Sumter County – Bill Starr, Sumter County Extension Coordinator, provided an update on the peanut crop in Sumter County to the Georgia Peanut Tour group. Sumter County farmers planted approximately 10,000 acres of peanuts this year. The average yield is around 3,600 pounds per acre. Other crops grown in Sumter County include cotton, corn and vegetables. Farmers in the area experienced problems early in the growing season with weeds and later on with white mold. According to Starr the peanut crop looks very good this year with some fields looking excellent in Sumter County.

Macon County – Jeremy Kichler, Macon County Extension Coordinator, provided an update on Macon to the Georgia Peanut Tour group. This year Macon County farmers planted 5,956 acres of peanuts and Kichler estimates production at 1.5 tons per acre for dryland peanuts and 2 tons per acre for irrigated peanuts. Sixty percent of the acreage in Macon County is irrigated with 40 percent dryland. In addition to peanuts, Macon County farmers also grow corn, corn silage, cotton, peaches and vegetables. There are also 36 dairies in the county. Macon County farmers have had a difficult year with Glyphosate-Resistant and ALS-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (pigweed). Overall the peanut crop is looking good though.