Article by Pnut King

You have 30 days to make or break your peanut season

Published on 03/23/2026 in Peanut Market News

The first month is only 20% of your entire peanut season. However, early decisions can affect 100% of the season.

The first 30 days are only 20% of your entire peanut season. However, those early decisions can affect 100% of the season.Except for scratching to find rotted seeds and the discouraging sight of wilted seedlings, there is little evidence of disease or nematodes in a peanut field early in the season. But looks can be deceiving. As soon as seed is covered, the peanut crop is under attack. It is crucial to know the attackers. Fungi from inside the seed and from the surrounding soil cause moldy rot. Some of these same pathogens, and others, will attack the infantile seedling. Young plants may never crack the soil surface. Other times the seedling emerges, but within days to weeks it succumbs to dark wounds along the tender, succulent stem just below the soil surface or at the crown of the plant. Though less common, when conditions are unseasonably warm soon after emergence, white mold can kill seedlings. 

Cylindrocladium black rot, or CBR, has been scarce in recent years. However, CBR could return with a vengeance where shortened peanut rotations or peanut-soybean rotations occur. The initial attack of the CBR fungus occurs during the early development of the root system, especially when conditions at planting are cooler and wetter. The peanut root-knot nematode, which sometimes allies with CBR, may also cause extensive damage by attacking the fledgling root system. Finally, once the foliage and canopy develop, leaf spot diseases become a threat.

Careful decisions 
It’s not unusual to be digging peanuts 150 days after planting. Over those weeks and months, the crop is protected repeatedly from diseases with sequential applications of fungicides. While each of these applications is critical to preserve yield, a significant protective shield should already be in place within the first 30 days of the season. There is no single path to success in these first 30 days. However, growers will miss significant opportunities if they do not invest in careful decisions. During the first 30 days, the battles against tomato spotted wilt and seedling diseases are won or lost. During the initial 30 days, the most effective weapons for managing root-knot nematodes are deployed. In these first few weeks, there is opportunity to manage white mold and CBR. Now is when many growers begin a fungicide program to protect their peanuts from leaf spot diseases. Protecting a peanut crop against tomato spotted wilt disease is one of the most important actions a grower can take. Growers should consult Peanut Rx at peanutrx.org for current updates on new varieties that may have increased resistance to this disease. Risk to tomato spotted wilt disease is based not only on the variety that is planted, but also on the planting date, tillage, row pattern, seeding rate and selection of at-plant insecticide. Each of these options is concluded, once and for all, when the furrow is closed.

Preventing stand loss to seed rot and seedling diseases is an essential part of protecting yield. It is also a key factor in managing tomato spotted wilt. There are three key steps to take: 
 

• Ensure the quality of the seed. 
• Target a planting date where the soil temperature and moisture favor rapid germination and uniform, rigorous growth.  
• Protect the seeds and seedlings.

In 2026, commercial seeds will be treated with one of the Rancona products or with Trebuset. Each protects against seed-born fungal pathogens, to include Rhizopus, and also against pathogens in the soil to include Rhizoctonia and Aspergillus. Growers who plant “saved” seed must ensure that an effective seed treatment is applied.

Use of additional in-furrow fungicides can be beneficial when: 
 

• soil conditions (too hot and dry or too cool and wet) favor seedling diseases
• efficacy of the seed treatment is uncertain
• increased risk to early season white mold or CBR

Azoxystrobin is a very effective treatment for Rhizoctonia, but no longer for Aspergillus. Proline (prothioconazole) in-furrow is our standard recommendation for management of CBR; it may also help to reduce threat from early-season white mold.A better option for managing early-season white mold is to band Proline directly over the row between three and five weeks after planting and to irrigate. Growers who use even a reduced rate of Velum (new 2ee label) protect against seedling disease and early season leaf spot disease. Growers have the opportunity to plant root-knot nematode resistant varieties. These include TifNV-HG, Georgia-22MPR, Georgia-14N, and TifNV-HiOL. A nematicide is not needed when planting these varieties unless the lesion nematode is a threat. 

Where peanut root-knot nematodes are an issue, growers who do not plant a resistant variety should use a nematicide, whether Telone II, AgLogic-15GG, Velum, Vydate C-LV (or other oxamyl products) and Outreach. Once the furrow is closed, the grower is largely on the sidelines in the battle against nematodes. I’m not much of a Biblical scholar, but I know Matthew 7:7 and the part about “Seek and you shall find.” And as a Boy Scout, I learned, “Be Prepared.” Both are important as the new field season begins. Your crop depends on it. 

Source: https://www.farmprogress.com/peanut/you-have-30-days-to-make-or-break-your-peanut-season