In the table below using temperature data from NOAA, this year our heat unit accumulation has been slightly lower than the 5-year average from 2015 through 2019. Temperature is an important driver for peanut growth but one of several factors. All things considered, rainfall this year across much of the state has helped to contribute to somewhat less stressful and more continuous growing conditions for the crop. If we look at just the heat unit data for emerged peanut from May 1 through August 20, it would appear that harvest may not be much ahead of schedule compared to previous years. However, these numbers are more of an approximate gauge, not a guarantee. Charles Davis, Extension Agent in Calhoun and Richland Counties, has shared ground-truth results from four fields where irrigated Bailey and Bailey II were showing 73 to 80% of pods in the orange-brown-black at 125 DAP. If we haven't done so yet, now is the time to make sure digging and harvesting equipment is ready and operational.

Pulling a representative sample of about 150 to 200 pods per field for pod blasting or scraping at least 10 to 14 days before anticipated digging date will help to show how each field is progressing. Rainfall is extremely variable from one location to another, even over short distances. It is best when digging decisions are based on the actual pod maturity of each particular field.