October/November 2019 - Southeastern Peanut Farmer

NATIONAL PEANUT RESEARCH LAB 50 years of research A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Contents October/November 2019

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Joy Carter Crosby Editor joycrosby@gapeanuts.com 229-386-3690

Fifty years ago citizens and community leaders joined together to unite and secure the location of the National Peanut Research Lab in Dawson, Georgia. Today, the lab is celebrating fifty years of research which benefits the entire peanut industry.

Director of Advertising Jessie Bland jessie@gapeanuts.com Contributing Writers Kaye Lynn Hataway klhataway@alpeanuts.com

Southeastern Peanut Farmer P.O. Box 706, Tifton, Ga. 31793 445 Fulwood Blvd., Tifton, Ga. 31794 ISSN: 0038-3694

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.)

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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.

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National Peanut Research Lab celebrates 50 years

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Delta Peanut breaks ground on shelling plant in Arkansas Delta Peanut recently held a ceremonial groundbreaking at its 71-acre site in Jonesboro, Arkansas. This is the first peanut shelling plant in the state and represents a $70 million project that will create 130 new jobs.

21 Congressional Staff Tour Visits Peanut Belt in Georgia

The Southern Peanut Farmers Federation hosted twenty-two congressional staff on a tour of the peanut industry in Georgia which included visits to farms, research facilities and industry businesses.

Departments: Checkoff Report .................................................................................. 8 Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

Washington Outlook ............................................................................ 20 Southern Peanut Growers Update ........................................................ 22 Cover Photo: Chris Butts, agricultural engineer at the National Peanut Researcher Lab, and Marshall Lamb, NPRL research leader, discuss storage research at NPRL in Dawson, Georgia.

October/November 2019 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Editorial

Calendar of Events

Destined to Farm ast year I wrote a column titled, “The Resilient Farmer.” I have heard countless speeches throughout the past year where leaders and politicians all mentioned the resilient farmer. However, I’m wondering when is enough, enough or too much to handle. When are the hurricanes too much, the drought too much, the flooding too much, the wildfires too much and the early frost and freeze too much? Is it too much for you to handle?

Some farmers may be stretched pretty thin right now and wonder what is going to happen to the family farm while others have a plan in place. Maybe they are downsizing a little or deciding not to purchase new equipment this year. Others may still be trying to settle with insurance and get a roof replaced on their home.

No matter the situation one farmer said it best at the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club awards dinner. When answering my question about what makes them successful at farming, Glen Lee Chase of Oglethorpe, Georgia, says, “First thing, I trust the good Lord. He helps us a lot.”

And, that is particularly true for farmers I have met. When you are relying on the Lord to supply you with the rain you need, the sunshine you need and more, then you have to trust in Him. However, after multiple years of disasters you may feel lost at this moment. You may remember the day that you felt destined for a career on the land, but now wonder if it is really worth it. Is it worth the 80 hours or more a week to work on the farm? Is it worth missing out on family activities because you were planting a crop or harvesting a crop? Only you can answer that question.

However, you know it is worth it when you see your child want to ride in the tractor and watch with wonder and excitement how the equipment works. That’s when you are reminded why you choose this profession. Your mind may race back to the tractor rides you once had as a child with your dad or grandfather.

Today, you are reminded why you love the land so much when you step outside and feel the cool brisk of fall and see a glorious sunset that you know only God can create. Then you catch the smell of freshly dug peanuts or see a field of white snow, which we all know is cotton in the South. You have had a rough few years but you are resilient and by having faith you will continue on doing what is in your blood – farming! t

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Joy Carter Crosby Editor

u Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2019, Caribe Royale Orlando Resort, Fla. For more info visit floridafarmbureau.org. u National Peanut Festival, Nov. 1-10, 2019, Dothan, Ala. For more information visit nationalpeanutfestival.com. u Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Dec. 8-10, 2019, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more info visit gfb.org. u Alabama Farmers Federation Annual Meeting, Dec. 8-9, 2019, Montgomery, Ala. For more info visit alfafarmers.org. u American Peanut Council Winter Meeting, Dec. 11-12, 2019, Washington, D.C. For more info visit peanutsusa.com. u Georgia Peanut Farm Show, Jan. 16, 2020, University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, Ga. For more info visit gapeanuts.com. u American Farm Bureau Convention & Trade Show, Jan. 17-22, 2020, Austin, Texas. For more info visit fb.org. u Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Annual Meeting, Jan. 28-29, 2020, Lake Terrace Convention Center, Hattiesburg, Miss. For more info call 601-606-3547 or visit misspeanuts.com. u Georgia Young Farmers Association Annual Meeting, Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2020, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more information visit gaaged.org/youngfarmers/. u Georgia Peanut Commission Research Report Day, Feb. 5, 2020, National Environmentally Sound Production Laboratory (NESPAL), Tifton, Ga. For more info visit gapeanuts.com. u Alabama/Florida Peanut Trade Show, Feb. 6, 2020, National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, Dothan, Ala. For more info visit alpeanuts.com. u National Peanut Buying Points Association Annual Meeting, Feb. 14-17, 2020, Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville, N.C. For more info visit peanutbuyingpoints.org.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

Photo credit: Elitepix.de

National Peanut Research Lab Celebrates 50 Years of Research ifty years ago, citizens and community leaders in Dawson, Georgia, came together to unite and secure the location of the National Peanut Research Laboratory (NPRL) in their hometown.

The current NPRL research leader, Marshall Lamb, recalls the old saying, “it takes a community . . .” which has been used for many years to describe the collective actions of like-minded citizens to accomplish a goal.

“This saying is certainly true of the citizens and businesses of Dawson and Terrell County, whose actions years ago ultimately decided the location of the USDA, ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory (originally called, Peanut Marketing Laboratory),” Lamb says.

“The history of how the idea for such a

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laboratory was conceived, the struggles to get the laboratory approved, and the decision on where to locate the laboratory are all very interesting.”

The idea originated in 1957 when the National Peanut Council (currently named the American Peanut Council) established the Peanut Improvement Working Group, which developed a formal resolution recommending the establishment of a peanut laboratory to conduct research on peanuts and peanut processing.

This group then formed a Lab Planning Committee with representatives from growers, shellers, manufacturers, and brokers. In 1960, the committee met in Washington with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials to outline the peanut industry’s idea and to seek guidance on what information should be included

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

when approaching Congress with the idea.

The outline was developed into a formal plan that was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of the National Peanut Council in 1960.

Three key Members of Congress were involved: Steve Pace, Elia “Tic” Forrester, and Richard B. Russell. In June 1961, U.S. Senator Richard B. Russell submitted the proposal for a peanut laboratory to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.

In July 1961, Congress passed the bill authorizing funds for the laboratory.

Senator Russell announced Dawson, Georgia, as the location for the facility.

Criticism soon emerged from other peanut production areas about the location of the laboratory. As a result, in October 1962, the U.S. House of Representatives eliminated the money appropriated for the

facility in Georgia. The Senate also agreed to remove the money, and expressed hope that the Department would include the laboratory in the next year’s budget request.

Citizens and businesses of Dawson and Terrell County, Georgia, joined together and offered donations to purchase the 16-acre tract of land where NPRL currently sits. They then deeded the land to the government to establish the laboratory.

This action made the difference, as acknowledged in a letter by Dr. George W. Irving Jr., administrator for the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, addressed to the “Public-Spirited Citizens Who Donated The Building Site for Peanut Research Laboratory” where he stated, “You have had a special role in the development of the laboratory through your civic-minded action in helping make a highly acceptable building site available to the department at no cost. The fact that a building site would be deeded to the department at no cost was of specific interest to the Congress.”

In 1968, ground was broken for the laboratory, and the dedication ceremony took place on November 21, 1969.

Jim Davidson, former lead research engineer at the lab, recalls the initial focus of research on post harvest projects including engineering and aflatoxin research. Eventually, the lab expanded their research project focus on the whole picture of peanut production. Davidson led projects focused on expert systems like Irrigator Pro, which is a scheduling system for managing the timing and amount of irrigation in peanuts.

“NPRL made an impact on improving peanut quality all the way through the peanut industry chain,” Davidson says. “People are conscious about the food they eat, safety and quality of peanuts should be the number one focus of research.”

“We’re excited to be coming up on our 50th anniversary which we will celebrate at the lab in November,” Lamb says. “The event will provide us with an opportunity to look back at a lot of the accomplishments we have had, but also to discuss the future of the lab as well.”

Fifty years of research has created a tremendous amount of technology from the lab that is being used in the industry.

In addition to the Irrigator Pro, NPRL research team developed Whole Farm,

The team of researchers, technicians and support staff at the USDA ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory celebrate 50 years in Dawson, Ga.

which is a planning system with rotation data to help growers make better decisions on what to plant in the field for profit maximization.

Within NPRL’s engineering unit, Chris Butts’ research has focused on both farmer stock storage and shelled stock storage. The research has actually changed the way the industry is storing peanuts to maintain quality throughout storage.

The research focus has also enabled the industry to save energy which helps with the industry’s sustainability footprint.

“By elevating the cold storage temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, shellers can potentially save up to 50 percent of their

electrical cost for maintaining cold storage temperatures,” Butts says.

Just as the community came together to land NPRL at Dawson, NPRL has joined together with Auburn University in peanut breeding research. Through the research collaboration, the groups released their first runner-type cultivar, AU-NPL 17 in 2017.

Additional research projects are focusing on ways to break the aflatoxin synthesis pathway, sustainability and development of a natural defense mechanism so that when a pathogen invades a peanut, the peanut will be stronger and able to resist it better. t

BY JOY CROSBY

National Peanut Research Lab Current Appropriated Projects Enhancing the Competitiveness of U.S. Peanuts and Peanut-based Cropping Systems Ron Sorensen (Research Agronomist) Marshall Lamb (Research Leader) Developing Strategies to Identify Useful Genes in Peanut and Breeding High Yielding Peanut Varieties and Germplasm Renee Arias (Research Pathologist/Molecular Biologist) Phat Dang (Research Biochemist/Molecular Biologist) Postharvest Systems to Assess and Preserve Peanut Quality and Safety Chris Butts (Research Agricultural Engineer) Hank Sheppard (Agricultural Engineer) Joseph McIntyre (Research Agricultural Engineer) Genetics, Population Dynamics, and Mycotoxin Prevention in Peanut Victor Sobolev (Research Chemist) Alicia Massa (Research Geneticist) October/November 2019 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Checkoff Report Investments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry.

Florida Peanut Producers Association presents scholarships to Robinson and Jordan

Florida Peanut Producers Association promotes peanuts at Florida Pediatrics Conference

The Florida Peanut Producers Association continues the tradition of awarding students with scholarships who demonstrate high academic achievement, involvement in community and extracurricular activities and have personal agricultural experience.

“This year’s 12 applicants were all worthy of being awarded our scholarship and it was difficult for the scholarship committee to narrow it down to two individuals,” says Michael Davis, president of the Florida Peanut Producers Association.

The scholarship winners are Ashley Robinson from Williston, Florida, and Cole Jordan from Bascom, Florida.

Ashley Robinson grew up in Williston, Florida, and graduated from Williston High School. She is currently attending the University of Florida studying Agricultural Education and Communication. Ashley is working with AgNet Media as their event coordinator intern where she has helped plan the Citrus, Vegetable and Specialty Ashley Robinson Williston, Fla. Crop Expo and upcoming Florida Ag Expo. Upon graduation, Robinson hopes to be a voice for Florida’s agriculture community.

Cole Jordan graduated from Malone High School and is currently attending Chipola College with plans to transfer to the University of Florida to obtain a Masters Degree in Agri-Business Management and Ag Communications.

Cole Jordan While not studying Jordan continues to Bascom, Fla. help his dad and two uncles on 3-J Farms in Bascom, Florida.

The Florida Peanut Producers Association attended and exhibited at the Florida Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. During the event, FPPA staff shared tips on the Ken Barton, Florida Peanut early introduction of peanuts Producers Association executive to infants at 4 to 6 months of director, visits with attendees during age to reduce allergies. These the Florida Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics Annual new recommendations were Conference in Orlando, Fla. well received by the physicians, physician assistants, nurses and other health care providers involved in pediatric care that attended the Conference.

“We visited with many pediatricians and was pleasantly surprised to hear that most are recommending early introduction of peanut containing foods to the clients,” says Ken Barton, FPPA executive director. “We would like to thank The Peanut Institute for the co-promotion partnership which allows us the opportunity to continue to build a relationship with the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and continue to share the great message of early introduction.”

Currently there are over 2,400 Florida Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics (FCAAP) members who promote the health and welfare of Florida’s children (newborns, infants, children, adolescents and young adults), and support pediatricians and pediatric specialists as the best qualified provider of their healthcare.

Peanut Research highlighted at field days Late summer brought many farmers together at a variety of field days across the Southeast to learn more about current research being conducted by researchers and extension specialists at Auburn University, University of Florida and University of Georgia. Farmers and ag industry professionals were able to attend field days ranging from the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center’s Crops Field Day to the Florida Peanut Field Day, as well as the University of Georgia Cotton and Peanut Field Day. The researchers highlighted some of their research projects ranging from variety trials to new information on weeds, insects, and diseases.

Pictured left: Libbie Johnson, Univeristy of Florida Escambia County Extension agent, discusses soil moisture sensors at the annual Florida Peanut Field Day.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

Reports from the: Alabama Peanut Producers Association Florida Peanut Producers Association Georgia Peanut Commission Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

Alabama Peanut Producers Association promotes peanuts through social media

Banks and financial institutions celebrate peanuts during Georgia Peanut Bank Week

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association shared their love of peanut butter on Facebook during the month of August, beginning with sharing the newest peanut butter recipes from the National Peanut Board. Following the peanut butter recipe posts, APPA held a give-a-way on Facebook, compliments of the NPB. The lucky winner received a wooden peanut butter recipe box, which included six new recipes, ingredients to make a couple of the recipes and a peanut kitchen towel. Over 8,200 impressions were made on Facebook from these two posts.

The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Georgia Bankers Association joined forces Oct. 14-18, 2019, in an effort to promote Georgia’s peanut industry during the 43rd annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week. Financial institutions and local banks across the state offered a tribute to Georgia’s 4,500 peanut farm families and the sustainability they provide to Georgia’s state and local economies.

The 2019 theme, “Georgia Peanuts. It Just Makes Cents!” showcases the sustainability peanuts provide on and off the farm, as well as highlight the fact Georgia peanuts contribute more than $2 billion annually to the state’s economy; a contribution that helps maintain Georgia’s largest industry: agriculture.

Alabama Peanut Producers Association opens online gift shop

Visit www.alpeanuts.com/shop to order peanuts online.

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association held the grand opening for their new online store on Aug. 19, 2019.

Consumers can now purchase 12-ounce cans of peanuts – skinless salted, honey roasted and butter toffee flavors. Boxes of individual packs of peanuts and peanut lapel pins are available as well. Check us out at www.alpeanuts.com/shop.

Georgia Tech President visits Georgia Peanut Commission The Georgia Peanut Commission recently visited with Angel Cabrera, Georgia Tech’s 12th president in the 134-year history of the college. Cabrera stopped by the GPC headquarters in Tifton, Georgia, to learn more about the peanut industry and research projects funded by Georgia’s farmers.

While visiting, Don Koehler, GPC executive director (left in photo), provided a tour and overview of the peanut industry.

Georgia Peanut Commission promotes peanuts through sporting events across the state Throughout the fall, the Georgia Peanut Commission sponsored peanut promotional advertisements with the Atlanta Braves baseball and the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech football.

Thirty-second and 10-second promotional messages aired on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network through 680 The Fan, which has approximately 3.5 million listeners per week throughout the Southeast from July to October.

Also, a 30-second promotional message airs during the UGA and Georgia Tech football season through IMG, where up to 56 radio affiliates broadcast the message.

The commission is also promoting peanuts in the Statesboro area on the campus of Georgia Southern through radio ads, website and in-game promotions on the video board and a tailgate for their Ag Day event prior to the Nov. 16 football game.

Lunsford joins Georgia Peanut Commission Jordan Lunsford joined the Georgia Peanut Commission in September as communications assistant. Lunsford is a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Communications. Previously, she worked as communications assistant for the Georgia Pecan Growers Association.

Jordan Lunsford

October/November 2019 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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American Peanut Growers Group Opens New Blancher merican Peanut Growers Group (APGG) hosted a ribbon cutting celebration Aug. 6, 2019, to mark the opening of its new blanching facility in Donalsonville, Georgia. The new blanching facility will add 17 full time jobs and will be an economic boost to the Donalsonville area.

APGG began in 2002 when a group of growers decided to join together to build a shelling plant. There were 54 growers the first year the shelling plant opened in 2003 who delivered 56,000 tons of peanuts. Today, there are more than 100 grower members and 2019 peanut deliveries should be close to 170,000 tons of peanuts.

“We have seen pretty significant growth,” says Neal Flanagan, APGG president and CEO. “Our main goals are to secure market access, concentrate on high quality peanuts and become more vertically integrated and improve our farm income.”

According to Flanagan, all of this additional growth and new investors in the company helped the members decide to add a blancher at the current location.

“Building a blancher gives us a greater marketability of our products and opens up new markets for us such as the European Union,” he adds. “Also, the new facility provides greater control of our product and supply chain so we do not have to rely on third parties for blanching. Ultimately, I hope it provides us a greater profit margin.”

The new blancher is located in the original cold storage facility at the headquarters. The facility is also now

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American Peanut Growers Group board members and special guests cut the ribbon on the new blanching facility Aug. 6, 2019, in Donalsonville, Ga. Pictured left to right: Andy Bell, Tommy Dollar, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Joe Hall, Greg Calhoun, Raymond Thompson, Senator Dean Burke, Joe Heard, Mark Hanna, Tim Burch and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach.

home to the largest dryer the industry makes that will dry 20,000 pounds of peanuts an hour. The warehouse can also store four and a half million pounds of peanuts.

USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach attended the event and offered his congratulations.

“This is a great accomplishment for farmers and the community in this area,” Ibach says. “Farmers working together to make a better life for themselves, their families and the future is what this nation is all about. Doing it cooperatively together shows great individual leadership and community leadership on your part.”

APGG is a great success story, adds Gary Black, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture.

“This is certainly a bright future ahead for the area,” Commissioner Black says. “When that shelling plant and blancher is fired up you know it is the sound of jobs.”

Senator Dean Burke attended the ribbon cutting and was very appreciative to have a federal official in Donalsonville for an event not related to a disaster.

“Anything that produces income for the ag community and jobs for Southwest Georgia area is something to celebrate,” Senator Burke says.

Additional community supporters, businesses, financial institutions and contractors were on-site for the ribbon cutting and to show their appreciation for APGG investing in the community. t

BY JOY CROSBY

Reinke Irrigation Opens New Parts Distribution Center Reinke Irrigation celebrated the opening of their distribution center in Tifton, Georgia, with a July 23 ribbon cutting ceremony, demonstrations and tours. The new facility is located at 2703 Carpenter Road.

The facility is part of Reinke’s commitment to agriculture in the region, allowing irrigation dealers the ability to deliver state-of-the-art technology and equipment to farmers faster than ever before.

While it is not a retail location, the

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new parts distribution center is expected to cut down on the time it takes to get parts to dealers from days to hours, according to Mike Mills, Reinke Southeast Territory manager, “It’s so exciting to be able to talk about the good response we’ve already had from this facility and how bringing these resources to our dealers has helped them take better care of their customers,” Mills says.

For more information on Reinke, visit www.reinke.com. t

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

Reinke staff and community leaders join together for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new parts distribution center in Tifton, Ga.

Delta Peanut Breaks Ground $70M Shelling Facility Will Add Over 100 Jobs elta Peanut, LLC, held a ceremonial groundbreaking at its 71-acre site in the Craighead Technology Park in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Aug. 27, 2019. Delta Peanut leadership and investors celebrated the event with local business leaders and elected officials including Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin and U.S. Senator John Boozman.

Delta Peanut is the first peanut shelling operation in the state of Arkansas and represents a $70 million project that will ultimately create 130 new jobs.

Delta Peanut is a 100 percent farmer owned peanut shelling facility that will be the first of its kind in Arkansas. Delta Peanut owners include farmers from the Missouri Bootheel, Arkansas, and Northeast Louisiana.

“This project couldn’t have happened without the support of the roughly 70 farmers/investors that put $26.5M into Delta Peanut,” says Tommy Jumper, CEO, Delta Peanut. “This facility will not only benefit farmers who grow peanuts.

Dozens of high-paying, high-quality jobs will be created because of this project. We are excited to see construction underway.”

Approximately 30,000 acres of peanuts will be planted regionally this year. Until now, those peanuts required transport to shelling plants in West Texas or South Georgia. With the addition of Delta Peanut in Jonesboro and a separate buying point in Marianna, Arkansas, regional peanut growers will have the option to cut miles and costs and bring those peanuts to market closer to home.

With peanut butter makers like Jif in Memphis, Skippy in Little Rock and Kraft-owned Planters Peanut in Fort Smith, having Delta Peanut in Jonesboro is a logical location.

“I am excited that Tommy Jumper and his developers are putting this facility in Jonesboro. It will not only create jobs for our people, but it is tied directly to agriculture, which is a big part of our economy,” says Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin.

Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest

Photo credit: Jonesboro Unlimited

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Delta Peanut leadership, investors, local business leaders and elected officials break ground on the new site for the new shelling plant, Delta Peanut, in Jonesboro, Ark. on Aug. 27, 2019.

industry, adding around $16 billion to the state’s economy annually. The state’s diverse landscape and climate produce a wide variety of agricultural products.

Arkansas ranks first in the nation in rice production and third in cotton production. In 2010, Arkansas farmers planted about 560 acres of peanuts and now in 2019, the acreage has increased to approximately 30,000 acres.

Greg Baltz, vice president of the Arkansas Peanut Growers Association and farmer member of Delta Peanut, is excited about the growth of the peanut industry in Arkansas.

“This area is unique and all of our peanuts in Arkansas are grown on irrigated land,” Baltz says. He currently grows high oleic peanut varieties Georgia-09B and FloRunTM ‘311’ while rotating with corn.

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Arkansas farmers produced the highest average yield of 5,000 pounds per acre of peanuts in 2018.

Arkansas Senator John Boozman says, “This has involved people on every aspect, the lenders, the farmers, those who are building the facility. I think it’s going to make a tremendous difference for the area and this is all about jobs, jobs, jobs.

This is about the economy which is really

the bottom line.”

Construction has already begun at the 71-acre site. When the shelling operation is fully up and running, it will shell over 180,000 tons of peanuts annually. Over 60,000 tons of those peanuts will be on-site in Jonesboro and stored in three warehouses and one “surge” warehouse.

Additional buying points will store the balance in neighboring towns in Arkansas and surrounding states. The Jonesboro site will also have six drying buildings.

Delta Peanut will also be working with The Seam, a provider of trading and agribusiness software solutions. The platform delivers a digital hub for shelling organizations to interconnect with affiliate businesses and producers, providing the real-time status and value of stock, contracting, grading data integration and logistics management. Additionally, insight dashboards, position reporting, warehouse receipt management and system-guided workflows create streamlined processes, which result in more productive and cost-effective operations.

The facility, when operational, will keep peanut crops in Arkansas instead of going to other states for processing. The plant is expected to be complete by Spring 2020. t

BY JOY CROSBY

October/November 2019 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference set for January 16 roducers can fine-tune their farming operation with information gained at the 44th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 16, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the 2020 Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference. The show is sponsored and coordinated by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

The one-day show offers farmers a full day to view the products and services of more than 100 exhibitors and a day of education. A free luncheon begins at noon for all attendees, with an opportunity for farmers to win more than $40,000 in door prizes afterward. The Georgia Peanut Commission will present a short program beginning at 12:15 p.m. that will cover award presentations and other special recognitions.

The University of Georgia will present an educational peanut production seminar from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m.

An industry seed seminar will also be held from 10:35 to 11:35 a.m. during the show. This event is sponsored by the American Peanut Shellers Association Committee on Variety & Seed Development, Peanut Foundation,

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Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show set for Jan. 16, 2020, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the Georgia Peanut Commission. Growers will be able to learn about farm-saved seed, peanut varieties available for 2020 and varieties on the horizon.

Farmers will also have the opportunity to earn credit toward their private or commercial pesticide applicator certification.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with One Blood, will hold a blood drive from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center during the show.

For more information on the show, contact GPC at 229-386-3470 or online at www.gapeanuts.com. t

Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award Nominations Due Dec. 2 Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced during the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Tifton, Georgia. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership, civic, church, and

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community service activities.

“We have so many young peanut farmers making a difference in their communities and I consider this awards program a great opportunity to recognize one young peanut farmer for their contributions to the agricultural industry,” says Armond Morris, GPC chairman.

The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of Jan. 16, 2020. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit on the number of

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

applicants from each county in Georgia.

Applications are due to the GPC office by Dec. 2, 2019. The application is available on the GPC website at gapeanuts.com or by calling the GPC office at 229-386-3470.

The award winner receives registration and hotel accommodations to attend the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in July 16-18, 2020, at the Edgewater Beach Resort, Panama City Beach, Florida, and a sign to display at his or her farm. t

2019 Southern Peanut Growers Conference 019 marked the 21st annual year for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference held July 18-20 at the Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort, Panama City Beach, Florida. This year’s theme was “Super Farmers Grow Super Peanuts.” A superfood is considered to be a nutrient-rich food that is beneficial for health and well-being, so peanuts naturally qualify, and that is something super important for farmers and the industry. The entire conference highlighted the super farmers who are growing the super peanuts.

General sessions during the three-day conference provided farmers with information on peanuts rise to superfood status, research focus on genomics and precision ag as well as an update on trade and market update.

During the awards breakfast on Friday morning, Valent U.S.A. LLC presented the annual Valor award to the American Peanut Shellers Association for their 100 years of service to the peanut industry.

“They’ve been a partner with so many different groups and they’ve been creative and innovative in bringing new technology so it was really an honor to be able to John Altom (left), Valent USA Corporation, presents the present this to them as they celebrate their American Peanut Shellers 100 years of service,” says John Altom, Association with the 2019 Valor Valent Sales Representative.

Award. Pictured left to right: Altom, Four farm families were also recognized Karl Zimmer, APSA president, and Charles Birdsong, APSA chairman. during the conference with the annual Peanut Efficiency Awards, which are sponsored by Farm Press. With three uniquely different production regimes — from a “topographically challenging” dryland system, to one with a limited water irrigation regime concentrating on high-value acreage, to a soil and climate ideally suited to peanuts — the 2019 Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Award winners demonstrate the importance of adapting management to available resources.

The Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Award each year recognizes four growers who produce high yields at the lowest cost per acre in Southeast and Southwest regions. The 2019 winners are Upper Southeast Region - Dennis Spruill, Como, North Carolina; Lower Southeast Region Graham Ginn, Calhoun County, Georgia, Mid-South Region - Joe Morgan, Hattiesburg, Mississippi Winners of the 2019 Peanut Efficiency Awards were honored at the Southern and Southwest Region - Jared and Peanut Growers Conference. Pictured left to Lexie Floyd, Brownfield, Texas. right are Southwest Region winner Jared Highlights of the conference and Lexie FLoyd, Texas; Upper Southeast including photos, presentations and Region winner Dennis Spruill, North Carolina; Mid-South Region Winner - Joe speaker interviews are all available Morgan, Mississippi. Not pictured is the on the Southern Peanut Farmers Lower Southeast Region winner Graham Federation website at Ginn, Georgia. southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

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BY JOY CROSBY

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

Thanks to the 2019 Conference Sponsors Syngenta Bayer CropScience BASF National Peanut Board Corteva Agriscience FMC Corporation Farm Press ADAMA Birdsong Peanuts AgGeorgia Farm Credit AgSouth Farm Credit Farm Credit of Florida Farm Credit of Northwest Florida First South Farm Credit Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Farmers Business Network InformedAg - Ag Leader Technology John Deere SunSouth LLC Kelley Manufacturing Co. LMC LMC Ag UPL Valent U.S.A. LLC Vantage South Vantage Southeast Amadas Industries Colombo NA Olam NewLeaf Symbiotics Specialty Sales Co. Southeastern Peanut Farmer The Peanut Grower VICAM, A Waters Business AMVAC Chemical Early Trucking Company Alabama Ag Credit Alabama Farmers Federation Georgia Farm Bureau Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts NACHURS National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

Premium Peanut LLC Verdesian Life Sciences Visjon Biologics Nichino America, Inc. United Bank Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC Rabo AgriFinance Sessions Co. Inc. Southern Ag Carriers The KBH Corporation

Thirty-third Georgia Peanut Tour Showcases South Central Georgia he thirty-third annual Georgia Peanut Tour was held Sept. 17-19, 2019, and based out of Cordele, Georgia. Each year, the tour provides attendees the most up-to-date information on peanuts by showcasing a broad view of the industry through farm visits, processing and handling, as well as research facilities in the state. For 2019, tour stops were made in Crisp, Macon, Pulaski, Sumter, Terrell and Turner Counties.

Tour attendees began day one with a Hot Topics session highlighting an update on the 2019 crop update, farm bill update and a focus on peanut production within the peanut industry. During the remainder of the tour, attendees were able to see nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state.

Tour stops were made at local peanut farms in Oglethorpe and Hawkinsville, Sasser 520 Peanut Buying Point in Dawson, the Agri AFC, Nolin Steel, Hardy Farms Peanut Boiling Facility.

Research was highlighted on the tour by visits at the University of Georgia’s Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center in Plains and the National Peanut Research Lab in Dawson.

A popular highlight of the tour every

Photo credit: Elitepix.de

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Tour attendees were able to view peanut harvest up close at Chase Farms in Oglethorpe, Ga., during the Georgia Peanut Tour held Sept. 17-19, 2019.

year includes seeing peanut harvest. This year attendees were able to see both digging and picking of peanuts on the farm. Attendees were able to see a digging demonstration and harvest maturity clinic at Chase Farms in Oglethorpe. A precision ag and crop duster demonstration and peanut harvest highlighted the stop at Dawson Brothers

2019 Georgia Peanut Tour Sponsors Gold Sponsors American Peanut Shellers Assn.

Bayer CropScience Concept Agri-Tek Corteva Agriscience LMC Nichino America Silver Sponsors Farm Credit Associations of Georgia FMC Corporation Georgia Federal State Inspection Service Georgia Organic Peanut Association Georgia Organics Georgia Organic Solutions Nolin Steel Olam

Silver Sponsors (continued) Southeastern Peanut Farmer UGA Innovation Gateway UPL Bronze Sponsors Agri Supply IntelliFarms National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

ProAgro Supply The Peanut Grower Supporter Sponsors John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Mars Wrigley Confectionery McKee Foods (Little Debbie) Snyder’s Lance The Hershey Company

Farms in Hawkinsville, Georgia.

Attendees were also able to learn more about organic peanut production by visiting the farm of Sedrick Rowe in Americus, Georgia.

Each farm visit offered attendees the opportunity to view the similarities and differences among peanut fields, farming practices ranging from conservation tillage practices as well as irrigated and dryland fields.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, University of Georgia-Tifton Campus and Griffin Campus, Southwest Research and Education Center, Attapulgus Research and Education Center and the USDA Agricultural Research Service National Peanut Research Lab coordinate the tour.

The 2019 tour included 204 industry representatives from 20 states and seven countries including Germany, The Netherlands, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, Bangladesh and Malawi.

To learn more about the 2019 tour stops, visit the tour blog online at georgiapeanuttour.com. t

BY JOY CROSBY

October/November 2019 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Georgia Peanut Achievement Club recognizes farmers he University of Georgia Peanut Team honored Georgia’s top peanut producers Aug. 10, at the annual Georgia Peanut Achievement Club meeting held on Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Fifteen farmers/farms were recognized at the yearly meeting held to salute Georgia’s highest-yielding peanut growers. The UGA Peanut Team also held an open forum session with peanut producers and industry leaders.

“We’ve climbed in yields in these categories with the growers that we have.

I mean they’ve continued to stay well above 6,000-pound averages across the board,” says UGA Cooperative Extension Peanut Agronomist Scott Monfort. “This is taking into consideration their entire farm, whether it’s dryland or irrigated.

Their entire farm is counted. It’s just phenomenal.”

The 2018 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club winners include overall state winners in the 100-299 acreage category: Larry Ray Walker, Ben Hill County with 6,536 pounds per acre; 300-699 acreage category: Chase Farms Inc., Macon County with 7,191 pounds per acre, and in the 700-plus acreage category: 4 Miller Farms, Seminole County with 7,052 pounds per acre.

The District 1 winners are Hillside Farms (Mike Newberry), Early County, with 6,514 pounds per acre on 234 acres and Bob McLendon, Calhoun County, with 5,975 pounds per acre on 1,298 acres.

The District 2 winners are Faith Farms (Matt Bryan), Baker County, with 6,455 pounds per acre on 217 acres; Jeff Williams, Miller County, with 5,827 pounds per acre on 558 acres and Heard Family Farms (Glen Heard), Decatur County, with 5,803 pounds per acre on 4,209 acres.

The District 3 winners are Michael and Gregg Bennett, Pulaski County, with 5,675 pounds per acre on 134 acres; Steve Newberry, Jefferson County, with 5,620 pounds per acre on 187 acres;

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The 2018 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club state winners for their high peanut yields were recently honored at a ceremony on Aug. 10, 2019, at Jekyll Island, Ga.

2018 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club State Winners Name

County

Acreage Category

(pounds per acre)

Larry Ray Walker Chase Farms Inc. 4 Miller Farms

Ben Hill Macon Seminole

100 to 299 300 to 699 700+

6,536 7,191 7,052

Early Calhoun

100 to 299 700+

6,514 5,975

Baker Miller Decatur

100 to 299 300-699 700+

6,455 5,827 5,803

Pulaski Jefferson Dooly Worth

100 to 299 100 to 299 300 to 699 700+

5,675 5,620 6,865 5,424

Irwin Brooks Bulloch

100 to 299 300 to 699 700+

5,976 6,044 4,992

Yield

District 1 Hillside Farms (Mike Newberry) Bob McLendon

District 2 Faith Farms (Matt Bryan) Jeff Williams Heard Farms (Glen Heard)

District 3 Michael and Gregg Bennett Steve Newberry C&S Farms (Scott Moore) Ken Hall Farms

District 4 Bucky Tyler Robert Davison Nellwood Farms (Hal Cromley)

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

C&S Farms (Scott Moore), Dooly County, with 6,865 pounds per acre on 346 acres, and Ken Hall Farms, Worth County, with 5,424 pounds per acre on 1,023 acres.

The District 4 winners are Bucky Tyler, Irwin County, with 5,976 pounds per acre on 162 acres; Robert Davison, Brooks County, with 6,044 pounds per acre on 371 acres, and Nellwood Farms (Hal Cromley), Bulloch County with 4,992 pounds per acre on 1,109 acres.

Glen Lee Chase with Chase Farms has been recognized through the years as a Georgia Peanut Achievement Club winner and claimed the overall high yield with 7,191 pounds per acre on 439 acres in 2018. The secret behind the high yields is trust in the good Lord.

“I trust the good Lord. He helps us a lot,” Chase says.

“We are very particular about every little thing. The extension service has advised us and we listen to them.”

He also credits his son, Donald, for spraying the peanuts at night which has proven to be very beneficial in managing disease pressure to their peanuts. By spraying at night they are able to get the crop protectant down in the canopy of the peanut plant and closer to the fungi located in the soil.

Growers, like Glen Heard, appreciated the recognition of farmers’ hard work.

“It’s one of the best honors any peanut farmer can get. I hadn’t been here in a while and I’ve been wanting to get back,” Heard says, a peanut producer with 4,209 acres in Baker, Decatur, Miller and Seminole counties. “I’m very proud of it.”

Zachary Davison of Brooks County farms with his dad, Robert. They were named district winners in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

“We have a lot of help from a lot of good people,” Davison says. “We have a nice rotation program, irrigate on time and apply fungicides on time. If we see a problem, we address it right then.”

Davison along with multiple other winners all credit the assistance they receive from their local county Extension agent.

Bulloch County farmer, Hal Cromley agrees. He has coordinated research test plots for the past few years with his local Extension agent looking at new peanut varieties and new chemicals.

“There’s not many days where I don’t have to call my Extension agent and ask him advice on an insecticide or herbicide,” Cromley says.

Multiple year winner, Bob McLendon from Calhoun County, credits his excellent employees and recommendations from the Extension service. He says he has one employee who has worked for him for 46 years. In fact, McLendon has several employees who have worked for him for 25 to 35 years.

“Some folks think I need to get younger employees but there’s not many young people who want to put the hours in for what we have to do on the farm,” McLendon says.

He also doesn’t have any plans for retirement soon but does have advice for the younger generation wanting to farm.

“You’ve got to love it. It’s got to be in your blood,” he says. “Trust God and do all you can.” t

BY JOY CROSBY AND CLINT THOMPSON

Peanut Leadership Academy Travels to West Texas embers of Class XI of the Peanut Leadership Academy (PLA) completed session three of the 18-month program Aug. 12-15, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. This session focused on learning about Texas agriculture and receiving media training from communication professionals.

Day one of the session began with farm tours near Seminole and Seagraves, Texas. The group traveled to Jackson Farms’ headquarters in West Gaines County, where they met with Gary Jackson, owner and operator. Jackson, a peanut industry leader and strong advocate for agriculture, shared the value and importance of leadership and civic involvement with the PLA class.

Following the visit at Jackson Farms, the group visited a farm where conventional and organic peanuts were grown, and wrapped up the first half of the day with lunch at All Star Buying Point. From there, they traveled back to Brownfield and toured Birdsong’s shelling facility, which can handle up to 175,000 tons per year and is unique in that it can shell all four types of peanuts grown in the United States.

Training with media professionals kicked off day two. PLA participants were given media training from Lindsay Kennedy, assistant professor of practice within Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communications, and Matt Ernst, news

director and chief meteorologist of Fox 34 News and Ramar Communications. Class members were able to participate in interviews and receive feedback on ways to improve, how to dress for an interview, preparation techniques, etc.

Following media training, the group enjoyed lunch at Evie Mae’s BBQ, which is owned by Arnis and Malory Robbins, son and daughter-in-law of former peanut farmers and National Peanut Board delegates for New Mexico, Richard and Laura Robbins. To conclude the day, participants visited Schilling Farms’ sub-surface drip-irrigated cotton field and

Peanut Leadership Academy class members receive media training on day two of the session in Lubbock, Texas.

Peanut Leadership Academy members visit Schilling Farms sub-surface drip-irrigated cotton field.

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Peanut Leadership Academy Class XI pictured with sponsors and staff in a peanut field near Seminole, Texas.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

South Plains Compost. South Plains Compost, parent company of Back to Nature, Inc., supplies bagged cotton burr composts and blends to the lawn and garden industry.

The Peanut Leadership Academy, sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and the American Peanut Shellers Association and coordinated by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, provides leadership training for young farmers and sheller representatives within the U.S. peanut industry. Throughout the program, participants gain valuable leadership skills to be used in the future and are given an insight into many different issues the peanut industry faces.

Current participating states include: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Class XI of the Peanut Leadership Academy will be traveling to Washington, D.C. in late February/early March for their fourth and final education session.

Additional information on the Peanut Leadership Academy is available online at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

BY JESSIE BLAND

Washington Outlook

by Robert L. Redding Jr.

House Agriculture Committee Reviews Farm and Disaster Programs

Comment Period Closes for H2A Proposed Regulations

Two U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittees, General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee and Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, held a hearing “To Review the Implementation of Federal Farm and Disaster Programs” on Sept. 19, 2019. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey testified before the committee.

General Farm Commodities Subcommittee Chairman Filemon Vela of Texas commented in his opening statement, “FPAC and FSA are currently at the helm of three critical but separate efforts to address the needs of farmers, ranchers and rural communities in our country.

The Market Facilitation Program, which is meant to assist those farmers most directly harmed by the Administration’s trade war. The expanded Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program, or WHIP-Plus, which will aid in rural recovery from natural disasters. And programs like ARC, PLC, DMC and other supports within Title I of the farm bill, which provide a risk management framework for farmers and ranchers.”

“It’s our job on this Committee to ensure that these programs are structured and implemented in a way that can quickly, efficiently and most directly serve the farmers, ranchers and small towns who need them right now,” Vela adds. “It’s also our job to ensure that these programs are implemented in a way that is fair, transparent, and consistent with the law. We can absolutely get farmers the help they need while still conducting appropriate and necessary oversight.”

Georgia Congressman Austin Scott expressed concern with the reduction in the payment limit of $900,000 under the 2017 WHIP disaster program to $250,000 for WHIP+ under the 2018 program.

The U.S Department of Labor published much anticipated H2A agricultural labor reforms. These reforms are critically important since moving immigration reform legislation, including ag labor language, is unlikely in the 116th Congress.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and Wage and Hour Division (WHD), these proposed changes would modernize the Department’s H-2A regulations in a way that is responsive to stakeholder concerns and enhances employer access to a legal source of agricultural labor, while maintaining the program’s protections for the U.S. workforce and enhancing enforcement against fraud and abuse.

The proposed regulation includes several major proposals that would streamline and simplify the H-2A application process, strengthen protections for U.S. and foreign workers, and ease unnecessary burdens on employers. For example, the regulation would streamline the H-2A application process by mandating electronic filing of job orders and applications, promoting the use of digital signatures, and providing employers with the option of staggering the entry of H-2A workers on a single application.

The NPRM also proposes to strengthen protections for U.S. and foreign workers by enhancing standards applicable to rental housing and public accommodations, strengthening surety bond requirements, expanding the Department’s authority to use enforcement tools like program debarment for substantial violations of program rules, and updating the methodologies used to determine the Adverse Effect Wage Rates and prevailing wages to ensure U.S. workers similarly employed are not adversely impacted.

Finally, the regulation would expand access to the H-2A program by revising the definition of agricultural labor or services to include employers engaged in reforestation and pine straw activities, as workers performing these services share many of the same characteristics as traditional agricultural crews. The proposal would also codify and update procedures governing the certification for job opportunities in animal shearing, custom combining, beekeeping, and reforestation.

“Both of these actions by DOL are critical changes the Administration is making to improve the H-2A application process.

President Trump is committed to ensuring our farmers and producers have access to a stable, legal agricultural workforce,” says Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “By streamlining these processes, DOL is bringing the H-2A process into the 21st Century allowing farmers to be able to better and cost-effectively advertise for workers they need and fill out the required forms faster and more efficiently, because no one should have to hire a lawyer to hire a farm worker. I commend President Trump for his continued support of America’s farmers, ranchers and producers.”

State FSA to Hold Disaster Program Briefings The Georgia Farm Service Agency plans to hold grower meetings to discuss disaster programs and the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) in October. Tentatively FSA will have meetings in Bainbridge, Tifton, Douglas, Reynolds, Waynesboro, Cartersville and Athens.

The MFP program is new for several major Georgia commodities including peanuts. Numerous questions have arisen since applications began. In addition, the 2018 WHIP+ program is different from the 2017 WHIP program and growers will an opportunity to discuss with top USDA officials.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2019

Congressional Staff Tour South Georgia he Southern Peanut Farmers Federation hosted 22 congressional staff members in South Georgia Aug. 22-24, 2019, for a peanut education tour. The tour’s purpose was to educate the staffers about the peanut industry in the Southeast by visiting farms, research facilities and industry groups, as well as discuss current industry issues.

The tour took place in the heart of Georgia’s peanut belt with stops in Crisp, Turner and Tift counties. The group began in Cordele at Lake Blackshear Resort with dinner and fellowship with local farmers and industry representatives.

The next morning, the group traveled to Turner County to visit with peanut farmer, Ross Kendrick. Kendrick spoke to the group about his farming operation and how the current peanut program has played an important role.

The group then traveled to Kelley Manufacturing Co. (KMC) and heard from Lanier Carson and his team about current operations at KMC and its importance to the peanut farmer and industry. KMC staff also took the group on a tour of the facility to show their

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Congressional Staff Members who attended: Washington, D.C. Staff Cheryl Herbaugh – Rep. Bishop (GA) Craig Anderson – Rep. A. Scott (GA) Zach Roberts – Rep. A. Scott (GA) Ben Ayres – Sen. Perdue (GA) Jim Warren – Sen. Tim Scott (GA) Zellie Duvall – Rep. Allen (GA) Caroline Buyak – Rep. Roby (AL) Adam Grubbs – Rep. Kelly (MS) Hart Thompson – Rep. Carter (GA) Jack Overstreet – Sen. Isakson (GA) Brian Piper – Rep. Ferguson (GA) Mary C. Cromley – Sen. Boozman (AR) Allie White – Rep. Ferguson (GA) Matthew Bishop - Rep. Byrne (AL) District Staff (GA) Tammaye Jones – Bishop (GA) Toni Pickel – Bishop (GA) Michael Bryant – Bishop (GA) Tameka Wimbush - Bishop (GA) Elizabeth Kringer - Bishop (GA) Jody Redding – Sen. Isakson (GA) Zach Stokes – Rep. Allen (GA) Kathy Burns – Sen. Perdue (GA)

Congressional staff members were able to learn more about peanut production during their visit at the farm of Ross Kendrick in Sycamore, Ga., during the tour held Aug. 22-24, 2019.

manufacturing process.

Upon leaving KMC, the group traveled to the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory (NESPAL) located at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Campus. Here, staffers heard from Scott Monfort, UGA Extension peanut agronomist, and Mark Abney, UGA research and Extension entomologist, about issues farmers face in peanut production.

The day concluded with a visit to the Georgia Peanut Commission office and an update from Tas Smith, state executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Georgia, and Stanley Fletcher, professor of policy at Abraham Baldwin

Agricultural College’s Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation. Fletcher discussed past, present and future export trends, as well as marketing.

The tour was organized by the members of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation which include the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission and the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association.

Upon conclusion of the tour, staffers returned to their offices with a greater understanding of the peanut industry in the Southeast and the importance of federal farm policy. t

BY JESSIE BLAND

Congressional staff members were able to learn more about equipment used in peanut production by visiting Kelley Manufacturing Co. in Tifton, Ga., during the tour held Aug. 22-24, 2019.

October/November 2019 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Southern Peanut Growers Peanuts featured at Georgia Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Meeting The Southern Peanut Growers and Georgia Peanut Commission teamed up to put peanuts top of mind at the Georgia Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences meeting in Savannah, Georgia on Aug. 28, 2019.

Joy Crosby, director of communications at the Georgia Peanut Commission, spoke during the morning general session about the nutritional benefits of peanuts and how to introduce peanuts early to help prevent peanut allergy. She called on attendees to share the early introduction information as often as possible.

Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers, was on the Georgia Products field trip session during the afternoon at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens. She shared information about Georgia grown and manufactured peanut products, peanut nutrition and peanut allergy information as she prepared and sampled Thai Peanut Chicken Salad, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, and Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt made with peanut powder.

An early introduction gift basket was awarded at each session to encourage sharing of the early introduction messaging. Several of the women at the conference also happened to be pregnant and will be receiving early introduction gift boxes in the mail.

Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers, presents a peanut recipe demonstration to members of the Georgia Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science agents during their annual meeting in Savannah, Ga., held on Aug. 28, 2019.

Sheet Pan Peanut Butter Chicken and Broccoli Winner, winner. Chicken dinner! Sheet pan meals are all the rage because, really, what’s better than making a full dinner while only getting one pan dirty. Talk about a time saver!

Try the recipe below from PeanutButterLovers.com and LoveandZest.com.

Sheet Pan Peanut Butter Chicken & Broccoli Ingredients: 1 can coconut milk 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 pounds raw chicken breast 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 bell pepper, chopped 4 cups broccoli florets 1/2 cup red onion, chopped 1 oz. crushed peanuts

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, peanut butter, ginger, red pepper, soy sauce and maple syrup to make a sauce. Reserve one cup sauce for later usage. Place chicken breasts in a gallon size plastic bag and pour in remaining sauce to marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Drizzle olive oil on a sheet pan and top with bell pepper, broccoli and red onion. Stir to coat with oil. Arrange marinated chicken breasts on pan between veggies and bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Cook reserved peanut butter sauce on stove top over low heat until warm. Serve chicken and veggies over rice of your choice with crushed peanuts and a drizzle of the sauce.

Marketing arm of

Southern Peanut Growers 1025 Sugar Pike Way · Canton, Georgia 30115 (770) 751-6615 email: lpwagner@comcast.net Visit our website at http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com

Georgia’s Largest Commodity Show January 16, 2020 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton, Georgia Free farmer lunch Pesticide applicator certification More than 100 Exhibits Door prizes

Learn more about the 2020 Georgia Peanut Farm Show by visiting

www.gapeanuts.com

For more information contact: Georgia Peanut Commission P.O. Box 967, Tifton GA 31793 Phone: 229-386-3470 Fax: 229-386-3501 Email: info@gapeanuts.com