John Reddecop is the Southwest's 2023 Peanut Efficiency Award winner. He grows organic and conventional peanuts in Yoakum County, Texas, a region where drought is commonplace, and the wind blows often. Resting his sandy soils for at least one year and planting a rye cover are key management practices that yield big returns.
“I’ve found out my yields go through the roof leaving my land out of production at least one year,” Reddecop said. “That’s where my biggest yields come from.”
John farms with his brother Henry Reddecop. The brothers conduct their own field trials and are slowly converting suitable conventional acres to organic to increase profit potential and save water. Rye is planted on acres being converted from “old farm dirt” to organic—a process that takes three years.
For the last two years, peanut yields have exceeded 7,000 pounds – “a career best.” He and Henry hope to top that in 2023. But both admit, that's a tall order.
Take a look at this gallery to catch a glimpse of Reddecop's operation, family and planting day on the Reddecop farm.
Follow the links below to view the other PEA winners' operations:
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