Texas peanut growers have favorable market and growing conditions, and with a little down-the-stretch cooperation from Mother Nature, 2021 could be a bumper year, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. Emi Kimura, Ph.D.,
AgriLife Extension state peanut specialist, Vernon, said despite delays, fewer planted acres and slow progress, Texas peanut growers were expecting above-average yields.
Kimura said the season started with planting delays due to very wet conditions. For example, peanutproducing areas that received 1.9 inches of rainfall from April to September last year received 1.8 inches of rainfall in April alone this year.
Rains did not stop through July, Kimura said.
“We appreciate the rain, but it did not stop, and we were behind at least two weeks,” she said. “Acres in Central Texas missed their planting window because they could not access fields. They were waiting and waiting but had to give up and look for other options.”
Producers in Texas’ top peanut region – West Texas – were able to plant, as well as in South Texas and the Rolling Plains, but overall acreage was expected to be down slightly, Kimura said. Planted peanut acreage in Texas was estimated at 178,000 acres compared to around 190,000 in 2020.
Despite fewer acres and trouble getting the crop planted, Kimura said Texas peanut producers are hopeful due to excellent moisture and overall good growing conditions. Last year, widespread drought and a hard freeze in late October contributed to a belowaverage production season.
Rain, cooler temperatures and cloudy days have slowed the crop’s progress after delayed plantings, but the moisture has allowed plants to produce heavy pod sets, and recent weather has provided sun and heat plants need to mature.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic, however, Kimura said. Farmers must avoid problems like disease and pests, but most are proactive when it comes to fungus and insects that could reduce crop yield or quality.
Kimura believes proactive management for diseases has kept them in check so far and that the main pest problem this year has been weeds because of wet conditions and late canopy development.
—Texas AgriLife