Mississippi Peanut Growers annual meeting and trade show he Mississippi Peanut Growers Association held their annual meeting and trade show Jan. 28-29, 2015, at the Lake Terrace Convention Center, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. More than 100 farmers and industry representatives gathered for the two-day meeting that featured promotional and research reports during the annual meeting, as well as the opportunity for farmers to visit with 35 agricultural businesses in the trade show. Bob Redding, Washington representative for the Georgia Peanut Commission and the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, kicked off the MPGA annual meeting by discussing some of the top issues in Washington, D.C., including immigration reform, appropriations, trade and energy. According to Redding, some of the top priorities for the peanut industry in 2015 are protecting the 2014 Farm Bill, continuing to work with administrators on regulations and implementation, planning for the 2018 Farm Bill, trade and government peanut butter purchases. Redding noted that there has been a significant drop in government peanut butter purchases and the peanut industry needs to work with the government on increasing the amount of purchases. George Hopper, dean of the Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, spoke to the group regarding the university and Mississippi agriculture. According to Hopper, Mississippi agriculture and forestry production farm gate value totals $7.9 billion and provides $17.2 billion in value added to the Mississippi economy. More than one-fourth of all jobs in
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Jason Ward, Mississippi State University Extension agricultural engineer, discusses research on yield monitor systems to attendees at the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show held Jan. 28-29, 2015, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Mississippi are directly related to agriculture and forestry. According to Hopper, MSU is going to make a specific emphasis on precision agriculture in the next few years. “There are lots of questions to answer,” Hopper says. “Precision Ag is about doing the right thing at the right time and place.” He continues by stating, precision agriculture is not new but the technology is continuing to advance and it’s important for the next generation of leaders to understand all that’s available for them. Additional speakers during the annual meeting presented information on peanut diseases, weeds, irrigation, yield monitor systems, varieties, insect management, market outlook and wild hog control.
Growers also heard updates from Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture, as well as, reports on the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, Southern Peanut Growers and the National Peanut Board. During the annual meeting of the association, new board members were elected to serve on the MPGA board. The board members elected include Joe Morgan, president; Lonnie Fortner, vice president; District 3 representative Alan Atkins; District 4 representative Daniel Parrish; and At Large members Corley Moses, Bernard Jones and Steve Seward. For more info on the MPGA visit misspeanuts.com. t BY JOY CROSBY
Premium Peanut shelling plant going up in Georgia Premium Peanut, LLC was formed in fall of 2014 to provide a market for peanut growers in south Georgia. Premium Peanut is grower owned and is committed to delivering the very best peanut possible. Premium Peanut, LLC has begun construction on a new ultra-modern peanut shelling facility to be complete
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before harvest 2015. The shelling plant will be an LMC plant. Originating from the rural peanut farms of South Georgia, LMC has become the world leader in peanut shellers and equipment for the peanut shelling process. LMC equipment is responsible for shelling 90 percent of the commercial peanut market. The owners of seven buying points in
Southeastern Peanut Farmer March 2015
Coffee, Jeff Davis, Berrien, Irwin and Appling Counties formed Premium Peanut. Using modern shelling equipment, the plant is expected to begin with 110,000 tons from the 2015 crop and grow to 140,000 tons in its first three years. For additional information visit their website at premiumpeanutllc.com. t