Agricultural News
Limited Disease Pressure in Oklahoma Peanut Crop
Wed, 24 Sep 2014 12:35:21 CDT
An Oklahoma State University researcher is optimistic diseases won't take a major toll on the state's peanut crop this year. Speaking at the OSU Caddo Research Station Tour at Fort Cobb, OSU Plant Pathologist Dr. John Damicone said disease pressure has been limited this summer.
"Surprisingly the diseases aren't as severe as what you would expect given the amount of rainfall we're had and the crop looks very good," Damicone said.
Damicone has seen some pod rot and sclerotina that showed up early in the growing season. With some good fungicides available for farmers to treat sclerotina, he said most of the farmers have been treated and the fields look very good.
At the field day, farmers brought in peanut plants to be blasted to assess the maturity of the crop and this also allows researchers to assess the incidence of leaf spot. With affordable treatment options for leaf spot, he doesn't see foliar diseases to be much of a issue this year.
Farm Director Ron Hays of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network talked with Damicone about the disease situation. Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear the full interview.
Sclerotina has been a issue for Oklahoma peanut farmers for decades. Looking ahead OSU looks to release some new varieties including ARSOK-R35. Damicone said this runner-type variety has strong resistance to Sclerotina.
"That will cut the cost of farming peanuts in Sclerotina fields way down," Damicone said. "...We have had Spanish varieties in the past that they could get by without treating, but haven't had a runner before, so this will be a big break through."
With access to new varieties developed with resistance to Sclerotina this could help grow peanut acres in the state. Damicone said this could bring back peanuts to Caddo County which once had 35 thousand acres of peanuts. He said there is a lot of land that could grow peanuts and he is hopeful interest from farmers will pick up.
To view picture from the Pre Harvest Peanut Field Tour on FLICKR! - Click Here.
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