Kelley Manufacturing Co. is expanding its peanut harvest technology lineup for the 2026 season with the commercial release of two new products: PodPro, the peanut industry’s first commercially available yield monitoring system, and the Stack-Fold Flex Peanut Digger, designed to improve harvest efficiency and productivity.

Kelley Manufacturing Co. announces the launch of PodPro, the peanut industry’s first commercially available yield monitoring system.

Developed specifically for peanut production, PodPro provides operators with continuous, real-time yield information during harvest while collecting detailed field data for post-harvest analysis and future management decisions. The system also creates high-resolution yield maps, giving growers a clearer picture of field variability and crop performance.

In addition to monitoring yield, PodPro features a closed-loop harvest optimization system that automatically adjusts the combine’s air damper based on the flow of peanuts through the machine. By maintaining the proper airflow, the system helps prevent duct clogging while reducing pod damage and loose shelled kernels, protecting crop quality and maximizing market value.

Jordan Ledford of Stubbs Farm in Rochelle, Georgia, tested the system during the 2025 harvest season and said the monitor was easy to set up and quickly became part of the harvest routine.

“It didn’t take long to get comfortable with the system, and one of the biggest benefits was being able to monitor what the peanuts were doing in real time, giving us immediate insight into yield instead of having to wait until the end of the season,” Ledford says.

PodPro is designed for integration with the KMC 7406 Peanut Combine and the patent is currently pending.

Kelley Manufacturing Co. is introducing the new KMC Stack-Fold Flex Peanut Digger, available in both 8-row and 10-row models, for the 2026 harvest season.

KMC is also introducing the new KMC Stack-Fold Flex Peanut Digger, available in both 8-row and 10-row models, for the 2026 harvest season. The digger combines the company’s flex digging technology with a stack-fold frame that allows larger-capacity machines to maintain a practical transport width for moving between fields.

Independent digging sections help maintain consistent digging depth across varying terrain, reducing losses while creating uniform windrows for improved drying conditions. For larger operations, the 10-row model can increase daily digging capacity by as much as 67 percent compared to a traditional 6-row digger, allowing more acres to be harvested with a single tractor and operator while potentially reducing labor and equipment needs.

The 10-row model also offers the flexibility to operate using only the center six rows when field conditions require it.

Both products are designed to help growers improve harvest efficiency while providing new tools to maximize yield, preserve crop quality and support more informed management decisions.

For more information, contact KMC at 800-444-5449, or visit the KMC website at www.kelleymfg.com.

Joy Carter Crosby
SEPF Editor

By July, the excitement of planting has settled into the reality of the growing season.

The planters have been parked for weeks, and now comes the part of farming that requires perhaps the greatest amount of patience. The crop is in the field, but there are still countless decisions to make. Irrigation schedules, fungicide applications, insect scouting, weed control and weather forecasts all compete for attention. Every field seems to tell a different story.

July has a way of reminding us that farming is rarely about having complete control. It is about making the best decisions possible with the information available and trusting the process.
Peanut growers know that every season brings its own challenges. Some years it’s too dry. Others, too wet. Heat, insects, disease pressure and market uncertainty can all change the outlook in a matter of days. Yet farmers continue doing what they have always done by adapting, solving problems and preparing for whatever comes next.

One thing that never changes is the importance of paying attention to the details. The small decisions made throughout July often have a tremendous impact on the crop that will eventually be dug in the fall. Consistent scouting, timely management and resisting the urge to cut corners can make all the difference when harvest arrives. University research continues to show that careful, in-season management is critical to protecting both yield and quality.

As you read this issue of Southeastern Peanut Farmer, be sure to spend some time with the 2026 Peanut Harvest Guidebook. While harvest may still seem a few months away, the work of a successful harvest begins long before the first peanuts are dug.

The guidebook offers practical information to help growers prepare equipment, improve harvest efficiency and maximize yield and quality. From preseason maintenance tips for diggers and combines to using the Official Variety Trials to better estimate optimum maturity, the guidebook is designed to help you head into harvest with confidence. You’ll also find coverage of new equipment from KMC and AMADAS, highlighting the latest technology and innovations available for the 2026 peanut harvest season.

To every peanut farmer across the Southeast, thank you for the work you do. Long before harvest begins, you’ve invested countless hours, resources and faith into this year’s crop. We know the work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Here’s hoping July brings timely rains and the promise of a successful harvest ahead.

By Joy Crosby

Improper setup and operation of the harvest equipment and prevalent crop and field conditions can incur losses during peanut harvest.

Tips for proper setup and operation of peanut inverter

Peanut harvest will soon be underway. With high input prices and low commodity prices continuing to challenge profitability, one of the most important recommendations for growers is to devote time and effort to ensuring that every piece of harvest equipment is properly maintained, correctly adjusted and operating at peak performance.

When it comes to the peanut harvest, most losses occur during digging and can result in significant yield reductions if not addressed appropriately. Hence, the proper setup and operation of the peanut-digger-shaker are important for minimizing losses and ensuring optimal equipment performance and efficiency during harvest.

There are many mechanical parts, and hence the adjustments required on the peanut digger-shaker-inverter are critical, as even a small misalignment or improper adjustment can result in poor equipment performance and increased digging losses.

Growers should consider the following recommendations to ensure proper digger setup and operation, and minimize mechanically induced yield losses during peanut digging.

• Prior to harvest, inspect the digger carefully for any broken, bent or missing parts as well as the sharpness of the blades. Make adjustments during harvest as needed based on harvest conditions. Dull blades fail to cut the tap root resulting in dragging roots or dislodging pods from the plant.

• Check that the tractor tires and the digger’s rear gauge wheels are inflated to the recommended pressure and that the pressure is equal on both sides. It is also important to ensure that the tires on both the tractor and the digger are the same size.

• Use the top link to adjust the digging angle, which sets the digging depth. Digger blades should be set at a slight forward pitch and at the depth where they cut the tap root just below the pod zone. Both excessively shallow and deeper depths can result in significant digging losses.

• Blade angle (digging depth) is also dependent on soil type and texture. Any significant change in soil type within or among the fields will require an adjustment to the digging angle, as clay soils usually require a more aggressive angle, whereas sandy soils require a less aggressive angle.

• Tractor speed also affects digging losses and therefore should be optimized based on the prevalent in-field conditions at harvest. Generally, the optimal ground speed for digging peanuts is between 2.5 and 3.5 mph. Speeds above 3.5 mph can increase digging losses and should therefore be avoided.

• The rattler conveyor speed also needs to be adjusted so it matches or is just slightly above the forward travel speed of the tractor while digging peanuts. Conveyor speeds slower or faster than the tractor speed can increase pod losses.

• The conveyor depth should also be adjusted where it picks up vines with its teeth, just clearing the soil. Additionally, as needed, the knocker wheels need to be adjusted up or down to regulate the amount of shaking that is enough to remove the soil from the vines.

• While there is not much technology involved in peanut harvest, the most important one is the RTK-enabled GPS guidance system (auto-steer) on the tractor. Previous research has shown that using an auto-guidance system while digging peanuts can reduce yield losses by up to 10 percent compared with digging without it. Thus, peanut growers should definitely consider using or investing in an auto-steer system if they haven’t already.

Most of the points listed above can be addressed during a pre-inspection of the digger before heading out into the field. This also helps reduce downtime during harvest and enables growers to make any necessary repairs before major breakdowns or issues in the field.

Properly dug and inverted peanut plants should form a uniform, fluffy and well-aerated windrow with few pods touching the soil. Because field and harvest conditions can change throughout the day, growers should continuously monitor digger performance and make adjustments to mechanical and operational settings as needed. Growers should also consult their digger’s operator’s manual for additional settings that may seem minor but can play an important role in minimizing harvest losses.

Listed below are several key areas to monitor when evaluating digger performance or troubleshooting issues in the field:
• Blade depth too shallow.
• Dull blades. Blades are dull when they do not cut cleanly through the taproot and start dragging the plants.
• Vine cutter springs too loose or coulters too dull.
• Conveyor pickup running too high above the lifter rods.
• Tractor RPM or hydraulic flow is too fast.
• Vine flow not synchronized with ground speed and conveyor speed.
• Inverter not precisely aligned with the row (indicated by tap roots leaning left or right).

By Simerjeet Virk and Kris Balkcom
Auburn University

New Lake City, Florida, facility strengthens regional fertilizer production capacity and supports faster service to growers.

Site Manager Jeff Herald opens a tote station inside AgroLiquid’s new Lake City, Florida facility, sending a component to the reactor as part of the finished-product process. Each tote station, tank and transfer point has its own dedicated pump and line, ensuring every batch is handled efficiently while maintaining product quality and consistency from manufacturing to the farmgate.

AgroLiquid has opened a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Lake City, Florida, expanding its presence in the Southeast and strengthening service to growers and retail partners across the region.

This site gives AgroLiquid a stronger regional presence by placing production and distribution closer to customers. The location is designed to help reduce transportation time, support timely product availability and improve service during busy points in the growing season.

“Opening this facility is an important step in AgroLiquid’s continued growth,” said AgroLiquid President and CEO Nick Bancroft. “Lake City strengthens our ability to serve customers throughout the Southeast. It also supports our company-wide goal of two-day order fulfillment, allowing us to better meet customers’ needs across the region.”

The new Lake City facility includes:

• Expanded production capacity: The site has the ability to produce 3 million gallons of fertilizer annually, with future expansion plans that will increase annual capacity to more than 15 million gallons.
• Improved Southeast access: The facility brings production and distribution closer to growers and retail partners across the region.
• Stronger logistics support: Rail access, truck loading capabilities and expanded storage help improve product movement, which makes for faster, more efficient deliveries.
• Dedicated product handling: Dedicated lines help keep products separate while reducing the need for additional rinsing. This ensures product quality and consistency, boosting growers’ confidence that products will perform as expected.
• Future growth potential: The 22-acre site positions AgroLiquid to support continued demand in the Southeast.

The new Lake City facility represents AgroLiquid’s continued investment in serving Southeast agriculture and supporting customers closer to where they farm.

Source: AgroLiquid