Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
1999 Peanut, Cotton and Tobacco Performance Tests
Research Report Number 664
January, 2000
J. LaDon Day, Anton E. Coy, Shelby H. Baker, William D. Branch, Stevan S. LaHue, and Larry G. Thompson, Editors
Growing conditions did not improve during 1999 as below normal rainfall and high temperatures occurred across the state. Although dry weather impeded early planting, clear weather in April and May allowed a relatively timely planting of the 1999 Georgia crops. As a result of unfavorable weather, the status of crops remained fair to poor throughout the season and much irrigation was required.
The severe drought conditions that Georgia has been experiencing since April 1998 continued throughout the growing season. Rainfall at the four test sites is listed below. Total seasonal rainfall amounts were below normal at all test locations with one site (Plains, GA) receiving only 60 percent of long-term average.
| 1999 Rainfall1 | ||||
| Month | Athens2 | Midville | Plains | Tifton |
| ----------------------------------- inches ------------------------------ | ||||
| March | 2.46 | 1.57 | 2.42 | 1.13 |
| April | 1.77 | 2.75 | 2.65 | 2.07 |
| May | 3.50 | 1.62 | 2.45 | 2.14 |
| June | 5.32 | 2.87 | 3.30 | 7.57 |
| July | 2.80 | 4.79 | 3.75 | 4.65 |
| August | 2.01 | 2.30 | 1.78 | 1.57 |
| September | 2.14 | 4.53 | 0.83 | 2.05 |
| October | 3.47 | 4.27 | 1.93 | 0.73 |
| Total | 23.47 | 24.70 | 19.11 | 21.91 |
| Normal (8 mo) | 32.26 | 31.17 | 31.99 | 32.72 |
| 1 Data provided in
part by Dr. G. Hoogenboom, Georgia Station, Griffin, GA. 2 Plant Sciences Farm. | ||||
Georgia farmers continue to reduce planted acres of some row crops. Tobacco acres were down 20 percent, while acres planted to cotton increased 14 percent over 1998. Peanut acreage remained steady for the 1999 crop year.
Overall, the 1999 growing season was extremely difficult for growers mainly due to high temperatures and very dry soils. Water usage as irrigation was at an all time high and some farmers were at or nearing allocation. Even though irrigation helped, production problems lingered. High temperatures caused boll lock and short staple in cotton. Disease on peanuts and tobacco was prevalent, but the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus caused the most damage. Some tobacco producers in southern counties experienced Cucumber Mosaic Virus damage.
The harvest season progressed at a rapid rate. An early frost the first week in November was a concern to peanut growers that had recently dug peanuts with high moisture seed. Peanut and tobacco production decreased 8 percent and 30 percent, respectively, from 1998. Cotton production increased slightly at 1 percent more than 1998.