Peanut variety test at NFREC Marianna. Photo credit: Doug Mayo

When I was young, Sunday mornings consisted of getting ready for church, eating breakfast together as a family, and making the 30 to 45 minute ride to church, which seemed to take forever.  Breakfast was hot baked cinnamon rolls and a big glass of milk. This was a highlight of the week for us kids.  I can still remember the smell of them coming out of the oven.  Mom always baked them in a round pan, which meant there were only one or two in the center without the crusty edges.  After the prayer, we kids had our forks ready to be the first to get the rolls in the middle.

It is often when something is in short supply, demand increases.  Such is the case with peanut varieties it seems.  I’ve had several calls this winter from growers and county agents about seed of the new high oleic peanut varieties.  Unfortunately, the supply of most of them is very limited for 2017.  Figure 1 shows the certified seed acreage of several peanut varieties grown in Alabama, Florida and Georgia in 2016 and gives a good indication of the seed supply available for 2017 plantings.  Most of the new high oleic varieties were grown on 1% or less of the acreage.

Figure 1. Percentage of certified seed acreage grown in Alabama, Florida and Georgia in 2016.

Table 1 shows the performance of peanut varieties in Florida during 2013 through 2016.  It is clear that most of the new high oleic varieties (TUFRunnerTM 511,  TUFRunnerTM 297, FloRunTM 157, FloRunTM 331, Georgia-13M, and TifNV-High O/L) are performing as well or better in Florida than the dominant high oleic, Georiga-09B.  That fuels demand.  It’s also clear that several of them performed similarly to the Georgia-06G, the stalwart variety for the past 8 years.  That fuels more demand.  So, if you want seed of the new varieties for 2017, don’t wait, get on the phone with your seed company.   If you are not successful for 2017, make your request known to your seed company for 2018.  The seed system works that way.  If you don’t ask for seed now, they may not grow it for you.  So, gather ‘round the table and get your fork ready!  Oh, and don’t forget to pray.