Peanut Profitability Awards seeking nominees

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Joy Crosby

The 2013 U.S. peanut production year can best be viewed as a contrast to many past years – rainfall was ample, even excessive in many areas of the growing belt, says Marshall Lamb, research director for the National Peanut Research Laboratory and advisor for the Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards.

“A lot of our farmers are just not accustomed to growing peanuts or any other crop for that matter under such conditions,” Lamb says. In the lower Southeast, there was flooding in some fields and planting was delayed by as much as a month in some areas due to cold, wet conditions during the spring, he adds.

“It’s amazing that even with this year’s reduced acreage, the total U.S. crop will be pushing 2 million tons with and an average yield of about 3,900 pounds per acre. That’s phenomenal when you consider the weather conditions seen by producers in some parts of the U.S. peanut belt,” Lamb says.

The good yields in 2013 say a lot about the management skills and production tools being used by growers, he says.

The Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards are based on production efficiency, honoring those growers who produce the highest yields at the lowest cost per acre. Awards are presented to growers from the Lower Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Arkansas; the Upper Southeast, including Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and the Southwest, including Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

The awards program has honored 14 classes of winners from throughout the U.S. peanut belt. Since the program’s beginning in 2000, the Peanut Profitability Awards have honored 42 deserving growers or farms.

Winners of the 2014 awards will receive an expenses-paid trip for two to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, set for July 24-26, 2014, in Panama City, Fla. In addition, the winners are featured in special Peanut Profitability issues of Southeast Farm Press, Southwest Farm Press and Delta Farm Press.

Growers may submit their nomination form directly to the National Peanut Research Laboratory, or they may submit it to their county Extension agent, peanut specialist or economist. The deadline for all nominations is April 15, 2014. Growers can access the nomination form online at southeastfarmpress.com, southwestfarmpress.com, and deltafarmpress.com. To receive a hard copy of the form, call Farm Press headquarters at 662-624-8503.

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Precision farming workshops scheduled for February in Alabama and Georgia

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Joy Crosby

Closeup Photo of Precision Farming DeviceHow modern row-crop agriculture is quickly evolving from a precision-based to a   decision-based farming model and how producers can extract the most advantage from these changes will be the topics of a series of workshops scheduled for February in three locations throughout Alabama and Georgia. The workshops will be held Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the NESPAL Seminar Room at the University of Georgia’s Tifton campus in Tifton, Ga.; Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center Auditorium in Headland, Ala.; and Friday, Feb. 28 at the E.V. Smith Research Center Conference Facility in Shorter, Ala.

Following the welcome and introductions, George Vellidis, a professor in the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, will discuss what he perceives as the next big challenge in precision agriculture: precision irrigation.
Following Velldis’ remarks, Franceso Morari, an associate professor in the Department of Agronomy, Foods, Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Padova in Italy, will discuss how crop sensors and weather forecasting can be combined to improve the variable-rate applications of nitrogen in durum wheat. Brenda Ortiz, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University, will follow Morari’s remarks with a presentation on optimizing variable-rate nitrogen management in corn and cotton. Later in the morning, Theofanis Gemtos, professor and head of Laboratory of Farm Mechanization at the University of Thessaly in Greece, will discuss the art and science of soil sampling for precision agriculture. Rounding out the morning, Markus Gandorfer, an agricultural economist with the Technical University of Munich, will discuss the economics of precision agricultural technology at the farm level.

Following lunch, participants can participate in a series of hands-on precision farming-related exercises and demonstrations, which will include precision planting in row crops; converting yield maps to profit maps; using crop sensors for input management in row crops; and  creating management zones.

The workshops are free, but registration is required. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available. Register online at http://vellidis.org/tapac-registration/.
To register via e-mail for the Georgia workshop, contact yiorgos@uga.edu. To register via e-mail for one of the Alabama workshops, contact bortiz@auburn.edu.

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View the Jan/Feb 2014 issue of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Joy Crosby

janfeb_2014_decjan2009.qxdThe Jan/Feb 2014 issue of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer is now available for digital reading.

This issue features the:
2014 Peanut Variety Guidebook
Peanut genomics progress
Propane power for irrigation
Crop rotation
National Peanut Board unveils new brand platform
Eating peanuts daily significantly reduced all cause mortality
Check off reports from the state grower organizations
Legislative Update
Southern Peanut Growers Update

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Mississippi Peanut Growers Association annual meeting set for Feb. 12 & 13, 2014

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Joy Crosby

MPGAlogo_rgbThe Mississippi Peanut Growers Association plan to hold their annual meeting and trade show Feb. 12 and 13, 2014, at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg, Miss. The event provides growers with the latest information on peanut production, research and new products. The early bird session on Wed., Feb. 12 includes information on peanut production and research, peanut insect research, disease control and wild hog damage management. On Thurs., Feb. 13, growers will have the opportunity to visit with several exhibitors showcasing equipment and services for the peanut industry. The annual meeting begins at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday with information on Mississippi State University’s role in Mississippi peanut industry, updates from National Peanut Board and Peanut Institute, as well as information on soil fertility, tillage and row spacing and a marketing outlook for 2014. The meeting is free for all peanut farmers to attend.

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Sarver named Mississippi peanut specialist

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Joy Crosby

JSarverpicUniversity of Georgia graduate student, Jason Sarver, has been hired as the new Extension peanut specialist in Mississippi. Sarver began his new job, Jan. 1, 2014. He is based in the Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University’s main campus in Starkville.

Sarver completed his Ph.D. degree in Crop and Soil Science from the University of Georgia where his advisor has been agronomist, Scott Tubbs. Sarver’s dissertation focused on the effects of plant populations and replanting methods on peanut production and profitability. In Mississippi, Sarver will be providing Extension education and field peanut research throughout the state. His official job title will be assistant Extension/research professor—peanut production.

Since 2011, Sarver has been working as a graduate research assistant in the Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia’s Tifton campus. Previously, Sarver received a M.S. degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Kentucky. There, his research focused on plant populations and weed removal in soybeans. He earlier received a B.S. degree in biology from the University of Kentucky.

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Change coming for Alabama’s private pesticide applicators

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Joy Crosby

bradthompson_sprayingpnuts2012Alabama farmers and producers sometimes must use pesticides to protect their crops and fields. Many of these are restricted-use products, meaning farmers and others must have a private applicator permit to legally purchase and use them. Dr. Sonja Thomas, a pesticide safety specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, says the process is changing on how to obtain that permit.

“In the past, people needing a private applicator permit could get the study materials from the county Extension office, take the test at home and send the test to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries,” she says. “A passing test score of 70 earned the permit.”

The process is changing in January. Thomas says people will now have three options for learning the materials and  taking the test.  Thomas says there are currently about 5,000 individuals in the state who hold private applicator permits. While many are farmers, she says not all are. “Nursery owners, pond owners and forest land owners are other examples of people who hold a private applicator permit or may need to get one,” she says.

She emphasizes that private applicator permits are different from those needed by pest control operators and other commercial applicators. “The law says a private applicator uses or supervises the use of any restricted-use pesticide for producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented or on the property of another person if applied without compensation.”

Thomas says the key is that a private applicator permit is—just that—private.
“A private applicator cannot charge for their services and can only apply on land they own or rent.”

Thomas adds that are some other factors to remember about the private applicator permitting process. Individuals must be able to read and comprehend the subject matter in English and no tests are given orally. Also, individuals must obtain a passing grade of 70 percent or higher on the test and must successfully complete training and testing and then submit an application for a permit.

Individuals who already have a private applicator permit will need to retest when their license comes due. For additional information visit, Alabama Pesticide Safety Education Program.

By Maggie Lawrence
Alabama Cooperative Ext. Service

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National Peanut Board unveils new brand platform “The Perfectly Powerful Peanut”

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Joy Crosby

Perfectly Powerfu Peanut Homepage LogoNational Peanut Board President and CEO, Bob Parker, unveiled the new brand platform, “The Perfectly Powerful Peanut” at the American Peanut Council’s industry luncheon recently. Parker also introduced a new advertising campaign to the industry. Developed by the Atlanta-based marketing and advertising firm LBVD, the advertising campaign features visually distinctive artwork of actual peanut plants created by some of the world’s foremost botanical artists. The art serves as a backdrop for photographic portraits depicting those who benefit from peanuts and peanut butter.

I work hard for them.NPBPPP_Ad9 Two actual peanut farmers, Jeffrey Pope of Virginia, and Charles Hardin of Georgia, are showcased in the advertising campaign. National Peanut Board will roll out this national media campaign in the first quarter of 2014.

“The Perfectly Powerful Peanut” brand platform revolves around consumer trends and preferences toward health and wellness. One of the main reasons consumers are buying nuts today is for their health benefits. The new brand platform provides a message that is  unifying to the entire peanut industry and leverages peanuts’ competitive consumer benefits.

“Our goal is to raise consumers’ health and wellness association with peanuts and peanut butter. Peanuts have seven grams of plant-based protein, more than 30 vitamins and minerals and offer heart-health benefits,” Parker says. “We want to build on these nutrition advantages and the love Americans of all ages have for peanuts, while increasing our competitiveness in the marketplace.”

“The Perfectly Powerful Peanut” aligns the National Peanut Board’s messaging with any    industry initiative and works equally well to support all industry groups, brands and other stakeholders.

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Florida researcher to use $500,000 grant to try to make peanuts more drought-resistant

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Joy Crosby
University of Florida crop physiologist Diane Rowland received a four-year grant to study ways to make peanuts more drought tolerant.

University of Florida crop physiologist Diane Rowland received a four-year grant to study ways to make peanuts more drought tolerant.

A  University of Florida researcher plans to use a $500,000 federal grant to study ways to make peanuts more drought tolerant. Diane Rowland, an associate professor of agronomy and faculty member in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, won the four-year grant in November from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In the research, Rowland will use a process called primed acclimation, in which she waters peanuts at 60 to 70 percent of their normal irrigation rate ─ what’s called moderate drought stress ─ before the crop begins producing peanuts. This prepares the plant for less water when the weather dries up.  She likens the process to training a non-athlete for competition.

“If you don’t condition your plants early, they tend to be less hardy,” Rowland says.
When summer arrives, she says, a primed plant is better able to tolerate drought.
A study Rowland and other scientists published in October 2012 also studied crop acclimation but looked at only one peanut variety. In the new research study, Rowland said she hopes to acclimate up to half a dozen varieties to drought conditions.

Peanuts are grown in a regional swath through the U.S., extending from the Virginia-Carolinas area, through the Southeast and Southwest, including large portions of Florida. For the last decade, those areas have experienced more frequent droughts. Maintaining sustainable crop production despite limited water has become “the single most important    challenge in the U.S. agricultural industry and worldwide,” she wrote in her grant application.

Rowland will conduct the research in west Texas and at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, also part of IFAS.

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Irrigation motor rebate available to Georgia farmers

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Joy Crosby

GEFA_color1The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) recently announced a second round of the Georgia Agricultural Irrigation Motor (AIM) Program, an incentive program designed to help Georgia farmers become more energy-efficient, save money on fuel costs, and reduce emissions.

The Georgia AIM Program will provide farmers with a rebate to replace inefficient diesel irrigation engines with energy-efficient electric irrigation motors. The rebates will cover 25 percent of eligible project costs, with a $10,000 maximum rebate available. The application period for the second round of the program opened online Dec. 4, 2013, at www.gefa.org. Available funding is limited and rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period closes Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, at 5:00 p.m.

“GEFA is excited to offer a program that helps farmers save money and become more energy efficient,” says Kevin Clark, GEFA executive director. “We also hope that the program increases awareness of energy-efficiency measures the agriculture industry can adopt and promote.”

The first round of the program awarded 34 farmers throughout the state with rebates totaling $154,309. The new installations are projected to save 30,167 MMBtus of energy and reduce annual diesel fuel consumption by 217,029 gallons.

“We are pleased to have rebates available to help farmers install more  efficient irrigation motors, which will lower their fuel costs and contribute to our state’s culture of conservation,” says Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. “Agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry and we want to help it grow any way possible.”

Eligible electric irrigation motor  conversion projects must take place in the state of Georgia, and must replace a diesel engine that is at least 10 years old and in service. Rebates will not be provided for projects that have been completed prior to the start of this program. The project must be completed by a licensed contractor after notification of rebate approval from GEFA. The electric motor size (horsepower) must be a maximum of 75 percent of the diesel engine it’s replacing, with a minimum energy efficiency rating of 85 percent on the new electric motor. The rebate will cover 25 percent of the cost of the project, including expenses associated with connecting the electric motor to the power meter, three-phase converters and variable frequency drives. The rebate does not cover expenses payable to a power company.

Since 1985, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority has approved financial commitments totaling more than $3 billion to local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.gefa.org.

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UGA Extension Ag Forecast to be held across Georgia Jan. 24-31

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Joy Crosby

AgForecast14_webheadAgricultural topics from the price of peanut butter to how Europe’s demand for wood pellets will impact Georgia’s lumber supply will be discussed at the 2014 Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series. Seminars will be held Jan. 24-31 in Macon, Athens, Lyons, Tifton, Bainbridge and Cartersville. Registration for the series is open at www.georgiaagforecast.com.

The complicated web of policies, climatic conditions and international consumer trends that impact Georgia’s agricultural industry affect Georgians whether they work in a peanut field or an office tower. Each January as part of the Ag Forecast seminar series, UGA economists explain the factors that will influence the state’s largest industry in the coming growing season. In addition to information about commodity markets and yields, these economist link agricultural trends to the state’s economic health as a whole.

The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Department of Agriculture sponsor the annual seminar series, and its attendance grows every year. Topics will vary by location, with UGA economists focusing on commodities that are most important to that region of the state.

However, some prominent topics that may be addressed include:

  • Georgia’s continued economic recovery and the pace it will take in 2014.
  • The Food Safety Modernization Act’s impact on Georgia’s growing vegetable industry.
  • The impact of new trade liberalization partnerships and how they will influence Georgia fruit, nut and vegetable exports.
  • The way local food and home gardening movements will affect Georgia’s greenhouse industry.
  • How the growing biofuels industry (mostly fuel pellets for export) will impact lumber markets as more Georgia pellet mills come on line in 2014.

Farm succession planning will be addressed at every location this year. Macon attorney Will Thompson will serve as guest speaker for this segment and will offer advice for farmers and landowners on how to best pass land and businesses to the next generation.

The 2014 Ag Forecast sessions will be held Jan. 24 in Macon, Jan. 27 in Athens, Jan. 28 in Lyons, Jan. 29 in Tifton, Jan. 30 in Bainbridge and Jan. 31 in Cartersville.

For more information on the 2014 Ag Forecast, see www.georgiaagforecast.com or search @UGA_CollegeofAg on Twitter.

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