The following section of a field in Washington County demonstrates toxicity from zinc. We are in our third year of collecting samples from spots like these to help us determine the relationship of soil pH and zinc concentration in soil relative to plant damage. I’ve collected samples from 12 locations across the state so far this year. At each site we are collecting samples based on 5 levels of plant damage (no damage, low, medium, high, and very high.) I’ve adjusted our recommendation from the conservative “don’t plant peanuts if the zinc index exceeds 250” to a recommendation that suggests peanuts can be planted if the zinc index is 1,000 if soil pH is at least 6.5. More details will be presented at field days and meetings in the future.