Every growing season brings new challenges for peanut farmers. Rising input costs, unpredictable weather, pest and disease pressure, and the timing of harvest all require careful management. Making the right decision at the right time can have a significant impact on both yield and profitability.
Helping farmers navigate those decisions is at the heart of Clemson University’s land-grant mission.
To support peanut production across South Carolina, Clemson Cooperative Extension has released the 2026 South Carolina Peanut Production Guide, a comprehensive resource that delivers the latest research-based recommendations for variety selection, fertility management, weed control, irrigation, insect and disease management, and harvest practices.
Developed by Clemson researchers and Extension specialists, the guide transforms years of research and field experience into practical recommendations farmers can use throughout the growing season.
Turning Research into Practical Solutions
While the 2026 Peanut Production Guide provides trusted agronomic recommendations, it is just one piece of Clemson’s growing digital toolbox for peanut farmers.
Through collaboration among researchers, Extension specialists, and industry partners, the Clemson University Center for Agricultural Technology (CU-CAT) works to create and deploy practical technologies that help farmers apply research in the field. Whether making decisions before planting, monitoring crop health during the season, or preparing for harvest, Clemson’s digital resources are designed to make research more accessible and actionable.
One example is AgriView, an AI-powered image analysis platform developed by CU-CAT to help farmers turn photos into actionable insights. Current tools available through AgriView include:
- PeanutScout™ – Uses image analysis to help identify peanut leaf diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and pesticide injury.
- PodProbe™ – Assesses peanut maturity to help farmers determine the optimal time to dig their crop.
- Peanut Yield Estimation – Uses AI-powered image analysis to estimate peanut yields based on field images.
These tools complement—not replace—the experience and expertise of farmers by providing additional information to support informed decision-making.
A Growing Digital Toolbox for Peanut Farmers
In addition to AgriView, Clemson Precision Agriculture offers a collection of free web-based calculators and decision-support tools that help farmers apply research throughout the production season.
Peanut-focused tools include:
- Peanut Yield Estimator – Estimates yield using pod counts collected from the field.
- Peanut Field Drying Forecaster – Uses local weather data to estimate kernel moisture and help determine the ideal harvest window.
- Peanut Digger Conveyor Speed Calculator – Helps farmers verify proper conveyor speed settings for improved digging efficiency.
- Peanut Loan Rate Calculator – Estimates loan rates, premiums, discounts, and crop value based on peanut grading information.
Together, these resources provide practical support for decisions from planting through harvest. Available online at no cost, they make Clemson research accessible wherever decisions are being made—in the field, on the farm, or from the cab of a tractor.
Research. Education. Outreach.
At CU-CAT, technology is most valuable if it helps solve real challenges for farmers.
As Clemson University’s center for collaboration, CU-CAT brings together research, education, and outreach to develop practical solutions and expand access to trusted agricultural resources. By connecting innovative technologies with the people who use them, CU-CAT helps ensure that research doesn’t stop in the laboratory—it reaches the field where it can make a meaningful difference.
Resources like the 2026 South Carolina Peanut Production Guide, AgriView, and Clemson Precision Agriculture’s decision-support tools demonstrate how research and collaboration are helping farmers make more informed decisions, improve efficiency, and strengthen the future of agriculture across South Carolina.
Learn More
The 2026 South Carolina Peanut Production Guide is available through Clemson Cooperative Extension and the South Carolina Crops Team.
Explore additional digital agriculture resources, AI-powered tools, and free decision-support web applications by visiting AgriView and Clemson Precision Agriculture online.
