Peanut growers in North Carolina will get an opportunity to see and hear the latest research and Extension information at field days set for Sept. 5, in Lewiston-Woodville and on Sept. 11 at the Tobacco Research Station in Whiteville.

The Sept. 11, field day in southeastern North Carolina is the second annual event, while the Sept. 5 field day will be the 61st consecutive field day held at the Peanut Belt Research Station in Lewiston-Woodville, N.C.

Both programs will feature peanut research and Extension specialists at North Carolina State University and leaders of the peanut industry and an update on this year’s crop from Bob Sutter, executive director of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association. 

And, both programs are sponsored by North Carolina State University College of Life Sciences, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and a number of industry representatives.

After back to back outstanding growing seasons for peanuts in North Carolina, the 2013 season has been plagued by excessive rainfall and long periods of cool, damp weather in most areas of the state.

David Jordan, North Carolina State peanut specialist, Bob Sutter, executive director of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association and others will provide statewide summaries of this year’s crop.

The Sept. 11, field day begins with registration at 9:00 a.m. Following introductory remarks by representatives from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State and the Department of Agriculture, North Carolina State researchers David Jordan, Tom Islieb, Barbara Shew and Rick Brandenburg will conduct field tours and discuss results of peanut tests at the research facility and around the state.

Topics for this field day will include: Peanut Variety Development, Insecticide Programs to Manage Thrips, Comparison of Virginia and Runner Market Types, Peanut Response to Prohexadione Calcium, In-Season Fungicide Programs and Vydate Performance.

Lunch, sponsored by the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, the National Peanut Board, Amvac, DuPont and Fine Americas, will be conclude the meeting at noon.

Registration for the Sept. 5, field day begins at 8:45 a.m. and will be followed by four stops, beginning at 9 a.m.

“The tour focuses on selected areas of the Research Station. Other research projects along the tour route are identified by signs. “You are welcome to visit these additional sites on your own,” Jordan says.

Tour stops include: Stop 1, Breeding and Variety Development with Tom Isleib, a peanut breeder in the Crop Science Department at North Carolina State University. Stop 2, Disease Management with Barbara Shew, a plant pathologist at North Carolina State. Stop 3, Insect Management with Rick Brandenburg, an entomologist at North Carolina State. Stop 4, Agronomy and Weed Management, with David Jordan.

The field tours will be followed at 11 a.m. with a program featuring remarks from leaders of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Peanut Belt Research Station.

Marianne Copelan, executive director of the Virginia-Carolinas Peanut Promotions Board and Dell Cotton, manager of the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association, will give updates on the activities of their respective organizations.

Lunch, sponsored by Ag Carolina Financial, Bayer Crop Science, Cape Fear Farm Credit, National Peanut Board, PNC Bank, and Southern Bank, will be provided at 1:00 p.m.