2006 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Technology in agriculture is being developed at a rapid rate. However, the vast majority of such technologies are directed to specific recommendations for specific crops and little focus is provided to how implementation will logistically and economically impact the farm operation as a whole. Such uncertainties have made many farmers understandably reluctant to adopt new technologies. In addition, persistent droughts in peanut producing regions have contributed to yield declines and placed increasing reliance on irrigation for yield and income risk management. Droughts have also led to reductions in aquifer levels and stream flows and the farm sector has been legislatively forced to reduce irrigation withdrawals. Thus the major problem is the decline in net income observed in the agricultural sector, uncertainty of new technologies to improve overall farm economic positions and not simply crop yield, and the availability of water for crop irrigation. These problems are not separable and appropriate solutions must address all variables to improve farm management while promoting environmental stewardship. Integrated management systems will be improved to quantitatively measure the impact of new technologies related to peanut production, management, and marketing on all segments of the US peanut industry. The peanut industry must develop methods to better manage and monitor production inputs to promote cost effective farming, environmental stewardship, natural resource conservation, the production efficiency through rapid technology transfer which would not sacrifice yield, quality, or net economic efficiency, cost effectiveness, risk(s), and financial stability of the farmers. Development of management systems which incorporate scientific research into a farm management platform will expedite technology transfer to the farmer to improve decision making. Scientific research on the impact of irrigation rates and methods is essential to ensure that management systems are accurate. USDA-ARS is developing management systems for farmers with the objective of improving farm and natural resource management. In addition, a long term multi-crop irrigation research project will continue to address the impact of varied irrigation rates and methods on multiple crops and cropping systems. The specific objectives of this research are:. 1)Compare the impact of multiple irrigation methods at varying application amounts on profitability, yield, and quality of peanuts and selected crops grown in rotation with peanut,. 2)Compare conservation tillage systems and conventional tillage systems with respect to different irrigation requirements to maximize profitability in a typical Southeastern crop rotation. Cover crop selection and management with regard to irrigation efficiency and pest populations will be an integral component, especially in the conservation tillage systems,. 3)Develop and improve decision support systems to expedite technology transfer and adoption of emerging technologies related to peanut and other crop production, and. 4)Quantify the post-harvest impacts of irrigation method and application amount and emerging management technologies on the marketability, demand, and competitiveness of U.S. peanuts (and rotation crops such as cotton) in domestic and international markets. United States peanut acreage has declined from 1.733 million acres in 1993 to a USDA forecasted acreage of 1.176 million acres in 2006. These observed reductions in acreage and production have generated economic strain on all US peanut industry segments. Depressed prices for other commodities such as corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, and others have caused short and long term stresses on farm finances and accumulating debt loans. In addition, persistent droughts have also caused serious problems in the agricultural sector due to aquifer depletion and reduced stream flows. As a result, the Flint River Drought Protection Act was enacted in 2001 to ensure adequate stream flows in the Flint River basin during drought periods (appr. 25% of US peanut production occurs in the Flint River basin). Under this legislation, farmers were paid not to irrigate traditionally irrigated crop lands. If adequate irrigated acreage was not secured in the Act, the state has the authority to stop irrigation in the Flint River basin. This is a significant problem because it places farmers in a conflicting situation. They must have a management plan which allows them to service debt load in a depressed agricultural economy while facing problems relative to water availability for irrigation. As constraints increase, such as added debt load and restrictions on the availability of water, the need for improved management based on scientific data increases as well 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) (FY 2006) Conducted 6th year of research at Site 1. Submitted manuscript comparing the economics of irrigation amounts based on data from years 1 through 3. Conducted 5th year of research at Site 2. Released FarmSuite 3.0 update to the U.S. peanut industry (updates will include revisions for each decision support system). Conducted Beta testing on Irrigator Pro (Cotton) and Irrigator Pro (Corn) in research plots and with cooperating farmers and extension personnel. Completed programming of Dryland Pro. Conducted post-harvest evaluations on peanut, corn, and cotton samples from irrigation research studies. FY 2007) Conduct 7th year of research at Site 1. Conduct 6rd year of research at Site 2. Submit manuscript on interaction of tillage systems and sprinkler irrigation amount. Release FarmSuite 4.0 update to the U.S. peanut industry with Dryland Pro included. Initiate integration of software databases to facilitate development of the Integrated Farm Management System. Revise Irrigator Pro (Cotton) and Irrigator Pro (Corn) and continue validation. Conduct post-harvest evaluations on peanut, corn, and cotton samples from irrigation research studies. FY 2008) Conduct 8th year of research at Site 1. Conduct 7th year of research at Site 2. Release FarmSuite 5.0 update to the U.S. peanut industry with Irrigator Pro (Cotton) and Irrigator Pro (Corn) included. Initiate Beta testing on the Integrated Farm Management System. Conduct post-harvest evaluations on peanut, corn, and cotton samples from irrigation research studies. Submit manuscript on the post-harvest impacts in peanut for different irrigation methods and amounts. FY 2009) Conduct 9th year of research at Site 1. The required 3rd data point for the every other year rotation sequences will occur. Submit manuscript comparing the economics of irrigation methods. Conduct 8th year of research at Site 2. Release FarmSuite 6.0 update to the U.S. peanut industry. Submit manuscript on Irrigator Pro (Cotton) and Irrigator Pro (Corn). Revise the Integrated Farm Management System and complete validation. Continue post-harvest evaluations on peanut, corn, and cotton samples resulting from irrigation research. FY 2010) Conduct 10th year of research at Site 1 (in the 3 year rotation sequences, 9 years are required to obtain 3 data points for each crop in the rotation sequence) Conduct 9th year of research at Site 2. Submit manuscript on irrigation/tillage research. Release the Integrated Farm Management System (Version 1.0). Continue post-harvest evaluations on peanut, corn, and cotton samples resulting from irrigation research. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. This is a new project and the research is being conducted and accomplishments forthcoming in future years. 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. This is a new project and the research is being conducted and accomplishments forthcoming in future years. 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None. 4d.Progress report. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. This is a new project and thus to early to define accomplishments over the life of the project. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? This is a new project and thus technology transfer activities will be forthcoming in future years. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). “Post-harvest Evaluation of the Uniform Peanut Performance Trials”. American Peanut Shellers Annual Seed Summit, Albany GA. Feb. 2006. “Impact of Limited Irrigation and Tillage on Crop Yield”. Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance, Perry, GA. Feb 2006. “The Economics of Organic versus Conventional Peanuts and Cotton”. American Peanut Research and Education Society. Savannah, GA, July. 2006. “Peanut Production Management in 2006”. 5 meetings for the Alabama Peanut Producers and Florida Peanut Producers Associations. Various locations. Feb/Mar. 2006. “NPRL’s new Peanut Breeding and Germplasm Development Program”. Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. Panama City Beach, FL. Jul. 2006. “Analysis of the US Peanut Grading System and the Impact of New Technologies” American Peanut Shellers Pre-harvest Meeting. Albany, GA, Aug. 2006 Review Publications Faircloth, W.H., Rowland, D. 2006. Conservation tillage and water management II: The effect of decreased irrigation on crop yield and profitability in conservation tillage systems. Southern Conservation Systems Conference. 28:68. Lamb, M.C., Blankenship, P. 2006. The capacity and efficiency of official grade shellers. Peanut Science. 33:12-18. Rowland, D., Sorensen, R.B., Butts, C.L., Faircloth, W.H. 2006. Determination of maturity and degree day indices and their success in predicting peanut maturity. Peanut Science. 33:125-136. Lamb, M.C., Rowland, D., Sorensen, R.B., Butts, C.L., Faircloth, W.H., Nuti, R.C. 2006. Economic returns of irrigated and non-irrigated peanut based cropping systems. Peanut Science. 34:(1):10-16.