October/November 2015 - Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Veteran Tom Ingram Avoid program surprises Peanut Leadership Academy tours West Texas A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Contents October/November 2015

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

World War II veteran Tom Ingram has contributed years of service to our country and agriculture. He is an innovator on the farm by being one of the first farmers to use a herbicide in Alabama and minimum tillage practices.

Director of Advertising Jessie Bland jessie@gapeanuts.com Contributing Writers John Leidner johnleidner@bellsouth.net Teresa Mays Teresa2@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 229-3863690.)

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.

Tom Ingram: Veteran and Innovator

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Avoid unwanted program surprises The new peanut program provides a strong safety net for the peanut industry in the Southeast but farmers need to be able to understand some of the changes including the potential for market loan gains that could reduce their Price Loss Coverage payment.

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Peanut Leadership Academy tours West Texas peanut area Members of Class IX of the Peanut Leadership Academy completed their third session in West Texas by touring peanut farms and Birdsong Peanuts’ shelling facility while participating in media training and communication training classes.

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

Washington Outlook ............................................................................ 24 Southern Peanut Growers Update ........................................................ 26 Cover Photo: World War II veteran Tom Ingram, Opelika, Alabama, kneels in his peanut field with medals he received while serving in General Patton’s Third Army, 90th Infantry Division.

October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Editorial Building demand for the future

Calendar of Events

t was a homecoming for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The number two person at USDA was raised on a peanut farm in Camilla, Georgia, so she felt right at home among the peanut industry representatives gathered at the conference.

It was inspiring to hear her comments about growing up in South Georgia and her love for agriculture. During her comments, Harden encouraged the peanut growers to look at the soybean industry and the investments made by the industry through the years to open markets and look for new uses for soybeans.

According to Harden, soybeans used to be thought of as a rotation crop and one crop grown when farmers couldn’t plant something else. Leaders of the soybean industry wanted more and wanted to create demand for soybeans. So, the soybean industry went to China and then opened an office 20 years ago. They were the laughing stock of agriculture for investing farmer dollars in a market that you couldn’t imagine at that time what folks in China would want. The soybean industry continued to invest in markets in other parts of the world like Africa and Asia and went head to head with competitors in other countries like Brazil and Argentina.

Soybean farmers said they were going to invest their own dollars and leverage federal, state and private dollars to make sure there are additional markets. They also planned to look for new uses of soybeans for fuel, food and more uses. Those are all things, Harden says, that help make one out of every 4 rows of soybeans exported to China today.

The soybean growers came together with allied members of their industry and decided they wanted more for their growers. They wanted to keep farmers on the farm and invest their dollars, hard work, talent and ideas for a vision for their industry.

Harden encouraged the peanut farmers to think about what to do and how to be wise about what we do to create, establish and grow lasting markets. She praised the industry for having the talent, researchers and marketers to come together to make sure the peanut industry continues to not only survive but to thrive. t

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Joy Carter Crosby Editor

u Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Dec. 6-8, 2015, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more information visit gfb.org. u American Peanut Council Winter Conference, Dec. 8-10, 2015, W Atlanta Midtown, Atlanta, Ga. For more information visit peanutsusa.com. u American Farm Bureau Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 8-13, 2016, Orange County Convention Center (West Concourse), Orlando, Fla. For more information visit fb.org. u Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference, Jan. 21, 2016, University of Georgia Conference Center, Tifton, Ga. For more information visit gapeanuts.com or call 229-386-3470. u Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Feb. 3-4, 2016, Lake Terrace Convention Center, Hattiseburg, Miss. For more information visit misspeanuts.com or call 601-606-3547. u Georgia Peanut Commission Media Training, Feb. 9, 2016, Tifton, Ga. For more information visit gapeanuts.com or call 229-386-3470. u Georgia Peanut Commission Research Report Day, Feb. 10, 2016, Tifton, Ga. For more information visit gapeanuts.com or call 229-386-3470. u Alabama/Florida Peanut Trade Show, Feb. 11, 2016, National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, Dothan, Ala. For more information visit alpeanuts.com or call 334-792-6482. u American Peanut Shellers Pre-Planting Meeting, March 8-9, 2016, Merry Acres Conference Center, Albany, Ga. For more information visit peanut-shellers.org. u Florida Peanut Producers Annual Meeting, March 10, 2016, Jackson County Conference Center, Marianna, Fla. For more information visit flpeanuts.com or call 850-526-2590.

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

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

Tom Ingram A leader providing service to agriculture and our country

e has watched fellow soldiers die right before him but his life was spared. He has been a leader in Alabama agriculture through his production practices and volunteerism with organizations. Those are only a few of the things that describe John T. (Tom) Ingram, the innovative agriculturist, veteran and teacher from Opelika, Alabama.

Ingram was drafted at the age of 18 to serve in World War II in the Army Infantry. He was trained for six weeks before embarking on an 18-day transatlantic journey aboard a troop carrier.

He recalls having to stay below deck on the carrier so they would not be sighted by German spies when leaving New York City. In fact, Ingram says, the soldiers had to smoke below deck so that cigarette butts could not be tossed overboard and noticed by a submarine.

“I was one of the few that didn’t smoke so I got sick before we left the harbor and stayed sick the entire trip,” Ingram says. “By the time we got to

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Europe, I was ready to get off the carrier and make an invasion.”

After arriving in England, Ingram was shipped out to Normandy and assigned to the 90th Infantry Division, nicknamed the “Tough ‘Ombres.”

Ingram fought in one of the greatest battles, The Battle of the Bulge.

According to Ingram, the freezing cold temperatures had a major impact on the battle. In fact, temperatures were the coldest on record; 20 to 25 degrees below 0.

“I promised the good Lord that if he didn’t let me freeze to death then I would never complain about the heat,” Ingram says. “And, I’m still living up to that. I can take the heat but not the cold.”

The night, Jan. 10, 1945, is one that Ingram will not easily forget. It was 20 degrees below 0 and at 2:00 a.m.

Ingram’s unit walked right by the German lines. The Germans were hid in their fox holes on both sides of the road. Ingram’s unit made it through to Berlé, Luxembourg without losing one man.

“I found out later that Germans thought Americans didn’t like to fight at night so that was to our advantage,”

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

Ingram says.

Following the Battle of the Bulge, Ingram and his unit were ordered to go back into Germany and capture the town.

That morning, he recalls six men were killed and five were wounded. In fact a sniper killed the Lieutenant standing beside Ingram. However, Ingram was able to kill the sniper before he shot him. Then four tanks pulled up firing shots at Ingram.

“They kept shooting over my head.”

Ingram says. “The four tanks were so close, about 40 yards away from me.

That’s the reason I’m deaf today. The loud noise from the tanks and machine gun damaged my hearing and I’ve been deaf since WWII.” During Ingram’s time at war, his division had more days on the front line than any other division in WWII. Ingram helped fine stolen artwork, silver and gold that had been hidden by Hitler in salt mines. He also helped liberate the Flossenburg concentration camp.

Ingram served in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Czechoslovakia and was in Gen. Patton’s

Third Army, 90th Infantry Division. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, three Bronze stars for the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign and the WWII Victory Medal. He also is a charter member of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Once Ingram returned home from the war, he enrolled in Auburn University and graduated in 1950 with a degree in agriculture education. Following graduation, he taught returning veterans how to farm for a few years. Then he taught school for 17 years in Phenix City, Alabama. He finally retired from teaching in order to farm full-time.

He has farmed cotton in the Marvyn community for more than 50 years and started his farming career in 1946 just after he returned from World War II. Even though Ingram’s father did not farm, his grandfather and great grandfather farmed the land, Ingram farms today with his two sons and grandsons. In fact, Ingram still has the original deed on part of the land dating back to 1832.

Ingram says we do our best so we can stay in the farming business. The Ingram’s plant a cover crops every year and rotates the crops to help keep the soil in good condition.

“Hopefully, I’m leaving the farm in a better condition for my children and grandchildren than when I received it,” Ingram says. “My father never did farm and he always rented the land out and the renters never did really take care of the land.”

On the farm, Ingram has grown cotton, peanuts and soybeans. He has struggled through the years with deer damaging soybeans which led him to stop planting the crop. Today, the deer are destroying his cotton crop and cost him roughly $15,000 to $20,000 a year.

Now wild hogs are trying to take over the farm and very hard to control.

“We kill one and then will have 10 come back in their place,” Ingram says.

“We hunt them day and night and trap them.”

Today, the Ingram family grows cotton, peanuts and sesame. Ingram continues to work with Auburn University through cotton and peanut variety test plots.

Conservation is important to Ingram.

When harvesting peanuts, he likes to leave the peanut vine on the ground.

“The vine is worth more on the ground for the organic matter,” he says.

“If farmers keep taking everything off of the land then you will soon have dirt instead of soil.”

Ingram is an innovator on the farm.

Ingram was one of the first farmers in Alabama to use the minimum tillage farming practices, which conserve moisture and soil and reduce the use of chemicals. He adopted a strip tillage method on his 600 acres of cotton and developed his own strip till cultivator, a shielded sprayer, and a mechanical weed knock-down device with a sprayer attachment to use on his farm.

He also began trapping for boll weevils in the late 1970s and continued his own trapping until the Boll Weevil Eradication Program began in 1987, encouraging his neighbors to do the same.

Ingram is known not only for finding ways to farm more efficiently, but also for farming in ways that protect the soil, water, and overall environment. In addition, he has helped other farmers learn more about better production practices by serving as president of the Lee County Farmers Federation for 32 years and chairman of the Lee County Farmers Federation Cotton Committee for more than 50 years and serving on the Alabama Cotton Commission, producer delegate to the National Cotton Council of America, member of the Alabama Farmers Federation state board and its cotton committee and has served as a

member of the Southeast Cotton Growers board of directors.

He has won many awards for his efforts, including the Outstanding Conservation Tillage Farmer of Macon County in 1985, the District IV Soil Conservationist Award in 1992, the 2000 High Cotton Award for the Southeast, the Outstanding Business and Industry Representative for Agribusiness Education from 1988-89 and the Lee County Farm of Distinction Award in 1996.

“Farming has come a long way in my lifetime with all of the technology available today for farmers,” Ingram says.

“You’ve got to be a college professor today to farm, maybe even more than a college professor to farm.”

In addition to his love for farming he loves to talk about his days at Auburn University especially being able to stay in the dorm with the football players and eat meals with them. He is an Auburn fan through and through. Even though his mom was a University of Alabama graduate, he says they never fought about football as he chuckles. “I’ll be happy every year, if they (Auburn) will just beat Alabama,” he says.

Since the end of WWII, he has returned to Europe twenty-three times and is actively involved in many WWII ventures, including the 90th Infantry Division Association where he as served as president. He also attends many Battle of the Bulge reunions. t

BY JOY CROSBY

World War II veteran Tom Ingram, Opelika, Ala., displays a medal of honor certificate he received.

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

Mississippi Peanut Growers Association promotes peanuts through fall football radio show The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (MPGA) has teamed up with the Friday Night Under the Lights (FNUTL) radio show to promote peanuts in the schools during the 15 weeks of the football season across the state. This is the third season for this promotion with FNUTL. The MPGA will receive commercial air time on 11 radio stations covering most of the state with 45 radio spots. Through a co-promotion with the National Peanut Board, MPGA also sponsors the Perfectly Powerful Peanut Game of the Week during 11 games. The NPB and MPGA will be on-site with a display distributing peanuts and information during the games.

The sponsorship also includes the Ahh Nuts Play of the Year. The play of the year winning school will be presented a 55 inch Smart HDTV for the lunch room and the student submitting the winning play will also receive a 40 inch HDTV. These presentations will be made by the MPGA Board of Directors on the show the night of Championship Week in Jackson, Mississippi.

During the season, video ads will air on the FNUTL website and visitors can visit the website to vote for the Ahh Nuts Play of the Year. The ads will be seen at more than 126 high schools in Mississippi.

Also, three peanut production video’s will be available on the FNUTL website for viewers to see firsthand how peanuts are dug, harvested, and delivered to the buying points. The push this season for the schools will be “Making the Grade” referenced from showing even peanuts must be graded. To view the videos and learn more about this promotion visit, FNUTL.com.

The MPGA hopes this promotion helps provide schools with accurate information regarding peanut allergies and keeps schools friendly toward peanuts and peanut products. At the conclusion of the event, FNUTL will provide MPGA with a review of the program including the number of calls into the FNUTL program and visitors viewing the website. In previous years, data has shown nearly 900,000 viewers participate in this program.

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Georgia Peanut Commission promotes peanuts at Celebrate Freedom event in Marietta The Georgia Peanut Commission participated in the 2015 Celebrate Freedom Festival at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta, Georgia, Sept. 5, 2015. During the event, GPC served as a sponsor in the Live Well Pavilion and distributed free peanuts and Don Koehler, GPC executive nutrition information to attendees. To go director, provides peanut samples to along with samples of Georgia peanuts, visitors of the Celebrate Freedom GPC also provided samples of two new Festival in Marietta, Ga. flavors from Planters: chili lime and sea salt and vinegar. Additionally, GPC gave away a year supply of peanut butter and a Georgia Peanuts gift basket to two lucky winners in attendance.

The Celebrate Freedom Festival is hosted by Salem Media and an Atlanta faith-based radio station, 104.7 The Fish. The day-long event offers attendees a free Christian and gospel music concert featuring 10 well-known industry artists. This year, the festival boasted an attendance of approximately 50,000 people from across the metro Atlanta area.

Canadian food journalists tour Georgia peanut farm The Georgia Peanut Commission and American Peanut Council hosted a group of Canadian journalists to the state during September.

The group visited the farm of GPC Chairman Armond Morris in Irwinville to learn more about peanut production. Morris explained how peanuts grow and demonstrated how peanuts are harvested to the group. The journalists were also treated to a meal at the GPC headquarters in Tifton. Staff prepared a sampling of peanut recipes ranging from Southwestern Peanut Soup to Quick Peanut Chicken Stir Fry and Frozen Peanut Butter Pie.

Armond Morris (kneeling), Georgia Peanut Commission chairman, explains how peanuts are harvested to a group of Canadian food journalists on a peanut tour of his farm in September.

Georgia Peanut Bank Week celebrated in October The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Georgia Bankers Association join forces Oct. 12-16, 2015, in an effort to promote Georgia's peanut industry during the 39th annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week. Local banks and financial institutions across the state will honor Georgia's peanut farmers and their contribution made to the state and local economies during one of the biggest times of the year: peanut harvest.

Peanuts, recipe cards and other promotional material were available during the week of Oct. 12-16 at participating financial institutions. For more details visit the Georgia Peanut Commission website at gapeanuts.com.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

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

Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si visits Alabama Peanut Producers Association office in Dothan A celebrity from Louisiana recently made an unexpected visit to the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) office in Dothan, Alabama. Duck The Alabama Peanut Producers Dynasty’s own “Uncle Association present Uncle Si Robertson Si” Robertson was in of Duck Dynasty with a peanut gift basket and special recipe for Roast town for an event to with Peanut Sauce. Pictured left benefit the Wiregrass Duck to right: Caleb Bristow, Carole Granger, Children’s Home.

Robertson and Teresa Mays.

This home provides a safe haven for neglected and abused children throughout seven counties in Southeast Alabama.

The APPA staff welcomed Si to Dothan and hosted lunch for him. In addition to his request of fried chicken, he was served the perfect dessert, Peanut Butter Cake!

“I like it,” Robertson said of Dothan. “It’s a country town surrounded by peanuts, which should bring a lot of ducks. Now all I’ve gotta do is get permission to hunt ‘em!”

Robertson was presented a special peanut gift basket that included one of APPA’s special peanut recipes: Roast Duck with Peanut Sauce!”

Georgia Peanut Commission sponsors peanut farmer in NHRA Series The Georgia Peanut Commission is proud to announce sponsorship of Jeff Adkinson, longtime NHRA Lucas Oil Series competitor, for both his Stock and Super Stock entries. The alignment is a natural fit for Adkinson, a lifelong farmer who operates a peanut farm in his home town of Damascus, Georgia. The new alliance comes at an exciting time for Adkinson and his team, as he is in the middle of a hotly contested battle for the 2016 NHRA Southeast Division Super Stock championship.

The Georgia Peanut Commission logo debuted on Adkinson’s Super Stock Sunfire and Stock Eliminator Camaro at the Southeast Division event in Bristol, Tennessee. Adkinson also competed in races at the Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, Georgia, and will conclude his 2015 season with appearances at the NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas, and the AAA Auto Club Finals in Pomona, California.

Peanut butter donated to America’s Second Harvest The Florida Peanut Producers Association and Peanut Proud donated 10,080 jars of peanut butter to America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend in Tallahassee, Florida.

“This generous donation of a healthy, protein food item will significantly help us as we feed over 50,000 hungry people in the Big Bend region each month,” says Jim Croteau, interim CEO of America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend. “Community support is vital to our mission to fight hunger, and we appreciate the support of Florida Peanut Producers Association and Peanut Proud.”

“Florida Peanut Producers Association is very happy to partner with Peanut Proud to donate 10,080 jars of peanut butter to America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend,” says Ken Barton, executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association.

“Approximately 75 percent of the peanuts produced in Florida are used to make peanut butter and this is a great way for Florida’s peanut farmers to give Jim Croteau, interim CEO of America’s Second Harvest of back to a few of those in need.” the Big Bend, and Ken Barton, America’s Second Harvest of the executive director of the Florida Big Bend will distribute the peanut Peanut Producers Association. butter and other food items through its network of more than 130 partner agencies that feed the hungry through food pantries, soup kitchens and residential programs for people in need. These partner agencies are non-profits and faith-based organizations that directly serve those in need. They are located throughout the 11-county region of the Big Bend that we serve, including Leon, Gadsden, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Jackson, Liberty, Taylor, Madison and Wakulla Counties.

Florida Peanut Producers Association presents 2015 scholarships The Florida Peanut Producers Association Scholarship Committee recently awarded five students with $1,200.00 scholarships. Twelve applications were received and reviewed by the committee.

“While all applications were very good, the five winners demonstrated excellence in scholastic achievement, each receiving numerous honors and awards,” says Andy Robinson, FPPA president and chairman of the Scholarship Committee. “Each winner also demonstrated leadership qualities through their involvement in extracurricular activities in school organizations, clubs and churches as well as their responsibilities on their family farms.”

Florida Peanut Producers Association congratulates these five outstanding students: Ty Barber, Bronson; Jeb Bruner, Marianna; Erin Jones, Trenton; Caroline Rogers, Malone and Olivia Moore, Jay. October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall campaigning to be next AFBF President eorgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is traveling the country campaigning to become president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. A third-generation Georgia farmer and lifetime member of the Georgia Farm Bureau, Duvall is ready to lead the AFBF and is committed to leading it into the future while ensuring the organization stays true to its original purpose: to be the united voice of American farmers and ranchers.

“Agriculture is not only essential for life, it is essential for the security of our nation,” Duvall says. “I understand what it takes to keep Farm Bureau strong and extend our role as the respected, trusted voice for agriculture in America.”

During his nine years as Georgia Farm Bureau president, Duvall has led the state’s largest agriculture organization by building relationships with state and national legislators and building bridges with other state and national agriculture leaders to solve problems facing farmers, agriculture and consumers. Duvall has been on international trade missions on behalf of Georgia Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau.

“AFBF is a critical grassroots organization that provides an avenue for farmers and ranchers to engage in the important national conversations that effect our agricultural communities,” Duvall says. “From the time I first became involved in Farm Bureau as a

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Zippy Duvall is ready to lead the American Farm Bureau Federation and is committed to leading it into the future while ensuring the organization stays true to its original purpose: to be the united voice of American farmers and ranchers.

young farmer, I learned that building relationships and bridges with others is key to getting your voice heard and making a difference. This is the core of who I am and is what I have done throughout my life both on my farm and in my public service.”

Duvall made a commitment to agriculture and public service early in his career. He has been involved in multiple county, state and national organizations as well as many agriculture groups. He lives on his farm in Greene County, Georgia, with his wife of 36 years, Bonnie. The Duvalls have four children and three grandchildren.

Duvall announced his candidacy in July after AFBF President Bob Stallman announced he would not seek another term after leading the organization for 16 years.

“I decided to run for the national office after being asked by several state Farm Bureau presidents and after much prayer with my family,”

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

Duvall says. “I love my job as Georgia Farm Bureau president and the thought of leaving it was the toughest part of this decision because it’s so rewarding to work with all of our county volunteers and to represent Georgia’s farmers, but I believe the diversity of Georgia’s agriculture has prepared me to represent all of America’s farmers. The campaign responses traveling the country to state Farm Bureaus has truly been an encouraging journey for me.”

The AFBF presidential election, which is for a two-year term, will be held January 12, 2016, at the annual AFBF convention in Orlando, Florida. Each state is allotted voting delegates based on its number of Farm Bureau members.

Additional delegates come from the AFBF Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers & Ranchers Committees and the sitting AFBF president for a total of 355 voting delegates. The next AFBF president will need the support of 179 voting delegates at the convention.

More information on Duvall’s campaign for AFBF President can be found at www.zippyduvall.com as well as Facebook and Twitter. t

he new peanut program provides a strong safety net for the peanut industry in the Southeast but farmers need to be able to understand some of the changes including the potential for market loan gains that could reduce their Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payment. Rules regarding payment limits began with the 2014 crop even though many growers were signing up for the PLC program in 2015. Now with the 2015 crop, farmers are beginning to understand the new program and how marketing peanuts will be more important with the new rules.

“The new peanut program doesn’t offer farmers the option to just sign documents and not follow the market,” says Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director. “Farmers need to watch what they sign and keep abreast of changes with the market.”

The new peanut program eliminated all direct payments on all commodities.

However, the counter cyclical payment program for peanuts was changed to PLC with a new reference price of $535 per ton. The marketing loan remained at $355. The current peanut program maintains a separate payment limit for peanuts and the spousal rule. However, marketing loan gains (MLG) and loan deficiency payments (LDP) are now

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counted toward payment limits on all crops.

The MLG/LDP is triggered when the loan repayment rate (LRR) falls below the loan rate. In the case of peanuts, the National Posted Price (NPP) is the LRR. USDA posts the NPP every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. EST. Under the new program, farmers cannot obtain a loan without a warehouse receipt except in the case of on-farm storage. Farmers should check with their local FSA office before storing peanuts on their farm.

Marketing loan gains are of greater importance to farmers under the new program. A recent example happened with 2014 crop peanuts still in the loan this past August.

On Aug. 18, 2015, USDA decreased the NPP by $170 per ton for Runner, Virginia and Spanish peanuts for two weeks. This resulted in a $100 per ton market loan gain.

The USDA press release regarding the drop in posted price stated, “Loan repayment rates, during the period covered by this announcement, reflect a temporary two-week adjustment to encourage redemptions of outstanding loan balances and make way for 2015-crop peanuts in warehouses.”

According to Nathan Smith, the drop

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

in price effects farmers with peanuts in the loan during this time period. The loan is either redeemed during the active period or the repayment rate is locked in for a 60-day period during which the loan can be redeemed.

“The loan is redeemed by a couple of ways,” Smith says. “A producer with un-contracted peanuts in the loan will redeem the loan and sell the peanuts or a designated agent or attorney-in-fact for a producer with contracted peanuts (option contract) in the loan redeems the loan on behalf of the producer.”

The result of the lowered NPP for farmers with contracted peanuts in the loan was the receipt of notices that their 2014 peanuts were redeemed at the lower rate. Farmers received a marketing loan gain of $100 per ton which was applied to a payment limit. In the current peanut program, MLG and LDPs now count against the $125,000 payment limitation.

Those farmers will also receive a 1099 showing the MLG as income.

Farmers with un-contracted peanuts in the loan could forfeit their peanuts avoiding the MLG, payment limit and 1099 issues.

In several cases, farmers didn’t know they still had peanuts under the marketing loan.

“Farmers need to depend on themselves first to manage business

decisions,” Koehler says. “Farmers can maximize entities with family members and farm partners, or plan their crop mix to maximize use of all four payment limits. Producers should consult their attorney, accountant and FSA in developing their farm structure.”

To assist farmers, the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness has developed some decision aides posted on the Georgia Peanut Commission website at gapeanuts.com. The tools are available to assist farmers in determining potential payments and the effective price given the PLC rate, MLG and entities.

“The tools were created to give farmers a tool to plan their multiple entities, crop mix, determine their marketing loan gain versus forfeiture and more,” Koehler says. “Also, farmers can’t ignore rotation in their crop mix.”

The 2015 peanut crop loan rates took effect Aug. 1, 2015, which is the beginning of the crop year. For an average grade ton of peanuts for the 2015 crop year, loan levels for runner-type peanuts are $354.51 per ton. For the 2015 crop, marketing assistance loans are available until Feb. 1, 2016.

Option contracts are offered to growers by a sheller who pays an option premium to have the right to buy peanuts according to contract specifications. The sheller can exercise the right during the time period specified in the contract. The sheller or marketing association acts as a producer’s agent for marketing loan transactions which generally allow peanuts to be enrolled and redeemed on the producer’s behalf.

“Under an option contract the power

Management Tips Under the New Peanut Program 1. Follow the market - Monitor the national season average price for peanuts. This price determines PLC payment based on a $535 reference price. Visit www.caes.uga.edu/departments/agecon/extension/peanutprices.html to view the national season average price.

- Folow the National Posted Price (Loan repayment rate for peanuts) to know if it falls below the loan rate that would trigger a MLG or LDP (loan deficiency payment).

2. Monitor the number of tons you have in the loan throughout the marketing year, beyond when you are paid on option contracts because your peanuts could still be in the loan.

3. Notify the buying point, DMA or CMA of your peanut base tonnage so they can work with you on redeeming your peanuts from the loan to avoid maxing your payment limit. If you are close to the payment limit at the current PLC payment rate growers should add an entitiy if possible.

4. Visit www.gapeanuts.com to utilize tools developed by the National Center for Peanut Competitivenss for determing potential payments. of attorney is granted to the sheller or a Designated Marketing Association (DMA) or Cooperative Marketing Association (CMA),” Smith says. “The power of attorney is often appointed for conducting all marketing assistance loan and LDP transactions.”

So, for the future, Smith recommends growers notify the buying point, DMA or CMA of your peanut base tonnage in an effort to avoid large tonnage in the loan late in the marketing year for contracted peanuts. For un-contracted peanuts, Smith recommends farmers wait and forfeit to the government if there is a MLG or sell when the NPP is above the loan rate.

According to Koehler, the peanut industry is currently seeking generic

marketing certificates which will assist farmers for future years.

For 2016, Smith encourages farmers to add an entity if possible to help increase the payment limitation, limit the amount a farmer contracts if power of attorney is included, modify contracts to aid the farmer to control redemption of the peanuts or share in MLG’s.

Another concern for 2016, Koehler says, is warehouse space. He encourages growers to consider their rotation and available warehouse space when planning their 2016 crop because it is impossible to qualify for a marketing loan without a warehouse receipt. t

BY JOY CROSBY

USDA issues safety-net payments to farmers facing market downturn The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced nearly one half of the 1.7 million farms that signed up for either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments for the 2014 crop year.

“Unlike the old direct payments program, which paid farmers in good years and bad, the 2014 Farm Bill authorized a new safety-net that protects producers only when market forces or adverse weather cause unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The

nearly $4 billion provided today by the ARC and PLC safety-net programs will give assistance to producers where revenues dropped below normal.”

The ARC/PLC programs primarily allow producers to continue to produce for the market by making payments on a percentage of historical base production, limiting the impact on production decisions.

Nationwide, 99 percent of long grain rice and peanut farms elected the PLC option. Overall, 23 percent of participating farm acres are protected by PLC. For data about other crops, as well

as state-by-state program election results, final PLC price and payment data, and other program information including frequently asked questions, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Crops receiving assistance include barley, corn, grain sorghum, lentils, oats, peanuts, dry peas, soybeans, and wheat.

In the upcoming months, disbursements will be made for other crops after marketing year average prices are published by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. t

October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference 015 marked the 17th annual year for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference held July 23-25 at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia. This year’s theme was “Planting Our Future.” General sessions during the three-day conference provided farmers with information on the future in research with a panel of researchers covering genomics to UAVs. Additional topics focused on keeping the farm for future generations, USDA programs available for new and beginning farmers, peanut policy outlook and future trade opportunities with China.

Farming legislation is always a concern for peanut producers. This year during the conference, attendees heard from Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden and U.S. Representative Ted Yoho of Florida, a member of the House Agriculture Committee. Harden talked passionately about the future of agriculture and the need to get young people interested in the industry. “I’m talking about what I love, the people I love, the industry I love and its future and I encourage you to do the same,” she says.

Congressman Yoho stressed the opportunities for agriculture with new trade agreements being negotiated, now that the president has been granted Trade Promotion Authority. “Anytime you can bolster trade, especially for the ag economy, it makes America stronger,” he says.

During the awards breakfast Valent U.S.A. Corporation presented the annual Valor award to Bob Redding of The Redding Firm in Washington, D.C. Redding has been a longtime advocate for peanut farmers on Capitol Hill and helped with development of the current peanut program.

“Valor is defined as courage and boldness, as in battle, bravery, courage in defense of a noble cause,” says John Altom of Valent. “Our recipients have spent a lifetime providing that kind of John Altom (right) of Valent leadership to the peanut industry. They have made presents Bob Redding of The Redding Firm with the a life mission of integrity and service to their Valor Award during the community, their employees, their neighbors, and Southern Peanut Growers their customers.”

Conference in July.

Three farmers were also recognized during the conference with the annual Peanut Profitability Awards, which are sponsored

by Farm Press. The awards are based solely on production efficiency — honoring those growers who produce the highest yields at the lowest cost per acre. The awards are based on a producer’s entire farm operation, and not just on individual farms Winners of the 2015 Peanut or small plots.

Profitability Awards were honored at the Southern Peanut Growers This year’s honorees include: Conference. Pictured left to right are Southwest Region — Anthony Reed, Ron Smith, Farm Press; Anthony Thackerville, Oklahoma; Lower Southeast Reed, Oklahoma; Brian McClam, Region — Johnny Cochran, Sylvester, South Carolina; Johnny Cochran, Georgia and Marshall Lamb, USDA Georgia; and the Upper Southeast Region National Peanut Research Lab. — Brian McClam, Kingtree, South Carolina.

Highlights of the conference including photos, presentations and speaker interviews are all available on the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation website at southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

BY JOY CROSBY

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

Thanks to the 2015 Conference Sponsors Syngenta Bayer CropScience BASF DuPont Crop Protection National Peanut Board Ag Technologies Birdsong Peanuts Colombo NA Crop Intel AgGeorgia Farm Credit AgSouth Farm Credit Farm Credit of Florida Farm Credit of Northwest Florida First South Farm Credit Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Farm Press Intelli Farms John Deere Company Blanchard Equipment Company Flint Ag & Turf Lasseter Equipment Company Smith Tractor SunSouth LLC Kelley Manufacturing Co. Propane Education & Research Council Valent U.S.A. Corporation Amadas Industries Dow AgroSciences National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer The Peanut Grower AgriLogic Insurance Services, LLC Alabama Farmers Federation Alabama Power AMVAC Chemical Georgia Farm Bureau Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts McCleskey Mills Monsanto BioAg Nichino America, Inc. Olam Edible Nuts Agri-Supply Georgia Development Authority LMC-Ag LLC Newton Crouch, Inc. Nolin Steel Rayne Plane Inc. Sessions Co. Inc. The KBH Corporation Verdesian Life Sciences Co.

Peanut industry donates 62,010 jars of peanut butter to aid South Carolina flood victims n response to the thousands of families affected by the devastating floods in South Carolina this fall, Peanut Proud, a charitable organization of the U. S. peanut industry, is partnering with peanut grower organizations and peanut butter manufacturers to deliver 62,010 jars of peanut butter to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia, South Carolina. The retail value of the donation is estimated at $180,000.

The grower organizations donating to this effort include the National Peanut Board, Georgia Peanut Commission, Virginia Peanut Growers Association and North Carolina Peanut Growers Association. All of these organizations have on-going commitments to Peanut Proud but stepped up their donations recently to provide disaster relief to individuals in South Carolina.

South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers and South Carolina peanut growers Monty Rast and Brent Cogdill visited Harvest Hope Food Bank when the last shipment of peanut butter was delivered.

“So many people have been terribly affected by the recent rain and flood event. This donation by peanut processors and farmers, who are facing losses themselves, is a humbling display of generosity and resiliency. And we thank Harvest Hope for getting food to the folks who need it,” says Commissioner Weathers.

The shipment included peanut butter manufactured by J.M. Smucker Company,

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The U.S. peanut industry donates peanut butter to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia, S.C. Pictured left to right are South Carolina peanut farmers Brent Cogdill and Monty Rast along with South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers.

Algood Foods, Golden Boy Foods, The Kroger Company, and John B. Sanfilippo & Sons. The National Peanut Board, the Georgia Peanut Commission, the Virginia Peanut Growers Association, and North Carolina Peanut Growers Association were gracious in their donations to help with disaster relief in South Carolina.

“Our board members are pleased to team up with Peanut Proud to provide the ideal food for disaster relief. Peanut butter has seven grams of protein, 30 essential vitamins and minerals and no need for refrigeration,” said Bob Parker, president and CEO of National Peanut Board. “Our producers are proud of the crop they grow—a nutritious and delicious food that is the most-sought-after donation by food

banks for emergencies and year-round use.”

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the South Carolina Peanut Board are appreciative of the peanut industry’s donation.

“This donation represents the broadest industry participation and strongest overall financial support that Peanut Proud has seen since its inception in 2009,” said Gregg Grimsley, president of Peanut Proud.

To learn more about Peanut Proud, visit peanutproud.com. To make a donation to Peanut Proud, visit the website or send a check to Peanut Proud, 2015 Disaster Relief, P. O. Box 446, Blakely, Ga., 39823. t

Georgia Young Peanut Farmer award nominations due Dec. 15 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. 21, 2016, in Tifton, Ga. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission 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

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 agriculture 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 January 21, 2016. An individual may receive the award only

once. There is no limit on the number of applicants from each county in Georgia.

Applications are due to the GPC office by Dec. 15, 2015. 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 and a sign to display at his or her farm. t

October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Georgia's top peanut farmers lean on Cooperative Extension advice for successful years Georgia Peanut Achievement Club winners recognized for high yield in 2014 ach of Georgia’s top 10 peanut farmers relied on University of Georgia Cooperative Extension research to produce the highest yielding crops this year. These farmers were honored by the peanut industry this month for growing the year’s record-breaking crops.

“We lean on the Extension service heavily because they are there to answer questions and they have the experience,” said Wesley Webb, who has farmed peanut, cotton and corn in Calhoun County, Georgia, for 22 years.

Webb was one of 10 Georgia peanut farmers recognized on Saturday, Aug. 8, by the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club.

The peanut achievement club, coordinated

by UGA, has recognized the top-yielding growers in Georgia since the 1960s.

Webb averaged 7,337 pounds of peanuts per acre on 136 acres.

“I can run to talk with Jay (Hathorn), my local county agent, and Jay can pick up the telephone and reach anybody, anywhere in the state of Georgia if we’ve got a problem,” Webb says. “It’s kind of like the Internet. All I do is talk to Jay, and Jay can find my answer through the Extension service.”

Webb said, through his county agent, he gets research-based information straight from UGA scientists like plant

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Peanut Achievement Club State Winner: Jay Hathorn, Calhoun County Extension ag agent, and Scott Monfort, University of Georgia peanut agronomist, present the state Peanut Achievement Club high yield award to Wesley Webb of Calhoun County, Ga. Webb received the honor during a ceremony recognizing his high yield of 7,337 pounds per acres on 136 acres.

pathologist Bob Kemerait, weed scientist Eric Prostko and peanut agronomist Scott Monfort.

“He gets them on the phone in minutes and they answer any question I have,” Webb says.

The process of relaying the latest information to farmers through UGA Extension is based on trust. Georgia farmers and UGA Extension agents have to forge a trusting relationship for the

2014 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club State Winners Name

County

Acres

Yield

Crop Rotation*

Wesley Webb

Calhoun

136

7,337

p-c-ct/c-p

Eddie Miller

Seminole

619.73

7,135

ct-ct-c-p

Jimmy Webb

Calhoun

897.5

6,728

p-c-ct/c-p

Rick LaGuardia

Miller

377.3

6,645

p-c-c-p

Greg Mims

Seminole

889.5

6,628

p-ct-ct-p

Al Sudderth

Calhoun

487.9

6,610

p-c-c-p

Hulin Reeves Jr.

Ben Hill

4873

6,328

p-ct-ct-p

Chip Dorminy

Irwin

435.6

5,873

ct-p-c-p

Wayne Sayer

Irwin

1,129.5

4,926

ct-c-p

Ken Hall

Worth

1082

4,905

p-ct-ct-p

*Crop Rotation

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Corn = c

Cotton = ct

Peanuts = p

Vegetables = v

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

process to be successful, said Hathorn.

“I like to say people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.

Farmers have a trust in Extension, and a trust in the scientists, and a trust in the county agents to give them good, research-based information that they can use with their crops,” says Rome Ethredge, the agricultural and natural resources (ANR) agent in Seminole County, Georgia.

Ethredge accompanied Seminole County farmers Eddie Miller and Greg Mims to the peanut achievement club’s recognition banquet, held at the Jekyll Island Club at Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Miller was recognized for posting the highest overall yield in the state for farmers with 300 or more acres. He averaged 7,135 pounds per acre on more than 620 acres. Mims was the District II winner, a title that recognizes the farmer with the highest yield (6,628 pounds per acre) on more than 700 acres.

Monfort said the weekend was a testament to the work of Extension, including UGA research faculty and county agents, and Georgia producers across the state.

Winners of the 2014 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club. Pictured left to right: Blake Crabtree, Worth County Extension agent; Tyron Spearman, National Peanut Buying Points Association; Darlene Cowart, Birdsong Peanuts; Hulin Reeves Jr., Sandy Newell, BASF; Larry Varnadoe, Worth County Extension agent; Wesley Webb, Calhoun County; Ken Hall, Worth County; Eddie Miller, Seminole County; Jay Hathorn, Calhoun County Extension agent; Rick LaGuardia, Miller County; Brock Ward, Miller County Extension agent; Greg Mims, Seminole County; Rome Ethredge, Seminole County Extension agent; Chip Dorminy, Irwin County; Keith Rucker, Bayer CropScience and Scott Monfort, University of Georgia.

“This movement of information – from the researcher down to the agents to the farmer – is reciprocated back to us because we need that feedback. We need to know what works,” Monfort says. “We know what works in research, but when we put it to real world practice, does it work for these growers? Most of the growers in this particular program are going by university recommendations.”

Farmer Ken Hall uses UGA recommendations to improve his farming practices in Worth County, Georgia. On 1,082 acres last year, Hall produced 4,905 pounds of peanuts per acre, the most in District III on more than 700 acres. Hall leans on Worth County ANR agent Larry Varnadoe for answers to questions that arise during the year.

“Rather than us go out and try something that may cost extra money or lead to damage to our crops, it’s best to call them (UGA Extension agents) ahead of time. Nine times out of 10, they’ve already tried it and they can say, ‘Yes, you can,’ or ‘No, you can’t,’” Hall says.

Along with the UGA peanut team, supporters of the peanut achievement club include Bayer, BASF, the American Peanut Shellers Association and the National Peanut Buying Points Association.

The 2014 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club highest overall yield in the state went to Wesley Webb, Calhoun County, for 7,337 pounds per acre on 136 acres. For the 300 acres or more category, Eddie Miller, Seminole County, won with 7,135 pounds per acre on 620 acres. The District I winners are Al Sudderth, Calhoun County, with 6,610 pounds per acre on 488 acres and Jimmy Webb, Calhoun County, with 6,728 pounds on 897 acres.

The District II winners are Rick LaGuardia, Miller County, with 6,646 pounds per acre on 377 acres and Greg Mims, Seminole County, with 6,628 pounds per acre on 890 acres. The District III winners are Hulin Reeves Jr., Ben Hill County, with 6,328 pounds per acre on 487 acres and Ken Hall Farms, Inc., Worth County, with 4,905 pounds per acre on 1,082 acres. The District IV winners are Chip Dorminy, Irwin County, with 5,874 pounds per acre on 436 acres and Wayne Sayer, Irwin County, with 4,926 pounds per acre on 1,129 acres. t

BY CLINT THOMPSON UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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2015 Georgia Peanut Tour showcases Southwest Georgia he twenty-ninth annual Georgia Peanut Tour was held Sept. 15-17, 2015, and located out of Southwest Georgia. The tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a firsthand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops were made in several peanut producing counties including Thomas, Grady, Decatur, Seminole and Miller County.

“The tour has been excellent. We were able to visit a number of sites that showcased Georgia’s peanut production,” says Rajagopalbabu “Babu” Srinivasan, UGA entomologist and chairman of the peanut tour committee. “We were able to see farming operations on a big scale, digging and picking. We had a good session at our research station in Attapulgus,

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2015 Georgia Peanut Tour Sponsors Platinum Sponsors American Peanut Shellers Assn.

Bayer CropScience Birdsong Peanuts Dow AgroSciences Nichino America Gold Sponsors DuPont NACHURS Silver Sponsors Southeastern Peanut Farmer Bronze Sponsors Agri Supply Monsanto BioAg National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

Snyder’s Lance Southwest Georgia Farm Credit The Peanut Grower UGA Research Foundation Verdesian Life Sciences Supporter Sponsors Mars Chocolate North America McKee Foods The Hershey Company

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Attendees view peanut harvest at the farm of Glenn Heard, Brinson, Ga., during the 2015 Georgia Peanut Tour held Sept. 15-17, in Southwest Georgia.

Georgia, that allowed us to highlight our research findings over the years.”

Attendees were able to see firsthand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour included on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, peanut processing facilities, and several special highlights which include research at the University of Georgia Research & Education Center in Attapulgus, Lewis M. Carter Manufacturing, Fudge-Birdsong Peanuts Buying Point and Birdsong Peanuts Shelling Plant.

“Even though we have a number of people who participate in the peanut tour every year, we have several newcomers. What we wanted to do was show them everything we could in a couple of days about peanut production. This being the time for harvest, we were able to show them how the peanuts are harvested and processed” Srinivasan says.

The tour also provided a glimpse into peanut harvest on the farm.

Attendees were able to view peanut

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

diggers and combines in the field at the farms of Andy Bell and Glenn Heard of Decatur. Participants on the tour also learned more about dryland peanuts by visiting the farm of John Harrell in Grady County.

“I think it’s important to attend the Georgia Peanut Tour since peanuts is our primary ingredient and I think its always good to see the entire supply chain,” says Gary Lajoie, vice president of operations for G.E. Barbour, a peanut butter manufacturer in Canada. “More importantly, the tour provides a way for me to network with some of the shellers we have done business with in the past.”

The tour included 182 industry representatives from 3 states and 2 countries.

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

Visit georgiapeanuttour.com to learn more about the tour stops on the 2015 tour. t

BY JOY CROSBY

Georgia Peanut Commission donates tractor to UGA Peanut Team hanks to a generous donation from the Georgia Peanut Commission, University of Georgia Peanut Team scientists on the Tifton Campus are using a John Deere 6125R tractor to conduct peanut research.

“In 2015, the Georgia Peanut Commission used research funds to purchase a tractor for the University of Georgia peanut team to use. It was necessary for them to have a more up-to-date tractor that uses similar technologies available for farmers today,” says Donald Chase, Georgia Peanut Commission Research Committee chairman. I am really excited about this tractor and the numerous precision agriculture operations and possibilities offered for the UGA peanut team.”

The newly-acquired tractor is a small part of the assistance that the Georgia Peanut Commission has given the UGA Peanut Team this year, according to UGA peanut agronomist Scott Monfort.

“They have invested in a tractor so that we can have guidance systems and other precision agriculture abilities.

They’ve also provided us with some funds to assist with building a new planter. That brand new planter is basically run by computers,” Monfort says. “We’re going to have a lot of sensors on it.”

The new tractor will allow UGA scientists to change row configurations and seeding rates on the go instead of using multiple planters with different configurations.

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Georgia Peanut Commission donates tractor to the University of Georgia Peanut Team. Pictured left to right are Mark Abney and Scott Tubbs, UGA; Tim Burch, Georgia Peanut Commission board member and farmer from Baker County; Rodney Dawson, Georgia Peanut Commission board member and farmer from Pulaski County; Armond Morris, Georgia Peanut Commission chairman and farmer from Irwin County; Scott Monfort, UGA; David Reed, Georgia Peanut Commission advisory board member and farmer from Dooly County; Laura Perry Johnson, UGA; John Harrell, Georgia Peanut Commission advisory board member and farmer from Grady County; Joe Boddiford, Georgia Peanut Commission board member and farmer from Screven County; Bob Kemerait, UGA; Donald Chase, Georgia Peanut Commission board member and farmer from Macon County; and Joe West, UGA.

“We’re trying to take out the error that comes from using so many different planters,” Monfort says.

Monfort said the ability to conduct research off campus in other farmers’ fields is a vital part of the peanut team’s work.

“That’s what farmers are asking for.

They’re asking us about this technology.

How is it going to work better for them?

How’s it going to enhance their farming operations?” Monfort says. “Doing this

(acquiring the new tractor) is investing in our ability to research. We do feel confident it’s going to help us in the future.”

Monfort estimates Georgia’s peanut farmers cultivated 770,000 acres this year.

The Georgia Peanut Commission donated more than $500,000 for UGA peanut research projects this year. t

BY CLINT THOMPSON UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

USDA appoints new members to National Peanut Board nited States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently appointed four members and five alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board. The appointees will serve threeyear terms beginning Jan. 1, 2016, and ending on Dec. 31, 2018, with the exception of Florida alternate appointee

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who will begin immediately and end on Dec. 31, 2017.

The new board members are: William Carte, Live Oak, Florida; Andy Bell, Climax, Georgia; Eileen Jordan, Rayville, Louisiana; Bud Bowers, Estill, South Carolina and Peter Froese Jr., Seminole, Texas.

The new alternate board members

are: Neil Lee, Dawson, Georgia; Micah Barham, Oak Ridge, Louisiana; Steven Neal Baxley Jr., Alcolu, South Carolina and Bob White, Carendon, Texas.

The nine appointees will be sworn in

by USDA for their new terms at the December 2015 meeting of the National Peanut Board. t

October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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USDA offers new program for new and beginning farmers eports from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are showing a slight increase in the number of young farmers and a stable number of small farms and large-scale farms. Taking those positive statistics into consideration, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) have implemented special program opportunities for new and beginning farmers.

Brett Martin, farm program chief with the Georgia Farm Service Agency, explains how the programs are very important to help support new farmers so they can create the best farms possible.

During his presentation at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference this past July, Martin said during the past few years USDA has been creating materials that can be offered to the next generation of farmers.

To have the opportunity to participate in the programs, FSA requires you must

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be a beginning farmer or rancher that has not actively operated or managed a farm or ranch for more than 10 years consecutively and materially or substantially participates in the operation. A legal entity may also be included in the programs which will require all members be related by blood or marriage and all must be beginning farmers.

NRCS defines a program member as one having operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years. This also applies to members of an entity and all must be materially and substantially participating in the farming operation.

RMA states a participant must be an individual who has not actively operated or managed a farm or ranch as an owneroperator, landlord, tenant or sharecropper for more than 5 years excluding any crop year the beginning farmer and rancher was under the age of 18, in post-secondary studies, or on active duty in the U.S. military. This includes insurable interest as an individual or beneficial interest holder in another person’s insured crop or

Brett Martin, farm program chief with the Georgia Farm Service Agency, speaks at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 23-25 at Callaway Gardens.

livestock.

Anyone interested in learning more about the programs may contact their nearest FSA, NRCS or RMA office or visit usda.gov/newfarmers. t

BY TERESA MAYS

USDA announces committment for next generation of farmers Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden recently announced a commitment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Deputy Secretary Harden also announced a new, tailored web tool designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to help them get started.

“Today’s announcement is symbolic of the evolution of USDA’s efforts to better serve the next generation of farmers and ranchers. What began seven years ago with the recognition that the rapid aging of the American farmer was an emerging challenge, has transformed into a robust, transparent, tech-based strategy to recruit the farmers of the future,” Harden says.

“No matter where you’re from, no matter what you look like, no matter your back-

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ground, we want USDA to be the first stop for anyone who is looking to be a part of the story and legacy of American agriculture.”

The new web tool is available at usda.gov/newfarmers. The site was designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and ranchers around the country, who cited unfamiliarity with programs and resources as a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features advice and guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to obtaining a loan to grow their business, to filing taxes as a new small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their operation, farmers can use the site’s Discovery Tool to build a personalized set of recommendations of USDA programs and services that may meet their needs.

Using the new web tool and other

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

outreach activities, and operating within its existing resources, USDA has set a new goal of increasing beginning farmer and rancher participation by an additional 6.6 percent across key USDA programs, which were established or strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill, for a total investment value of approximately $5.6 billion.

Programs were targeted for expanded outreach and commitment based on their impact on expanding opportunity for new and beginning farmers and ranchers, including starting or expanding an operation, developing new markets, supporting more effective farming and conservation practices, and having access to relevant training and education opportunities.

USDA will provide quarterly updates on its progress towards meeting its goal. A full explanation of the investment targets, benchmarks and outcomes is available through a BFR Commitment Factsheet available online at usda.gov. t

Peanut growers should consider PAC contributions he relationship between the peanut industry and politics can be a mystery. There are hundreds of miles between the farms of the peanut belt and Capitol Hill. More than miles, a lack of agricultural knowledge or background separates farmers and an increasing number of members of Congress.

To bridge this divide, the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation relies on advocates in Washington who ensure that Congressmen and Senators are educated on important agricultural issues. These advocates meet with legislators and their staff members on a regular basis to ensure that sound farm policy is considered on Capitol Hill.

Just as important as educating existing members of Congress about farm policy, however, is working on the front end to ensure that the men and women being elected to Congress are passionate and supportive of agriculture.

Political campaign costs are rising cycle after cycle.

Winning a congressional election, even in a rural district, now can cost millions of dollars.

Political Action Committees (PACs) help to fund those campaigns by raising money from interest groups. PACs choose to support campaigns important to their industries or causes.

Peanut growers have the U.S. Peanut PAC available for voluntary contributions.

In past years, the U.S. Peanut PAC has been successful in ensuring that men and women who are supportive of agriculture and rural America are being elected to Congress.

Congressional districts and states with vested agricultural and rural interests continue to diminish. Though the farm fill was intended to last through at least 2018, it has already come under attack.

The U.S. Peanut PAC has launched a 25 cent per ton voluntary contribution program. This means that when a grower completes an authorization form with the PAC, for every ton of peanuts grown, 25 cents is automatically deducted for the PAC. “If any growers haven’t signed up yet, please consider it.

“I’ve signed up and fully support the U.S. Peanut PAC and the great work it does in Washington,” says Andy Bell, farmer from Climax, Georgia.

In order to sign up, growers need to fill out the U.S. Peanut PAC Contribution Authorization Form, available at their buying point as well as online at americanpeanuts.com.

The success of the U.S. Peanut PAC has been dependent on support from peanut growers.

For more information regarding the U.S. Peanut PAC, contact Devon Griger at d.griger@att.net. Information can also be found at americanpeanuts.com. t

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October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Peanut Leadership Academy participants visit West Texas for third session embers of Class IX of the Peanut Leadership Academy completed session three of the 18-month program Aug. 10-13, 2015, in Lubbock, Texas. This session focused on learning about Texas agriculture and developing media relations skills from communication professionals.

Day one of the session began with farm tours in Brownfield, Texas. Jarred Ericson, former PLA graduate, gave attendees a tour of his family’s farm and local vineyard. Growers and sheller representatives were able to see just how different Texas peanut production is when compared to its Southeastern and Virginia/Carolina counterparts. After visiting with Ericson, attendees toured Birdsong Peanuts’ shelling facility in Brownfield and Lost Draw Vineyard, locally-owned by peanut grower, Andy Timmons.

Training with media professionals kicked off day two. PLA participants were given media training from local news representatives and communication specialists. Leaders were able to participate in interviews and receive feedback on ways to improve, how to

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Jarred Ericson, Lahey Farms, visits with the members of Class IX of the Peanut Leadership Academy during session three held in Lubbock, Texas, Aug. 10-13, 2015.

dress for an interview, preparation techniques, etc. During this classroom session, attendees also received updates on the corn and cotton market and heard from a representative with Combest and Sell’s legislative firm and Texas Tech University’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. To conclude the day, participants visited Lubbock Feeders, a large-scale feed yard

Class IX members of the Peanut Leadership Academy learned more about peanut production in West Texas, media training and communications skills during session three held Aug. 10-13. 2015, in Lubbock, Texas.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

and South Plains Compost. Lubbock Feeders is a large-scale feed yard located on the southeast side of Lubbock with a capacity of approximately 30,000 cattle.

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. Through the training, 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, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Class IX of the Peanut Leadership Academy will be traveling to Washington, D.C. in 2016 for their fourth and final educational session. Additional information on the Peanut Leadership Academy is available online at southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

BY JESSIE BLAND

National Peanut Board sets new marketing direction for FY-16 Signaling a new strategy of targeting millennial consumers, the National Peanut Board unanimously approved the fiscal year 16 Program of Work at its quarterly Board meeting in Suffolk, Virginia, Aug. 10 - 13. In addition, the board unanimously approved a budget of $10,465,000 for FY-16, which begins Nov. 1, 2015 and ends Oct. 31, 2016.

Before implementation, USDA must approve the budget and Program of Work.

The FY-16 Program of Work focuses on consumer and trade engagement with an emphasis on digital and innovative communications that will target the millennial demographic, or consumers who are roughly 20 to 37 years of age, represent a size of about 80 million Americans and have an estimated spending power of $1.6 trillion.

The Program of Work falls in line with a decision announced in July to expand Golin’s responsibilities to include marketing, advertising and public relations, following a competitive review.

Golin will assist the Board in implementing content creation, digital and traditional advertising, business development, earned and social media, events and reputation management for FY-16.

“We feel it’s crucial to tighten our target audience to include millennials so they can have the same relationship with peanuts that their parents and grandparents have,” says Bob Parker, president and CEO of National Peanut Board. “Market research shows this

generation is bombarded with more choices and messages about snacking and nuts than older generations. Even though millennials are open to listening to messages about peanuts and peanut butter, there is not enough relevant messaging, delivered in the digital format millennials prefer, to inspire them to choose peanuts over other nuts.”

“Peanuts embody the qualities millennials value: authenticity, simplicity and originality,” says Ryan Lepicier, NPB’s senior vice president of marketing and communications. “We plan to break through with a focused and relevant campaign by creating a meaningful story and brand persona that fosters a passionate and emotional connection with peanuts.”

The FY-16 Program of Work includes a continued commitment to peanut allergy research, awareness and education.

“Peanut producers don’t want anybody harmed by the crop they grow, so peanut allergy research and education remains a top priority for the next fiscal year,” says Bob White, chairman and Texas delegate to the board. “We’ll accelerate our allergy initiatives further with a comprehensive program that connects with consumers, school administrators and health and nutrition experts to help make sure their decisions are based on sound science.” Since 2001, the board has allocated more than $10 million in food allergy research, outreach and education. t

NPB premieres “Voices of Peanut Farming” series Following the success of last year’s series, “The Journey of a Peanut Butter Jar,” the National Peanut Board has launched a new multimedia educational series for consumers entitled “Voices of Peanut Farming.” The series highlights America’s peanut farmers and explores the challenges and opportunities of peanut farming today through written articles and full-length interviews with farmers and industry members.

The educational series is housed at voicesofpeanutfarming.org, the series kicked off with a look at the average, longtime peanut farmer, including interviews with Dee Dee Darden of Virginia, Louis Grissom of Texas and Carl Sanders of Alabama. The website also features a blog post on the younger generation of farmers which highlights Dexter Gilbert of Florida, Austin White of Oklahoma and Meredith Rogers of Georgia.

Through “Voices of Peanut Farming,” NPB shares what it takes to be a peanut farmer, the need and role for younger farmers in agriculture, the role of technology in farming and how peanut farmers are making strides in sustainability and conservation.

Consumers will hear directly from farmers and industry members themselves in audio interviews tied to each story. NPB will promote the series through online and social channels and encourages the industry to help spread the word as well. t

Peanut industry organizations launch new peanut educational materials The National Peanut Board, along with Georgia Peanut Commission, Florida Peanut Producers, Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Virginia-Carolina Peanut Promotions, Southern Peanut Growers and American Peanut Council have launched a new peanut learning resource geared for students in grades 3-5.

The producer and industry organizations partnered with The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture to develop Discover the Powerful Peanut, a set of 12 easy-to-use peanut activity cards. The learning resource reinforces

key peanut messaging, is aligned to National Learning Standards and is available in a digital and print-ready format.

The 15-to-30 minute activities allow students to practice their math skills as they crunch peanut production data and reinforce social science skills as they create maps of key peanut growing regions and explore key events in history influenced by peanuts. They will also dig into science as they explore allergies, the plant lifecycle and nutrition.

In addition to science, math and

social science skills, students will also have the opportunity to enhance their English Language Arts skills by reading about peanut farm families on the activity cards. The variety of peanut activities included in the set will not only enhance the classroom but also can be used in after- school programs, volunteer presentations in the school, home school education and key marketing events.

The peanut activity cards are available as a free download at nationalpeanutboard.org and AgFoundation.org. t

October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Washington Outlook

by Robert L. Redding Jr.

Senate postpones child nutrition reauthorization U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, had scheduled a committee markup, for September 17, to consider bipartisan legislation reauthorizing child nutrition programs. The Committee announced recently that the mark-up will be postponed.

Chairman Roberts is working with Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and other committee members to craft a reauthorization package that increases efficiency, effectiveness, flexibility and integrity.

“We must reauthorize these programs so children across America can and will have healthy meals available at school,” Roberts said.

“Unfortunately, there are significant error rates and improper payment levels in school meal programs. We need to improve the administration of these programs to reduce errors but do so in a way that does not layer additional federal bureaucracy and overreach on those feeding hungry schoolchildren. I have traveled across Kansas, eating school lunches with students and meeting with nutrition directors. I keep hearing one word over and over again: flexibility.

To me, that means we protect the gains already achieved by many school districts and provide assistance to other districts so all students will have healthy, filling meals.”

The bill includes reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The Senate Agriculture Committee held a previous hearing that included school nutrition professionals and other stakeholders.

West Texas Congressman Neugebauer to retire Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has announced that he will not seek re-election. Congressman Neugebauer represents the West Texas peanut belt.

House Ag Chairman Conaway stated, “Randy has been an outstanding voice for West Texas and a great conservative leader on Capitol Hill. It has been a pleasure working alongside him both on the Agriculture Committee and in our neighboring districts in Texas.

Among many other accomplishments, he was instrumental in developing the 2014 farm bill and has provided invaluable wisdom and insight as vice chairman of the committee. Randy is man of integrity, faith, and courage, and he will be missed by his colleagues.”

House Ways and Means approves bonus depreciation The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee has approved a permanent extension of a tax provision that allows farmers to immediately file a deduction on up to 50 percent of the cost of new farm equipment purchases. The Senate Finance Committee has also approved the tax extender but only for two years. House and Senate leaders have not scheduled floor time for this legislation to date.

House Agriculture Committee to review 2015 Dietary Guidelines House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, announced a hearing with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell on October 7 at 9 a.m. The hearing will focus on the process for developing the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

Earlier this year, Chairman Conaway sent a letter, along with Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Indiana, and Rep. David Rouzer, R-North Carolina, to Sec. Vilsack and Sec. Burwell raising concerns about recommendations received from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). Conaway also signed on to a letter in March authored by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Missouri, expressing similar concerns. Most recently, Conaway was joined by Ranking Member Colin Peterson, D-Minnesota, in May seeking details from USDA and HHS on their plans for reviewing the more than 29,000 public comments that were received.

“Every American is affected by these nutritional recommendations, which is why it is essential for them to be based on sound, consistent, and irrefutable science.

However, the DGAC greatly exceeded its scope with its February 2015 report by straying from traditional nutritional recommendations and advising on wider policy issues like sustainability and tax policy. The Agriculture Committee is committed to making sure the 2015 guidelines reflect the science, not the individual policy positions of DGAC members. I am thankful to Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Burwell for their time and attention into this matter, and I look forward to reviewing the process and content of the current recommendations,” Chairman Conaway says.

USDA announces incentives to establish biomass crops USDA’s Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini announced that enrollment has begun for farmers and forest landowners seeking financial assistance for growing new sources of biomass for energy or biobased products within designated projects areas. The funds are available from the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

Biomass energy facilities or groups of producers may submit proposals for new BCAP project areas. Proposals will be accepted on grants.gov.

Legislative Updates available online at gapeanuts.com.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2015

Congressman Scott asks USDA to review posted price for peanuts drop At a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing, U.S. Congressman Austin Scott, R-Georgia, asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to review the recent reduction in the USDA peanut posted price and report the USDA findings back to the committee. USDA arbitrarily dropped the posted price for peanuts $170 per ton on August 18, 2015. This pushed the posted price below the loan rate. There was no substantive economic justification for the dramatic reduction but the USDA press release noted that the reason for the reduction was to free up warehouse space for the upcoming 2015 peanut crop. The Georgia Peanut Commission asked the University of Georgia’s (UGA) National Center for Peanut Competitiveness (NCPC) to review USDA’s actions. UGA’s NCPC does not believe there was evidence to support this drop at this time.

The USDA action has negatively impacted a number of farmers. At a recent meeting in Georgia, 90 producers were in attendance voicing concern about this issue. U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, has been working with growers in his district to determine if there are options available.

Comments on USDA’s News Release on Lowering the National Posted Price for Peanuts (effective 08/19/15) August 21, 2015 National Center for Peanut Competitiveness 1.

USDA effectively lowered the National Posted Price for all types of peanuts except Valencia peanuts by $100 below the 2015 National loan rate by type.

2.

This created a $100 MLG for the redeemed peanuts to a peanut farmer which will count against the farmer’s 2014 payment limitation.

3.

4.

These last three points contradicts the rationale by USDA for decreasing the National Posted Price. The rationale was “to encourage redemptions of outstanding loan balances and make way for the 2015-crop peanuts in warehouses.”

10. If shellers redeem the loan peanuts, those peanuts will still be housed in the warehouse till there is a market demand for those peanuts. This does not make way for the 2015-crop peanuts in warehouses.

As of August 18, 2015, USDA reported that the 9-month outstanding loan for the 2014 peanut crop at 526.8 million pounds which is 263,400 tons FSP. If all of the outstanding loan peanuts are redeemed at the new National Posted Price, peanut farmers in aggregate will receive 1099 tax forms from the USDA totally $26.34 million for tax purposes. This effectively reduces peanut farm income by this amount which could be devastating to many peanut farmers given the current commodity prices.

5.

To avoid potential tax implications and payment limit issues, a farmer could forfeit their peanuts to USDA if those peanuts are not already under contract to a sheller with a power of attorney assigned to the sheller.

6.

In conversations with peanut industry personnel, the view is that peanut shelling is at the level associated with 2014 crop market demand.

7.

In fact 2014 market demand for new shelled peanuts is at such a low level that USDA-NASS did not report any peanut prices or marketing levels due to avoid disclosing data for individual operations for the week ending August 15, 2015.

8.

9.

11. Typically, some of the early peanut harvest is sold commercially instead of going into the loan. Given the timing of this National Posted Price reduction, the early harvested 2015 peanuts sold commercially will be severely impacted which again impacts the economic viability of those peanut farmers.

12. Given the time period that the announcement covers, the early harvest 2015 peanuts could be placed in the loan instead of sold directly in the commercial market and then redeemed at the lower National Posted Price creating again MLGs for those producers.

13. If the early harvest 2015 peanuts were to be placed in the loan under normal conditions, a sheller could still redeem them at the lower National Posted Price if a contract existed between the sheller and producer which creates a MLG for those producers.

14. If the announcement is supposed to deal only with the 2014 peanut crop loan peanuts, it is not stated clearly.

Shellers will not shell peanuts for the sake of shelling since the cost of cold storage for the shelled peanuts is higher than just storing the peanuts in their in-shelled form.

October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Southern Peanut Growers Southern Peanut Growers teams up with Johnny Rockets to create new chocolate peanut butter shake Johnny Rockets encouraged people to “Shake Your Cool Thing” at Johnny Rockets with the new Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake made with Reese’s Peanut Butter. Southern Peanut Growers worked with Johnny Rockets to add this new shake to the menu as a promotional item August 3 through September 21.

“Initial sales were very good,” says Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers. “We’re hoping it is so popular they decide to keep it on the menu!”

As of press time, SPG received official news that the shake will stay on the menu until Nov. 15, 2015, because it has out-performed expectations with Johnny Rockets’ guests.

Spread the #myPBjoy for November, Peanut Butter Lovers Month November is time to celebrate our favorite food - peanut butter - and Southern Peanut Growers is celebrating with an Instagram contest! Follow @peanut.butter.lovers and then submit a photo sharing what brings you #myPBjoy. SPG will choose weekly winners who will receive a peanut butter packed gift box!

Fall consumer shows are underway The Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) and Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) teamed up to exhibit at Good for You Girls’ Day Out in Jacksonville, Florida, Aug. 15.

About 1,200 people paid to attend the day-long health event which included a keynote opening session by Jessie Sherry Saunders, Florida Close (actress Glen Close’s sister), Peanut Producers health screenings, exhibitors, break- Association, and Leslie out presentations on different health Wagner, Southern Peanut Growers, visits with topics, and a closing session with consumers during the Good motivational speaker Diana Jordan. for You Girl’s Day Out. Peanut-powered health messages included diabetes control and prevention, heart health and weight control.

The SPG and Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) teamed up at the Taste of Home Expo in Huntsville, Alabama, on

Marketing arm of

Wicked Wedge Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. creamy blue cheese dressing 1 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter 1 tsp. Tabasco® Chipotle Pepper Sauce ¼ head iceburg lettuce cut into a wedge 2 Tbsp. blue cheese crumbles 2 Tbsp. chopped bacon 2 Tbsp. Planters® Chipotle Peanuts 2 plum tomatoes sliced in half

Directions: Whisk together the blue cheese dressing, peanut butter and pepper sauce to make a dressing. Put the iceburg lettuce wedge onto plate and top with blue cheese, crumbles, bacon, peanuts and tomatoes. Top with dressing and serve.

Created by Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission

Sept. 15. The APPA had a booth featuring a peanut field backdrop within the ALFA Farmer’s Market area. Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers, did a cooking demonstration featuring Beef Kabobs with an Indonesian Peanut Sauce and the new Wicked Wedge Salad while talking about peanut nutrition and the facts on peanut allergy, including the study on the new early introduction recommendation.

The SPG and Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) teamed up at Taste of Atlanta September 26 – 27. Peanuts were featured in the Georgia Grown area of the festival. Don Koehler, executive director of Georgia Peanut Commission presented a cooking demonstration entitled ‘Power Your Salads with Peanuts!’

High school culinary students help serve Peanut Butter Toffee Dip during the Taste of Home Expo in Huntsville, Ala.

Georgia Peanut Commission executive director Don Koehler presents a cooking demonstration entitle ‘Power Your Salads with Peanuts!’ during the Taste of Atlanta event in September.

Southern Peanut Growers 1025 Sugar Pike Way · Canton, Georgia 30115 (770) 751-6615 · FAX (770) 751-6417 email: lpwagner@comcast.net Visit our website at http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com

October/November 2015 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Georgia’s Largest Commodity Show January 21, 2016 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton, Georgia Free farmer lunch Pesticide applicators certification More than 100 Exhibits Doorprizes

Learn more about the 2016 Georgia Peanut Farm Show by scanning this code with your smartphone.

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