Moisture, low row-crop prices prompt possible record Texas peanut production

September 23, 2025 - by Kay Ledbetter

Summer rains and a competitive market that outpaced other commodities could result in record-breaking Texas peanut production, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists.

"Starting in May through the end of planting, we had good rainfall across much of Texas,” said Emi Kimura, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide peanut specialist, agronomist and associate professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Vernon. “Then the growing season in June and July saw more beneficial moisture – something that hasn’t happened the past few years.”

Pancho Abello, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agricultural economist and assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, said in addition to good growing conditions, prices for other commodities were lower, and peanuts offered higher profitability potential for some producers.

 “Every other option in terms of commodities was not as competitive as peanuts, so we have seen more producers shifting acreage this year,” Abello said. “We are expecting a record-breaking production.”

Building a record-breaking year

Texas’ planted acreage for peanuts is up 45,000 acres this year over last year, for a total of 285,000 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sept. 12 crop production report. Texas ranks second to Georgia in peanut production, followed by Alabama, Florida and North Carolina. The bulk of Texas peanut production is in Gaines, Yoakum, Terry and Cochran counties.

The report predicts average production will be 3,100 pounds per acre this year, compared to 2,600 pounds per acre harvested in 2024. The projected production is 822 million pounds compared to the 572 million pounds harvested in 2024.

Texas’ acreage increased 4%. Overall, the U.S. saw a 5.5% increase in acres despite lower peanut prices. USDA is forecasting about $500 per ton, which is in line with what Texas farmers are reporting they contracted for this year, Abello said.

“Given the predicted yield with the increase of acreage, we are now expecting record-high production,” he said.

The record production is expected to push ending stocks about 34% higher than last year, which could mean lower prices next year, Abello said.  

Challenges: Drought, weeds and diseases

Not all regions of Texas received rain. While this year is better than previous years in the Rolling Plains and West Texas, Kimura said the peanut-growing region in South Texas – specifically Frio and Atascosa counties – remains under drought conditions.

Those receiving good rain also had to battle higher weed pressure, Kimura said. Growers without a solid weed control program could experience quality and yield losses. Weeds can also cause reductions in peanut grade during harvest.

“That was a challenge this year, to stay ahead of the weed issue,” she said.

Disease pressure has been average this season – peanut growers have their own fungicide program to stay on top of the issue, although some leaf spot and pod rot were noted through the season, but nothing major, Kimura said.

No early freeze, please

Ultimately, harvested acreage and yields will depend on weather conditions through the final stage of the crop.

“If it keeps raining during the normal harvest period, it can cause problems,” Kimura said. “We don’t want to see an early freeze, also, of course.”

She said producers will start digging peanuts in West Texas and in the Rolling Plains in October. Producers in South Texas typically begin digging in November. After peanuts are dug, they are windrowed to dry for several days and then combined to harvest the pods. If it rains on the dug peanuts, the quality goes down.

“We need open windows of sunny days to dig and get the harvest in,” Kimura said.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Panhandle

Overall, soil moisture was short to adequate with scattered showers in some areas, while other counties experienced drought conditions. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good. Corn and sorghum silage harvests continued. Wheat was being planted in some counties, while others were waiting for moisture. Some cotton producers were anticipating applications of harvest aids to begin an early harvest in October. Crop conditions were fair to good.

South Plains

Some areas received sporadic rain showers, with trace amounts of rain up to 2 inches. Cotton was beginning to open bolls, and grain sorghum harvest was complete. Fields were being prepped for winter crops. Wheat was being planted, and some was already emerging. Late-planted corn was expected to need another irrigation if the heat and lack of rain continued. Corn for grain was harvested. Sorghum silage was cut. Pastureland and cattle were in good condition.

Rolling Plains

Winter wheat planting was underway across the district, with many producers dry sowing due to limited soil moisture. Recent light rains provided slight relief, though overall conditions remained hot and dry. Topsoil moisture improved, allowing for quick wheat emergence. Despite the challenging weather, livestock conditions remained strong, and calves were being weaned or sold early amid favorable market prices. This strategy helped cows regain weight ahead of the fall calving season. Wildlife food plots began to recover from the recent heat. Cotton across the district was looking good, and harvest was expected to begin in a month. While the hot, dry conditions continued to challenge crops, timely rains earlier in the season helped maintain overall crop health, with many fields outperforming previous years. Producers remain hopeful that more substantial rainfall will arrive soon to support the establishment of winter wheat and ensure successful fall operations.

North

Topsoil and subsoil levels were short to adequate across the district. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to excellent. Mild weather conditions allowed forage to maintain its quality, and pastures looked incredibly good for this time of year. Hay harvest continued for some counties. Corn and grain sorghum harvests continued in some areas. Fields were prepped for wheat and oats, with grain-only planting expected to begin in October. Cotton was almost ready for harvest. The fig harvest was ongoing, and planting of winter vegetables continued as summer crops came to an end. Livestock conditions were good. Heavy infestations of fall armyworms were reported in parts of the district.

East

The district began to dry out in most areas, with many counties receiving little to no rainfall. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate to short. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good. Hay production continued, and producers put away record amounts of hay. Cattle markets remained strong, while feeder calves and slaughter cattle prices were reported to be lower. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Armyworm sightings continued.
Far West
The district experienced hotter-than-normal conditions, with daily highs frequently reaching into the 90s. Rainfall was limited, with little to no measurable precipitation reported on most days. Local forecasts indicated mostly sunny skies, with only isolated showers possible, but no significant rainfall developed. Soil and vegetation were still recovering from sustained dryness in many areas. Irrigated cotton was holding and looking good, while dryland cotton was nearing completion. Planting dates and water availability determined cotton yields. Wheat planting began, but seeds were being dusted in. Most producers were holding off to plant more acres when temperatures trended downward or chances for precipitation increased. Given the hot, dry conditions, stress on forage availability and pasture productivity persisted, with livestock grazing conditions trending toward fair rather than good.

West Central

Temperatures began to shift toward fall with daytime highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Topsoil and subsoil were drying out. Fields were being prepped for small grain planting, and while preplant moisture was needed, some wheat was put in the ground where rainfall occurred. Cotton suffered but matured quickly, with bolls opening and harvest aid applications to begin soon. Nearly all sorghum was harvested. Early maturing pecans began to split hulls. Pastures dried up, grasses were dormant, and the fire danger increased as fields turned brown. Farmers and ranchers began supplemental feeding of cattle with protein and hay as rangeland conditions deteriorated, but livestock remained in good to excellent condition. Grass growth slowed with cooler nights. Stock tanks were running low on water, and livestock were in fair condition overall. However, cattle numbers risked declining further without rainfall.

Central

Dry and hot conditions persisted with no rainfall, though humidity levels remained high. Some producers were planting wheat into dry ground, hoping for rain in the coming days. Almost all corn was harvested. Corn and sorghum stalks were baled, and cotton harvest operations continued. Reports indicated above-average cotton yields, but prices were very low. Pecan producers were set to start harvesting Pawnee varieties soon, but the crop looked very thin. Land was being prepared for winter grazing grasses. Plenty of hay was available as hay cutting was still underway. Stock tank water levels began dropping considerably. Pasture and range conditions were good despite dry conditions and high temperatures. Livestock were in good to fair condition on pasture, with supplemental feeding still occurring. The cattle market softened slightly but not significantly, while sheep and goat markets remained strong.

Southeast

Parts of the district missed rainfall, and there were growing concerns about drought. Corn, rice and sorghum were all harvested. Cotton conditions were fair to good, with most bolls opened. Good weather allowed for significant hay cutting and field preparation for upcoming cool-season forage planting in some areas. High cattle prices were influencing producers to sell animals and lower their stocking rates. Pasture conditions became increasingly dry, though livestock remained in fair condition.

Southwest

Seasonal temperatures and dry conditions further stressed the plants. Moisture conditions continued to decline. Bacterial and fungal infections became more prevalent in trees, and insect pressure weighed on the limited forage availability. Field preparation for winter crop planting was underway. Corn harvest was complete, and small grains were being planted. Cotton harvest was nearing completion. Producers were taking advantage of the abundant hay supply and lower prices. Armyworms were present. Rangeland and pasture conditions remained good overall. Supplemental feeding of livestock was evident in some areas. Livestock were in good condition as the breeding season began. Sheep and goat producers were still worming livestock to prepare them for winter. Early scouting reports indicated deer were in good condition with an average fawn count.

Coastal Bend

Hot, dry conditions persisted, with scattered showers providing limited relief. Harvests of major crops were complete with mixed results. Cotton was the strongest performer, producing some of the best yields in years at more than 4 bales per acre in the southeast. Cotton gins continued to run at full capacity. Corn and sorghum yields were average to above average in the southeast and east but below average in drier northern and western areas. Fall fieldwork was ongoing in grain fields, including mowing, disking and row preparation. Fall armyworms were reported in Bermuda grass stands, further stressing forage supplies. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline due to drought and mealybug infestations, although scattered showers provided localized improvement. In most areas, forage quality remained poor. Livestock remained in fair to good condition, though supplemental feeding was increasing. Some producers reported hay inventories, while others were beginning to rely on supplemental feed. Cattle prices remained strong. Pecan orchards were being prepared for harvest, with the crop looking promising.

South

Temperatures were moderate, with a few days under 100 degrees and early mornings dropping to 76. Small, random showers brought up to 2 inches of rain in some areas, but most areas still needed significant rainfall to replenish deeper soil moisture. Cotton was defoliated, and harvest was underway, while peanut and sesame growers continued watering. Forage and turf producers harvested grass, though production was slowing, with one more hay cutting expected. Vegetable producers were harvesting okra, and soil preparation for strawberries was underway. The row crop harvest was complete, and fields were being prepared for fall and winter, while awaiting moisture. Limited irrigation was observed on citrus and vegetable crops. Pastures and rangelands had withered during the drought, though some areas were beginning to green again. Beef cattle were in good condition despite limited forage, prompting increased supplementation with hay and protein. In ungrazed areas, standing forage posed a wildfire threat. Ranchers were culling harder and selling lighter-weight calves due to poor range conditions. Hay and feed were in high demand, with elevated prices. Deer were being supplemented. Wildlife thrived, with operations preparing for hunting season. Dove season started strong, turkey and deer seasons looked promising, and ranchers noted large deer populations. Wildlife were on the move.