Question:

Growers in some areas of the northeast have peanuts that are heat and drought stressed and are considering digging next week (September 7.) What are your thoughts?

Jordan:

These will hold on (peanuts in fields showing stress like the posted image.) Give them more time to mature. They might surprise you in a good way. Yields, if dug today, are probably 15-20% lower than they might otherwise be, if given more time.

We have had peanuts in trials and grower fields that had a similar look for weeks and did not die or turn brown. Yields turned out much better than I anticipated. But that was in large part due to letting them get more mature. Keep checking maturity and try to get to the week of September 14. If weather is good, vines are still holding on, and maturity is not there, give them another week after that to progress.

I really do understand the stress and anxiety. But giving these fields more time will likely help In a major way.