Peanut planting underway in south Georgia, north Florida

Peanut planting is underway in parts of south Georgia and north Florida. Due to the continued drought, most - if not all - of the planting is on irrigated ground.

Howard Small Jr., a Colquitt, Ga., consultant, said earlier in the week that his growers were running at least 7 peanut planters at that point.

“We started 3 weeks ago, and close to half of my peanuts are planted now," Small said. "Our peanuts that are up look good, and there aren’t a lot of weeds or grass. It’s been dry and hot. We’re irrigating before we plant and after we plant. Those planted 3 weeks ago came up in 5 to 7 days."

Some soil temperatures have been at 90 during the afternoon, Small said. On Monday morning at 8 a.m., the soil temperature was 68 at 4 inches, he said.

"We’ve had no measurable rain right here for at least 3 weeks," Small added. "The area is 9 to 10 inches down for the year to date, and Tallahassee is over 11 inches down. Rain has been in the forecast, but we haven’t gotten any. Dryland people don’t need to plant. I told one grower with some dryland acreage to wait for rain to bring them up. We don’t need to gamble right now.”