Drying peanuts too fast with elevated heat can adversely affect curing. Its a tough balancing act, but getting the peanuts safely out of the field is the priority. Many growers are considering growing peanuts in reduced or minimum tillage production systems. In many situations adoption of strip tillage systems can be successful. Although the 1998 crop is your main concern right now, setting up fields in the fall for reduced tillage production is an important component of success.
Several people are strip tilling peanuts directly into cotton stubble from the previous crop.
There have been some concerns about cotton stalks causing problems during harvest and later at the mill. This can be a problem, and some adjustments may be necessary to reduce it. Strip till rigs that do an excellent job of shredding stalks, especially the power driven versions, will enhance breakdown of cotton stalks in the soil. Some of the strip till implements prepare a good seedbed but do not incorporate the stalks very well. Covering stalks with soil will help speed the degradation process.