We are still evaluating tillage systems. We tend to see variation is response to tillage depending upon soil characteristics and environmental conditions. The interaction of these variables makes predicting how well reduced tillage systems difficult. Ripping continues to be important on those soils with hard pans. Most of our results indicate that good, sandy peanut soils produce high yields in conventional or reduced tillage systems.
Some concerns exist when reduced tillage systems are attempted or finer-textured soils.
The success of reduced tillage has generally been enjoyed by those growers that have made a long term commitment to reducing and even eliminating tillage. There is little doubt that reducing tillage can improve soil health, but growers need to realize there are some growing pains when going in that direction. From a weed management perspective, we may see strongarm labeled for the 2000 crop. This herbicide is a preplant or preemergence herbicide that controls ragweed, lambsquarters, eclipta, cocklebur, and several other broadleaf weeds. Strongarm will need a dinitroaniline or chloroacetamide complement for grass control, and it only suppresses yellow and purple nutsedge.