Checkout our webpage then scroll to bottom for UGA Extension and 4-H links Irwin County Extension 107 West Fourth Street Ocilla, Georgia 31774-1401

Office Phone: (229) 468-7409 Cell Phone : (229) 424-2863 E-mail: pedwards@uga.edu

Webpage: https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/irwin.html

IRWIN COUNTY EXTENSION AGRICULTURE NEWS - Vol. 9 Mon. Mar 23, 2020

Phillip Edwards Irwin County Extension Coordinator In this issue: Recent, Current Situation, Potential Seed Quality Issues in 2020, GA Peanut Achievement Club, Paraquat Required Training, Pigweed Emergence, Coronavirus Information, Get Plugged Into 4-H Recent

Cain Williamson wins drawing for Coke Headphones From over 400 cases down to just 6 cases now – All that’s left is Coke Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Mr. Pibb Zero Extra

That’s no moon, it’s a space station – from last Thursday Glenda Williamson and Jason Oliver – Coke fundraiser helps 4-H’ers earn money for camp, shotgun team…

Current Situation Currently our office is closed to the public as of last Thursday. You can still call the office 468-7409 or my cell phone 424-2863 if you need to contact us for information or a field visit etc. Leave a message if you do not get an answer and we will get back in touch with you ASAP. Soil sample bags are outside on our porch – drop off when ready for us to submit them to the lab and call us for details and also get specific information pertaining to payment for your samples. Please try to do this from 1 to 2 pm so we can prepare them for UPS afternoon pick up. We are all working just alternating between work and office. Our office will be manned during normal business hours by alternating our staff, but again not open to the public. Check your email and phone text for Extension Information and updates. Please share this with anyone (adults and youth) who might not be receiving our emails and please share my email address and I will add them when contacted. Ag Week is this week so please check out the information in the upcoming Ocilla Star. Our vacant 4-H Position has been posted at: https://g.co/kgs/oNYSmW - scroll down of the left to Irwin 4-H Educator. Thank You and God Bless, You Irwin Co Ext Office Staff

“Potential Seed Quality issues in 2020 – What can I do to reduce the risk of having stand issues?” Monfort Seed Options

• Growers should ask what the Germination % is on every lot they purchase. • If you purchase seed, it should be 75% germination or above.

o You could send sample to get germination % from Department of Agriculture if you have time before planting • Farmer saved seed may be in any range.

o Please make sure to take a sample and submit to the department of Agriculture to determine germination % before you plant.

• You might want to treat with Rancona seed treatment to reduce issues with aspergillus flavus and niger. See Bob Kemerait’s notes he sent out earlier.

Agronomic Decisions • For Seed of all quality ---- plant at optimal conditions (soil temp over 68 degrees and good moisture).

o Planting marginal seed in subpar conditions will make the situation worse. • Do not plant seed with marginal seed quality more than 2.5 inches deep. • If you have multiple seed lots and/or numerous totes, use the ones with the best germination earlier in the season when

soils are not quite as warm. • Make sure the soil has adequate moisture for germination and emergence. This is not the year to chase soil moisture! • Consider slowing down your planting speed. • Under dry conditions, make sure to irrigate before and after planting. • Use an in-furrow inoculant • Determine if in-furrow fungicide is needed. • Do not add any other bio-stimulant or fertilizer product in-furrow with seed. All you need is the seed, inoculant,

insecticide, and fungicide!!! Why take the risk? Seeding Rates

• Seed at 85% germination or above: plant at normal rates • High 70’s to low 80’s: increase seeding rate 1-2 seed per foot • Seed below 75% germination the outcome may not be very good if you do everything right. • You have more flexibility with twin row plantings to bump up the seeding rate. With lower germination- increasing seeding

rate can be the way to compensate BUT if you stack too many seed on top of one another you can get the opposite result. Placing seeds on top of one another or touching in the furrow can increase the potential for seed rot.

• It's best not to go over 8 to 8.5 seeds per foot on twin rows and not over 7.5 seed per foot on single rows. It is hard to plant more than 6 seed per foot with a single row planter with a large editable bean plate. You may need to use a Virginia peanut plate.

Attention Peanut Farmers: 2020 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club Rules and Guidelines I am anticipating entries in this award program from Irwin County. Our yields are off due to the 2019 drought. but please remember that most of the counties that comprise our peanut district have a combination of irrigated and dryland acres. So, it is probable that yields will not be comparable to the years in our recent past, but I still encourage you to tally your acres and total yield and consider submitting an application. It is time to prepare entries for the 2020 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club (GPAC). We are expecting some very worthy entries with outstanding yields from the 2019 growing season. There will be 15 winners chosen in this manner:

State Winners (1) One state-wide winner that produced the highest average yield in Georgia in 2019 on 100.0 to 299.9 acres. (2) One state-wide winner that produced the highest average yield in Georgia in 2019 on 300 to 699.9 Acres (3) One state-wide winner that produced the highest average yield in Georgia in 2019 on 700 or more acres

District Winners One winner from each of the four GPAC districts for the following three acreage categories:

1) 100 to 299.9 2) 300-699.9 3) 700 and up Acreage planted must be certified by CFSA smart card printout of each farm. Acreage entered must include total acreage on all farms and farm numbers farmed by a producer/operator in Georgia. This means every acre that a producer/operator is involved in producing, including those acres in which the producer is listed as a co-producer.

The exception would be if the other individual(s) listed as co-producer(s) entered the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club and included that acreage in their entry. If peanuts are produced in more than one county, the producer will decide to which county his entry will be submitted. Minimum acreage required for entry is 100 acres. The overall state winner in the 100 – 299.9, 300 – 699.9, and 700 plus acreage categories will be determined first. The district winners for the 100 – 299.9, 300 – 699.9 and 700 plus acreage categories will be determined after determining the three overall state winners. Any producer averaging 4000 pounds per acre on all farms can be entered into the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club and can receive a certificate. The minimum yield requirement for acreage category 3 (700 acres plus) is 3500 pounds per acre. In the event that an acreage category within a district does not produce a yield of 4,000 pounds per acre or more (3500 lbs/A for the 700 plus acreage category), then the highest yield in that acreage category from all entries statewide will be declared the winner, provided it exceeds 4,000 pounds per acre. If there are no statewide entries with a yield of 4,000 pounds per acre within that acreage category, then the next highest yield statewide will be declared the winner if it meets the minimum acceptable yield as determined by the rules committee. The reported peanut production will not be separated by peanut market type (runner, Virginia, Spanish, Valencia). For the purpose of the Peanut Achievement Club, market types are not treated separately. Acreage and poundage entered must be listed with the County Agent and acreage certified by CFSA. Records for District and State awards must be received in the by 5:00 PM, Friday, March 27, 2020 to be eligible. A State Peanut Committee reserves the right to check any yield thought necessary. A complete application is available at our office. Training Requirements for Paraquat Usage Prostko We had a farmer visit the office to complete the paraquat online training. It will take some time to get signed in and go through the various modules. At the completion and passing of the test you will receive a certificate that you will need to print and keep. You must go online and compete training and pass the test and keep and print 1) New Gramoxone 3SL label: http://www.syngenta-us.com/current-label/gramoxone_sl_3.0 https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/paraquat-dichloride-training-certified-applicators 2) Current bulk handling systems already meet the new closed-system packaging requirements. A video of the new closed system for 2.5-gallon containers can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/XNxHq_asxXg. Tank adapters for 2.5-gallon containers should be available from dealers and/or manufacturers????? In my opinion, this headache will likely push more growers to bulk handling systems. 3) EPA-Approved Paraquat Training Information: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/paraquat-dichloride-training-certified-applicators Pigweed Emergence Prostko Just a heads up to you and your growers that Palmer amaranth has already emerged in the field (Figure 1). Consequently, strip-tillage peanut growers who are applying burndown herbicides (Roundup, Gramoxone, 2,4-D) now should seriously consider including a residual herbicide with the burndown. I would suggest either Valor SX 51WG @ 2 oz/A or Dual Magnum 7.62EC @ 16 oz/A. Residuals included with the burndown herbicide program should help keep peanut fields pigweed free until planting.

Figure 1. Palmer amaranth emergence at UGA Ponder Farm (Ty Ty), March 19, 2020.

Information from Georgia Department of Public Health Use these links for info: https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Concerned with Takeout?

Get Plugged Into 4-H Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/plugged-into-4-h-registration-100147094656?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

As always for more information please contact your Irwin County Extension Office at (229) 468-7409 or my cell (229) 424-2863. Thank You, Phillip Edwards Irwin County Agent

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OF VETERINARY SCIENCES The University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University, the U. S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating, The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity,

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