Aflatoxin in peanut imposes considerable economic cost to the southeast U.S. peanut industry. A federal marketing agreement administered by the Peanut Administrative Committee ensures the consumer that only edible quality peanuts are allowed entry into edible markets. The 1993-1996 crop years were analyzed to estimate the net cost due to aflatoxin to the farmer, buying point, and sheller segments of the southeast peanut industry. Farmer stock peanuts are examined for visible Aspergillus flavus, the mold primarily responsible for aflatoxin contamination in peanut. Detected lots with aflatoxin (Segregation III) are removed from edible channels because the lot is presumed to be at high risk for aflatoxin contamination and the value of farmer stock peanuts is reduced. The farmer segment net cost due to Segregation III lots averaged $2,595,937 per year. Segregation III lots are generally placed under loan in the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Buying points are paid to handle peanuts for CCC, but at a lower rate per ton than commercial commissions; thus, a loss is incurred to the buying point segment. Buying point losses from handling Segregation III lots average $532,585 annually. The southeast peanut sheller segment incurred the highest cost associated with aflatoxin. The majority of the cost was due to the purchase of Segregation I farmer stock that required further processing due to the aflatoxin contamination found via chemical testing. The average net annual cost to the southeast sheller segment over the 4-yr period was $22,697,737. Segregation III lots and aflatoxin cost the farmer, buying point, and sheller segments of the southeast U.S. peanut industry $25,825,259 annually. On a total Segregation I farmer stock basis, aflatoxin cost the southeast peanut industry an average of $25.53/Mg and an average $69.34/ha.
A 2-yr study was conducted on a Tifton loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) soil near Sasser, GA during the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons to determine the effects of three plant row orientations (single, twin, and multi-row) and two plant populations on the pod yield, market grade, and stem rot disease incidence of peanut when irrigated with subsurface drip irrigation (SDI). Seeds were planted at the recommended rate [20 seeds/m; 1.0R (recommended rate)] and half the recommended rate (10 seeds/m; 0.5R). Plots were irrigated daily to replace estimated daily evapotranspiration (ETa). Twin row orientation had the highest pod yield with 5407 kg/ha compared with the other row orientations, which averaged 4897 kg/ha. Market grade (total sound mature kernels, TSMK) for the twin and diamond row orientation was 1% point higher (74.7%) compared with the single row orientation. Pod yield was 8.5% greater for the 1.0R seeding rate compared with the 0.5R seeding rate. Stem rot incidence was highest in the single row orientation and lowest in the diamond row orientation. Within the three row orientations, kernel size distribution characteristics showed jumbo kernels had mixed percentages, with medium and ones showing no differences. The 1.0R plant population did have 4.4 % more jumbo kernels than the 0.5R plant population. This study indicates that twin row orientation and planted at the recommended rate (1.0R) had the best pod yield and market grade compared with single row orientation when irrigated with SDI.
Poor peanut emergence often results in lower yield and loss of revenue. Farmers attempting to recapture lost income sometimes lose even more by replanting because replant costs may exceed the benefits of added yield. The purpose of this study was to develop an empirical equation to predict peanut yield based on total emergence 21 d after planting and an estimate of yield for a full stand of peanuts. Field experiments were conducted in Terrell Co., Georgia during 1997 and 1998 for nonirrigated peanut (cv. Georgia Green) grown in an Americus sand (thermic Rhodic Paleudults). To mimic poor emergence and concomitant random plant spacing, rows within plots were thinned at random locations to attain populations of 4.4,3.3, 2.6,2.1, and 1.6 plants/mrow. Control plots were not thinned and total emergence was approximately 12.7 plants/m-row. As total emer gence and population decreased, yield also decreased 'Agit Eng., Econ., Mech. Eng.,Tech.,Tech., respectively, USDA, ARS Nat. Peanut Res. Lab., 1011 Forrester Drive, S.E., Dawson, GA 31742. * Corresponding author (email: dsternitzke@nprl.usda.gov).whereas pod mass per plant increased. This increase was likely attributed to a reduction in competition from adjacent peanut plants for water, nutrients, and light. Higher population treatments had smaller pod mass/ plant and greater overall yield than lower population treatments with higher pod mass/plant. Random plantto-plant spacing associated with poor emergence was used to predict pod mass/plant as a function of average plant spacing. Results from this research established models defining the relationship of the rate of change of pod mass per plant with average plant spacing and provided a new method of predicting yield in the event of poor emergence.Key Words: Emergence, pod mass, pod yield.Producers in the southern U.S. commonly plant run ner-type peanuts at a rate of approximately 20 seed/m on 0.91 m row widths (Wehtje et al., 1994). The relatively high seeding rate is used as a hedge against poor emer-
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