The southeastern U.S. provides this long season better than anywhere else in the world. This is one reason American peanuts command a premium price on the world market. In late August, farmers begin taking the peanuts from a single plant to their local cooperative extension service office to test on a Maturity Profile Board. This board helps the farmers decide exactly when to harvest their crop. September Farmers begin harvesting their peanuts in September.
Harvesting is a rapid process.
When the Maturity Profile Board shows optimal maturity and the soil is neither too wet or dry, the farmer drives a tractor with a digger-shaker attachment through the field. The digger has long blades that run four to six inches under the ground loosening the plant and cutting the tap root. Just behind the blade, a shaker lifts the plant from the ground, gently shakes the soil from the peanuts and lays the plant upside-down in windrows to dry in the sun for two to three days. The farmer then drives a combine over the windrows to pick the peanuts from the vines. The peanut wagons are then taken to buying stations where they are weighed, graded and inspected by the Federal State Inspection Service to determine the quality and value of the load.