There is an old adage that in North Carolina we are no more than 10 days away from potential drought no matter how wet it is. Coarse-textured peanut fields can dry in a hurry under the conditions we are in this weekend and will likely be in during the coming week. This type of weather can promote spider mites. Dominic will provide more information on management if conditions persist, but here are some keys to minimizing or delaying spider mite outbreaks.

Don't mow ditches or headlands or waterways. This can keep mites in place.

Avoid chlorothalonil during dry periods for protection from leaf spot. Chlorothalonil is a great product but it is very effective at flaring mites.

Use the leaf spot advisory near you to help you decide if a fungicide spray is warranted. Dew points can be high enough for leaf spot to develop even when soil moisture is dry, so we don't want to miss a spray. But it may be less humid and leaf spot might not be active. Chlorothalonil is the main concern in terms of flaring mites, but other fungicides have the capacity to do so to a lesser degree.

Avoid pyrethroids for catipillars and worms. These insecticides partially control corn earworm and are ineffective on tobacco budworm. Other products, though more expensive, are effective on these insects and are much less prone to flare mites.