Farmer sows success with peanuts

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

October 24, 2002 -- Jeff Lothringer is a fourth-generation, Wilson County ag producer. Along with his wife, Roslyn, they annually farm 750 acres of peanuts and 500 acres of corn.

For many years Lothringer depended on the weather for moisture, but after installing irrigation systems, things really changed for the better.

"In 1988 or '89, I started irrigating. It was a lot of work and a lot of expense and everything, but we then started making, consistently, good crops," said Lothringer.

Before the irrigation, he said they planted about 60 acres in peanuts, but with the irrigation system, they were able to change that acreage to include 750 acres.

In 2001, he raised 1,850 tons of peanuts on that acreage. "Last year, we averaged 2.47 tons per acre ... probably never do that again!" he added.

The main variety of peanut he plants is the TAM 96 from Texas A&M University, although he does have some 108 variety.

"Now, we plant from the middle of May to the middle of June. You can't plant past mid-June, because that puts it (harvest) into the middle of November, and it's getting cold," said Lothringer. "It's about a 150-day peanut, from the time we plant to the time we harvest."

Lothringer plants his peanuts with seed from Wilco Peanut Company, for whom he raises his crop.

"Most of the peanuts that we plant are from seed we produced last year. We raise peanuts for Wilco and they give us a seed bonus, like $25 to $30 a ton," he detailed.

Once the peanuts are planted and bloom, the vines send out "pegs" that burrow into the ground to develop into peanuts. In order for this to happen, the soil must be wet, according to Lothringer. Individual peanuts are used for planting.

"Just like what you eat. Take one of those (peanuts), of course they (Wilco) treats it with chemicals and put them in 50 pound bags, and you plant that same peanut back," he said.

His crop "took a beating" this year due to the summer rains. If the ground is too hard or too hot, the pegs won't go into the ground and develop into peanuts.

Lothringer said he plants about 110 pounds of seed per acre, and at 45 days, uses Bravo herbicide and starts watering the plants. From then until just before harvest, he uses a lot of water.

"When they're (peanuts) small, they don't need much water, but from 45 days on, it takes a lot of water ... like two inches a week, average," explained Lothringer.

After about 100 days, the water is decreased to about an inch a week, and about 10 days before harvest, the water completely off, to allow the plant to dry up so that the peanuts can be harvested.

"When you're ready to harvest, the moisture has to be right, because when you run those knives under (the soil), it's critical," he added.

Lothringer plants his peanuts in 36-inch rows, leaving 36 inches between in order to drive his tractors between them, without disturbing the growing peanuts. He said the tires "might hurt some vines, but you don't hurt the peanuts" with his method of planting.

Once the peanuts are harvested and taken to Wilco Peanut Company, he said the moisture content is dried from about 17 percent to about 10 percent. Peanuts are graded according to the weight of the hulls versus the actual peanut.

"Normally, like a 70 percent grade is good and there on up," he said.

Most of Lothringer's crops rate between 75-78 percent, he said. With harvest time here, he predicts it will take approximately two months to harvest the 750 acres. Due to the intensive labor necessary, he

said that they are able to harvest about 20-25 acres per day, unless it rains.

"What hurts them (peanuts) is when they're not mature and it freezes and kill the plants and you have to dig them up," he said.

Lothringer said he likes to use a rotation plan, but peanuts have to be planted on sandy soil, so it limits the acreage that can be used.

Normally, he turns the hay back into the ground and plants a cover crop of ryegrass or oats. Then he applies fertilizer and turns the ground, again, to make ready for the next crop of peanuts.

The long-time farmer also offered his opinion on the new Farm Bill. He feels it isn't going to do much for him or others.

"The price of peanuts has gone down so much. Last year, we were getting $610 per ton on a 70 percent grade. This year, it's $355 per ton," he said. "I don't think it (Farm Bill) is going to help anyone. Nothing that we buy has gone down, but everything we buy (to plant and produce) has gone up."

Even with the planting, harvesting, 20-hour days, and poor prices, Lothringer wouldn't trade what he does for an "8-to-5" position.

"I like the independence of being my own boss, and the flexibility it gives me when it rains. We can go places and do things and if there's work to be done, we stay here and work," he said. "What I do out here doesn't feel like a job to me. I get tired, but I don't dread getting up in the morning."