By Clint Thompson
Georgia peanut acreage totaled 843,543 acres in 2024, its most in the last 20 years. Growers may not have to wait too long to see that total topped.
Scott Monfort, UGA Extension peanut agronomist, hinted during Thursday’s Georgia Peanut Farm Show that acreage will not decrease in 2025.
“With the way the economics have been the last five years, we have stayed up. I think we’re going to be right back where were at (last year), maybe a little bit more,” Monfort said. “I was concerned about it last year. I’m concerned about it again this year.”
Short Rotations
The concerns are mainly centered on shorter rotations or no rotations in some instances. UGA recommends that peanuts not be grown in the same field in a three-year span. However, with the corn and cotton market not performing well, growers may be inclined to plant more peanuts next season, shortening those rotations even more.
“Rotation is a big deal, and we’re worried about that. I’m more worried about how this stuff collectively is going to hit us,” Monfort said. “You’ve got short rotation, and then you’ve got people that are wanting to cut back, and they always want to cut back on the fungicides or always want to cut back on fertility or things that really pay back. We’ve got to figure out what our priorities are and stick with them.
“What you need on your farm based on what you’re trying to get out of it, we’ve got to stick with that. That’s what we’re worried about, that you’re going to have short rotations, weather issues, reduced inputs; all of that stuff is going to continue to add up to a bad yield.”
Impact on Market
Another potential concern is if production moves ahead with more acres, what would that mean for the market?
“This year, if things go right, we’re going to bust the bank. We’re going to flood the market with peanuts,” Monfort said. “If we go 850,000, 900,000 acres, and we have 4,100 pounds per acre, we’re going to bust the market. We’re going to go back down to that $400, $350 contract price, potentially. In previous years that’s what’s happened. You go from $500 down to $375 or $400. I expect if we have a good year, that’s what’s going to happen.
“Hopefully, corn and cotton will come back, because if it doesn’t, then we’re producing a lot of acres again with higher inputs for a lower price.”