Peanut Profit Pointers

Tight margins for all commodities call for time tested and research-based measures to reduce costs yet retain profitable yields. Below are some pointers to remind us all of ways to survive in these tight economic times.

Soil test. It’s not too late to gather samples and get results back. NCDA turnaround time is still about 2 weeks once they get the samples. If quicker results are needed there are several private labs that can give results in less than a week. The optimal pH range is 5.8 – 6.2 for crops in our area. This range allows for the nutrients in the soil to be most available to plants for uptake.

Peanuts:  Rotate, Rotate, Rotate  Long rotations 3-4 years with cotton and corn provide the best yield. In a recent trial, for every year cotton separated soybeans from peanuts the yield increased by 6% (240 lbs. based on 4000 lb. yield). While not devastating, when only one of the four preceding years was planted in soybeans the peanut yield was reduced by 6%. Yield reduction has been noted when peanuts followed sage. In 2025 as a general observation, burrower bug damage was present when peanuts were plant to a field with an application of sage trash. This insect is often found in no-till fields or ones with high soil residue. It is recommended that a rotational crop of cotton or corn follow sage when it is in a peanut rotation.

Lime peanut soils to pH of 6.2.  This decreases the likelihood of some portions of the field being below 5.8. Yields increase by 6% (240 lbs.) when pH is raised from 5.6 to 6.0. Gypsum  applied to soils with lower pH result in a yield decrease. Applied at the recommended rate to a field with pH of 5.6 yields were 26% (1040 lbs.) lower than the same application to a soil with a pH of 6.0.

Broiler litter carries high amounts of zinc. While this is used in plant health, it is only used in small amounts, so it will build up over time causing zinc toxicity at levels over 250 ppm. This is most apparent in areas of the field with a lower pH (5.8 or lower). Keeping the pH at 6.2 or above will buffer the effect of zinc allowing peanuts to grow in soils where the levels are upwards of 500 to 750 ppm.

Inoculate all peanut fields regardless of the rotational history. Research shows this pays every year up to 5x the cost of the material. For the best results, be sure the inoculant reaches the bottom of the seed furrow because the bacterial infection occurs as the root system grows down. In addition, shallow plantings with in-furrow sprays have performed poorly under hot and dry conditions. Since peanuts can emerge from depths of at least 3 inches, it advisable to plant deeply to protect sprayed inoculant from break down caused by high temperatures.

Application of in season nitrogen (ammonium sulfate) is generally not recommended if there is adequate inoculation of the plant (15 nodules on the plant root by 40 days after planting). It however can help attain adequate vegetative row coverage on extremely sandy soils where cover is needed to protect early pegging from high soil temperatures.

Our soils generally have high levels of phosphorus (an index of 50 on the soil test) and  additional is not needed. Peanuts respond best to potassium applied to the prior crop. An index of 20 is the minimum level for peanuts.

Tillage  Highest yields from a  2-year study in Halifax County, came from conventional tillage on beds when compared to strip till and conventional  flat tillage. The greatest loss came at harvest (digging) where beds held an advantage of 500 lbs and an increased net return of $100 per acre. In previous studies, there was no advantage to rip, bed and plant over just  bed and plant.

Variety Selection  Choose the variety most suited for your soils and environment. During 2025 we conducted 2 yield trials. Below are those results along with the average of  13 trials across  the NC peanut belt. Planting 5 seed per foot is recommended for all varieties.

                            Bertie Locations  Lbs. /ac                  13 NC Locations Across Belt

Variety                Shane Leggett             Hal Lawrence                Lbs./ac                $/ac

Bailey II                       5966                            5981                            5026                900

Emery                          5229                            6106                            4719                842

NC 20                          6125                            5716                            4657                781

NC 21                          6202                            6182                            4916                856

Gypsum or land plaster (CaSO4) application is required every year for Va type peanuts. Over time fields may build up reserve levels of calcium. Recent studies suggest that on soils with 1000 lb of calcium per acre (based on soil test) the rate of gypsum can be reduced by 50% of the recommended 1x rate from Table 3-10, p31 in the 2026 Peanut Production Guide. Growers with soils containing 750 lb of calcium per acre can reduce the recommended rate of gypsum by 25%. On soils with less than 700 lb of calcium, the full recommended rate of gypsum should be applied. Pounds of calcium can be calculated with the following formula:  CEC x %Ca x 356.4 = lbs. of calcium per acre. If the reduced rate cannot be uniformly spread, then increase the rate until uniformity is accomplished. More information and discussion on this topic will be available at the 2026 Peanut Production meeting on Feb 9.

Disease Control  Leafspot and white mold programs should begin 45 days after planting (DAP) or July 10 whichever comes first. Waiting until 60 DAP increases the chance and severity of late season disease. The exception would be when the planting date is in late April. In this case the first spray application can be pushed back to 60 DAP. Following a weather-based program can potentially reduce a spray. Spray programs should begin and end with a chlorothalonil spray. There are a number of good fungicide products available to choose from, with some offering curative action. The critical point is to keep protection on the plant throughout the season. Good results can be attained with straight chlorothalonil and tebuconazole on a strict 14-day spray program, however if can be tricky staying on the schedule needed to attain control.

Insect Control  Thrips remain an early season problem and treatment must be made at planting. Applications of Thimet, Ag Logic 15G, Vydate, Admire Pro and Otrhene  will all help reduce early season thrip infestation and thus tomato spotted wilt virus. Some resistance to imidacloprid (Admire Pro) has been noted. Follow-up sprays of Orthene are no longer recommended since tobacco thrips are resistant to this insecticide.

Tips to reduce insect and mite problems:

Do not treat on a schedule. Scout fields and treat only when insects are above             threshold.

Maintain an area clear of weeds and briars around field edges in fall and early               spring. Do not mow around fields from late June through early September.

Avoid using foliar insecticides in July and August unless insect populations reach       threshold, thus reducing the chances of pesticide-induced outbreaks of mites.

Avoid moving equipment and workers from mite infested fields to noninfested             areas.