Peanut Harvest Progress Behind Schedule

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Peanut harvest is certainly off to a slow start. This according to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey.

Rippey… “We see just 11% of the peanut crop harvested nationally by September 27th. Well behind the five year average of 19% and last year's 23%. We see harvest progress behind schedule for peanuts in seven of the eight major production states. The only state with progress ahead of average is Texas farther to the west where it's drier. And we see particular delays in some of the bigger states in the southeast. Georgia, for example, just 8% of the peanuts harvested; five-year average is 19%.”

In addition to harvest progress concerns, there have also been some declines in quality in certain areas.

Rippey… “With all that rain, we have seen some declines in peanut condition. Currently. 63% good to excellent; last week, 68%. 11% very poor to poor; that's up from 8% last week. Even with the decline, we're still seeing a better looking crop for the most part than last year, when we were at 55% good to excellent; 12%, very poor to poor.”

One of the hardest hit areas was Florida, where their crop is currently reported at 25% poor to very poor, in part due to the impact of Hurricane Sally.