Peanut Yield Gains Over the Past Fifty Years

Abstract

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES) we examined the changes in average yields of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) during that time period. Before APRES, yields had never been greater than 2242 kg/ha (2,000 lb/ac). In 1967 the average yield was 1978 kg/ha (1967 lb/ac). In 2017 the average peanut yield was 4566 kg/ha (4074 lb/ac). Average yield gains for the first 50 years of APRES was 51.8 kg/ha/yr (46.2 lb/ac/yr). APRES played critical roles in facilitating research and extension to achieve these yield advances for the U.S. peanut industry.