Despite adverse weather in some areas of Texas, the state's peanut crop is surpassing expectations, reports Texas Cooperative Extension.

"Peanuts at this point for all market types look good to very good," said Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension grain specialist in Lubbock.

Planting went well this year in the South Plains area, he said. Gaines County, which has about 60,000 acres this year, has the most acreage in the region.

Dr. Todd Baughman, Extension agronomist and interim state peanut specialist in Vernon, said warm temperatures are helping the peanut crop mature.

Good rainfall and soil moisture in most areas have reduced the amount of irrigation needed. Minor insect pressure has been noted in some counties, but is not normally a major concern in peanuts, Trostle said.
Weeds such as purple and yellow nutsedge can cause problems, but a healthy peanut crop is able to suppress potential weed problems. Morning glory is sometimes a problem for producers, but herbicides can control it, he said.

"Some producers were hurt at planting due to a cold front that hit the South Plains the evening of April 30. By May 2, as far south as Seagraves, climatology stations recorded temperatures below 60 degrees for up to eight hours at a 4-inch depth in the soil, a temperature that retards germination and growth. This appeared to be more common on Flavor Runner 458 peanut variety," Trostle said.

Due to unusual heat in West Texas during the October 2003 harvest season, some seed was weakened. This condition may have been made worse by the unusual cold in May, he said.

Recently-planted peanuts are beginning to come up. Most of the crop is blooming and beginning pod formation and should be ready for harvest in October, Baughman said.

Peanut acreage numbers for the South Plains, while not finalized, have declined slightly from last year. Because many producers decided to cut back on peanut acreage in 2004, it was feared planted acreage might be down as much as 20 percent. However, prices for farmer stock peanuts rose in the weeks before planting began in late April, and more acres were planted in peanuts, Trostle said.

High irrigation prices, and in some areas, poor water quality, contributed to a decrease in the acreage planted, Trostle said.

Right now the crop seems to be progressing well, Baughman said.