Yield Advances in Peanut.

Average yields of peanut in the U.S. set an all time record of 4,695 kg ha^-1 in 2012. This far exceeded the previous record yield of 3,837 kg ha^-1 in 2008. Favorable weather conditions undoubtedly contributed to the record yields in 2012; however, these record yields would not have been achievable without numerous technological advances that have been made in peanut production. The cumulative effect of these technological advances caused U.S. yields to increase six fold from 739 kg ha^-1 in 1909 to 4,695 kg ha^-1 in 2012. If we disregard the record yields of 2012, the average gain from 1909 to 2011 was 29.9 kg ha^-1 yr^-1. These yield gains are due to improved cultivars, advances in agronomic practices, improvements in practices and chemistries for control of weed and diseases, and increased use of precision agriculture, particularly for the digging and harvesting of the crop.