Sustainable U.S. Peanuts Enrollment Open Through April

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Joy Crosby

The American Peanut Council is currently taking grower enrollments for the Sustainable U.S. Peanuts’ (SUSP) 2025 crop. Growers can enroll now through April 2026 at SustainableUSPeanuts.org.

Now in its fifth year, SUSP has grown from a bold idea into a robust, grower-driven sustainability platform that continues to elevate the entire peanut industry.

During the 2024 crop year, SUSP achieved its highest levels of grower participation to date with 326 peanut growers enrolled, representing 166,338 acres across 12 states. That accounts for 9.2 percent of total U.S. peanut acreage, marking the strongest engagement since the program’s inception.

“Last year’s record participation in Sustainable U.S. Peanuts reflects the incredible dedication of our growers and the strong support from partners across the supply chain to promote U.S. peanuts in global markets where sustainability matters more than ever,” says Allie Randell, APC director of sustainability.

Sustainable U.S. Peanuts is an industry-wide effort to support America’s peanut growers in implementing and documenting sustainable farming practices. Designed to help meet rising marketplace expectations, increase demand for U.S.-grown peanuts and ensure the long-term economic viability of peanut farming, SUSP provides growers with tools and insights to measure and improve the efficiency of their operations.

Through robust data collection and benchmarking, SUSP offers participants key insights into resource use efficiency—from water and fertilizer to energy and land management. By adopting sustainable practices and sharing performance metrics, growers are positioning the U.S. peanut industry to meet the evolving demands of global food manufacturers, retailers and consumers.

Now entering its fifth year, SUSP is moving into its next phase with an ambitious goal: to reach 13 percent of total U.S. peanut acreage by 2026. Achieving this milestone will allow the initiative to credibly represent the broader peanut industry to buyers and consumers who are increasingly seeking verifiable sustainability commitments.

Growers can enroll now through the end of April at sustainableuspeanuts.org.

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Eat What We Grow

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Joy Crosby

Lisa M. Renzi Hammond
Institute of Gerontology | College of Public Health
University of Georgia

February is a month of strong feelings. I watch the ground and underbrush, feeling hopeful that my goats will soon have fresh forage. I start my seeds, anxiously awaiting good garden weather. Yet just as spring arrives, work at home intensifies while my other job—as a University of Georgia public health professor—reaches its most demanding point. Late winter is when my health is often at its worst, precisely when I need to be at my best.

“I spend entirely too much time working on my health,” said no grower ever. Yet growers, including Southeastern farmers, continue to live with and die prematurely from preventable diseases, like heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the Southeast. Poor heart health also contributes to cognitive decline. Luckily, one of the simplest ways to support both heart and brain health is also one of the most practical: eating what we grow.

A large study spanning 119 countries found that reducing sodium—largely by cutting back on those unhealthier convenience foods —could prevent nearly three million deaths each year, most from heart disease. Lower sodium intake could also restore roughly 70 million disability-adjusted life years: time spent living well rather than sick. Eating more fruits and vegetables could prevent another two million deaths and add back approximately 65 million healthy years.

This is where Southern-grown foods shine. For example, peanuts are rich in healthy fats that support heart and brain health and help regulate blood sugar. Pecans provide B vitamins essential for brain function. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants that protect our cells from damage. Poultry is an excellent protein source, and potassium-rich peaches help regulate blood pressure. The larger point is simple: when we eat what we grow, our hearts and brains benefit.

Of course, making big diet changes can feel easier said than done. Dietary change rarely happens overnight. Taste is shaped less by our tongues than by our brains, where flavors mix with memories and emotions. Our food preferences are learned, deeply personal, and therefore difficult to change.

That’s why small swaps matter. Imagine replacing just one packaged, high-sodium food each day with one Georgia-grown commodity. On its own, the change may feel modest. Over time, repeated day after day and year after year, research shows that these small substitutions can lower blood pressure and support long-term heart and brain health.

So this February, I feel confident that my decision to swap butter for Georgia-grown peanut butter on my morning toast will help make my longer spring days healthier—and more productive. And I call on all of you to do the same. Pick one less healthy food, swap it for your favorite Southeastern-grown commodity, and reap the benefits.

By Lisa M. Renzi Hammond
Institute of Gerontology | College of Public Health
University of Georgia

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From Dothan to the Nutmobile

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Joy Crosby

Adleigh Mayes with the Planters Nutmobile during Peanut Prep.

For Adleigh Mayes, peanuts aren’t just a snack, they’re part of who she is. Growing up in Dothan, Alabama, the self-proclaimed Peanut Capital of the World, she was surrounded by fields of peanuts, fall festivals and a community that celebrated the crop every fall. Her father, Jeremy Mayes, works in the peanut industry, and through him, Mayes learned the value of agriculture and hard work early on. Those lessons, which may have seemed mundane, would later drive her toward a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that quite literally rolled her across the country in a huge legume.

After graduating from Freed-Hardeman University with a degree in public relations, the Houston County native found herself in the same uncertain transition many college seniors face: life after commencement. She loved her years as a collegiate volleyball player and was soaking up her final semester, not yet ready to dive into job searching.

Then, in November 2024, a message popped into her family group chat—a link from her dad that would change everything. It was an application for the Planters Peanutter Program, a year-long adventure where a team of recent graduates drives the 26-foot, peanut-shaped Nutmobile across America, spreading smiles and the story of peanuts.

“At first, I thought it had to be a joke,” Mayes says with a laugh. “I mean, it was a giant peanut on wheels. But once I actually read about the program, I thought, wait, this actually sounds incredible.”

One part of the application required a 60-second video explaining why she’d make a great Peanutter. She leaned into her roots, literally. Filming around Dothan, she posed with the city’s iconic peanut statues and even included shots inside the shelling plant her dad works at.

“I started the video with, ‘My name is Adleigh Mayes, and I guess you could say peanuts are in my roots,'” she says. Her humor, creativity, and authenticity helped her stand out among nearly 900 applicants.

Months of interviews, written submissions, and group assignments followed. Eventually, Mayes was selected as one of eight finalists flown to Chicago, home of the Planters headquarters, for an in-person evaluation. There she met Aria and Hudson, who would unknowingly become her future teammates, as they worked through creative challenges designed to test communicationand teamwork.

On the final day, the candidates were asked to name two people they’d want to spend the next year traveling with. Unbeknownst to each other, Adleigh, Aria and Hudson all chose one another.

A few days later, an early-morning call from Minnesota, home of Hormel Foods, brought the news Mayes had been hoping for: she got the job. Within weeks, she was packing for “Peanut Prep,” a weeklong training where new Peanutters learn everything from PR skills to how to safely drive the Nutmobile.

“It felt like summer camp,” she jokes. “Except we were learning everything about the Nutmobile and Mr. Peanut.”

Since hitting the road, Mayes has traveled over 13,000 miles to cities big and small, sharing her story and representing a crop she’s known her whole life.
“My dad used to bring home peanuts from work,” she says. “Now I’m driving one around the country. It really has come full circle.”

For Mayes, being a Peanutter is more than a job; it’s a celebration of her roots, her community and the peanut that started it all.

By Peyton Woods
Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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More than Iron and Paint

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Joy Crosby

Some pieces of equipment on the farm are more than iron and paint. They carry memories, seasons and the lessons learned between daylight and dark. The tractor I’m thinking about is my dad’s 1953 Farmall Super A. It’s the one I raked hay with during my high school years. Back then, I never thought about the age of the tractor or what it meant to my dad. It was simply the tractor that I was given to drive.

Like a lot of farm equipment, time eventually caught up with it. Years passed. The tractor sat. Tires went flat. Rust crept in. It reached the point where it hadn’t been driven in years, and most folks would have written it off as something better left parked behind the barn.

But farm families don’t always see things the way “most folks” do. Instead of letting it fade into memory, we made the decision to have it restored, not just to make it run again, but to bring a piece of our family history back to life. That’s where John Paulk of Turner County, Georgia, came in. With patience, craftsmanship and respect for what the tractor represented, he took something worn down and tired and gave it new life.

When the restoration was finished, it didn’t just look good. It felt right. The sound of the engine, the way it handled, even the smell took me straight back to those hay fields decades earlier. The years in between seemed to disappear.

One of the most meaningful moments came when I had the chance to drive it in the antique tractor parade at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Surrounded by farmers, families and members of the ag community, I eased that old tractor down the parade route. I was proud, grateful and maybe a little emotional as I drove Daddy’s tractor.

It wasn’t about showing off a restored tractor. It was about honoring where we came from. It was about remembering a dad who trusted his kid with a job and a machine that mattered. And it was about recognizing that agriculture isn’t just about the next crop or the next season, it’s about stewardship, legacy and carrying stories forward.

That tractor reminds me that while farming continues to change, the values that built it don’t. Values like hard work and caring for the land were instilled in me, along with knowing when something is worth restoring, not just because it can run again, but because it still has something to teach us. Now, I’m able to pass those lessons on by teaching both of my kids, Eli (12) and Lauren (9), how to drive Grandpa’s tractor.

Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to climb back onto the seat where it all started.

by Joy Crosby
Editor
Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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U.S. Peanut Federation Partners in Hosting Annual Aflatoxin Research Update

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Joy Crosby

Dr. Joseph McIntyre, research agricultural engineer at USDA-ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory presents current aflatoxin research projects during the Aflatoxin Research Update, Jan. 14, 2026, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center.

(Jan. 21, 2026 – WASHINGTON, D.C.) Last week, the American Peanut Shellers Association, National Peanut Buying Points Association, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, and United States Peanut Federation hosted the fourth annual Aflatoxin Research Update at the University of Georgia Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia.

Throughout the day, 21 presentations were given by research leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National Peanut Research Lab, research and extension professionals from land grant universities such as Fort Valley State University, University of Georgia, University of Florida, and Mississippi State University.

“These annual updates allow us to see the steady progress being made across multi-year research projects. From seasoned experts to emerging researchers, this year’s aflatoxin research update highlighted potential solutions at every point in the supply chain—from enhancing plant resistance and displacing the fungus at the soil level, to understanding how warehouse conditions and practices influence aflatoxin proliferation, and developing more efficient detection methods that could help shellers and manufacturers mitigate financial risk,” said Courtney Dorsett, chair of the American Peanut Shellers Association Committee on Regulatory Compliance and Research Coordination. “Winning the war against aflatoxin will require a multi-pronged approach, and thanks to the financial support of the U.S. Peanut Federation, we are steadily marching toward success.”

U.S. Congress recently approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies legislation, which would continue the peanut aflatoxin research funding for FY 2026 at $4 million.

“Aflatoxin is a major concern for the US peanut industry. The funding secured by the U.S. Peanut Federation has created foundational knowledge among the researchers and allowed university extension professionals to make applicable recommendations to the industry around the management and mitigation of aflatoxin. Growers, buying points, and shellers have all collectively been part of this effort to continue to research and understand aflatoxin,” said Chris Chammoun, executive director of the American Peanut Shellers Association.

The U.S. Peanut Federation will continue to work with USDA, land grant universities and peanut organizations on research, funding, and updates surrounding aflatoxin in peanuts.

“The Georgia Peanut Commission is proud to partner in support of these peanut aflatoxin research efforts. We will continue to prioritize this research and welcome future opportunities to advance innovation and progress within the U.S. peanut industry,” said Taylor Arnold, executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission.

“We are pleased to continue supporting research focused on aflatoxin in peanuts. Discovering new strategies to mitigate the impacts of aflatoxin in peanuts is essential to the long-term viability and success of the entire U.S. peanut industry. The National Peanut Buying Points Association appreciates the important work being carried out by research institutions and departments dedicated to strengthening and sustaining U.S. peanut products,” said Tyron Spearman, executive director of the National Peanut Buying Points Association.

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The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association, and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. USPF serves as a unified voice in Washington D.C. for all sectors of the peanut industry and advocates actively for strong agricultural policy. For additional information, contact Lorene Parker at (202) 543-7464 or by emailing lparker@reddingfirm.com.

 

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Alabama–Florida Peanut Trade Show Set for January 29, 2026

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Joy Crosby

(Jan. 20, 2026) The Annual Alabama–Florida Peanut Trade Show will be held Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan.

Registration and doors will open at 8:00 a.m. Attendees are invited to enjoy breakfast, coffee, grilled PB&J sandwiches, and other refreshments while visiting exhibitors throughout the morning. A complimentary lunch will be served at noon, followed by a brief program and the announcement of door prize winners.

More than 65 exhibitors representing all sectors of the peanut industry are expected to participate, offering producers valuable information and resources to help fine-tune their farming operations for the 2026 growing season. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day, including a trip for two to the 2026 Southern Peanut Growers Conference (registration and hotel included) and a $600 gift certificate to The Outpost in Marianna, Florida, to be used toward a firearm of the winner’s choice. The grand door prize is sponsored by KMC.

Researchers from Auburn University and the University of Florida will once again be available in the popular “Research Corner,” where growers can visit one-on-one about ongoing peanut research funded by checkoff dollars.

During lunch, attendees will hear updates from representatives of the National Peanut Board and the American Peanut Council, receive a peanut market update from Marshall Lamb, and hear a legislative update from Bob Redding.

Adding to the day’s activities, LaRae Smith, Miss National Peanut Festival, of Freeport, Florida, and Mary Morgan Jackson, Little Miss National Peanut Festival, of Skipperville, Alabama, will be in attendance assisting with the serving of grilled PB&J sandwiches to trade show participants.

The Alabama–Florida Peanut Trade Show is sponsored by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, the Florida Peanut Producers Association, and the National Peanut Board.

In conjunction with the trade show, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association will host its annual meeting at 11:15 a.m. in the NPF Volunteer Building. All active Alabama peanut producers are encouraged to attend.

Following lunch, eligible Alabama producers will vote on their nominees for the National Peanut Board.

For more information on the show, visit alpeanuts.com or flpeanuts.com.

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Plans underway for Georgia Peanut Farm Show Jan. 15, 2026, in Tifton

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Joy Crosby

(Jan. 6, 2026) Producers can improve the bottom-line of their farming operation with knowledge, connections and information gained at the 49th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 15, 2026. The show ­hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the show, which is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

The show offers farmers an opportunity to view the products and services of nearly 100 exhibitors and educational programs. The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with the OneBlood, will also host a blood drive from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. during the show.

The University of Georgia Peanut Team will present an educational peanut production seminar from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m., titled, “Remaining Profitable in 2026.” UGA specialists will present information regarding production advice to remain profitable for 2026 and what it will cost, as well as disease and weed management tips for 2026. Farmers will have the opportunity to earn private or commercial pesticide applicator certification.

An Industry Seed Seminar will also be held from 10:35 to 11:35 a.m. during the show. This event is sponsored by the American Peanut Shellers Association, the Georgia Peanut Commission, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the U.S. Peanut Federation. Growers will be able to learn about peanut varieties available for 2026 and varieties on the horizon.

During the show, there will be a free luncheon at noon for all peanut farmers in attendance. The Georgia Peanut Commission will also present a short program beginning at 12:15 p.m. with award presentations and an update from the National Peanut Board and Washington, D.C.

During this year’s show, Kelley Manufacturing Co. is providing the Grand Door Prize of one season’s use (2026) of a new peanut combine (choice of four-row, six-row or combine with Unload-On-The-Go option) and $5,000 cash money. At the end of the 2026 season, the winner has the option of purchasing the combine from an authorized KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price. In lieu of the combine, the winner may choose the use of another KMC peanut harvest implement with a 10 percent discount off the list price for purchase.

Additionally, farmers can register to win the Grower Prize, donated by Amadas Industries. This prize includes a certificate good for $15,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas self-propelled peanut combine or $7,500 towards the purchase of a new four-row or six-row Amadas pull-type combine or $4,500 towards the purchase of a new Amadas six-row or eight-row peanut digger or $1,500 towards the purchase of a new Amadas peanut dump cart and a customized Grizzly cooler. Amadas is also offering a second prize including a customized Grizzly cooler containing a certificate good for a parts credit of $1,500 for Amadas parts through a local authorized Amadas dealer.

The winners of the Grand Door Prize and the Grower Prize must be certified peanut farmers with an FSA farm number and present to win.

For more information on the show, contact GPC at 229-386-3470 or online at www.gapeanuts.com.

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Jan/Feb 2026 – Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Joy Crosby

The January/February 2026 issue of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer is now available online.
Click here!

This issue features:

  • From Dothan to the Nutmobile
  • 2026 Peanut Variety Guidebook
  • Health Nut Club Tour
  • Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show Set for
    Jan. 29, 2026
  • Powerful Peanut Experience Launches at Georgia National Fair
  • Mental Health & Wellness: Eat What You Grow
  • Check off reports from the state grower organizations
  • Legislative Update
  • Southern Peanut Growers Update
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USPF Thankful for Agricultural Economic Assistance

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Joy Crosby

(Dec. 9, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C.) Yesterday, President Trump announced a new agricultural economic assistance package, totaling $11 billion for row crop producers, including peanuts. Specific payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program have not yet been announced, but farmers can expect to receive payments as early as February 2026.

U.S. peanut growers have continued to struggle with high costs of production, low commodity prices, and recent natural disasters. The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) is grateful to President Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins for their continued attention to the success of rural America’s producers.

For the peanut industry, this announcement strengthens the farm safety net and provides confidence for producers to continue their farming operations. USDA Secretary Rollins noted that producers will have payment rates by the end of 2025 and will be able to provide this information for lending purposes as growers enter the new crop year. As of now, USDA has shared the following details: the payment rate will apply to 2025 planted acres; a $155,000 payment limit applies; a $900,000 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) test applies; and for growers who double crop, both crops will be eligible for payments. Additionally, in order to be eligible for this program, growers must file their acreage report and ensure farm data is up to date with their local county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by December 19, 2025.

“Following years of financial strain for peanut farmers, we are grateful for the efforts made by the Trump Administration to identify options for relief. This new economic assistance package will ensure our industry can continue to operate under a struggling farm economy. We are thankful to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for listening to the voices of production agriculture and prioritizing the success and sustainability of our industries,” said Jamie Brown, U.S. Peanut Federation Chairman.

“Peanut growers have remained steadfast in their operations over the past few years, even while facing challenging economic conditions at the farm level. We are grateful to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for their leadership in securing this economic assistance and their continued advocacy for rural America. This announcement provides hope to U.S. peanut growers as they prepare to enter the next crop year,” said Joe Boddiford, Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman.

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The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association, and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. USPF serves as a unified voice in Washington D.C. for all sectors of the peanut industry and advocates actively for strong agricultural policy. For additional information, contact Lorene Parker at (202) 543-7464 or by emailing lparker@reddingfirm.com.

 

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Georgia Peanut Commission announces hiring of Taylor Arnold as executive director

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Joy Crosby

(Dec. 1, 2025 – TIFTON, Ga.) The Georgia Peanut Commission is pleased to announce the hiring of Taylor Arnold as its new executive director, succeeding longtime director Don Koehler, who is retiring after more than four decades of dedicated service to Georgia’s peanut industry.

Arnold joins the commission with an extensive background in agricultural leadership, farm program administration, and on-the-ground experience in production agriculture. Since 2017, he has served as County Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Worth County, where he managed county office operations, supervised staff, and oversaw the implementation of key federal programs supporting farmers. In this role, Arnold directed programs including the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage, Conservation Reserve Program, Livestock Forage Program, and multiple disaster assistance initiatives. He also chaired the District Payment Eligibility and Limitation Review team, ensuring compliance and accuracy across the region.

Arnold holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Mercer University, where he served as president and vice president of his fraternity, director of judicial affairs for the Interfraternity Council, and volunteered extensively with IRS VITA and Relay for Life.

“We are excited to welcome Taylor Arnold as the next executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission,” says Joe Boddiford, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission Board. “Taylor’s passion for agriculture, strategic vision, and proven leadership make him the ideal person to guide the commission into its next chapter. We are confident he will continue building on the strong foundation established under Don Koehler’s leadership.”

Arnold expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to serve Georgia’s peanut farmers.

“I am honored to join the Georgia Peanut Commission and work on behalf of the growers who make Georgia the nation’s leading peanut-producing state,” Arnold says. “I look forward to continuing the commission’s commitment to research, innovation, and industry collaboration. Don Koehler’s impact on this industry is immeasurable, and I am grateful to follow in his footsteps.”

Koehler, who has served as executive director since 1986, leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, partnership building and significant growth in Georgia’s peanut sector. His leadership helped position Georgia as a global leader in peanut production, research and quality.

Arnold will begin as executive director at the commission on Jan. 1, 2026. Koehler will serve as senior executive director until his retirement on July 31, 2026.

The Georgia Peanut Commission represents the interests of more than 4,000 peanut farmers across the state. Through its investments in research, education, and promotion, the commission works to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of Georgia’s peanut industry.

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