January/February 2026 - Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Vol. 64 No. 1 | Jan./Feb. 2026

From Dothan to the Nutmobile

Adleigh Mayes' cross-country adventure promoting peanuts

2026

Peanut Variety Guidebook

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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2 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

A Look Inside

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Peanut Variety Guidebook

IN THIS ISSUE 6 | FROM DOTHAN TO THE NUTMOBILE Adleigh Mayes turned her peanut roots into a cross-country adventure as a Peanutter with the Nutmobile.

18 | HEALTH NUT CLUB TOUR

The National Peanut Board hit the road this past fall visiting six universities to inspire Gen Z to fuel their lives with peanuts.

24 | POWERFUL PEANUT EXPERIENCE LAUNCHES The Georgia Peanut Commission teamed up with Georgia's Rural Center to launch the Powerful Peanut Experience at the Georgia National Fair.

DEPARTMENTS 8 | CHECKOFF REPORT Alabama Peanut Producers Association Florida Peanut Producers Association Georgia Peanut Commission Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

28 | WASHINGTON OUTLOOK 30 | SOUTHERN PEANUT GROWERS UPDATE

10 2026 PEANUT VARIETY GUIDEBOOK

Selecting a variety is a key management step for farmers. SEPF’s 2026 Variety Guidebook highlights varieties available to growers in the Southeast and provides growers with the results of state variety tests.

On The Cover Peanut seed in a planter in Turner County, Georgia. Photo by Joy Crosby.

SEPF TEAM Editor Joy Carter Crosby joycrosby@gapeanuts.com 229.386.3690

Director of Jessie Bland Advertising jessie@gapeanuts.com 229.386.3472

Contributing Peyton Woods Writing peyton@alpeanuts.com 334.792.6482

Southeastern Peanut Farmer is published six times a year (Jan./Feb., March, April, May/June, July/Aug., and Oct./Nov.) by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. The publisher is not responsible for copy omission, typographical errors, or any unintentional errors that may occur, other than to correct it in the following issue. Any erroneous reflection which may occur in the columns of Southeastern Peanut Farmer will be corrected upon brought to the attention of the editor. (Phone 229-386-3690.)

Postmaster: Send address changes (Form 3579) to Southeastern Peanut Farmer, P.O. Box 706, Tifton, Georgia, 31793.

Circulation is free to qualified peanut growers and others allied to the industry. Periodical postage paid at Tifton, Georgia and additional mailing office.

Editorial Content: Editorial copy from sources outside of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Southern Peanut Farmers Federation policies. Publication of material does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

For editorial concerns call 229-386-3690. No portion of this or past issues of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the written consent of the editor. By-lined articles appearing in this publication represent views of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher.

Advertising: The Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Corrections to advertisements must be made after the first run. All billing offers subject to credit review. Advertisements contained in this publication do not represent an endorsement by the Southeastern Peanut Farmer or the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. Use of trade names in this publication is for the purpose of providing specific information and is not a guarantee nor warranty of products named. For advertising concerns call 229-386-3472.

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Editor’s thoughts More than Iron and Paint

S

ome pieces of equipment on the farm are more than iron and paint. They carry memories, seasons and the lessons learned between daylight and dark. The tractor I'm thinking about is my dad's 1953 Farmall Super A. It's the one I raked hay with during my high school years. Back then, I never thought about the age of the tractor or what it meant to my dad. It was simply the tractor that I was given to drive.

Like a lot of farm equipment, time eventually caught up with it.

Years passed. The tractor sat. Tires went flat. Rust crept in. It reached the point where it hadn't been driven in years, and most folks would have written it off as something better left parked behind the barn.

But farm families don't always see things the way "most folks" do.

Instead of letting it fade into memory, we made the decision to have it restored, not just to make it run again, but to bring a piece of our family history back to life. That's where John Paulk of Turner County, Georgia, came in. With patience, craftsmanship and respect for what the tractor represented, he took something worn down and tired and gave it new life.

When the restoration was finished, it didn't just look good. It felt right. The sound of the engine, the way it handled, even the smell took me straight back to those hay fields decades earlier. The years in between seemed to disappear.

One of the most meaningful moments came when I had the chance to drive it in the antique tractor parade at the Sunbelt Ag Expo.

Surrounded by farmers, families and members of the ag community, I eased that old tractor down the parade route. I was proud, grateful and maybe a little emotional as I drove Daddy's tractor.

It wasn't about showing off a restored tractor. It was about honoring where we came from. It was about remembering a dad who trusted his kid with a job and a machine that mattered. And it was about recognizing that agriculture isn't just about the next crop or the next season, it's about stewardship, legacy and carrying stories forward.

That tractor reminds me that while farming continues to change, the values that built it don’t. Values like hard work and caring for the land were instilled in me, along with knowing when something is worth restoring, not just because it can run again, but because it still has something to teach us. Now, I’m able to pass those lessons on by teaching both of my kids, Eli (12) and Lauren (9), how to drive Grandpa's tractor.

Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to climb back onto the seat where it all started. 

Joy Carter Crosby SEPF Editor

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Events

Georgia Ag Forecast Seminar Jan. 23, 2026, UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, Ga. For more information call 706-542-3390 or visit agforecast.caes.uga.edu.

Georgia Young Farmers Association Annual Convention Jan. 23-24, 2026, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more information visit gyfa.org.

Alabama Florida Peanut Trade Show Jan. 29, 2026, National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, Dothan, Ala. For more information call 334-792-6482 or visit alpeanuts.com or flpeanuts.com.

South Carolina Peanut Growers Annuual Meeting Jan. 29, 2026, Santee Conference Center, Santee, S.C. For more information call 803734-5229 or visit aboutpeanuts.com.

Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Annual Meeting Feb. 11, 2026, Lake Terrace Convention Center, Hattiesburg, Miss. For more information visit misspeanuts.com.

National Peanut Buying Points Association Winter Conference Feb. 12-15, 2026, The Galt House, Louisville, Ky. For more information visit peanutbuyingpoints.org.

Florida Peanut Producers Association Annual Meeting Feb. 26, 2026, Jackson County Agricultural Complex and Conference Center, Marianna, Fla. For more info visit flpeanuts.com.

Farm Stress Summit March 12, 2026, C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga. Peanut Proud Festival March 28, 2026, Blakely, Ga. For more info visit peanutproudfestival.com.

Let us know about your event. Please send details to the editor at joycrosby@gapeanuts.com.

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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From Dothan to the Nutmobile

How Adleigh Mayes Turned Her Peanut Roots Into a Cross-Country Adventure

By Peyton Woods

F

or Adleigh Mayes, peanuts aren't just a snack, they're part of who she is. Growing up in Dothan, Alabama, the self-proclaimed Peanut Capital of the World, she was surrounded by fields of peanuts, fall festivals and a community that celebrated the crop every fall. Her father, Jeremy Mayes, works in the peanut industry, and through him, Mayes learned the value of agriculture and hard work early on. Those lessons, which may have seemed mundane, would later drive her toward a once-ina-lifetime adventure that quite literally rolled her across the country in a huge legume.

After graduating from FreedHardeman University with a degree in public relations, the Houston County native found herself in the same uncertain transition many college seniors face: life after commencement.

She loved her years as a collegiate volleyball player and was soaking up her final semester, not yet ready to dive into job searching.

Then, in November 2024, a message popped into her family group chat—a link from her dad that would change everything. It was an application for the Planters Peanutter Program, a year-long adventure where a team of recent graduates drives the 26-foot, peanut-shaped Nutmobile across America, spreading smiles and the story of peanuts.

Adleigh Mayes in front of the Love Dothan mural in downtown Dothan, Alabama.

Adleigh Mayes with the Planters Nutmobile during Peanut Prep.

"At first, I thought it had to be a joke," Mayes says with a laugh. "I mean, it was a giant peanut on wheels.

But once I actually read about the program, I thought, wait, this actually sounds incredible."

On the final day, the candidates were asked to name two people they'd want to spend the next year traveling with. Unbeknownst to each other, Adleigh, Aria and Hudson all chose one another.

One part of the application required a 60-second video explaining why she'd make a great Peanutter. She leaned into her roots, literally. Filming around Dothan, she posed with the city's iconic peanut statues and even included shots inside the shelling plant her dad works at.

A few days later, an early-morning call from Minnesota, home of Hormel Foods, brought the news Mayes had been hoping for: she got the job.

Within weeks, she was packing for "Peanut Prep," a weeklong training where new Peanutters learn everything from PR skills to how to safely drive the Nutmobile.

"I started the video with, 'My name is Adleigh Mayes, and I guess you could say peanuts are in my roots,'" she says. Her humor, creativity, and authenticity helped her stand out among nearly 900 applicants.

Months of interviews, written submissions, and group assignments followed. Eventually, Mayes was selected as one of eight finalists flown to Chicago, home of the Planters headquarters, for an in-person evaluation. There she met Aria and Hudson, who would unknowingly become her future teammates, as they worked through creative challenges designed to test communicationand teamwork.

6 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

"It felt like summer camp," she jokes. "Except we were learning everything about the Nutmobile and Mr. Peanut."

Since hitting the road, Mayes has traveled over 13,000 miles to cities big and small, sharing her story and representing a crop she's known her whole life.

"My dad used to bring home peanuts from work," she says. "Now I'm driving one around the country. It really has come full circle."

For Mayes, being a Peanutter is more than a job; it's a celebration of her roots, her community and the peanut that started it all. 

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Checkoff Report

Investments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry APPA and FPPA partner up at the National Peanut Festival The Peanut Pavilion, a booth for the Florida Peanut Producers Association and the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, at the National Peanut Festival continues to be one of the busiest spots on the fairgrounds. The festival draws thousands of visitors throughout the 10-day event. This year, festival-goers enjoyed a new interactive activity: guessing how many peanuts were in the jar for a chance to win a gift basket generously donated by Smucker’s. The contest brought plenty of excitement as attendees submitted their best guesses. By the end of the festival, FPPA and APPA awarded four winners with Smucker’s baskets filled with peanut butter favorites. The contest was a fun way to engage visitors and highlight the joy of celebrating peanuts.

Alabama peanuts promoted at Wine on the River The Alabama Peanut Producers Association promoted peanuts at the Wine on the River event held Oct. 18, at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile.

The event drew more than 2,000 attendees and offered a great opportunity to reach a new audience with peanut promotions and education. The APPA booth featured a fun photo op and giveaways, along with local Alabama farmers sharing their story behind the product. The event also served as a fundraiser supporting United Way of Southwest Alabama, making it a meaningful way to connect, give back to the community and showcase the value of the peanut industry in the state.

APPA promotes peanuts across the state From one end of Alabama to the other, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association has been busy sharing peanut knowledge and delicious peanut products. In Mobile County, Amanda Driskell and Dallas Johnson represented APPA at the American Culinary Federation Mobile Chefs and Cooks Association Child Nutrition Day, where they handed Amanda Driskell (left) and out peanut butter and fun activities to 600 students at Dallas Johnson (right) Leinkauf Elementary School. Meanwhile, in Brundidge, handed out peanut butter during the American Culinary Billy and Laura Hixon, Sharon Byrd, and Donna Sanders served warm grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Federation Mobile Chefs and Cooks Association Child to visitors at the Peanut Butter Festival, a crowd favorite Nutrition Day. every year.

Peanuts take the field at Auburn and South Alabama The Alabama Peanut Producers Association promoted peanuts at two major college football events this past fall, reaching fans from both Auburn University and the University of South Alabama. At Auburn's Fan Fest, APPA enjoyed sharing the peanut story alongside grower Joel Sirmon, handing out samples Joel Sirmon, APPA board and answering questions from attendees. Meanwhile member, hands out peanuts in Mobile, a dedicated group of Alabama peanut at Auburn's Fan Fest. farmers represented the industry at the South Alabama Jaguars game, engaging with fans and encouraging everyone to enjoy more homegrown peanuts. These events gave APPA the opportunity to connect with new audiences and encourage consumers to eat more peanuts!

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FPPA exhibits at Florida Farm Bureau Convention The Florida Peanut Producers Association exhibited at the Florida Farm Bureau Federation annual convention held in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 84th Annual Florida Farm Bureau Meeting remains a cherished event for FPPA. Each year, FPPA looks forward to connecting with the hardworking men and women who are the boots on the ground in Florida agriculture.

Their dedication, resilience and commitment to feeding consumers are The Florida Peanut what make this Producers Association attends and exhibits at gathering so the Florida Farm Bureau meaningful.

Conference in Daytona

FPPA was Beach, Fla. honored to sponsor the reception at this year's meeting, providing an opportunity to show appreciation and extend a heartfelt thank you to the farms and producers who drive the success of Florida agriculture. Throughout the event, the FPPA team enjoyed greeting attendees, handing out roasted peanuts and engaging in conversations at the FPPA table.

This year also brought a special highlight: the debut of Florida Ag in the Classroom's new Agriculture Literacy book, "Cotton and Its Boll versus the Peanut at Its Hull." The book offers an engaging educational story that highlights Florida’s vibrant cotton and peanut industries, helping young readers better understand two crops that shape the state's agricultural landscape.

Reports by

Georgia Peanuts featured on VeryVera for Peanut Butter Lovers Month

The VeryVera show, displayed four new recipes using peanut butter in a November episode for Peanut Butter Lovers Month.

Georgia Peanuts were highlighted this past fall on an episode of VeryVera. The VeryVera show, currently in its 14th season, airs in 32 states and reaches 24 million U.S. households. The segment which aired in November 2025, featured four peanut recipes using peanuts and peanut butter. The promotion was coordinated to promote National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. The featured recipes were Southern Chopped Salad with a Peanut Dressing, Sesame Chicken Strips with a Peanut Butter Sauce, Peanut Butter Cake and Energy Bites. To view the episode, visit the VeryVera Youtube channel.

Mississippi promotes peanuts during November for National Peanut Butter Lover's Month The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association sponsored a half page ad in the Mississippi Farm Country Magazine which is distributed to 146,000 households.

Included in the promotion was four facts on nutrition, association website and logo, plus November is Peanut Butter Lover's Month, and there's a lot to love!

MPGA exhibits at the 114th Mississippi Nurses Convention

Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Executive Director Malcolm Broome exhibits at the Mississippi Nurses Convention in October.

The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association exhibited at the Mississippi Nurses Association Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi, Oct. 22-24, 2025. MPGA was able to interact with 250 registered nurses and 915 nursing students from across the state. As part of the National Peanut Board's co-promotion project with Mississippi, MPGA was able to sponsor a breakfast for the Advanced Practice Nurses.

During the breakfast, MPGA Executive Director Malcolm Broome spoke to the nurses on the nutritional value of peanuts as well as early introduction information to prevent allergies. The exhibit featured materials from the National Peanut Board and The Peanut Institute on early introduction to prevent peanut allergies and nutrition information.

Georgia Peanuts promoted at Georgia School Nutrition Manager's Retreat The Georgia Peanut Commission and Southern Peanut Growers sponsored a session at the Georgia School Nutrition Association Manager's Retreat, Oct. 23, 2025, in LaGrange, Georgia. Chef Josh Swinney of Northside Hospital demonstrated a Gochujang Peanut Noodle Dish with Chicken; and Chef Carlos Granderson of Southern National demonstrated a Peanut Butter and Bacon Burrito for about 100 managers.

The noodle dish can be made vegetarian by Chefs Carlos Granderson substituting (left) and Josh Swinney the one(right) demonstrate peanut recipe ideas at a session ounce bag during the Georgia School of Georgia Nutrition Manager's Retreat peanuts for in October 2025. the chicken.

School nutrition is hungry for this type of chef-driven training and we are working on another session at the annual conference in April.

Georgia Peanuts promoted at National 4-H Agents Conference

Simbeck selected for Don Self Memorial Scholarship

The Georgia Peanut Commission exhibited at the National 4-H Agents Conference, Oct. 28-30, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. GPC was also a gold sponsor of the event. At the exhibit, GPC provided educational materials and peanuts to the 1,000+ agents in attendance.

Patton Simbeck, an ag engineering technology and business major at Mississippi State University, was awarded the the Don Self Memorial Scholarship.

Simbeck's focus is on precision agriculture and his home is Loretto, Tennessee.

The scholarship was established in October 2015 in memory of Don Self, a life-long farmer in the Hamilton community of Monroe County, Mississippi. Self was one of the pioneer growers of peanuts in northeast Mississippi and served on board for the National Peanut Board and the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association at the time of his death.

GPC is also sponsoring the Georgia 4-H contest, "Powering the Perfect Recipe" for 4th to 8th grade students. Students participate at their county level by creating a peanut recipe. More than 3,000 students are participating from 56 counties in Georgia.

Mississippi peanuts promoted at Hobnob The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association provided 1,200 complimentary bags of roasted peanuts for the Mississippi Economic Council's Hobnob Mississippi event in October. More than 1,000 business executives, community leaders and elected officials attended the event in Jackson, Mississippi.

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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2026

Peanut Variety Guidebook

S

tate, federal and private peanut breeding programs are actively involved in the development of improved varieties with desirable traits for increasing dollar value, yield, grade, disease resistance, insect resistance, virus resistance, nematode resistance, aflatoxin resistance, drought tolerance, better shelling characteristics, longer shelf-life and enhanced flavor and nutritional qualities.

In the U.S., there are four peanut market types (runner, virginia, spanish and valencia), and within each market type, there are different varieties. The varieties contained in this guidebook reflect those varieties commonly planted in the Southeast and those varieties recommended by agronomists for this area due to resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Variety selection is an important process in the overall management of the farm. This guidebook serves as a resource for growers when they select a variety for the 2026 crop year.

Runner Type ACI N104 is a high oleic runner peanut variety with pod and kernel size and shape similar to Georgia06G. It is medium maturity, maturing in about 145 days in South Georgia.

It has excellent peg strength and flexibility around harvest timing. It is well adapted to dry land conditions.

It has very high levels of resistance to TSWV, white mold and leaf spot.

This variety was developed in South Georgia by ACI Seeds, a privately funded peanut research and development company based in South Georgia with ongoing research across all U.S. peanut growing regions.

ACI 212 is a high oleic, largeseeded runner variety with multiple disease resistance. It has good resistance to TSWV, white mold and late leaf spot. It has excellent germination and early vigor for quick row closure and dense canopy.

This variety matures in about 140 days in South Georgia. ACI 212 was developed at ACI Seeds, a privately funded peanut research and development company based in South Georgia with ongoing research across all U.S. peanut growing regions.

ACI 222 is a high oleic, runner peanut with multiple disease resistance. It is medium maturity, maturing in about 145 days in South Georgia. It has a high level of resistance to TSWV, white mold and late leaf spot. It was developed in South Georgia and is well suited for the disease pressure in the region. However, it is widely adapted across the Southeast and Southwest peanut growing regions. ACI 222 was developed at ACI Seeds, a privately funded peanut research and development company based in South Georgia with ongoing research across all U.S. peanut growing regions.

ACI 3321 is a large-seeded, high-oleic runner peanut. ACI 3321 is a top yielding variety for ACI Seeds and in state variety testing in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. ACI 3321 has a high level of TSWV resistance, best in class white mold resistance and very good leaf spot resistance. ACI 3321 has demonstrated stability across diverse U.S. peanut production areas.

ACI 3321 is well adapted to irrigated and dry-land production. ACI 3321 was developed by Kim M. Moore of ACI Seeds, a privately funded peanut

10 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

research and development company based in South Georgia with ongoing research and development across all U.S. peanut growing regions. ACI 3321 seed will be commercially available for the planting season.

Arnie is a normal oleic runner type peanut with outstanding resistance to TSWV, combined with high yields and grades. Yields and grades of Arnie in irrigated and non-irrigated Florida tests were excellent. Arnie contains a unique resistance to TSWV based on different genetics than other TSWV resistant cultivars. It offers the ability to plant prior to May 1 with lower risk of TSWV compared to most peanut cultivars in the Southeastern United States. The only other commercially available cultivar with this type of TSWV resistance is FloRun™ '725'.

Arnie has a medium runner seed size with a high percentage of medium kernels. It was released by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, North Florida Research and Education Center near Marianna, Florida.

Continued on page 12

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 11

VARIETY GUIDEBOOK

Variety Guidebook Continued from page 10

USDA-ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory in 2017.

AU-NPL 17 is a runner type peanut with high-yielding and very good resistance to TSWV, highly tolerant to leaf spot, strong resistance to white mold and superior shelling characters. AU-NPL 17 has a prostrate growth habit with main stem and with large vines. It has high oleic fatty acid content and excellent flavor. AU-NPL 17 is well adapted to irrigated and non-irrigated lands across diverse U.S. peanut production areas. AU-NPL 17 has a lot of desirable characteristic to mitigate challenging growing conditions from year to year including strong disease package, good stem strength, larger vine and late season drought tolerance et al. The seeds have pink testa and medium large runner seed size, which is a little smaller than Georgia-06G. AU-NPL 17 was released by Auburn University and

FloRun™ '331' is a high-yielding, medium maturity, runner-type variety released from the University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Marianna, Florida, in 2016. It has medium runner seed size with very good grades. FloRun™ '331' has had excellent pod yield in both irrigated and non-irrigated trials over several seasons of testing across several locations in Florida. FloRun™ '331' has high oleic oil chemistry beneficial for extended shelf-life and marketability of peanuts and peanut products.

FloRun™ '52N' is a medium maturity runner type with small vines, high-yield, high grade, and normal oleic oil chemistry that was released from the University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center in 2023. The seed size of FloRun™ '52N' is in the medium

range with about 710 seeds per pound from the SMK (sound mature kernels). FloRun™ '52N' has had TSMK grade, in the mid to upper 70's, in on-farm demonstrations and in Foundation and Registered seed production resulting high value returns in production settings. The yield of FloRun™ '52N' was among the highest in Florida irrigated and nonirrigated tests over a three-year period in several locations. FloRun™ '52N' has smaller than average vines making it a good fit for twin-row production and situations where vine production of other varieties is excessive. It has performed well in tests for tolerance to leaf spot, white mold and TSWV and has a sound overall disease package that will respond well to standard disease management recommendations for peanut as outlined in the Peanut Rx. In summary, FloRun™ ‘52N’ combines normal oleic

Alabama State Variety Test Results 2024 Runner Variety

2025

Brewton

Headland

Headland

Fairhope

Tallassee

Brewton

Headland

Headland

Fairhope

Tallassee

Irrigated

Irrigated

Dryland

Dryland

Dryland

Dryland

Irrigated

Dryland

Dryland

Dryland

ACI N 104

4223

5031

3232

5451

4620

4206

5925

5948

4286

4193

ACI 212

4240

4208

2694

4722

4666

4206

6075

5489

4830

5283

ACI 222

4533

4488

2878

4834

4189

4178

6186

5581

4257

4148

ACI 3321

5160

5466

3833

4818

5791

4242

6602

6070

4681

5099

Arnie

4382

5621

3879

4724

5636

4994

6595

6202

5509

4677

AU-NPL 17

4934

5637

3479

4644

5407

4701

6213

5607

4481

4793

DG 913

4800

5807

3463

5726

4487

4756

6324

6122

5877

4948

FloRun™ '52N'

4917

6040

3648

5444

5979

6185

6420

6090

5920

5263

FloRun™ ‘331’

5386

5481

3771

5479

5463

5131

5861

5979

5837

6672

FloRun™ ‘725’

-

-

-

-

-

4737

6842

6122

5175

4936

FloRun™ ‘T61’

4867

5124

3417

5309

5674

6157

6957

6040

4269

5116

Georgia-06G

4399

5388

3633

4890

5376

4829

5749

6287

6038

4704

Georgia-12Y

5700

5606

3817

5066

4997

5470

6854

6134

5466

4693

Georgia-16HO

5160

5947

3910

5373

5402

5617

6643

6345

6741

5053

Georgia-18RU

3805

5280

3894

5322

4512

4774

5749

5693

6012

5560

Georgia-20VHO

5101

6165

4479

4818

5059

5397

6292

6408

5866

5440

Georgia-21GR

4432

4736

3602

4672

4209

4884

6659

6488

5963

5130

Georgia-22MPR

4387

5867

3571

5212

4933

4362

6682

6537

5472

4838

Georgia-23RKN

-

-

-

-

-

4545

8044

6636

5196

4571

TifNV-HG

4407

5776

3802

5390

5072

5104

6947

5842

5641

4997

TifNV-High O/L

4967

5171

3356

5552

5858

5608

5988

6011

4891

5710

TifTB

4516

5683

4223

4784

5736

6377

6228

6472

5390

5274

12 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

FloRun™ 'T61' is a high yielding, TSWV resistant, medium seeded, runner type variety from the University of Florida. It was released in 2020 from the North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna, Florida.

FloRun™ 'T61' has high yield potential demonstrated over multiple locations in Florida as well as in on-farm tests.

It has high grades and outstanding resistance to spotted wilt which is the reason for the "T" in T61. During several years of testing, FloRun™ 'T61' has proven to resist TSWV and produce high yields when disease pressure from TSWV reduced yield of other varieties. It has a medium seed size with about 650 seeds per pound and just over 40 percent

Georgia-06G is a high-yielding, TSWV-resistant, large-seeded, runnertype peanut variety that was released in 2006 by the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station,

Tifton, Georgia. Georgia-06G has a high level of resistance to TSWV. In multilocation tests conducted in Georgia during the past several years, Georgia-06G was found to have among the lowest disease incidence, highest pod yield, highest TSMK grade and highest dollar value return per acre compared to other runnertypes tested each year. Georgia-06G combines high TSWV resistance with medium maturity and excellent yield and high TSMK grade which results in greater dollar value return per acre.

Georgia-09B is a high-yielding, high-oleic, TSWV-resistant, mediumseeded, runner-type peanut variety that was released in 2009 by the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia.

Georgia-09B has a high level of resistance to spotted wilt disease Continued on page 14

Florida State Variety Test Results 2022 Runner Variety

2023

Marianna, Marianna, Gainesville & Live Oak & Jay Live Oak

Marianna, Gainesville & Live Oak

2024

Marianna, Marianna, Gainesville & Live Oak & Jay Live Oak

2025 Marianna

Marianna, Marianna, Gainesville & Live Oak & Jay Live Oak

Irrigated

Dryland

Irrigated

Dryland

Irrigated

Dryland

Irrigated

Dryland

ACI 3321

6765

5134

7792

4431

-

-

-

-

Arnie

8134

4423

8064

5666

7049

7767

9247

5983

AU-NPL 17

7374

5099

7718

4723

7069

7301

8321

6215

FloRun™ '52N'

7362

5591

7992

5471

6390

7644

8696

6386

FloRun™ ‘331’

7909

4689

8334

5911

7781

6728

-

-

FloRun™ ‘725’

7071

5580

7437

4792

7457

7561

7552

5548

FloRun™ ‘T61’

7530

5260

7722

5316

6716

6407

8664

5784

Georgia-06G

6995

5455

7686

4991

7000

7138

8100

6071

Georgia-09B

7812

5293

-

-

-

-

-

-

Georgia-12Y

6503

5888

8498

4769

7373

5644

8387

5230

Georgia-16HO

6993

5404

7395

5203

7524

6647

8646

5935

Georgia-18RU

7750

4004

8178

4894

-

-

-

-

Georgia-20VHO

-

-

7961

5319

6374

7798

-

-

Georgia-21GR

-

-

-

-

7072

7376

-

5694

Georgia-22MPR

-

-

-

-

6740

7060

7435

5562

Georgia-23RKN

-

-

-

-

-

-

7803

5305

TifNV-HG

-

-

7905

5024

7722

8177

8621

6113

TifNV-High O/L

6493

5438

7578

5089

7132

7095

8172

5902

TUFRunner™ ‘297’

7028

6474

7892

5513

7830

7146

-

-

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 13

VARIETY GUIDEBOOK

medium kernels on an in-shell basis.

The vine growth of FloRun™ 'T61' is moderate, allowing good performance in twin rows without excessive vine production. The maturity of FloRun™ 'T61' is in the medium range of 140-145 days after planting under irrigation in Florida. The pod yield of FloRun™ 'T61' has been excellent and better than Georgia-06G in tests across several Florida locations. It also performed very well in on-farm demonstration plots in Florida topping the yield in several locations. FloRun™ 'T61' has high oleic oil and should be an excellent choice for farmers, shellers and manufacturers who need peanuts with the high oleic trait.

oil chemistry with smaller vines, high yield, and high TSMK grade to meet the needs of peanut growers, shellers and manufacturers.

VARIETY GUIDEBOOK

Variety Guidebook Continued from page 13

caused by TSWV. Georgia-09B also has the high-oleic and low-linoleic fatty acid ratio for improved oil quality and longer shelf-life of peanut and peanut products. Georgia-09B originated from the first backcross made with Georgia Green as the recurrent parent.

It has an intermediate runner growth habit and medium maturity, similar to Georgia Green. Georgia-09B has a medium runner seed size. Georgia09B combines the excellent roasted flavor of Georgia Green with the high-oleic trait for longer shelf-life and improved oil quality of peanut and peanut products.

Georgia-12Y is a high-yielding, TSWV-resistant, white-mold resistant, medium-seeded, runner-type peanut

variety that was released in 2012 by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was developed at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia.

Georgia-12Y is similar to another runner-type variety Georgia-10T in having low TSWV disease incidence and total disease incidence. However, during several years averaged over multilocation tests in Georgia, Georgia-12Y had significantly higher pod yield and higher dollar value return per acre compared to Georgia10T. Georgia-12Y also has a smaller seed size (greater number of seed per pound) than Georgia-10T. Georgia-12Y should be an excellent variety for an earlier planting (April) option in the Southeast because of its high TSWV and white mold-resistance and later maturity.

Georgia-14N is a high-yielding, high-oleic, TSWV-resistant, and RKNresistant, small-seeded, runner-type peanut variety that was released in 2014 by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was developed at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton.

Georgia-14N is similar to other higholeic, runner-type varieties in having high-oleic and low-linoleic fatty acid profiles. However, during threeyears averaged over multilocation tests in Georgia, Georgia-14N had significantly less TSWV and total disease incidence and higher yield, grade and dollar value return per acre compared to Tifguard. Georgia-14N combines high-yield, TSWV resistance and root knot nematode resistance with smaller seed size, and the higholeic trait for longer shelf-life and

Mississippi State Variety Test Results 2023 Runner Variety

2024

2025

Raymond

Stoneville

Verona

Beaumont

Raymond

Stoneville

Stoneville

Verona

-

-

-

5313

4791

6017

2235

2116

3593

4624

2650

AU-NPL 17

3697

4607

2907

5024

4109

5488

1792

3280

4425

5261

3502

DG 913

3704

4971

4009

5532

5269

5911

2156

3614

4765

5367

4103

FloRun™ '52N'

3632

4899

4054

5281

5957

6734

2415

2913

4487

5341

3861

FloRun™ ‘331’

4116

4937

5225

5222

6278

7535

2681

3803

6310

5404

4595

FloRun™ ‘725’

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3105

4683

5113

2730

FloRun™ ‘T61’

3865

4847

4091

5176

5651

6449

2520

3233

4875

5035

4600

Georgia-06G

4084

5275

3993

4869

5125

6536

2119

3471

4802

5821

4675

Georgia-09B

3194

4710

4128

5098

4651

6146

2092

3249

4831

5540

3959

Georgia-12Y

3631

5024

3474

4737

3910

5629

2422

3732

4945

4850

4096

Georgia-14N

2623

3401

3449

4585

3905

5585

1777

2991

4075

4728

3095

Georgia-16HO

3505

4871

5082

5046

5383

6432

2268

3609

5301

5634

4522

Georgia-18RU

3527

4344

3804

4821

4590

6378

2596

2877

4344

5833

4259

Georgia-20VHO

3703

4949

4444

4833

4745

6484

2195

4405

5684

5745

3653

Georgia-21GR

3338

4720

4178

4241

4160

5765

2322

3464

4962

5206

3869

Georgia-22MPR

-

-

-

5015

3639

5928

1880

3077

4712

5534

3890

Georgia-23RKN

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3271

4838

5427

4276

TifNV-HG

4090

4937

4648

5666

5733

6586

2312

3159

5218

5427

4104

TifNV-High O/L

3638

3950

4674

4098

4598

6513

2494

-

-

-

-

TUFRunner™ ‘297’

3993

4734

3874

5253

6581

6880

3048

3965

5847

5756

4158

Arnie

14 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

Verona Beaumont Raymond

Georgia-16HO is a high-yielding, high-oleic, TSWV-resistant, largeseeded, runner-type peanut variety that was released in 2016 by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was developed at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Georgia.

Georgia-16HO is similar to other higholeic, runner-type varieties in having the high-oleic and low-linoleic fatty acid profile. However during several years averaged over multilocation tests in Georgia, Georgia-16HO had less TSWV and total disease incidence and higher yield, grade and dollar value return per acre compared to TUFRunner™ ‘511’. Georgia-16HO was also found to have a large runner seed size similar to TUFRunner™

Georgia-18RU is a high-yielding, normal-oleic, TSWV-resistant and leaf scorch-resistant, medium-large seeded, runner-type peanut variety that was released by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station in 2018. It was developed at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Georgia.

During five-years averaged over multiple location tests in Georgia, Georgia-18RU had the highest percent TSMK grade and the lowest number of seed per pound compared to the Georgia-06G runner-type variety.

Georgia-18RU was also found to have a similar low percent TSWV and total disease incidence, high yield and dollar value return per acre as Georgia-06G. Georgia-18RU combines high yield, high grade, high dollar value and TSWV and leaf scorch resistance with the desirable normal-oleic trait requested by peanut butter manufacturers. It also has similar roasted flavor, blanchability and maturity as Georgia-06G. Georgia-20VHO is a highyielding, high-grading, TSWV-resistant, very high-oleic to linoleic ratio, runner-type peanut variety that was released by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station in 2020. It was developed at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Continued on page 16

Georgia State Variety Test Results 2023 Variety

2024

Average of Tifton, Midville and Plains

2025

Tifton

Midville

Tifton

Midville

Attapulgus

Irrigated

Dryland

Irrigated

Dryland

Irrigated

Dryland

-

-

5971

2828

6784

5760

-

-

-

-

-

-

5024

4314

5484

3109

7726

5772

6380

4393

6786

6493

6344

6860

-

-

6180

3158

7875

6221

7028

4585

6786

5152

5808

6655

FloRun™ '52N'

5285

4506

6267

3852

7551

6334

6642

5032

6538

5686

5933

6239

FloRun™ ‘331’

5386

4529

6652

4139

8263

6959

-

-

-

-

-

-

FloRun™ ‘T61’

5059

4565

5931

3663

7936

6381

6352

4721

6486

6068

5447

6251

Georgia-06G

4988

4673

5969

2699

8102

6468

7281

4759

7115

6706

6070

6900

Georgia-09B

5099

4629

6253

3711

6284

6045

6476

4424

6994

6930

5441

6159

Georgia-12Y

5537

5291

5176

2918

6643

5976

7456

5078

6737

6104

6022

6755

Georgia-14N

4886

4883

6539

4016

8140

6557

5915

4677

6274

6100

4784

5797

Georgia-16HO

4954

4599

6339

3932

7120

6784

6871

5229

7104

6617

5258

6267

Georgia-18RU

5105

4882

6100

3553

6513

5999

6273

5102

7020

6821

5561

6210

Georgia-20VHO

5260

4597

5887

3553

6216

5540

7368

5409

7253

6535

5286

6318

Georgia-21GR

5506

5145

5996

2833

6478

5815

7006

5213

7127

6415

5269

5213

Georgia-22MPR

5185

5181

6118

3259

6741

7000

5841

5164

5929

5764

5418

5438

Georgia-23RKN

5098

5305

6559

3101

7830

6093

6741

4690

6426

6147

5151

5593

Georgia-24NHO

-

-

5934

3138

8042

5959

7642

4498

6798

6511

6235

6546

TifNV-HG

5629

4855

6476

3492

8177

6227

6666

4362

7432

6960

5510

6872

TifNV-High O/L

4987

4288

6278

3541

7473

6072

6423

4422

6376

5690

5311

6507

-

-

6093

3474

7887

6708

6150

4765

6965

6594

4745

7088

TUFRunner™ ‘297’

5457

4861

6279

3748

8144

6431

-

-

-

-

-

-

TifJumbo

5406

4896

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Arnie AU-NPL 17 DG 913

TifTB

Irrigated Dryland

Plains

Irrigated Dryland Irrigated Irrigated

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 15

VARIETY GUIDEBOOK

‘511’, but not as large of seed size as TUFRunner™ ‘297’. Georgia-16HO combines high-yield, TSWV resistance with large runner seed size, and the high-oleic trait for longer shelf-life and improved oil quality of peanut and peanut products.

improved oil quality of peanut and peanut products.

VARIETY GUIDEBOOK

Variety Guidebook Continued from page 15

Station, Tifton, Georgia. During five-years and three-years averaged over multilocation tests in Georgia, Georgia-20VHO had significantly higher percentage of total sound mature kernel grade compared to Georgia-09B and six other high-oleic runner varieties, respectively. It was also among the lowest in TSWV and total disease incidence and among the highest in pod yield and dollar values compared to the other high-oleic runner varieties in Georgia. Georgia20VHO, as the name implies, has a very high O/L ratio, similar to another VHO virginia-type variety Georgia-11J. Georgia-20VHO combines high yield, grade and dollar values with TSWV resistance and very high O/L ratio for longer shelf-life of peanut and peanut products.

Georgia-21GR is a high-yielding, high-grading, TSWV-resistant, normal oleic, runner-type peanut variety that was released by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station in 2021. It was developed at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Georgia. During six-years averaged over multilocation tests in Georgia, Georgia-21GR had significantly higher percentage of total sound mature kernel (TSMK) grade compared to Georgia-06G, a widely popular runner variety. It also had similar low TSWV and total disease incidence and comparable high pod yield and dollar values as Georgia-06G. Georgia-21GR, as the name implies, has a very high TSMK grade percentage. Georgia21GR combines high yield, grade and dollar values with TSWV resistance and normal oleic in a medium-large seeded, runner-type peanut variety.

Georgia-22MPR is a new highyielding, high-oleic, TSWV-resistant, Root-knot nematode resistant and leafhopper-resistant, runner-type peanut variety that was released by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station in 2022. It was developed at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia. During four-years averaged over multilocation tests in Georgia,

Georgia-22MPR had significantly higher yield and dollar value compared to Georgia-14N and TifNV-High O/L runner varieties.

Georgia-22MPR as the name implies has multiple pest resistance. Georgia22MPR combines high yield and dollar values with virus, nematode and insect resistance in a high-oleic, mediumlarge seeded, runner-type peanut variety.

Georgia-23RKN is a highyielding, normal-oleic, TSWV-resistant and Root-knot nematode resistant, runner-type peanut variety that was released in 2023 by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was developed at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia. Georgia23RKN has significantly less TSWV and total disease incidence compared to the Tifguard and TifNV High O/L varieties in Georgia. It also has very high-level of RKN resistance similar to Georiga-14N. However, Georgia23RKN has a normal-oleic fatty acid O/L ratio similar to Tifguard. Georgia23RKN combines high yield and dollar values with high TSWV-resistance and RKN-resistance in a normal-oleic, medium-large seeded, runner-type peanut variety.

TifNV-HG is a runner-type peanut variety release by the USDAARS and the University of Georgia.

Marker assisted selection was used to select for nematode resistance and the high-oleic to linoleic (O/L) characteristic. TifNV-HG has a high level of resistance to both the peanut root-knot nematode and TSWV and has a high ratio of oleic acid to linoleic acid. When tested in fields without nematode pressure TifNV-HG exhibited yields that were at least similar to other currently grown peanut varieties. When tested in fields with nematode pressure, TifNV-HG exhibited yield that was at least equivalent to the nematode resistant varieties, TifNV-High O/L and Georgia 14N, and significantly higher than susceptible varieties. TifNV-HG exhibited higher grade in comparison the TifNV-High O/L. TifNV-High O/L is a high oleic peanut variety developed and

16 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

released by USDA-Agricultural Research Service peanut breeder Corley Holbrook. It's a high oleic version of the nematode resistant Tifguard that Holbrook released several years ago. The variety offers high yields, nematode resistance, a high concentration of oleic acid, resistance to spotted wilt virus, moderate resistance to leaf spot and medium maturity. TifNV-High O/L resulted from a cross between Tifguard and the Florida-07 varieties.

Holbrook worked with University of Georgia researchers Peggy OziasAkins and Ye Chu in using molecular markers for nematode resistance and the high O/L trait. Using the molecular markers, they were able to greatly speed up the process of developing the new variety.

TUFRunner™ ‘297’ is a high yielding, extra-large seeded, medium maturity runner-type peanut with high oleic oil chemistry developed by the University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Marianna, Florida. It was released in 2014. TUFRunner™ '297' has demonstrated very good resistance to white mold, good resistance to TSWV and is susceptible to leaf spots. Yield and grade of TUFRunner™ '297' have been excellent. It has a prominent center stem with a semi prostrate growth habit.

Virginia Type TifJumbo is a virginia-type peanut variety release by the USDA-ARS and the University of Georgia. Marker assisted selection was used to select for nematode resistance and the higholeic to linoleic (O/L) characteristic.

TifJumbo has a high level of resistance to both the peanut root-knot nematode and TSWV and has a high ratio of oleic acid to linoleic acid.

TifJumbo also has a moderate level of resistance to leaf spot. When tested in fields without nematode pressure TifJumbo exhibited yields that were at least similar to other currently grown peanut varieties. When tested in fields with nematode pressure, TifJumbo exhibited significantly higher yields in comparison to other viriginia-type peanut varieties. 

here are four new peanut varieties released for growers. However, there will be limited seed available for each variety. The varieties were developed through the breeding programs at the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service and the International Peanut Group.

DG 913

FloRun™ '725'

Georgia-24NHO

DG 913 is a medium-maturing, normal-oleic, runner-type variety with excellent yield and grade potential, adapted for the U.S. Southeast, Mid-South, and Virginia-Carolina regions. DG 913 has moderate resistance to TSWV and late leaf spot and reaches optimal harvest maturity in approximately 135-145 days after planting. In small-plot and on-farm evaluations in the Southeastern U.S. in 2020-2025, DG 913 exhibited significantly lower TSWV incidence than Georgia-06G and reached harvest maturity approximately 7-10 days sooner. It was released under utility patent in 2023 by International Peanut Group as 'IPG 913' and is being marketed as 'DG 913' or 'Dyna-Gro 913'. Seed is commercially available.

FloRun™ '725' is a high oleic, disease resistant cultivar with medium runner seed size, excellent grades and pod yields. Like Arnie, it has new genetics for resistance to TSWV which significantly minimizes risk of TSWV in early planting and in other high-risk scenarios. FoRun™ '725' can be planted prior to May 1 with minimal risk of TSWV. In addition, FoRun™ '725' has among the best resistance to white mold and late leaf spot which makes it similar to the white mold and leaf spot resistant cultivar Georgia-12Y. However, FoRun™ '725' is medium maturity not late maturity like Georgia-12Y. It was released by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, North Florida Research and Education Center near Marianna, Florida.

Georgia-24NHO is a new high-yielding, verh high-oleic, TSWV-resistant and Root-knot nematode resistant, runner-type peanut variety that was released in 2024 by the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was developed at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia.

Georgia-24NHO has a lower total disease incidence and a significantly higher pod yield compared to the Georgia-14N in Georgia. It also has a higher percentage of fancy pods and a higher percentage of jumbo seed size compared to Georgia-14N. Georgia-24NHO combines high yield and dollar values with high TSWV-resistance and RKN-resistance in a large-seeded, very high-oleic, runnertype peanut variety.

TifTB is a a high-yielding, high-oleic variety that was jointly released by the USDA-ARS and the University of Georgia. It has excellent resistance to white mold and TSWV. TifTB exhibited very good pod yield in all Tifton, Alabama, and Georgia multilocation variety trials (Tested as experimental line 17-223). Grades were at or near the top for all variety comparisons. TifTB is a runner market-type with seed size slightly smaller than Georgia-06G and slightly larger than Georgia12Y. It is a medium maturity peanut, similar to Georgia-06G.

TifTB

Scan the QR Codes with your phone to view Official State Peanut Variety Data online.

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Mississippi

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 17

VARIETY GUIDEBOOK

T

New peanut varieties

Health Nut Club Tour College Tour Highlights Benefits on Eating Peanuts

T

his past fall, the National Peanut Board hit the road to inspire Gen Z to fuel their lives with peanuts—America’s sustainable superfood. Over 4,000 miles traveled across the south and six major universities later, NPB connected with 150K+ students through interactive experiences, peanut-packed Fuel Boxes, and educational fun.

At each event, students were able to sample trendy peanut dishes, grab merch, and compete in peanutthemed challenges.

The tour visited four college campuses across the Southeast including Auburn University, Clemson University, University of Florida and University of Georgia.

• Auburn University (Sept. 23–24): A hundred-student line formed at The Edge dining hall, where NPB board member Thomas Adams and Libbie Johnson from the Alabama Peanut Producers educated students.

Auburn University

University of Florida

by National Peanut Board Auburn officials were so impressed, they invited the team back for spring events, and after two stops, social media was a buzz as other campuses were on the lookout for their tour stop!

• University of Georgia (Sept.

30–Oct. 1): Myers Quad, fresh off a College Gameday visit, became peanut central. Don Koehler from the Georgia Peanut Commission and Leslie Wagner from the Southern Peanut Growers encouraged students to make Georgia Peanuts their go-to snack.

• Clemson University (Oct. 7–8): Vickery Hall’s courtyard buzzed with activity between seven dorms and campus pathways. Neal Baxley, NPB board member, along with Katherine Helms and Mary Catherine Harrington from the South Carolina Peanut Board joined to share the peanut story.

• University of Florida (Oct. 21–22): The final stop at Reitz Union

Clemson University

University of Georgia

18 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

The Health Nut Club van visited six campuses this past fall to encourage wellness and healthy eating while promoting peanuts to Gen Z consumers.

North Lawn featured a full peanut neighborhood of activities. Brittany Green represented Florida Peanut Producers Association with an amazing display, and more than 15 UF Dining leaders and chefs helped wrap the tour with a bang.

"The Health Nut Campus Club event provided a great opportunity to educate students and staff about the nutritional benefits of peanuts and connect them with the farmers who grow them," says Brittany Green, executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association.

In addition to the four state campus visits in the Southeast, the National Peanut Board also visited Texas A&M University in September and North Carolina State University in October. The Planters Peanutter Mobile teamed up at some of the events and Mr. Peanut even took a shot at the Fuel Zone leaderboard!

The Fuel Boxes were the social hit of the tour and showcased peanut versatility, filled with 15 peanut products.

The National Peanut Board would like to thank the state peanut associations and campus ambassadors who made the tour unforgettable, educating students that peanuts are grown in the USA, harvested from the earth, and celebrated for their sustainability. 

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 19

Georgia Peanut Commission announces hiring of Taylor Arnold as executive director

T

he Georgia Peanut Commission is pleased to announce the hiring of Taylor Arnold as its new executive director, succeeding longtime director Don Koehler, who is retiring after more than four decades of dedicated service to Georgia’s peanut industry.

Arnold joins the commission with an extensive background in agricultural leadership, farm program administration, and on-the-ground experience in production agriculture.

Since 2017, he has served as County Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Worth County, where he managed county office operations, supervised staff, and oversaw the implementation of key federal programs supporting farmers. In this role, Arnold directed programs including the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage, Conservation Reserve Program, Livestock Forage Program, and multiple disaster assistance initiatives. He also chaired the District Payment Eligibility and Limitation Review team, ensuring compliance and accuracy across the region.

Arnold holds a Bachelor of

By Joy Crosby

Business Administration in Accounting from Mercer University, where he served as president and vice president of his fraternity, director of judicial affairs for the Interfraternity Council, and volunteered extensively with IRS VITA and Relay for Life.

“We are excited to welcome Taylor Arnold as the next executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission,” says Joe Boddiford, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission Board. “Taylor’s passion for agriculture, strategic vision, and proven leadership make him the ideal person to guide the commission into its next chapter. We are confident he will continue building on the strong foundation established under Don Koehler’s leadership.”

Arnold expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to serve Georgia’s peanut farmers.

“I am honored to join the Georgia Peanut Commission and work on behalf of the growers who make Georgia the nation’s leading peanut-producing state,” Arnold says. “I look forward to continuing the commission’s commitment to research, innovation, and industry collaboration.

Don Koehler’s impact on this industry

Taylor Arnold

is immeasurable, and I am grateful to follow in his footsteps.”

Koehler, who has served as executive director since 1986, leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, partnership building and significant growth in Georgia’s peanut sector. His leadership helped position Georgia as a global leader in peanut production, research and quality.

Arnold will begin as executive director at the commission on Jan. 1, 2026. Koehler will serve as senior executive director until his retirement on July 31, 2026. 

Georgia Research Report Day Set for Feb. 4

T

he Georgia Peanut Commission will hold the annual Research Report Day, Feb. 4, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL), located on the University of Georgia Tifton campus at 2360 Rainwater Road, Tifton, Georgia 31793. The event provides growers and industry representatives an opportunity to hear the latest reports and newest information available on peanut research projects funded by GPC in 2025.

"The commission works to wisely invest peanut farmers' dollars into research projects across Georgia in an effort to reduce production input costs and improve agronomic techniques," says Donald Chase, GPC Research Committee chairman.

"Although some of the findings are preliminary, the projects are exciting, and many times new recommendations or observations are announced."

during 2025. This effort funds 40 research projects from the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Kennesaw State University, North Carolina State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The research programs primarily focus on peanut breeding, conservation methods, irrigation and water management, as well as pests, weed and disease management.

GPC awarded $769,129 to peanut research facilities in the state

GPC Research Reports will be available online at gapeanuts.com. 

20 Southeastern Peanut Farmer | Jan./Feb. 2026

Mpga annual meeting set for Feb. 11, 2026 The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association plan to hold their 21st annual meeting and trade show Feb. 11, 2026, at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The event provides growers with the latest information on peanut production, research and new products.

Growers will have the opportunity to visit with several exhibitors showcasing equipment and services for the peanut industry. Speakers during the annual meeting will provide an update on peanut varieties, agronomic practices, peanut market outlook for 2026, weed and insect research in Mississippi peanuts.

Growers will also hear reports on checkoff activities of MPGA and the National Peanut Board.

For more information visit www. misspeanuts.com. 

Feb. 11, 2026 Lake Terrace Convention Center 1 Convention Center Plaza Hattiesburg, Mississippi 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For More Information, contact:

Malcolm Broome, Executive Director Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (601) 606-3547 or malcolm@misspeanuts.com www.misspeanuts.com

Sustainable U.S. Peanuts enrollment open through April

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U.S. peanuts in global markets where sustainability matters more than ever," says Allie Randell, APC director of sustainability.

Through robust data collection and benchmarking, SUSP offers participants key insights into resource use efficiency—from water and fertilizer to energy and land management. By adopting sustainable practices and sharing performance metrics, growers are positioning the U.S. peanut industry to meet the evolving demands of global food manufacturers, retailers and consumers.

Sustainable U.S. Peanuts is an industry-wide effort to support America's peanut growers in implementing and documenting sustainable farming practices.

Designed to help meet rising marketplace expectations, increase demand for U.S.-grown peanuts and ensure the long-term economic viability of peanut farming, SUSP provides growers with tools and insights to measure and improve the efficiency of their operations.

Growers can enroll now through the end of April at sustainableuspeanuts.org. 

he American Peanut Council is currently taking grower enrollments for the Sustainable U.S. Peanuts' (SUSP) 2025 crop.

Growers can enroll now through April 2026 at SustainableUSPeanuts.org.

Now in its fifth year, SUSP has grown from a bold idea into a robust, grower-driven sustainability platform that continues to elevate the entire peanut industry.

During the 2024 crop year, SUSP achieved its highest levels of grower participation to date with 326 peanut growers enrolled, representing 166,338 acres across 12 states. That accounts for 9.2 percent of total U.S. peanut acreage, marking the strongest engagement since the program's inception.

"Last year's record participation in Sustainable U.S. Peanuts reflects the incredible dedication of our growers and the strong support from partners across the supply chain to promote

Now entering its fifth year, SUSP is moving into its next phase with an ambitious goal: to reach 13 percent of total U.S. peanut acreage by 2026.

Achieving this milestone will allow the initiative to credibly represent the broader peanut industry to buyers and consumers who are increasingly seeking verifiable sustainability commitments.

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 21

Alabama Peanut Producers Association hires Flowers and Woods

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he Alabama Peanut Producers Association welcomed two new staff members at the beginning of November. Morgan Flowers and Peyton Woods will help guide the association's marketing and communications efforts.

As marketing and communications manager, Flowers will develop and coordinate educational and promotional events throughout the state. She will also work with regional and national partners to advocate for the protein-packed legume.

Flowers brings a wealth of agricultural and communications knowledge to the association, says APPA Executive Director Libbie Johnson.

"Morgan's passion for agriculture and her strong background in communications make her a perfect fit for this role," Johnson says. "Her experience working directly with farmers and her understanding of Alabama agriculture will help strengthen our outreach and tell the incredible story of our peanut producers across the state."

Flowers resides on her family's cattle operation in Pike County, Alabama, where she and husband Shawn are the fourth generation.

Since 2018, Flowers has worked with farmers in Alabama and Tennessee telling their stories through magazine publications, social media marketing, and digital marketing.

Flowers is a 2018 Auburn University College of Agriculture graduate

with an agricultural communications degree.

"I have always known about the association," Flowers says.

"Growing up in the Wiregrass, I know the importance of peanuts and agriculture. I am proud to be serving over 900 peanut producers in this new role."

"I'm so excited to work for this organization," Woods says. "I'm thankful I have the opportunity to combine my two passions of agriculture and creativity to better serve the peanut producers of Alabama." 

Georgia native, Woods will serve APPA as the part-time social media coordinator where she'll work to connect consumers with the people, places, and stories behind Alabama's peanuts through creative social media content.

Woods is a 2025 agricultural communications graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia.

"Peyton is an energetic leader who brings new tools to the staff," Johnson says. “She brings fresh creativity and energy to our communications team. Peyton's agricultural foundation and enthusiasm for connecting consumers to farmers through social media will be a great asset as we continue to share the value of Alabama peanuts."

Morgan Flowers

Woods and husband, Whit, reside in Headland, Alabama.

Woods was a leader while at ABAC. She was an officer in the Agripreneurs Club as well as Young Farmers & Ranchers. She also spent her time as a leader for Tifton Younglife, a Christian-based organization for high schoolers.

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Peyton Woods

Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show set for jan. 29

by Morgan Flowers

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he Alabama Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Producers Association will host the annual Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show on Jan. 29, 2026, at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds.

This grower-focused event brings together trusted manufacturers, research-backed products, and new technologies that can help producers fine-tune efficiency, protect yield, and improve overall profitability.

The trade show floor opens at 8:30 a.m., giving farmers ample time to compare equipment, evaluate input options, and visit with industry partners who understand the real production issues facing Southeastern growers—from disease pressure and digging challenges to rising input

and marketing efforts that directly influence peanut demand, prices, and farm-level decisions.

Farmers can learn more about peanut research from Auburn University and the University of Florida during the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show set for Jan. 29, 2026.

costs. Lunch will be served at noon.

During lunch, producers will receive timely updates on federal and state legislative issues from Bob Redding with The Redding Firm, along with a promotions update from the National Peanut Board. These insights help growers track policy matters

To close out the day, attendees will have the chance to win several prizes, including the grand prize—$5,000 toward a piece of KMC equipment or parts, sponsored by Kelley Manufacturing Company.

Alabama and Florida peanut farmers are encouraged to attend, connect with fellow producers, and gather information that supports sound, on-farm decision making.

For details on attending or exhibiting, visit alpeanuts.com or contact the APPA office at 334-7926482 or the FFPA office at 850-5262277. 

January 29, 2026 National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds Dothan, Alabama

Registration/Trade Show 8:30 a.m.

Door Prizes Catered Lunch More than 60 exhibitors For more information contact: Alabama Peanut Producers Assn.

Ph. 334-792-6482 www.alpeanuts.com

Florida Peanut Producers Assn.

Ph. 850-526-2590 www.flpeanuts.com

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 23

Powerful Peanut experience launches at Georgia National Fair New Peanut Exhibit Dedicated to Don Koehler

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n 2025, Georgia's Rural Center teamed up with the Georgia Peanut Commission to bring Georgia National Fair attendees another immersive exhibit: the Powerful Peanut Experience. Georgia Grown and the Georgia Department of Agriculture showcased the power and sustainability of peanuts, Georgia's official state crop during the Georgia National Fair, Oct. 2-12, 2025, in Perry, Georgia.

Nearly 500,000 visitors explore the reimagined Georgia Grown Building at the Georgia National Fair annually, which feature the Powerful Peanut Experience, Seedlings to Solutions Experience, highlighting forestry and the Seed to Shirt cotton exhibit.

During opening day of the Georgia National Fair, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Georgia's Rural Center held a ribbon cutting for the new Powerful Peanut Experience.

During the ceremony, Joe Boddiford, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission, announced a special dedication of the exhibit to Don Koehler, GPC executive director, for his 40 years of service to the peanut industry.

"We are thrilled to recognize Don's 40 years of service to the Georgia peanut industry and dedicate this new exhibit in his honor," Boddiford says. "The impact Don has made on the peanut industry will be felt for generations to come."

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Grown continue to enhance their signature building by highlighting peanuts at the 36th Georgia National Fair.

Peanuts are a $2 billion industry in Georgia, and in 2024, the state produced around 50 percent of the

Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director, cuts the ribbon for the new Powerful Peanut Experience immersive exhibit at opening day of the Georgia National Fair in 2025.

peanuts grown in the U.S. Peanuts have supported rural communities for generations and are grown in 78 out of the 159 counties in Georgia. They are a sustainable crop and a nutrient-rich source of protein, making them an excellent staple for a balanced diet.

While peanuts and agriculture do support rural areas, these communities face unique challenges. Georgia's Rural Center was created in 2018 to build healthy, vibrant rural Georgia communities through collaborative partnerships-partnerships that help Georgians in every corner of the state and address these challenges of all types. Additionally, Georgia's Rural Center works to rediscover all that is unique and extraordinary in the state's less populated areas. With the passage of HB 495 during the 2025 Georgia Legislative Session, the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation moved to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

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"Georgia's Rural Center continues its mission to rediscover rural Georgia and support the communities in the state's rural areas through impactful projects like this exhibit as a branch of the Georgia Department of Agriculture," says Charlie Fiveash, director of Georgia's Rural Center.

Through its partnership with the Georgia Peanut Commission, The Center showcases the importance of peanuts to Georgia's agribusiness.

This encounter takes patrons beneath the soil to learn about the history, the growing and harvesting process, nutrition, sustainability and incorporating peanuts into a healthy diet. Since 1961, the Georgia Peanut Commission has promoted and provided research and education for Georgia's Peanut industry.

"We're truly excited about the opportunity to give people a deeper look into the world of peanuts—from start to finish. This exhibit is something

special, and we're grateful for all the hard work that went into making it happen. Our main goal is for visitors to walk away knowing more about peanuts than when they arrived – and to be inspired to share what they've learned with others. We want everyone to see just how incredible this industry really is and its impact in Georgia," says Don Koehler, executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission.

Once inside the exhibit, visitors will step beneath towering 3D peanut plants and experience firsthand how peanuts are grown. The journey begins with the foundation of the peanut industry, exploring why peanuts are such a unique plant and food source, and the role key historical figures played in their rise. Next, visitors can follow the peanut's growing cycle, from ideal climates and farming stages to the different peanut varieties and their sustainability story. The final section celebrates peanuts as a food, highlighting the history of peanut butter and how peanuts fuel a healthy lifestyle. Just outside, visitors can also explore an iconic peanut wagon for an added hands-on experience.

In remembrance of Joan Underwood

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oan Sutton Underwood, 82, a cherished member of the community, passed away on Dec. 2, 2025, at Legacy Village in Tifton, Georgia. Born on April 1, 1943, in Scooterville, Georgia, Underwood's life journey took her from the fields of Scooterville, where she developed a strong work ethic on her family's farm, to a successful career as the advertising manager for the Georgia Peanut Commission and the Southeastern Peanut Farmer.

Joan Underwood In 2012, Underwood was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award from the Georgia Peanut Commission for her 40 years of dedicated service. She dedicated many years promoting peanuts to consumers and helping companies advertise their products and services to farmers through the Southeastern Peanut Farmer publication.

Underwood was not only dedicated to her career, but she was also profoundly devoted to her family. Underwood possessed a remarkable ability to connect with others and she enjoyed providing care to those in need. Known for her beautiful smile, her warmth made everyone feel special. Her philosophy was simple yet profound: "keep laughing and keep moving." An avid fan of rock and roll music, Underwood's spirit of adventure and her love for travel reflected her zest for life. She was known to many affectionately as "JoanMa," a testament to her nurturing nature and the love she imparted to those around her.

Underwood was a proud graduate of Worth County High School and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Her contributions to her profession and her loving personality made her a beloved figure in her community. 

"We're thrilled to bring another exciting exhibit that features one of our state's most famous crops and helps tell the story of Georgia agriculture – the Powerful Peanut Experience – to the Georgia Grown Building at the 2025 Georgia National Fair. Together with the Seed to Shirt Cotton Exhibit and the Seedlings to Solutions Forestry Exhibit, visiting the Georgia Grown building will be an awesome opportunity for fairgoers to experience our state's #1 industry firsthand," says Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

Georgia's Rural Center, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Grown, the Georgia Peanut Commission, the Georgia Forestry Commission and Magnolia Loom invite consumers to experience Georgia's tasty peanut industry, its working forests and the journey of a seed to a 100% American-made, Georgia-grown cotton t-shirt while visiting the Georgia National Fair annually in October. The exhibit is located inside the Georgia Grown Building at the fairgrounds.  Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 25

National Peanut Board Officers elected

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Board Nomination Meetings Set for Alabama, Florida and Mississippi

he National Peanut Board held its last meeting of 2025, Dec. 9-11, in Washington, D.C. The Board approved a new slate of officers for a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Neal Baxley, a peanut farmer from Mullins, South Carolina, was elected chairman of the National Peanut Board during the quarterly meeting. Last year, Baxley served as vice chairman.

Casey Cox Kerr of Camilla, Georgia is the immediate past chairman and will continue to serve on the board as Georgia's member through Dec. 31, 2027.

Also, the National Peanut Board elected Jeff Roper of Lubbock, Texas, as vice chairman; Thomas Adams of Newville, Alabama, as treasurer; and Westley Drake of Newsoms, Virginia as secretary.

In addition to officer elections, the board approved a new National Peanut Board logo designed to

select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board.

align with the new brand platform launching in 2026. The updated logo reflects a modern, unified visual identity that supports the Board's strategic priorities, including increased relevance with younger consumers, strengthened storytelling and clearer alignment across grower, industry and consumer communications. The next meeting of the National Peanut Board will be held March 2-4, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Alabama, Florida and Mississippi seeks NPB board nominees The Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association are seeking eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. All organizations will

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association will hold a nominations election in the Volunteer Building on Jan. 29, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. during the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, Dothan, Alabama.

The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association will hold a nominations election on Feb. 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The Florida Peanut Producers Association will hold a nominations election on Feb. 26, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Jackson County Agricultural Complex in Marianna, Florida.

USDA requires two nominees from each state for each position of member and alternate. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture makes the final appointments. 

Peanut Buying Points Winter Conference set for February The National Peanut Buying Points Winter Conference is set for Feb. 12-15, 2026, at The Galt House, Louisville, Kentucky.

The 2025 conference theme is "From Setback to Comeback: The Power of the Peanut Industry." All buying points, shellers and industry associates are invited to attend.

The program will kick off on Thursday night with a President's Welcome Reception. Educational sessions will be held on Friday and Saturday mornings. There will be a Prayer Breakfast on Saturday morning. The Great Cash Giveaway Reception and Auction will be held Saturday evening.

Registration is available on the NPBPA website at peanutbuyingpoints.org. For more information or to obtain a registration form, email Angela Elder at spearmanagency@friendlycity.net. 

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50th Annual Membership Meeting February 26, 2026 Jackson County Agricultural Complex & Conference Center 2741 Penn. Ave., Marianna, Florida Registration begins at 6:00 p.m. (CST) Dinner at 6:30 p.m. (CST)

For More Information: Phone: 850-526-2590 www.FLpeanuts.com

Mental Health & Wellness Eat What We Grow

A Simple Prescription for Heart Health

By Lisa M. Renzi Hammond Institute of Gerontology | College of Public Health University of Georgia

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ebruary is a month of strong feelings. I watch the ground and underbrush, feeling hopeful that my goats will soon have fresh forage.

I start my seeds, anxiously awaiting good garden weather. Yet just as spring arrives, work at home intensifies while my other job—as a University of Georgia public health professor— reaches its most demanding point.

Late winter is when my health is often at its worst, precisely when I need to be at my best.

"I spend entirely too much time working on my health," said no grower ever. Yet growers, including Southeastern farmers, continue to live with and die prematurely from preventable diseases, like heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the Southeast. Poor heart health also contributes to cognitive decline. Luckily, one of the simplest ways to support both heart and brain health is also one of the most practical: eating what we grow.

A large study spanning 119 countries found that reducing sodium—largely by cutting back on those unhealthier convenience foods —could prevent nearly three million deaths each year, most from heart disease. Lower sodium intake could also restore roughly 70 million disability-adjusted life years: time spent living well rather than sick.

Eating more fruits and vegetables could prevent another two million deaths and add back approximately 65 million healthy years.

This is where Southern-grown foods shine. For example, peanuts

are rich in healthy fats that support heart and brain health and help regulate blood sugar. Pecans provide B vitamins essential for brain function. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants that protect our cells from damage. Poultry is an excellent protein source, and potassium-rich peaches help regulate blood pressure.

The larger point is simple: when we eat what we grow, our hearts and brains benefit.

Of course, making big diet changes can feel easier said than done. Dietary change rarely happens overnight. Taste is shaped less by our tongues than by our brains, where flavors mix with memories and emotions. Our food preferences are learned, deeply personal, and therefore difficult to change.

That's why small swaps matter.

Imagine replacing just one packaged,

high-sodium food each day with one Georgia-grown commodity. On its own, the change may feel modest.

Over time, repeated day after day and year after year, research shows that these small substitutions can lower blood pressure and support long-term heart and brain health.

So this February, I feel confident that my decision to swap butter for Georgia-grown peanut butter on my morning toast will help make my longer spring days healthier—and more productive. And I call on all of you to do the same. Pick one less healthy food, swap it for your favorite Southeastern-grown commodity, and reap the benefits. 

Healthy Tips for 2026 1. Swap one less nutritious food for a locally grown commodity every day.

2. Remember that what affects the heart affects the brain heart health is brain health.

3. A strong heart and a strong brain produce better mental health and less stress.

4. Eating fresh, local commodities is one of the simplest strategies for boosting heart, brain, and mental health.

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 27

Washington Outlook

By Robert L. Redding Jr.

President Trump Announces Agricultural Economic Assistance Program On Dec. 8, 2025, President Trump announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program - a new agricultural economic assistance package, totaling $11 billion for row crop producers, including peanuts.

U.S. peanut growers have continued to struggle with high costs of production, low commodity prices, and recent natural disasters.

The United States Peanut Federation grateful to President Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for their continued attention to the success of rural America's producers.

For the peanut industry, this announcement strengthens the farm safety net and provides confidence for producers to continue their farming operations. USDA Secretary Rollins noted that producers will have payment rates by the end of 2025 and will be able to provide this information for lending purposes as growers enter the new crop year.

"Following years of financial strain for peanut farmers, we are grateful for the efforts made by the Trump Administration to identify options for relief. This new economic assistance package will ensure our industry can continue to operate under a struggling farm economy. We are thankful to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for listening to the voices of production agriculture and prioritizing the success and sustainability of our industries," says Jamie Brown, U.S. Peanut Federation chairman.

"Peanut growers have remained steadfast in their operations over the past few years, even while facing challenging economic conditions at the farm level. We are grateful to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for their leadership in securing this economic assistance and their continued advocacy for rural America.

This announcement provides hope to U.S. peanut growers as they prepare to enter the next crop year,"

says Joe Boddiford, Georgia Peanut Commission chairman.

As of Dec. 11, 2025, the following details had been released by USDA: • the payment rate will apply to 2025 planted acres; • a $155,000 payment limit applies; • a $900,000 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) test applies; • for growers who double crop, both crops will be eligible for payments.

To be eligible for this program, growers must have filed their acreage report and ensured that their farm data was up to date with their local county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by Dec. 19, 2025. Farmers can expect to receive payments as early as February 28, 2026.

U.S. Peanut Federation Submits Comments on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) On Nov. 3, the U.S. Peanut Federation submitted comments to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer regarding the upcoming United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) review process in 2026. The comments highlighted the U.S. peanut industry’s support for the USMCA, and the importance of maintaining strong trade relationships with Mexico and Canada.

The comments included: "Canada and Mexico are the largest export markets for U.S. peanuts and peanut products, accounting for 53 percent, or $479 million, of total U.S. peanut and peanut product global exports. When comparing the 2003 marketing year to the 2024 marketing year for peanut trade between the

U.S. and Mexico, the U.S. peanut trade value increased by approximately $241 million which is an annual growth rate of 1.80 percent. Looking at the same time period for peanut trade between the U.S. and Canada, the U.S. peanut value increased by approximately $179 million, or an annual growth rate of 1.78 percent."

"Maintaining our trade relationships with Mexico and Canada under the USMCA is an important factor for the U.S. peanut industry's viability when competing with lowercost third country suppliers. Some of the peanut industry's export markets have declined in volume, such as the European Union due to their continued non-tariff trade barrier for U.S. peanuts, therefore the increase and

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sustainability of U.S. peanut exports to Mexico and Canada are vital to our industry."

"In addition, USMCA chapters related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs facilitation and other matters provide an important rules-based foundation for U.S. peanut exports in the global marketplace. As a key factor to providing market stability and predictability for the U.S. peanut industry, USPF fully supports the uninterrupted continuation and the term extension of the USMCA. We appreciate your efforts to improve U.S. trade relations with our top export markets like Mexico and Canada."

FY26 Appropriations and Farm Bill Update On Nov. 12, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law a temporary funding bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that will fund federal programs and services through Jan. 30, 2026, and provide funding through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) for programs covered under the Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations bills. This CR also

extends Farm Bill funding and programs that were not included in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) until Sept. 30, 2026.

Peanut-specific provisions included in the FY26 Agriculture Appropriations bill are $3 million for peanut nutrition research—an increase of $1 million from FY25—and $4 million for peanut aflatoxin research.

USPF Signs Agricultural Economic Assistance Letter On Oct. 6, the U.S. Peanut Federation joined over 200 agriculture industry organizations in sending a letter to President Trump, expressing the need for assistance to agriculture producers, to bridge the gap between the current crop year and the new provisions from H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to be implemented.

This letter was also signed by the Georgia Peanut Commission, Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, South Carolina Peanut Board, and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association.

USDA Launches New Regenerative Pilot Program to Lower Farmer Production Costs The U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently announced a new $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program to incentivize U.S. farmers to implement practices that strengthen soil health, improve water quality, and enhance long-term productivity.

USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation

Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund this first year of regenerative agriculture projects.

Farmers interested in participating are encouraged to apply through their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Center by their state’s ranking dates for consideration in FY2026 funding. Applications for both EQIP and CSP can now be submitted under the new single regenerative application process.

U.S. Senate Nomination Hearing for USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator On Oct. 29, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a nomination hearing for Dr. Julie Callahan to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Dr. Callahan currently serves as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy.

The U.S. Peanut Federation previously signed a letter with other

agricultural organizations to U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, supporting the nomination of Dr. Callahan for the position.

On Nov. 19, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee advanced the nomination of Dr. Callahan by a 17-10 vote. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on final approval of the nomination soon.

U.S. Peanut Federation Responds to the U.S. Trade Representative’s Request for Comments on Trade Barriers On Oct. 30, the U.S. Peanut Federation submitted comments to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in response to a request for information relative to significant foreign trade barriers and the effectiveness of trade agreements.

The USPF comments highlighted the U.S. peanut industry’s trade relationship with the European Union (EU) and concerns about non-tariff trade barriers and aflatoxin regulations.

The comments included: "Despite ... data showing that the percentage of loads rejected at EU ports for failing to meet the aflatoxin requirements has decreased, U.S. peanuts going into the EU are still sampled at the 20 percent rate. The major competitors to U.S. peanuts in the EU are Argentina, Brazil, and China. All of these countries' peanuts are inspected at much lower rates – Brazil and China at 10 percent and Argentina at 5 percent. This disparity puts U.S. peanuts at a significant competitive disadvantage over our export competitors."

"Our request is that U.S. peanuts be inspected at a much lower rate, one that is comparable to that of our export competitors, with the goal of re-obtaining Pre-Export Certification in the EU. This would level the playing field for U.S. peanuts exported to the EU. We greatly appreciate USTR investigating this issue on behalf of the U.S. peanut industry. The U.S. peanut industry is resilient and has proven to be innovative throughout its history. We look forward to working with USTR on this issue with the goal of fair-trade practices in the EU market."

Jan./Feb. 2026 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 29

1025 Sugar Pike Way · Canton, Georgia 30115 |(770) 751-6615 | lpwagner@comcast.net

National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences Georgia Peanut Dinner at Atlanta Botanical Garden Southern Peanut Growers exhibited at the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in Grand Rapids, Mich. Oct. 21—22. More than 700 family and consumer science extension agents and teachers were in attendance at the meeting. Middle and high school FACS teachers teach classes like culinary, food & nutrition sciences, and early childhood development.

We distributed recipe brochures, nutrition materials, food allergy prevention and management materials, peanuts and peanut butter spreaders. We also provided QR code cards where teachers and agents can download free curriculum and request a customized PB Kit for their programming.

Since this meeting, SPG has fulfilled requests for PB Kits for Central State University in Ohio, Coweta County Extension in Georgia, University of Arkansas Extension, LSU

Atlanta Botanical Garden’s final Georgia Grown dinner of the season was all about peanuts! The evening featured Georgia Grown Chef Jamie Keating, EPIC Restaurants in Columbus, Ga., in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers, talked to the group about peanuts and answered questions between courses.

Victoria Presnal (left) and Olivia Handley (right) received the Community Partnership award for the Empowering Parenthood Expo.

AgCenter, Leslie County Extension in Kentucky, Anaheim Public Library in California, Dunn County Health Department in Kentucky, Perry County Cooperative Extension in Kentucky, Lee County Extension in Kentucky, Hodgenville Extension in Kentucky, Decatur County Extension in Tennessee, and Letcher County Extension in Kentucky.

Peanut Butter Lover's Month Recipe Contest The Peanut Butter Lovers Month Recipe Contest was a big win for PeanutButterLovers.com! The contest opened on November 1 seeking the best peanut butter recipes in the following categories: Breakfast, Appetizer, Main, Dessert, and Gift Giving. There were 27 recipe submissions that advanced to the fan voting stage from November 11 – 21. And the winners are: Breakfast: PB Crunch Cinnamon Rolls by Lori in Texas Appetizer: Crockpot Peanut Butter Satay Meatballs

by Donna-Marie in Massachusetts

PB Crunch Cinnamon Rolls

Main: Peanut Butter Bacon Grilled Chicken Tender Ramen Bowls by Marie in Florida Dessert: No Bake Peanut Butter Cafeteria Bars by Clark in Georgia

Gift Giving: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pretzel Rods by Suzy in Georgia More than 20,000 people viewed some portion of the contest on Facebook with nearly 5,000 content interactions. More than 1,800 people viewed some portion of the contest in Instagram.

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Georgia Grown Chef Jamie Keating, EPIC Restaurants in Columbus, Ga., presents peanut recipes during a Georgia Grown dinner.

The meal began with a Georgia Peanut Hummus and sweet potato chips. The second course was an Heirloom Pumpkin and Shrimp Carpaccio with a Toasted Peanut Vinaigrette. The entrée was a roasted peanut crusted pork tenderloin.

Dessert was a Pumpkin Crème Brule with a Peanut Truffle.

The Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen fosters plant-to-plate connections, provides learning opportunities in seasonal eating and sustainable cultivation, and highlights the important relationships between local chefs and growers.

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