By Clint Thompson
Crop rotations are essential for peanut production in Georgia. Peanuts need to be rotated every year to avoid the buildup of nematodes and disease pressure. But that may not matter to some growers this year, who may not rotate their crop to avoid paying high fertilizer costs.
Bob Kemerait, University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist, has concerns that Georgia acres may increase following the 750,000 produced in 2021.
“In 2021, it was estimated about 750,000 acres planted, and that’s a lot of peanuts. Because of fertilizer prices, peanuts become more attractive and other crops become less attractive. You need less fertilizer to grow peanuts,” Kemerait said. “If that happens, if we do drop acreage in some of our other crops, corn, cotton and soybeans, what will happen is peanuts will probably pick up some of those acres.
“We need to go down in peanut acres as far as rotations go. Rotations are important for controlling diseases. Any drops in those other crops because of costs of production with fertilizers is probably going to be picked up by peanuts. Even if it’s a small amount, it’s still in the wrong direction of where we need to be for rotations.”
More Nutrient Requirements for Cotton, Corn Producers
Cotton and corn production utilizes more nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. All have experienced price increases compared to recent years, especially nitrogen.
Glen Harris, University of Georgia Professor and Extension Agronomist in Environmental Soil and Fertilizer, said during the Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference in January that nitrogen expenses were about 95 cents per pound, compared to 50 cents in 2020. Phosphorous was around 68 cents per pound, compared to 40 cents in 2020. Potassium is around 69 cents per pound, compared to 34 cents in 2020.
Peanuts are a deep-rooted legume that don’t require much fertilizer. They could entice growers to shift more acreage to peanuts regardless of rotations.