Peanut farmers who maintain their fields in the proper pH balance provide the crop with a start to positive yield returns and fertility uptake.

In a post to his peanut blog, David Jordan, North Carolina State University Extension peanut agronomist, reminded peanut farmers to optimize peanut yields “by establishing and maintaining soil pH above 5.8 across the entire field. If you are using an average for the field, make sure you lime to achieve a pH of 6.2 to make sure the entire field is above 5.8. There are more issues with low pH than there are with high pH. If areas of the field that were 6.1 increase to 6.6, there is less concern than a pH of 5.6.”

Optimum pH also creates a “soil environment where a positive response to inoculant for nitrogen fixation and gypsum for kernel formation is likely. At low pH, both of these inputs are unlikely to contribute to increased yield. In fact, yield can decrease when gypsum is applied to peanut in fields with low pH.”

In addition, here are the dates and information for 2023 North Carolina County Peanut Production meetings. Meeting will take place from 1p.m.-3 p.m. each day, with a lunch prior to the meeting in most cases. Contact the local NC State Extension agent for details on location of the meeting.

January 30 – Gates, Chowan, Perquimans

February 3 – Hertford

February 6 – Northampton

February 8 – Halifax

February 10 – Bertie

February 13 – Martin and Washington

February 15 – Southeastern counties (Elizabethtown)

February 17 – Wilson and Wayne

February 20 – Pitt

February 22 – Edgecombe and Nash

February 24 – Duplin and Sampson

Other NC peanut meetings

January 18 – NC State Peanut Extension Agent in-service training (1 to 4 p.m., Wilson Extension Office)

January 26 – South Carolina State Peanut Meeting

February 1 – V-C Peanut Advisory Committee

February 23  – Virginia State Peanut Meeting

March 10 – The Group of 60 Luncheon