Predicted conditions surrounding Isaac favor diseases of peanut

As of Sunday evening, it appears that Tropical Storm Isaac will slow, turn into a hurricane, and hit our Gulf Coast sometime Tuesday. Rainfall amounts are forecast in inches below I-20 and tropical storm conditions are expected to prevail for a substantial period through a good portion of Mississippi.

We have a good crop in the ground, but a very significant part of our peanut growing season remains – our pegs and pods are formed, but many of the nuts still need to fill out. The plant is no longer adding additional canopy, so it is important that the existing canopy be preserved by protecting it from disease so that pod fill can continue.

The conditions surrounding Isaac could allow disease to enter and harm your crop. Please watch your weather forecast, and think paranoid. If rain from Isaac is projected for your area, it is important that your peanut crop be fully protected with both a penetrant (such as Abound, Fontelis, Headline, Provost, or for further north a tebuconazloe such as Tebuzole or Muscle), and a protectant (chlorothalonil fungicide such as Bravo or Echo) fungicide to prevent infection and disease progress. Even if you last sprayed as few as five days prior to predicted rain onset, remember that there is likely to be a delay in getting back into the field and in the meantime conditions will probably favor disease.