With expansion of peanut acres across the state, some growers are asking if they can plant flat and yield as well as planting on rows. We have not looked at that in detail in a long time. We often conclude that lower yields in reduced tillage is due to digging on what is borderline flat ground. In one of four trials this past year (in large plots on-farm,) yields were lower when peanuts were grown in flat ground in conventional tillage compared with planting on beds in conventional tillage. In two of four trials, peanut yields were lower in strip tillage compared with planting peanut on beds in conventional tillage. We plan to conduct more trials in 2025 looking at these comparisons on farms.

Strip Till Planting Flat or on Rows