Deadly storms that ravaged much of south Georgia Jan. 20-22 also damaged or destroyed many irrigation pivots that supply needed water to agricultural crops.

According to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialists, irrigation systems in Calhoun, Turner, Wilcox and Worth counties were damaged by the storm systems that included multiple tornadoes.

As a result, many Georgia farmers are now choosing crops for the upcoming growing season with limited means of irrigation in mind. Farmers without pivot irrigation or access to irrigation are more likely to switch to growing peanuts or cotton, said Calvin Perry, superintendent of UGA’s C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla, Georgia.

“If a farmer has multiple pivots and only one or two are damaged, those fields may get cotton or peanuts where water isn’t as vital as it is for corn. If the farmer also grows corn or sweet corn, he’s very unlikely to put corn or sweet corn where he can’t water,” Perry said.

Irrigation dealers have to order pivots months in advance, and the manpower needed to repair the damage could become an issue with so many systems damaged throughout south Georgia. Perry is not optimistic that damaged irrigation systems can be replaced before the end of the growing season, especially for corn growers who typically harvest corn in the middle of summer.

According to UGA Extension irrigation specialist Wes Porter, the majority of the damage involved pivot towers being flipped. Pivots that sustained significant structural damage can’t walk the field without repairs or replacement.

Perry and Porter said most farmers likely have insurance on their systems, some of which can cost over $100,000 depending on the length of the system and the size of the field it covers.

The damage would have been worse if crops were already planted and growing in the affected fields.

“This has definitely added a whole new level of complexity to our farmers’ decision-making. I think the worst time that something like this could happen would be in the middle of the growing season. After you get that crop growing and have a storm come through, that would be the worst,” Perry said. “Fortunately, we don’t have crops planted yet. Maybe they can make some adjustments to where they plant certain crops on their farms.”

Producers can improve the bottom-line of their farming operation with knowledge, connections and information gained at the 41st annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 19, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 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 2017 Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference. The show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

During this year’s show, Kelley Manufacturing Co. is providing the Grand Door Prize Package of one season’s use of a new six-row peanut combine. At the end of the 2017 season the winner has the option of purchasing the combine from a KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price. Also, KMC is providing a second drawing for one season’s use of a new Digger Shaker Inverter (choice of a two-row, four-row, six-row or Flex model). At the end of the 2017 season, the winner has the option of purchasing the peanut digger from an authorized KMC dealer with 10 percent off the list price.

Additionally, farmers can register to win the Grower Prize, donated by Amadas Industries. This prize is the choice of one season’s use of a new Amadas four-row or six-row peanut digger/inverter or a certificate good for the amount of $10,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas self-propelled combine or $5,000 towards the purchase of a new four-row or six-row Amadas pull-type combine.

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

The one-day show offers farmers a full day to view the products and services of more than 100 exhibitors and a day of education. A free luncheon begins at noon for all peanut farmers in attendance. The Georgia Peanut Commission will present a short program beginning at 12:15 p.m. that will cover award presentations and an update from National Peanut Board and Washington. The University of Georgia will present an educational peanut production seminar from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m. with a special focus on irrigation management.

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, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the Georgia Peanut Commission. Growers will be able to learn about seed quality and quantity for 2017, peanut varieties available for 2017 and on the horizon, production advice and the peanut genomic initiative.

Farmers will also have the opportunity to earn credit towards their private or commercial pesticide applicators certification.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with One Blood, will hold a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center during the show.

At the close of the day, the presentation of the Grand Door Prize donated by KMC will be presented to one lucky peanut grower. For more information on the show, contact GPC at 229-386-3470 or online at www.gapeanuts.com.

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2016—The White House Rural Council (WHRC), today announced a workshop series to provide targeted assistance for rural small businesses working to grow demand through international sales. The announcement was made by WHRC Chair Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman.

The free series includes at least 60 Made in Rural America small business export workshops hosted by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in 24 states July 26 to Aug. 31, 2016. One workshop will be held in Valdosta, Georgia on Aug. 23, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Click here to view the agenda and register online. Partners including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, USDA Rural Business Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority, National Association of Counties and others will also provide local and regional expertise in international shipping and mailing, international marketing assistance, rural business development and related topics.

To find a Made in Rural American workshop in your area visit usps.com/events and click your state. The site will be updated as details for each workshop becomes available and additional workshops are added. Online tools designed for rural businesses interested in international exports include www.export.gov/rural and www.business.usa.gov.

Census data from 2009 to 2014 (latest available) shows that the ranks of U.S. goods exporters rose from 277,000 to 304,000—and 98 percent of those companies were small and medium-sized firms. U.S. exports reached $2.26 trillion in 2015, up by $678 billion from 2009, and supported 1.9 million more jobs during the period.

U.S. agricultural exports alone supported more than 1 million American jobs both on and off the farm, a substantial part of the estimated 11.5 million jobs supported by exports all across our country. The past seven years have represented the strongest period in history for American agricultural exports, with international sales of U.S. farm and food products totaling $911.4 billion between fiscal years 2009 and 2015. In fiscal year 2015, American farmers and ranchers exported $139.7 billion of food and agricultural goods to consumers worldwide.