By Clint Thompson
Georgia’s peanut farmers are a month away from planting this year’s crop. The Georgia Peanut Commission and Scott Monfort, University of Georgia Extension peanut agronomist, encourage growers to exercise patience before preparing to put seed in the ground.
“I wouldn’t work too far in advance. I would just work on the land that you’ve got to get ready for the crop that you’re about to get going with,” said Monfort, as much of the region continues to endure a prolonged drought, despite receiving rains on Monday.
“Wait until it rains to try to work on some of it. I know a lot of people are needing to do something now.”
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, all of South Georgia is suffering through extreme drought conditions. It starts from Seminole and Early counties in Southwest Georgia, extends to the Atlantic coast and as far north as Laurens, Johnson and Emanuel counties.
Monfort discussed the need for rainfall heading into the spring.
“We’ve seen some dry times, but this is getting there. This is as bad as I’ve seen it since I’ve been back at Georgia, probably. We hadn’t received but two to three rains and they might have been three-quarters to an inch since August of last year. We’re way behind in rain,” Monfort said.
“There were some places the other day that they dug down a foot and a half and didn’t find any moisture. That was before all of this rain. Still, our profile is nowhere near what it’s used to or what it should be at this point.”