USDA-AMS rules Arkansas a primary peanut producing state

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) ruled, effective March 24, 2014, to add the state of Arkansas as a primary peanut producing state under the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The Order is administered by the National Peanut Board. This rule also adds a seat on the National Peanut Board for Arkansas. Under the Order, primary peanut producing states must maintain a three-year average production of at least 10,000 tons of peanuts. Primary peanut producing states also have a seat on the board.

Currently, the board is composed of 11 producer-members and alternates: one member and alternate from each primary producing state and one at-large member and alternate collectively from the minor peanut-producing states. This rule classifies the state of Arkansas as a primary peanut-producing state and specifies the board will be composed of 12 peanut producer-members and their alternates rather than 11. The members and alternates are nominated by state  producers or producer groups.

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Peanut industry sends farm bill support letter to USDA

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

uscapitolThe Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, National Peanut Buying Points Association and the American Peanut Shellers Association joined in sending a letter of support for the 2014 Farm Bill to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The groups highlighted support for new provisions in the Farm Bill addressing base acres. Although there are some provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014 that are similar to the 2008 Farm Bill, there are also significant changes. Our organizations support the intent of the Conference Committee and its leadership for these new provisions including the Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage Programs. The Agricultural Act of 2014 includes new provisions for base acres for covered commodities and generic base acres. We support the Conference Committee’s intent relative to the implementation of provisions for base acres for covered commodities and generic base acres.
View the entire letter

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Leaders participate in D.C. session

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joy Crosby

Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden with the Southern Peanut Farmers Leadership AcademyPeanut farmers and shellers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi visited Washington D.C.  during the Peanut Leadership Academy held in March. The program is sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and the American Peanut Shellers Association. During this trip, participants had the opportunity to attend meetings with legislators and participate in meetings related to government affairs, international peanut markets, policy development and the U.S. peanut industry. This session is the fourth and final component of the Peanut Leadership Academy before graduation in June 2014.

Day one of the session consisted of meetings with industry representatives including: Bob Redding, The Redding Firm; Reece Langley, USA Rice Federation; Dr. David Graves, Crop Insurance; Rep. Alan Nunnelee, R-Miss.; and Patrick Archer, American Peanut Council. During this time, participants were able to learn more about the 2014 Farm Bill, particularly peanut provisions, ask questions related to their individual states, as well as hear how peanut industry groups are working on their behalf.

Meetings with state legislators began day two in Washington, D.C. where participants were able to visit with senators and representatives from each of the Southeastern peanut-producing states. During these meetings, they were able to express concerns related to their state, as well as express gratitude for their delegation’s service and support. Lunch on day two included a meeting with guests from the House Ag Committee, where more discussion on the 2014 Farm Bill took place. To conclude day two, growers had a special opportunity to meet with Krysta Harden, deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Peanut Leadership Academy, which is coordinated by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, provides leadership training for young farmers and sheller representatives throughout the peanut industry. Through the training, participants gain valuable leadership skills to be used in the future. Additionally, it gives growers and industry representatives an insight into many different types of issues the peanut industry faces.
Additional information on the Peanut Leadership Academy is available online at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org.

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Peanuts are a big hit at the Alabama School Food Service and Nutrition Expo

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Joy Crosby

School Food Service Expo pic 2The Alabama Peanut Producers Association recently exhibited at the Alabama School Food Service and Nutrition Expo held March 13-14, 2014, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Peanut samples and peanut recipes, including school food service recipes, were distributed to the hundreds visiting the show. A new peanut butter promotional banner was displayed for the first time at the show that served as both an educational prop and a photo background. The theme for the banner, “A Healthy American Classic: PB&J,” delivered a nutritious message and featured a framed photo of a child eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. A special photo frame was used as a prop for people who wanted to pose by the pb&j banner photo. Those attending the expo included members from the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals, Alabama Dietetic Association and the Alabama School Nutrition Association.

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Georgia Peanut Commission produces 3-D peanut production video for the educational lobby

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Joy Crosby

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) now has a 3-D video featuring Georgia peanut production available at its headquarters off of Interstate 75 in Tifton, Ga. Farmers, local Tifton residents, as well as tourists traveling through South Georgia are encouraged to stop by the GPC office to witness the video first-hand and see how the new technology is being used as an educational tool for all ages.

All video footage was taken at the farm of Rodney Dawson, row crop farmer from Hawkinsville, Ga. Dawson serves as the District four representative for GPC, as well as the treasurer on the GPC board of directors.

“I think the 3-D video will be a great tool in educating others about modern day peanut production in Georgia,” Dawson says. “It gives those who are unable to visit a peanut field an opportunity to see how peanuts are grown and harvested in a way they have never experienced before.”

The 3-D video, which is the only 3-D footage of peanut production known to GPC, began in April 2013 and ended in October 2013. Stages of the film include: land preparation, planting, peanut cracking, land plaster application, digging, combining, drying and cleaning. Total runtime of the video is just under eight minutes.

View the 3-D video in regular format below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8–vPPY5HY

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Florida Peanut Producers Association holds 39th Annual Membership Meeting

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Joy Crosby

PrintApproximately 300 peanut farmers and their families attended the Florida Peanut Producers Association Annual Membership Meeting recently held in Marianna, Fla.

During the evening’s events, two members were elected to serve three-year terms on the FPPA Board of Directors:  Chuck Hatch of Suwannee County and Andy Robinson of Levy County. They replace the two positions vacated by Bob Barnett and Scott Robinson due to term limits.

The Farm Credit/FPPA Young Peanut Farmer Award was presented to Alex Murphy. Murphy is a native Floridian, who grew up in Hamilton County where he graduated from Jasper High School in 2011. Murphy grew 205 acres of peanuts in 2013 yielding 4,500 pounds per acre. He also grows corn and soybeans on his farm. In addition to his own farming  operation, he assist his two uncles, Jimmy and Stan Murphy on their farms.
Together they have a long history of participating in various row crop variety trails on their farms. In 2013, the family won top grower for no-tillage/strip-till corn with an average yield of 310 bushels per acre.

Being a fourth generation farmer, Murphy plans to slowly expand his   operation and continue to diversify his crop rotation to take advantage of markets that other commodities offer.

Murphy received a beautiful plaque and $200 from Farm Credit in recognition of being selected the 2014 Young Peanut Farmer of the Year.

The evening’s program also consisted of promotional highlights from Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers. Bob Parker, president and CEO of the National Peanut Board discussed some of the new marketing   initiatives underway at the NPB.

Stanley Fletcher gave a presentation on the new farm bill and how it may impact farms for the next five years.

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Mississippi Peanut Growers Association holds annual meeting Feb. 12-13

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Joy Crosby

MPGAlogo_rgbThe Mississippi Peanut Growers Association held its annual meeting Feb. 12-13, 2014, at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg, Miss. During the meeting, Mississippi peanut growers had the opportunity to hear from peanut industry representatives and specialists, as well as visit with agricultural companies during an exhibit trade show.

During the early bird topics session on Feb. 12, Mississippi peanut growers heard presentations from Mississippi State University’s new peanut agronomist, Jason Sarver, and what his upcoming goals are for peanut research at MSU; Bronson Strickland, wildlife specialist from MSU, and his recommendations for wild hog management; and Alan Henn, extension plant pathologist with MSU, and his suggestions for a profitable disease control program.

Day two of the MPGA annual meeting began with a program consisting of updates from MSU and peanut industry groups, University of Georgia peanut research, outlooks on the 2014 peanut market, as well as a 2014 Farm Bill update. Presentations included the following speakers: Gregory Bohach, MSU; John Powell, The Peanut Institute; Glenn Harris, UGA; Scott Tubbs, UGA; Marshall Lamb, USDA ARS; Stanley Fletcher, UGA; Don Self, National Peanut Board.

The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association also recognized the high yield winners for 2013 and elected the 2014 board members during the annual meeting. For the yield contest, the 2013 state winner in the 100-400 acres division was Norton Farms, with a yield of 5,414 lbs/acre; the 2013 state winner in the 401-800 acres division was Red Oaks Farm, with a yield of 5,512 lbs/acre; the 2013 2nd place state winner in the 401-800 division was Kyles Farm Services, LLC, with a yield of 4,622 lbs/acre; the 2013 state winner in the 801 acres plus division was M&M Farms, with a yield of 5,444 lbs/acre; and the 2013 2nd place state winner in the 801 acres plus division was Seward Farms, with a yield of 5,237 lbs/acre.

The 2014 MPGA board members elected are Daniel Parrish, Lonnie Fortner, Don Self, Steve Seward, Joe Morgan, Corley Moses and Alan Atkins.

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March 2014 Digital Issue

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Joy Crosby

The March 2014 issue of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer is now available for digital reading.

This issue features the:
2014 Weed Guidebook
Sen. Saxby Chambliss inducted into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame
Georgia Peanut Farm Show awards
AL/FL Peanut Trade Show report
Harrell elected National Peanut Board chairman
Check off reports from the state grower organizations
Legislative Update
Southern Peanut Growers Update

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Farm Bill Webinar Archive

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Joy Crosby

Many questions have arisen following the Congressional passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014. Those questions were addressed today at the Georgia Peanut Commission Farm Bill Update Meeting and Webinar. Speakers during the webinar include Stanley Fletcher, director of the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness and professor emeritus from UGA, Nathan Smith, UGA Extension economist for Peanuts and Bob Redding, Georgia Peanut Commission representative in Washington, D.C.

View archived webinar.

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Georgia Peanut Commission set to hold Farm Bill webinar on Feb. 24

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Joy Crosby

Many questions have arisen following the Congressional passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014. Those questions will soon be addressed at the Georgia Peanut Commission Farm Bill Update Meeting and Webinar on Monday, Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m. The webinar will be broadcast live at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus Conference Small Auditorium in Tifton, Ga. and five additional locations in Georgia.

Peanut farmers are encouraged to attend to learn more about the specifics contained in the farm bill concerning peanuts for the 2014 growing season. The additional locations include: Emanuel County 4-H Building, Swainsboro, Ga.; Mitchell County Ag Center, Camilla, Ga.; Oconee Fall Line Technical College, Dublin, Ga.; Sumter County Extension Office, Americus, Ga. and UGA Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center, Reidsville, Ga.

Speakers during the webinar include Stanley Fletcher, director of the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness and professor emeritus from UGA, Nathan Smith, UGA Extension economist for Peanuts and Bob Redding, Georgia Peanut Commission representative in Washington, D.C. Growers will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the program.

For more information contact the Georgia Peanut Commission office at 229-386-3470 or info@gapeanuts.com. The archived webinar will be available on the GPC’s legislative blog, www.AmericanPeanuts.com following the event.

View the Farm Bill Update & Webinar Locations

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