Checking on the peanut crop and it’s advanced with the temperatures getting higher and higher.
Earlier this week they evaluated the crop at two percent very poor, six percent poor, 30 fair and 56 good with six excellent and that is nationwide. On the southeast they’re showing Georgia 50 percent of their crop they say is pegging. The five-year average is 48.
The soil temperature and soil moisture are down or better in some places and mixture all across the state. Three percent very short, 20 percent short, 53 adequate and 24 percent surplus. So, there are some wet areas in Georgia.
Alabama is showing pegging at 31 percent of their crop, 27 is their average. Their soil moisture is at one percent very short, seven percent short, 67 adequate and 25 percent surplus. So, some other wet areas but this dry temperature is going to bring it down.
Florida showing 37 percent of their crop pegging, 42 is their five-year average. They said their crop is topsoil moisture of eight percent very short, 25 short, 56 adequate and 11 surpluses. But all nationwide the crop still looks pretty good.
The farmers are worried about the heat and what it will do to dry land peanuts as they get ready to crank up all the irrigation units across the southeast.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.