Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - January 25, 2017

GFB News Alert page 5 of 11 GEORGIA PEANUT FARM SHOW FEATURES AWARDS, SEMINARS The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) announced its annual awards while offering education seminars on peanut production and the latest seed reseach during the 41st Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show in Tifton on Jan. 19.

More than 1,400 attended the show, which featured 110 exhibitors, ranging from heavy farm equipment manufacturers to irrigation technology and numerous other products designed to enhance peanut farmers’ yields and production efficiency.

The University of Georgia Peanut Team presented an educational peanut production seminar focusing on advanced irrigation management. The peanut seed seminar highlighted peanut varieties available for 2017.

During lunch, GPC Executive Director Don Koehler spoke, emphasizing the contributions of the GPC staff, Bob Redding of The Redding Firm and UGA researchers exploring the peanut genome.

Redding offered an overview of factors likely to affect the development of the next farm bill, among them the new presidential administration, a handful of new members of Congress and pressure from non-farm groups.

The GPC presented awards to individuals and businesses for their service to the peanut industry and promotion of peanuts across the United States. The award recipients are: Distinguished Service Award – Gov. Nathan Deal; Research and Education Award – Jere W. Morehead, president of the University of Georgia; Promotion Award – The Kroger Company; Media Award – RFD-TV; and Georgia Peanut Special Awards to John Harrell, past chairman of the National Peanut Board and Don McGough, director of the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodities/Marketing Department. The GPC also recognized Kelley Manufacturing Co. for their 50 years of business.

The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award, sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF, was presented to Appling County Farm Bureau member Brandon Branch. The award is presented to one Georgia peanut farmer based on the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership and community service activities. Branch, a third-generation farmer, operates a 1,500 acre diversified row crop operation including peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat as well as a custom harvesting enterprise.

The GPC and Agri Supply presented the Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmers of the Year Award to individuals representing each of the commission’s five districts. Winners were: District 1 – John Bridges Sr., Brinson; District 2 – Kenneth Hall Sr., Tifton; District 3 – Rep. Jon Burns, Newington; District 4 – Richard Nutt, Pitts; and District 5 – Glen Lee Chase, Oglethorpe. These farmers received a sign to display at their farm and a $100 gift card from Agri Supply.

For photos and additional information on the Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference visit the Georgia Peanut Commission website at www.gapeanuts.com or http://bit.ly/pnutfarmshow.