold because of 10 days of significant rainfall. Balkcom said rainfall has affected peanut producers in different ways.

“Some producers were trying to finish planting as the rains moved in 10 days ago,” Balkcom said. “Those acres weren’t able to be planted, as heavy rainfall prevented field entry.”

In the same way, freshly planted peanuts were not equipped to withstand heavy and prolonged rainfall—whether it was 6 or 15 inches. Terraces and low spots in the Wiregrass would not have been problematic for established plants. However, Balkcom said the newly planted peanuts didn’t have a strong enough root system to survive standing water and heavy rain.

“Older peanuts may not have been negatively affected by the rain, but herbicide and fungicide applications were delayed,” Balkcom said. “Farmers can’t get into the fields, and unfortunately, planes are not available for aerial application in every field. Even then, there has only been one dry day where an aerial application would have had sufficient time to dry.”

Farmers must apply herbicides on the ground, but this rain left many farmers unable to get into their fields. This left farmers with overgrown weeds on top of disease issues that thrive in wet field conditions.

“Rain is a good thing—but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing,” Balkcom said. “Some producers have had 15 inches of rain in the last 10 days, but will still need rain later in the season.”

Weather is just one of the risks that farmers take with each seed sewn every year. There is a constant level of uncertainty, as producers look to guide a crop toward a season of profitability.

On-Farm Peanut Variety Trials

Beers said farmers don’t all have the same growing conditions, so it is important for him to work with Alabama Extension and Auburn University researchers to determine which varieties are best suited to his environment.

“New varieties are available every year,” Beers said. “You may hear that one variety is really exceptional, but our soil types and growing conditions are all different. Until you have the opportunity to look at the varieties on your farm and in your field, you may not know what will work best for your operation.”

Balkcom said research station and on-farm trials are important tools to help farmers determine the right variety for their location and accompanying crop pressures.

“We plant on-farm variety trials on eight farms across the state,” Balkcom said. “The same six varieties will be planted at each farm location. We can use data from the eight locations to determine how each variety responds to different soil types, weather patterns, pests and disease pressures.”

A Big Commitment

Beers said research trials on an experiment station are important, but there is nothing quite like the first-hand knowledge that you gain through an on-farm trial. The commitment to partner on variety trials is a big one—both for the researcher and the producer. Beers dedicates a half-day to plant the trials, knowing that it is important to clean out seed hoppers between passes for each variety. Beers said in the end, the commitment is worth it.

“I appreciate what Extension does to allow us this opportunity,” Beers said. “I also encourage producers to come visit the farm, check out the variety trials and think about what may work best for their peanut operation.”

Throughout the season, Balkcom visits the farm to make notes of differences in variety performance, disease susceptibility and management. Harvest also requires an equal amount of dedicated time. Balkcom said it is important to weigh every pass at harvest to get a better understanding of the differences in yield. This process allows him to determine if varieties are performing equally or differently.

Balkcom said part of the success of variety trials is good producers who are willing to work with you.

“On-farm trials slow producers down,” Balkcom said. “They would be a lot faster without having to stop, change out hoppers and weigh each pass. We appreciate farmers who value what we do enough to work with them.”