For 1999 seed of VA 98R will be available for seed increase at the registered seed level. With high yield, earliness and bright pod characteristics we expect good acceptance of this variety by both growers and processors. It appears that cost cutting will be a major item on growers agendas in 1999. One item that offers an opportunity for reduced cost is chemical inputs. I have been informed that substantial price cuts have been out in place for some pesticides for 1999.
Cuts appear to be most substantial for certain herbicide products.
It appears advisable to carefully consider both effectiveness and cost as pest management programs are developed for 1999. The market place may offer good opportunity to select effective products at reduced cost. In 1998 many producers experienced moderate to severe problems with CBR despite use of metam-sodium. Planting a highly sensitive variety in such fields will cancel out a considerable portion of the benefit which can be obtained with use of both the soil fumigant and a resistant variety. In fact, infestations have been found in peanut fields in seven of the last ten years.