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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Informative Farm Bill meetings set for this week in Alabama

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Joy Crosby

With the recent passing of the Farm Bill, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association has scheduled two meetings to help growers better understand the new legislation.

Stanley Fletcher, director of the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness and professor emeritus from the University of Georgia, will be on hand to deliver information on the new Farm Bill. Growers will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the program. The first meeting will be held Wednesday, February 19, 2014, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland, Alabama.

The second meeting will take place in the western portion of the state’s peanut producing area on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, starting at 1 p.m. at the Alabama Farmers Federation building in Robertsdale, Ala.

Satellite locations are being made available both in Alabama and Florida peanut producing counties. For information contact the Alabama Peanut Producers Association office at 334-792-6482 or the Florida Peanut Producers Association at 850-526-2590. You may also check with your area extension office for further details on the satellite venues.

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Mississippi Peanut Growers Association seeks National Peanut Board nominees

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Joy Crosby

MPGAlogo_rgbThe Mississippi Peanut Growers Association will hold a nominations election to select two nominees for each member and alternate to the National Peanut Board during a meeting on February 13, 2014 at 3 o’clock p.m. at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg, Miss. All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop. The NPB will submit MPGA’s slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments.

The NPB encourages inclusion of persons of any race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status. All persons who qualify as peanut producers are encouraged to attend and run for nomination.

It is USDA’s policy that membership on industry-government boards and committees accurately reflect the diversity of individuals served by the programs.

Contact Malcolm Broome, Executive Director at 601-606-3547 or malcolm@misspeanuts.com if you have questions.

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Florida Peanut Producers Association sets 39th Annual Meeting

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Joy Crosby

PrintThe Florida Peanut Producers Association would like to  announce our 39th Annual Membership Meeting to be held Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Jackson County Agriculture Conference Center,  2741 Penn Avenue, Marianna, Fla.  This year’s program will include a variety of updates on association activities and will focus on peanut production research funded by your check-off dollars. All peanut growers and spouses are invited to attend.  Registration will begin early this year at 6:00 p.m. (cst) followed by the traditional smoked steak dinner at 6:30 p.m. (cst). Your association is proud of the involvement this past year both in-state and nationally in peanut production, education and research and we invite you out for a night of food and fun.

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2014 Farm Bill passes U.S. Senate floor

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Joy Crosby

uscapitolThe U.S. Senate passed the Agricultural Act of 2014 by a vote of 68 to 32, Feb. 4, 2014. The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation supported the 2014 Farm Bill.

“We are very pleased the U.S. Senate has passed the 2014 Farm Bill and sent it to the President to be signed into law. I cannot say enough of how pleased we are with the hard work our peanut state leaders have put into this farm bill,” says Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., worked for over three years to make these peanut provisions a reality. We appreciate their efforts and commitment to our rural economy!”

The Georgia Peanut Commission, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the University of Georgia’s National Center for Peanut Competitiveness are working diligently to provide information to peanut growers regarding what is included in this farm bill as it pertains to the peanut industry.

A comprehensive outline of how the peanut provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill compare to the 2013 House and Senate Farm Bills, an outline of the base portion of the bill and the voting records are available online at GPC’s legislative blog, www.americanpeanuts.com.

The farm bill has been sent to the President for signature. President Obama is expected to sign the bill in Michigan on Friday.

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