Southeastern Peanut Farmer - April 2013 by SEPF

Inside: Calcium nutrition for peanuts n 2013 Peanut Disease Guidebook n Peanut research endowment created n

A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Contents April 2013

Joy Carter Crosby Editor joycarter@gapeanuts.com 229-386-3690 Teresa Mays Contributing Writer Teresa2@alpeanuts.com 334-792-6482 Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Leidner Contributing Writer johnleidner@bellsouth.net 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 229-386-3690.

Calcium nutrition for peanuts Peanuts lacking calcium will produce pops or hollow shells and can also have pod rot diseases and black heart. The primary sources for calcium are gypsum or land plaster, along with lime. Learn more about calcium nutrition for the 2013 growing season.

Disease Guidebook The 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease Guidebook begins on page 10 and continues through page 16. Through the guidebook, farmers can learn more about foliar diseases, in-furrow fungicides, cylindrocladium black rot (CBR) and spraying early to prevent white mold.

Peanut research endowment A newly formed peanut research endowment will provide a way to carry on the tradition and excellence in peanut research at the University of Georgia. The $100,000 donation was made by the Georgia Federal State Inspection Service and is the first ever peanut research specific endowment created at UGA.

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

Washington Outlook ............................................................................ 20 Southern Peanut Growers Update ........................................................ 22 Cover Photo: Early leaf spot on a peanut plant. Photo by Bob Kemerait, University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist.

April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Editorial

Calendar of Events

Thankful for Endowments & Airwaves

here are several times throughout the year where I hear someone mention a farmer, organization or business that deserve extra praise for taking the initiative and making a special donation for the future of the peanut industry or focusing on promoting agriculture. This month two businesses come to mind that have done just that. The Georgia Federal State Inspection Service (FSIS) and Broadcast South are both making a difference with their recent efforts. The Georgia FSIS recently donated $100,000 towards the creation of the University of Georgia (UGA) Peanut Team Research Endowment. This is the first ever endowment dedicated towards peanut research. The endowment allows additional donors to make contributions to assist in carrying on the peanut research at UGA. The original donation of $100,000 is never spent; only the interest earned is used for funding research. The donation by Georgia FSIS will provide a tremendous benefit to the Georgia peanut industry. According to John Beasley, UGA Extension peanut agronomist, the endowment will be a constant and continuous source of funding the UGA Peanut Team can depend upon for addressing long-term issues facing farmers. In the future donations can be made to help strengthen the endowment. To make a donation, contact Niki Coody with UGA at nikinew@uga.edu or 229-386-3207. Broadcast South decided to think outside the box a little and they are donating their time and effort through the airwaves. Broadcast South decided to put farming news first in their programming on The Farm 92.5. The Farm is one of their largest radio stations, covering a large swath of South Georgia. According to John Higgs, CEO of Broadcast South, they decided to embrace their agricultural heritage and invent a new format. We call it “Agricountry,” he says, “as we feature farm news, Farmer Forecast ag weather, Tyron Spearman’s Ga Peanut Report, reports from the University of Georgia Extension experts and great country music.” Higgs continues, “We have enough agricultural shows to keep the farmers informed in a timely manner, but have great music for most of each hour, so it is the best of both worlds. Two of our partners in our radio group are farmers and we know that it is both our biggest industry and our cultural heritage in South Georgia.” Higgs provides credit and thanks to longtime salesperson Becky Davis for suggesting this change, and to Micky Helms who orchestrates things back at the station. Higgs believes this is the biggest story in South Georgia radio in 2013. And, I agree. It is nice to have a radio station focus their efforts on highlighting agriculture and educating farmers too. Both Georgia FSIS and Broadcast South have taken the initiative to enhance agriculture through their donation and on-air service. So, if you see representatives of either business then take the time to thank them for their efforts. t

u Georgia Centennial Farm Nomination Deadline, May 1, 2013. For more information call 404-651-5906 or email Steven Moffson, Georgia Centennial Farm Committee chair at steven.moffson@dnr.state.ga.us. Applications available at www.georgiacentennialfarms.org. u USA Peanut Congress, June 22-25, 2013, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla. For more information call 703-838-9500 or visit the American Peanut Council online at www.peanutsusa.org. u American Peanut Research and Education Society Annual Meeting, July 911, 2013, Brasstown Valley Resort, Young Harris, Ga. For more information call 979-8458278 or visit www.apresinc.com. u Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day, July 11, 2013, Moultrie, Ga. For more information call 229985-1968 or visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. u Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 18-20, 2013, Edgewater Beach Resort, Panaman City Beach, Fla. For more information call 229-386-3470 or visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. u Stripling Irrigation Research Park Field Day, Aug. 1, 2013, Camilla, Ga. For more information call 229-522-3623 or visit http://nespal.org/sirp/. u American Peanut Shellers Association Pre-Harvest Meeting, Aug. 6-7, 2013, Lake Blackshear, Ga. For more information call 229888-2508. u Brooklet Peanut Festival, August 17, 2013, Brooklet, Ga. For more information call 912-842-2325 or visit the festival’s web site at www.brookletpeanutfestival.com. u Plains Peanut Festival, Sept. 28, 2013, Plains, Ga. For more information call 229-8245373 or visit www.plainsgeorgia.com. u Sunbelt Ag Expo, Oct. 15-17, 2013, Moultrie, Ga. For more information call 229985-1968 or visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. u National Peanut Festival, Nov. 1-10, 2013, Dothan, Ala. For more information call 334793-4323.

Joy Carter Crosby Editor

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

(Let us know about your event. Please send details to the editor, using the following e-mail address: joycrosby@gapeanuts.com)

Peanut Perspective A Prospective on 2013 Peanut Plantings and Production

pring is here and the planting season is about to begin at the writing of this article. February rains and cooler March temps will likely push corn later than normal compared to last year and the five-year average. However, it is nearly certain that peanut acreage will be decreased in 2013 in the Southeast and across the nation. How much will peanut plantings fall in 2013? The first indication will come in the Prospective Plantings report released on March 28. The report is based upon March 1 intentions as collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service during the first two weeks of March. Last year the Prospective Plantings report underestimated the increase in peanut acreage. This year, the report is likely to show a decrease of 25% or more for peanuts. The survey results are expected to show increases for the Southeast in corn and soybeans and decreases in cotton and peanuts. Why are growers shifting their crop enterprise mix, particularly peanuts from year-to-year? They are responding to market signals given by prices of other row crops. Larger machinery and equipment allow a larger area to be planted in a shorter time frame. Leased equipment allows growers to switch to corn and soybeans in the short-run without tying up capital in the longrun. While keeping a basic rotation of peanuts, acres on the margin can be switched rather quickly with improved infrastructure and readily available markets for domestic use or export. I hear the statement often that we need to stabilize the production (or acreage or price) of peanuts. It comes from both sides of the industry when prices get too low for farmers and too high for manufacturers. In a perfect world, price will find the equilibrium quantity supplied and demanded. Competitive forces will lead to the market clearing price. However, the peanut industry is pretty concentrated on the buyer side and so the price of peanuts may not fully respond to

prices of other commodities. On the other hand, the ability to overproduce quickly by shortening rotations can hold prices down. Peanut growers in the Southeast have shown they will respond to market prices and reduce acres more than expected and over plant in any given year in response to high prices. Thus, the 2013 projection is for peanut acres to drop back to 2011 or 2012 levels. Nathan Smith The accompanying graph shows University of Georgia the price relationships between Extension Economist peanuts, corn, cotton and soybeans using the University of Georgia crop budgets for 2013. The lines represent corn, cotton or soybean prices graphed against peanut prices. The chart shows the price needed for corn, cotton or soybeans to give equal returns above variable costs, based upon the expected yield and costs for each crop. For example, at $450 per ton average price, the price needed for corn to give equal returns is $5.64 for non-irrigated production and $5.26 per bushel for irrigated production. A lot of corn in the Southeast has been booked between $6 and $7 per bushel. Individual situations will vary but these numbers are thought to be representative of Georgia and other areas of the Southeast. To plug in your individual situation, the Crop Comparison Tool can be accessed at http://www.ces.uga.edu/Agriculture/agecon/new.html. t

Does China purchases change the 2013 outlook? A poor crop in India, a growing economy in China, and low prices for U.S. peanuts has brought about a new source of demand for U.S. peanuts. China jumped into the U.S. peanut market at the beginning of 2013 and has purchased several thousand tons of shelled kernels. USDA has updated their total export projection to 600,000 tons and the final figure could be higher. The timing couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been much better as a record carryover was expected. A surplus will still be carried over into 2013/14 marketing year of around one million tons. But, supply and demand will come into balance sooner than expected because of China. The question is will they be a long term buyer now that they are in the market. t April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Calcium nutrition for peanuts T here’s no doubt that peanuts require a lot of calcium. Peanuts lacking this essential element will produce pops or hollow shells. They can also have pod rot diseases and black heart along with low yields and grades. Peanuts low in calcium also produce seed with poor germination. While peanuts may not respond to direct fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, calcium is the exception. Julie Howe, Auburn University agronomist, says calcium deficiency may contribute to increased aflatoxin contamination. Gypsum or land plaster, along with lime, are the main sources of calcium applied to peanuts. University of Georgia Extension agronomist Glen Harris says most calcium products applied to Southeastern peanuts are broadcast rather than banded.

Gypsum for dryland Howe and Harris cooperated to test gypsum applications to the large-seeded Georgia-06G variety and to Georgia Green, a variety with normal seed size. The 14 tests were conducted over a threeyear period and showed that non-irrigated peanuts benefited the most from gypsum applications. “Gypsum is more important on dryland peanuts than on irrigated peanuts,” Harris says. He also gives gypsum the advantage over lime for use on dryland fields. “Gypsum at blooming has outperformed lime at planting in providing calcium to the pegging zone,” he explains. “When you think about it, this makes sense. That’s because the calcium in lime is less soluble than the calcium in gypsum under limited water in dryland production.” Extension services in Georgia and Alabama have had different recommenda-

tions on when gypsum is needed. In Alabama, gypsum was suggested when soil calcium levels in the pegging zone are below 300 pounds per acre, while in Georgia, the recommendation has been to apply gypsum Auburn University agronomist Julie Howe and University of Georgia Extension agronomist Glen Harris, says gypsum or land plaster, along with lime, are the when soil test main sources of calcium applied to peanuts. calcium levels are less than 500 of calcium in your pegging zone, you’re pounds per acre. probably OK and you won’t need to apply In the 14 Georgia and Alabama tests, gypsum unless you are growing the there were no differences in yields from peanuts for seed,” Harris says. He recomcalcium at the irrigated sites. “Both states mends 1,000 pounds of gypsum per acre have the right recommendations, but it on all peanuts grown for seed, regardless depends on the irrigation scheme,” Howe of pegging zone soil test calcium levels. says. “We now say that if you are irrigating, then apply gypsum if the soil test calCrop rotation cium is less than 300 pounds per acre. If University of Florida peanut breeder you have dryland peanuts, apply gypsum Barry Tillman says crop rotation can have if there is less than 500 pounds per acre a bearing on the need for gypsum. “We’ve available in the soil. When there was less seen this in long-term bahiagrass rotathan 500 pounds of calcium per acre, we saw an increase in net returns of $108 per tions,” he says. “Just because you plant peanuts after bahiagrass, that doesn’t acre from gypsum applications on nonmean you won’t need to spend some irrigated land in 2011.” money on fertility. Much of our new David Wright, University of Florida peanut acreage in Florida came from agronomist, says, “If you’re an irrigated bahiagrass rotations. We saw pops at the grower with 500 pounds of calcium per end of the growing season, so that told us acre in the top two to three inches of soil, we needed calcium in the soil.” you don’t need gypsum. But if you are a non-irrigated producer and you have 300 Gypsum materials to 500 pounds of calcium per acre, you Harris and Howe are evaluating sevcan get almost a pound for pound increase eral types of gypsum. One is USG 500, a in yield for every pound of gypsum mined granular product. They also used applied.” PCS Wet Bulk, a byproduct of phosphate Harris says many well-fertilized mining. AgriCal is sometimes called peanut fields in Georgia will have about smokestack gypsum because it comes 1,000 pounds of calcium per acre in the from coal-fired power plants. Heavy metpegging zone. “If you have 1,000 pounds

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

als were not a concern in the smokestack gypsum they have evaluated. Harris also looked at recycled wallboard or sheetrock. “Sheetrock is gypsum with paper glued to it,” Harris adds. A final product in his tests included Gypsoil, a byproduct of citric acid production. “When we tested these products, they all seemed to perform equally well,” Harris noted. He suggests selecting a gypsum product based on its availability and ease of handling.

Pivot trials Harris and Howe have tested a new method of applying calcium. It involves applying liquid calcium chloride or calcium thiosulfate through center pivot irrigation during peak pod fill 60 to 90 days after planting. Harris says calcium chloride has been a low-cost product. One of its main uses is to de-ice the wings of airplanes. If gypsum is in short supply, this method may become a viable alternative. Harris is also testing calcium chloride in non-irrigated fields by applying it in a band behind the presswheel at planting. Harris calls calcium levels of 500 to 750 pounds per acre in the pegging zone a “grey area” that might benefit from supplemental calcium. “This is where applications through center pivots may be most beneficial,” he says. “If you have less than 500 pounds of calcium per acre in the soil, then I prefer to see a gypsum application. But these liquid calcium products may have a place if soil calcium levels are more than 500 pounds per acre.” Harris says the liquid calcium products will not build up soil test calcium levels as well as lime and gypsum.

Large-seeded runners Based on his studies, Harris hasn’t changed his recommendations on calcium application for large-seeded runners. This recommendation calls for 1,000 pounds of gypsum per acre when the pegging zone calcium level is less than 500 pounds per acre. “It is clear that following this recommendation is important for large-seeded runners, especially Georgia-06G,” Harris says. “Large-seeded peanuts don’t need more calcium. They just need it more often.”

Foliar calcium Harris does not recommend foliar calcium applications. These products are applied at rates as low as one quart per acre, and this is not enough calcium to do any good for peanuts. Also, calcium does not move within the plants from the leaves to the pods. So even if foliar applications did supply adequate calcium, this application method would not work for peanuts.

Timing gypsum applications Harris does not recommend applying gypsum at planting, mainly because rainfall or irrigation can leach the calcium below the pegging zone. This is especially so on deep sandy soils. Generally, gypsum should be applied at early bloom, or about 30 to 45 days after planting. Once peanut plants reach 100 days after planting, it’s too late for gypsum, according to Harris. Also, a ground application of gypsum at this stage of growth will likely damage the stand as tires run over vines that have lapped the rows. Harris also says lime applications at blooming had no benefit to peanuts in his tests.

Lime Lime products will also provide calcium, but the calcium in lime isn’t as soluble as the calcium in gypsum. So if you apply lime at blooming, it will not have enough time to break down and be absorbed by the peanuts. Lime is appropriate when the soil test calls for a lime

application to raise pH. Harris says if you use lime, apply it at planting and do not deep turn the lime into the soil. Howe says, “The advantage of lime is that the calcium tends to stay in the pegging zone longer than gypsum.” Peanuts grow best in soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.3. According to Harris, liming can help peanuts avoid zinc toxicity, but excessive liming in high pH soils can expose peanuts to manganese deficiency. Several types of lime are available, according to Harris. The two major types are dolomitic lime and calcitic lime. Harris says much more dolomitic lime is sold in Georgia than calcitic lime; however, calcitic lime is moving up in sales. “Calcitic lime is faster acting,” Harris says. “You need to test for magnesium, if you use calcitic lime.” Lime plaster is finely ground lime and is not land plaster, according to Harris. While it can be used as a liming product, Harris doesn’t recommend its use as a replacement for land plaster. Aragonite is another type of lime that is a calcium carbonate product manufactured in the Bahamas from seashells. If lime is applied at planting, and the land receives rainfall or irrigation, the calcium from the lime will generally become available to the plant at 55 to 60 days after planting, according to Harris. He says, “On dryland fields, I’d lean more to applying gypsum rather than lime. In general, we suggest either lime at planting time or applying gypsum at bloomtime.” t By John LeIDneR

Agitator helps with spreading land plaster The Sanders family in Vienna, Ga., has no trouble spreading wet land plaster now due to an agitator they created and added to their spreader. Johnny Sanders added the agitator to his spreader around 15 years ago. He says the agitator has really helped with eliminating the packed effect that comes from transporting the land plaster in the spreader. The attachment is also safer, he says, since it eliminates the need for workers standing in the spreader shoveling the land plaster. “Farmers are really innovative and anyone could make this at home or have a local machine shop attach it to the spreader,” Sanders says. “The cost is roughly $1,000 give or take.” He says when he created this he got lucky. Besides it being safer, the agitator helps provides an uniform spread of material coming out that is spread on peanuts. For further information contact Johnny Sanders at 229-938-0682. t By Joy CRoSBy April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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

Florida peanut producers meet in Marianna for annual meeting A large crowd of farmers and their families attended the 38th Annual Membership Meeting of the Florida Peanut Producers Association recently held in Marianna. The evening’s events included the election of three directors. Nick Marshall from Baker was re-elected to serve another three year term. Bud Baggett, Marianna, Fla., and Jerry Mills Jr., Morriston, Fla., were elected to serve three year terms. Larry Ford, Greenwood, Fla., and Damon Sandlin, Williston, Fla., rotated off the board of directors due to term limits. During the annual meeting, Matthew VunCannon, a Farm Credit of Florida loan officer from Trinton, Fla., presented the Young Peanut Farmer of the Year Award to Jake Sache. Sache grew up in Chiefland, Fla., on his family’s farm. Being born and raised in a family with a long history in Florida agriculture enabled him to gain experience with cattle, hay, watermelons, cantaloupes, tobacco and peanuts, and cultivated in him a desire to develop his own farming operation. In 2009 Sache graduated from the University of Florida where he majored in agriculture education. While in college Sache branched off from the family’s operation with the purchase of a combine which he used to harvest grass seed for area farmers and he also began

growing his own field of watermelons. Upon graduation Sache felt that his calling was with the land as a farmer rather than in the classroom as a teacher and he has spent the last 4 years fulfilling that calling. Sache’s farming success has enabled him to continually expand his operation and led him to add peanut production in 2011 to his existing crops. Sache partnered with his father and another area farmer to grow peanuts in 2011 and they grew 500 acres and then expanded to 800 acres in 2012. The trio plans to grow approximately 500-600 acres of peanuts this year. Sache and his wife Tiffany have a one year old daughter, Emmalee. Congratulations to the Sache family. During the annual meeting, reports were given by Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers; Michael Davis, National Peanut Board and Ken Quesenberry, interim chair, Department of Agronomy, University of Florida. At the conclusion of the meeting, FPPA officers were elected for 2013. Steve Jordan from Bascom, Fla., will serve as president. Scott Robinson from Williston, Fla., will serve as vice president and Henry McCrone from Blountstown, Fla., will serve as secretary/treasurer.

Ken Barton (right), Florida Peanut Producers Association executive director, presents retirement plaques to Larry Ford (center), Greenwood, Fla., and Damon Sandlin (left), Williston, Fla. Ford and Sandlin both rotated off the FPPA board of directors at the annual meeting due to term limits.

Jake Sache, Chiefland, Fla., receives the Florida Young Peanut Farmer Award during the Florida Peanut Producers Annual Meeting. Pictured left to right: Matthew VunCannon, loan officer with Farm Credit of Florida, Sache, and Ken Barton, executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association.

Georgia Peanut Commission promotes peanuts during National Peanut Month The Georgia Peanut Commission promoted peanuts through the month of March by distributing peanuts at the state’s welcome centers. Tourists traveling throughout the state were reminded to “Travel Light and Pack Peanuts” as they stopped at the welcome centers. Tourists received Georgia peanuts, recipes and additional information regarding the importance of peanuts to Georgia’s economy. A representaive with the Savannah Visitor Information Center, pictured right, distributes peanut information to a visitor stopping by while traveling through the state of Georgia. Also, the Georgia Peanut Commission hosted the annual PB&J Day at the Georgia State Capitol. Guests were treated to roasted peanuts, regular and grilled PB&J sandwiches, boiled peanuts and peanut candy products. View photos online at www.gapeanuts.com.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

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

Georgia Peanut Commission increases research funding The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors has approved $292,500 in new research project funding for the 2013-14 research budget year. This action was taken during the commission’s March board meeting. The research projects approved include 24 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia and USDA, Agricultural Research Service. “We are proud of our close relationship and partnership with research institutions in the state,” says Donald Chase, Georgia Peanut Commission Research Committee chairman. “Peanut growers are pleased to invest in the future by providing monetary support for research and education that has continued to demonstrate a return on our investment. Due to the tremendous success enjoyed by Georgia peanut farmers in 2012, we were able to increase research funding in 2013.” Georgia’s peanut growers invest $2 per ton annually toward programs of GPC which includes research, promotion and education. Research comprises 22% of available funds in the commission’s budget. The growth and success of Georgia’s peanut industry is

unparalleled in agronomic standings these past five decades since the GPC was established. This has been no accident. Georgia peanut growers have seen yields increase from 1,000 pounds per acre in 1961 to over 4,500 pounds per acre today—a 450% increase! Chase says it is obvious that we must continue to press for public or government support as we have lost thirteen peanut scientists in Georgia over the past ten years and many of those have not been replaced. The Georgia Peanut Commission requested funding from the Georgia Legislature in 2012 for a state research entomologist since the position has been vacant for a number of years and farmers were having an increased amount of insect damage to their peanut crop. “We applaud the state Legislature for funding the position and the University of Georgia for filling this critical research position,” Chase says. For additional information and a complete list of the research projects funded by the Georgia Peanut Commission visit www.gapeanuts.com.

Golden Peanut Company donates peanut digger to MPGA

Alabama promotes peanuts across the airwaves

Reed Rogers, area procurement manager for Golden Peanut Company (left) presents Joe Morgan, president, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (right) with the title to a used two-row peanut digger. The MPGA transferred the digger to the Mississippi State University Agricultural Experiment Station where it will be used in peanut research work in Mississippi. “This much appreciated donation by the Golden Peanut Company will make it possible for the Mississippi Peanut Growers to have information on peanuts grown in the state,” Morgan says.

MPGA exhibits at Mississippi Diabetes Foundation Conference The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (MPGA) participated in the 2013 Mississippi Diabetes Foundation “SuperConference” in Jackson, Miss. on January 19 with a booth and handed out educational booklets on Peanuts and Diabetes. There were 435 registered for the one day conference and many of the attendees were not aware of the role peanuts or peanut butter could play in their diabetes management. This was also the first time MPGA handed out their new complimentary one ounce peanut bags with the American Heart Association Heart Check mark and the Mississippi Diabetes Foundation logo. The response was positive toward peanuts with many saying they were going to include them in their daily menu which they had not done before getting this information.

The month of March is designated as National Peanut Month and it’s a great opportunity to spread the word about peanuts and all its health benefits. The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) partnered with area radio stations during the special month to fill the airwaves with the positive news about peanuts. Radio is a great way to promote and spread the word about peanuts to thousands of consumers. APPA furnished peanut information and prizes to the radio stations so they could educate their listening area about peanuts and also test their audience’s peanut knowledge. Listeners had to call in to the station and give the correct answer to a peanut trivia question in order to be a winner. This year’s prizes included: Peanut gift baskets, a year’s supply of peanut butter or a year’s supply of Alabama Roasted Peanuts, among other peanut items.

April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

here’s some good news concerning foliar peanut diseases such as early and late leaf spot. First of all, the newer runner varieties have much better tolerance to these diseases than varieties planted just ten years ago. Also, the new varieties can withstand much more leaf loss than was thought previously. University of Georgia Extension plant pathologist Bob Kemerait says the widely planted Georgia-06G variety has partial resistance to leaf spot. Compared to other currently available runner varieties, Kemerait says Georgia-06G is in the mid-range of leaf spot resistance. He cites studies by University of Georgia plant pathologist Albert Culbreath that shows Georgia-06G can withstand leaf loss and still yield well. “New peanut varieties such as Georgia-06G can stand some cosmetic injury that you can get from a little more leaf spot,” Kemerait adds. Limited defoliation from leaf spot, even as much as 30 to 40 percent, will not likely cause significant yield loss if this defoliation is confined to the very end of the growing season. However Kemerait adds that this does not mean a grower can afford to be less vigilant in the management of leaf spot diseases. “With this new research data, growers can simply be more secure that if some limited defoliation occurs at the end of the season, it is unlikely to result in significant yield

loss,” Kemerait says. When managing leaf spot, Kemerait reminds growers that chlorothalonil protects peanuts from new leaf spot infections, but does not cure existing infections. He recommends that where the risk to leaf spot is high, e.g., short rotations and/or abundant rainfall, growers may wish to invest in fungicides that offer both protectant and curative activity. While the fungicides Provost, Headline and Abound are labeled for control of white mold, these products also provide two weeks or longer control of leaf spot. Artisan, a mix of flutolanil and propiconazole, offers control of early and late leaf spot, as does a new fungicide from DuPont named Fontelis. Use of Convoy, a strong white mold material, requires that an additional fungicide be tank-mixed for leaf spot control. Nick Dufault, University of Florida Extension plant pathologist, says Fontelis has provided excellent leaf spot control in Florida peanut trials, as well as being a fungicide that can manage white mold (stem rot). He suggests that using this fungicide in rotation with other active ingredients, such as tebuconazole, can provide a quality control program for both leaf spots and white mold diseases. Dufault says moisture, i.e., rainfall, has an influence on both soil borne and foliar diseases. “You need a good strategy for disease management,” Dufault says. He endorses both the Peanut Rx and the

Bob Kemerait, University of Georgia Extension pathologist, says he’d like to see growers who haven’t used Peanut Rx to set aside at least one field and follow the Peanut Rx suggestions. 10

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

Photo credit: John Leidner.

Your foliar disease outlook

Using quality leaf spot fungicides in peanut spray programs will pay off especially during wet production years, reports University of Florida Extension plant pathologist Nick Dufault.

AUPnut programs as tools to help manage peanut diseases. He adds that Peanut Rx is especially good for pre-season disease management, while AUPnut takes into account the intensity of rainfall events to suggest strategies and provide insight for timing leaf spot fungicide applications. Kemerait explains that Peanut Rx is a risk index with assigned points for various production practices such as crop rotation, planting dates, varieties, row spacing, tillage, etc. The lower the points, the less risk for a given disease. While the prescription application strategy suggested by Rx has received great support from fungicide manufacturers, Kemerait says Rx has been less widely adopted by growers. “Growers know the value of prescription fungicide programs, but they’re reluctant to save a few sprays because they perceive increased risk for yield losses from white mold or leaf spot,” he adds. “Following Rx will allow you to spray a low risk field four times and get the same yield as if you had sprayed seven times,” Kemerait says. “Then, in high risk fields, don’t reduce the number of fungicide applications. There are other ways to reduce your risk such as planting

Photo credit: Bob Kemerait, University of Georgia.

White mold

Early leaf spot

Late leaf spot and rust

corn in rotation with peanuts or using a longer crop rotation.” “We know that rainfall can make leaf spot worse,” Kemerait says, “so use a little common sense in adjusting spray schedules where rainfall is clearly excessive as compared to more normal rainfall patterns.” Kemerait says he’d like to see growers who haven’t used Rx to set aside at least one field and follow the Rx suggestions. “You’ve paid for this information with your taxes, with your checkoffs and with what you pay for fungicides that comes back to us to help fund our studies,” he adds. All of the fungicides we have available for foliar disease management can be effective, according to Dufault. “Quality fungicide products will pay off,” he adds, “especially during wet years. Fungicides work best when you get the fungicide where the pathogen is located, either on the leaf or in the crown of the plant.” Nightime spraying is one way in which fungicides can be applied to the plant crown for controlling soil borne diseases like white mold. However, Dufault reminds growers that daytime spraying is best for controlling leaf spot diseases, especially in the absence of a systemic (acropetal) fungicide. The reason for this is because the leaves on a peanut plant are folded up during the night allowing penetration to the soil, but are open or flat during the daytime and thus are more likely to be coated by the fungicide sprays. “Be sure to rotate chemistries to insure longevity of the chemicals,” Dufault adds. Overusing a fungicide can result in the selection of resistant pathogen populations that will render that product less useful or non-effective for quality disease control. Dufault reminds growers that fungicides are useful tools to manage peanut

diseases, but they will not eliminate diseases. And while tomato spotted wilt virus has become less of a concern in recent years, Dufault and others say the disease is still present. It’s tempting to think that spotted wilt has gone away, but when peanut plants are tested, the virus is often present. It just doesn’t express significant plant symptoms or cause substantial yield losses with the current peanut varieties. Other foliar diseases such as rust and pepper spot can occasionally cause peanut yield losses in the Southeast. Dufault says these two diseases tend to show up after a tropical storm passes through an area providing large quantities of rainfall. Spraying a protective fungicide such as chlorothalonil ahead of a tropical storm and other significant rainfall events can go a long way in preventing damage from these and other foliar diseases. Dufault says another fungicide that can occasionally be used to control leaf

spot is Topsin. While Topsin can be an effective fungicide spray, it should not be relied upon as the only leaf spot control product. Dufault recommends mixing Topsin with tebuconazole or chlorothalonil, and to consider rotating other fungicide spray chemistries into your program, such as, Headline and Abound. Overuse of Topsin alone for control of foliar diseases can quickly lead to development of fungicide resistant pathogen populations. Dufault says, Topsin can be used once or twice per season, but should not be used in consecutive sprays due to the possibility of resistance development. Another foliar disease that sometimes shows up on peanuts is called funky leaf spot. Its cause is unknown. “Generally, you don’t see yield losses from funky leaf spot,” Dufault adds. t By John LeIDneR

April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

n in-furrow fungicide application is another useful tool peanut farmers can use to produce good early stands while laying a foundation for disease control later in the season, according to University of Georgia plant pathologist Tim Brenneman. Tests he conducted about ten years ago showed the advantages of in-furrow fungicides. Over the years, he has evaluated PCNB (active ingredient pentachloronitrobenzene), an old contact fungicide, along with newer fungicides such as Abound and Proline. “Both the PCNB and the Abound did very well in our earlier treatments,” Brenneman says. “This past year at Plains, Ga., we tested in-furrow sprays of Abound and Proline,” Brenneman says. The test plots were planted with untreated seed to see which fungicide treatments produced the best stands. “We found that Abound was more effective than Proline in establishing a good stand, Brenneman says. “Abound is just good stand insurance. Of course, you also need to use the best quality seed along with a seed treatment as well.”

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

However, Proline would be the inSpray tip located on the furrow fungicide of choice for controlbottom of the planter ling cylindrocladium black rot (CBR), where it sprays into the according to Brenneman. In fields with a open furrow. history of yield losses from CBR, Brenneman recommends soil fumigation with metam sodium followed by in-furrow applications of Proline. The in-furrow fungicides can help prevent losses from white mold and CBR later in the season, according to Brenneman. He concludes that in-furrow fungicide treatments are cost effective and fairly convenient to use, especially when compared to early season band applications of fungicides. Though he sees benefits in white mold control from in-furrow treatments, he notes that early season band applications are the more effective method in controlling white mold. t

By John LeIDneR

Photo credit: Tim Brenneman, University of Georgia.

Get a good start with in-furrow fungicides

Early spray keeps white mold away

Photo credit: John Leidner.

hat began as a desperate salvage treatment for small research plots has emerged in recent years as a valuable yield-saving peanut production practice. This practice involves spraying fungicides early in the growing season, shortly after young peanut plants emerge from the soil. University of Georgia plant pathologist Tim Brenneman first used the early emergence spraying to save a stand of peanuts from Cylindrocladium black rot (CBR). The first year he used it was only 21 days after planting. The concept was to wash it down to the developing roots and protect them from infection. Due to very warm soils, no CBR developed, but early season white mold was severe, and the results were amazing. Yields in the early-treated plots approached those receiving a full-season fungicide spray schedule. In one of these tests, yields from an early season application of Proline equaled those from peanuts receiving four applications of Provost. “We’re not saying you can rely only on one application,” Brenneman says. “What we are saying is that you can work these early season applications into your full-season spray schedule where you also treat for leaf spot and rust.” He uses broadcast rates and bandsprays the fungicides directly over the young plants. For these early emergence treatments, a broadcast application would not concentrate the fungicide and allow it to get into the plant where it needs to be, according to Brenneman. Brenneman says warm spring weather is a contributing cause to the early white mold infections. “The warmer it is, the sooner we do the application,” he adds. “During most years, 30 to 35 days after planting is a good first time to apply the fungicide.” In his early tests, he used 40 GPA to flood the fungicide over the young plants, but 10-20 GPA seems to do as well for white mold. The water moves the fungicide down to the crown of the plant where the Sclerotium rolfsii white mold fungus is attacking. He says the lower rates of water allow more of the fungicide to be

University of plant pathologist Tim Brenneman pioneered the concept of early emergence fungicide sprays to help control white mold.

concentrated so it will do the most good in controlling the disease. Doing this resulted in excellent control of white mold or stem rot, along with large yield increases in both 2010 and 2011. The weather was more normal in 2012 and the yield increases weren’t as dramatic as during the earlier two years when early season temperatures were warmer than usual. He’s now trying to identify the temperatures when the early emergence sprays are most likely to pay off. “We need to find out when to use these early applications for best results,” Brenneman says. In this regard, Brenneman has worked with University of Georgia research colleague Tim Grey and graduate student Wendy Tsai to help identify these temperatures. They grew the pathogen on temperature-gradient tables to evaluate the effects of temperature on the different growth stages of the fungus. They are now correlating this with conditions found in actual peanut fields during the early part of the season. Most of Brenneman’s early studies have been with the Proline fungicide. He has recently started evaluating tebuconazole, a low-cost alternative, as well as

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

Abound and Headline for their potential early use. The concept also offers the potential for cost savings. While the broadcast rates sprayed over the young peanuts in a band worked well, Brenneman says reducing the rates may also be effective and would save money. He hasn’t yet tested the practice using reduced rates. He has been successful using the early emergence spraying in both single and twin rows. In his twin row work, he has sprayed fungicide with one nozzle over each twin row as well as one nozzle to cover both twin rows. This past year, Brenneman participated in an on-farm trial in Appling County, Ga., and there he saw significant white mold damage in plots that received only chlorothalonil. An early season application of the Convoy fungicide increased yields by about 400 pounds per acre. “Adding Convoy helped to cut the amount of white mold in half,” Brenneman says. “Proline and tebuconazole were our best early fungicide treatments for additional control of white mold. We didn’t see as much control when we used the early application of Headline.” Though white mold is the primary

target disease, and the most damaging in reducing yields, Brenneman says early season banding shows promise for helping to control cylindrocladium black rot and leaf spot diseases. Earlier work by Brenneman showed that nighttime or early morning fungicide applications before sunrise helped to control white mold. Applications when the leaves are closed at night allow more of the fungicide to reach the crown of the plant where the disease is active. Keep in mind that for best control of leaf spot diseases, the fungicides should be applied during daylight hours when the leaves are fully opened. Brenneman says the fungus that causes white mold can start below the ground, and this makes it difficult to control with mid-season sprays alone. During past years, most growers did not start treating for white mold until about 60 days after planting. “Now, we’re saying you need to start early,” Brenneman says. “This will allow you to get ahead of white mold before it gets

Basic Steps to Minimize White Mold 1. Rotate away from peanuts and soybeans. 2. Use new varieties such as Georgia-07W with resistance to white mold. 3. Consider rainfall, irrigation and temperature in timing fungicide applications. Applications prior to irrigation or rain will be more effective, but may offer less residual control of leaf spot. started damaging your peanut stands. It’s better to stop a white mold epidemic before it gets started.” Brenneman says he doesn’t yet have enough research data to say if adding an early emergence fungicide application would allow growers to eliminate one or more of the white mold treatments later in the growing season. His counterparts in other states are taking note of Brenneman’s research.

Alan Henn, plant pathologist at Mississippi State University says it’s best not to plant peanuts in a field with a history of white mold or southern blight. “If you do plant peanuts in such fields, consider an early fungicide application at 15 days or a little later after planting,” he says. “That suggestion is based on my trial data and data from other states.” t By John LeIDneR

April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

CBR not as bad now

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

Photo credit: Kristin Beckham, Univ. of Florida

Among runner peanuts, the Georgia Greener variety is thought to have the best resistance to CBR. Products labeled for CBR control include the fungicide Proline and the soil fumigant metam sodium (trade name Vapam). Metam sodium will also help in controlling nematodes which may limit damage to peanuts by CBR. “Proline is the product of choice for CBR control because of convenience,” Brenneman says. “We see very little Vapam used for CBR in Georgia.” He adds that Proline is especially needed if farmers do not use Vapam as a soil fumigant.

During the growing season, CBR is mostly a quiet infection. Its damage often isn’t seen until late in the growing season when the root rot has become more severe. Wilting plants during the latter part of the growing season are often the first symptom of a problem.

Photo credit: Kristin Beckham, Univ. of Florida

armers and plant disease experts alike have seen fewer cases of damaging cylindrocladium black rot (CBR) in Southeastern peanut fields during recent years. “We’ve seen less CBR because we’ve had high temperatures during the last few years,” says University of Georgia plant pathologist Tim Brenneman. CBR is highly dependent on weather. The CBR pathogen prefers cool temperatures, and wet soils. This soil-borne fungus infects the plants first through the roots. This infection can take place shortly after planting. And if the roots are also attacked by root knot nematodes, then the losses caused by CBR can be worse. During the growing season, CBR is mostly a quiet infection. Its damage often isn’t seen until late in the growing season when the root rot has become more severe. Wilting plants during the latter part of the growing season are often the first symptom of a problem. The indications of a problem are present earlier, if you look closely. CBR produces very small microsclerotia that survive in plant tissue and soil, but these are difficult to see without close observation. The fungus also produces brick red, pinhead-sized fruiting structures on the crowns, lower stems, and pods of infected plants, but only during the later part of the season with favorable conditions. Poor crop rotation is a contributing cause to CBR losses in peanuts. Soybeans, for example, will also host CBR infections that can do serious damage if peanuts are planted during the following year. In soybeans, the disease is known as red crown rot, though yield losses in beans are not normally as high as in peanuts. With a soybean-peanut rotation in the same field, farmers could be fighting CBR for years to come. Legume weeds such as sicklepod and beggarweed will also host CBR. A good crop rotation can help prevent the disease. Planting crops such as cotton, corn, sorghum and small grains for three years before returning to peanuts will be a big help.

“With CBR, it is important to know your fields and know where you have CBR so you can select the best treatment option,” Brenneman says. And just because CBR has been less of a threat in recent years, keep a close eye on the weather. A return to cool and wet conditions during the growing season could once again make CBR a severe yield-killing disease. t

By John LeIDneR

Endowment created to enhance peanut research

esearch dedicated to the peanut is important to many Georgia farmers and others involved in the peanut industry. A way to carry on the tradition and excellence in peanut research provided by the University of Georgia will now be strengthened through a newly created UGA Peanut Team Research Endowment. This is the first ever peanut research specific endowment created at UGA. The $100,000 endowment was made possible through a donation by the Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service. “Georgia FSIS sees the importance of research and we gave it to the peanut team for them to use as they desire,” says T.E. Moye, Georgia FSIS president. “The research team at UGA has shown the ability to come up with disease packages in varieties that give the farmer a better quality peanut. It makes it easier on us to inspect and the bottom line is we feel that the Georgia peanuts taste better and the peanut butter made out of Georgia peanuts taste better and is a better product on the grocery shelf.” The endowment allows additional donors to make contributions to assist in carrying on the peanut research at UGA. The original principal (or gift) is never spent, only the interest earned is used for funding research. “This endowment will enrich our

How to give to the UGA Peanut Team Research Endowment? Contact: Niki Coody Major Gift Officer UGA Tifton Campus Phone: 229-386-3207 Email: nikinew@uga.edu

The Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service donates funds for the newly created University of Georgia Peanut Team Research Endowment. Pictured left to right: Niki Coody, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences major gift officer, T.E. Moye, Georgia FSIS president, and John Beasley, UGA Extension peanut agronomist.

peanut research programs at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for many years to come,” says Scott Angle, dean and director of the UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. “It will provide funding to help faculty address critical issues facing the industry and develop solutions to ensure the success of Georgia peanut farmers.” The endowment provides a new opportunity for the UGA Peanut Team with a source of funds that is continuously available without a termination point. This is different from research grants peanut team members currently receive. The research grants usually have specific requirements and a starting and ending point for the research. “The new endowment will be extremely beneficial to the University of Georgia Peanut Team. We are extremely grateful to the Georgia FSIS, under the leadership of T.E. Moye, for initiating this endowment” says John Beasley, UGA

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

Extension peanut agronomist. “In today’s economic environment there are precious few, if any, dollars available from the state that are allocated for operating budgets for our peanut research programs. The UGA Peanut Team Research Endowment will give our team of peanut scientists a source of funds to continue critical research areas in peanut production and economic sustainability.” Because the endowment is to be solely used to support peanut research that is focused on grower challenges, the benefits will be transferred directly to the farmer, says Joe West, assistant dean of the UGA Tifton Campus. “Research must be on-going. Tomorrow’s advances are built on what we accomplished today and yesterday,” West says. “The permanent endowment will support on-going research to benefit the farmer. And this is a great example of the peanut industry being proactive by self-funding needed research. t By Joy CRoSBy

Washington Outlook by Robert L. Redding, Jr.

Georgia Peanut Commission meets with Capitol Hill leaders Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) leaders met recently on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and senior congressional staff to discuss farm bill progress. The GPC was in Washington, D.C. as part of an industry fly-in that included the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the National Peanut Buying Points Association and the American Peanut Shellers Association. In meetings with House and Senate leaders, the peanut delegation encouraged support for the efforts of House Agriculture Committee chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and ranking member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., in moving a five-year farm bill through Congress. The GPC supported the House Agriculture Committee passed farm bill last year that included producer choice between a countercyclical type program or a revenue program. Both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees briefed the peanut delegation on current Farm Bill discussions. In addition, peanut leaders thanked Representatives Martha Roby, R-Ala., and Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., for their efforts in continuing the House Peanut Caucus for the 113th Congress.

Merrigan steps down from USDA post USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan has stepped down from her position. Merrigan was very active with the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative and other nutrition related programs at USDA. As a top Senate Agriculture Committee staff person, Merrigan was a leader on organic agricultural issues. “Today I am announcing that I will be leaving USDA. I am grateful to President Obama for the opportunity to serve as Deputy Secretary and be part of his leadership team,” Merrigan says. “I also want to thank the U.S. Senate for its unanimous confirmation and the many members of Congress, particularly Chairman Leahy, with whom I have worked closely to ensure support for USDA programs.”

Sequester - Hot topic on Capitol Hill The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to review the state of the rural economy with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Tom Vilsack. In light of the March 1, 2013, effective date for the sequester, the primary topic of discussion was how USDA planned to implement the across-the-board spending cuts and what impact they would have on the agriculture sector. The Secretary had previously sent a letter to U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, DMd., outlining a strategy to achieve sequestration budget cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA). Potential cuts to agencies impacting peanut producers include: • Farm Service Agency - $80 million • Natural Resources Conservation Services - $222 million • National Agricultural Statistics Service - $8 million USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack commented to the House Agriculture Committee at the hearing, “However, the acrossthe-board spending cuts known as sequestration are now severely limiting our ability to deliver critical programs for the American people, and I share the President’s hope that Congress will stop these harmful cuts.”

Congress reviews India trade opportunities The House Ways and Means Committee’s Trade Subcommittee held a hearing on U.S.-India Trade Relations. With increased trade, imports and exports with India, the committee wanted to review both the successes and the concerns with current U.S.-India trade. Subcommittee chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., opened the hearing by stating: “That takes us to the focus of today’s hearing. India has risen rapidly since its market opening reforms in the early 1990s – its GDP has grown from $275 billion in 1991 to $1.8 trillion in 2012. Nevertheless, India remains the largest recipient of benefits under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences. This is a program that expires this July and an issue the committee must deal with. The U.S.-India strategic partnership is a key relationship, with bilateral trade in goods and services rising from minuscule amounts 25 years ago to more than $86 billion a year now. But there is scope for much more. With a population of over 1.2 billion, India’s market holds huge potential for world-class U.S. products and services. I want to ensure that U.S. job creators compete there on a level playing-field.”

Legislative Updates available online at www.americanpeanuts.com

Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2013

Peanut Leadership Academy begins Class VIII

welve participants in the Peanut Leadership Academy learned more about the peanut industry and toured businesses within the peanut industry in Georgia. The Peanut Leadership Academy is a program open to peanut farmers and sheller representatives. Participants in the program toured the National Peanut Research Lab in Dawson, Ga., Golden Peanut Company’s oil refinery in Dawson, Ga., and Tara Foods, maker of Kroger brand peanut butter, in Albany, Ga. During the visits the leadership participants learned more about the various research projects at the lab, how peanuts are refined to oil and how peanut butter is processed. The participants also learned about social media from Joy Crosby, director of communications for the Georgia Peanut Commission, food safety from Darlene Cowart, corporate director of food safety

Charles Chen, peanut breeder with the National Peanut Research Lab and Auburn Univeristy, discusses how various traits are selected for peanut variety development to the Peanut Leadership Academy Class VIII participants during their tour of the lab in March.

Shawn Gaines, plant manager of the Golden Peanut Company oil refinery in Dawson, Ga., discusses the steps for crushing and refining peanuts to oil. The Peanut Leadership Academy Class VIII participants toured the plant during their recent session in March.

and quality for Birdsong Peanuts, and what a manufacturer is looking for when making purchase decisions by AnneMarie DeLorenzo, strategic sourcing manager of nuts for Mars Chocolate North America. The group also participated in the spring meeting of the American Peanut Shellers Association. During the meeting, the leaders were able to learn more about the peanut market and projects of the Peanut Institute and National Peanut Board. The Class VIII members in the Peanut Leadership Academy are: Alabama - Steven Byrd, Ariton and John Bitto, Elberta; Florida - Alan Davis, Cottondale; Stephen Fulford, Monticello;

and Damon Griswold, Jay; Georgia Justin Jones, Smithville; Will Ellis, Douglas; Sam Hattaway, Blakely; Mississippi - Daniel Parrish, Greenwood; Texas - EC Harlan, Brownfield; Sheller Representatives - Cole McNair, Birdsong Peanuts and Reed Rogers, Golden Peanut Company. The Peanut Leadership Academy is coordinated by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and sponsored by Syngenta and the American Peanut Shellers Association. For more information, visit the federation website online at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. t By Joy CRoSBy

National Peanut Board approves 2013 production research projects At the quarterly meeting of National Peanut Board (NPB) held February 4-6, 2013, in Atlanta, Ga., the board unanimously approved production research projects submitted by the state peanut producer organizations and the University of Arkansas. Funding production research to make America’s peanut farmers more competitive is a core part of the board’s mission. Representatives from state grower organizations made presentations to the board and all 49 projects were approved. The majority of projects investigate the challenges of disease control, pest management and drought tolerance, although other projects include proposals addressing a broad range of relevant concerns to the grower. The board’s total allocation for FY-13 production research funding exceeds $1.5 million.

In addition, Howard Valentine, executive director of The Peanut Foundation, presented updates about genomics research and the progress made toward mapping the peanut genome. At its quarterly board meeting last August, the board allocated $400,000 toward the Peanut Genome Initiative, an industry-wide effort in conjunction with The Peanut Foundation. This allocation is in addition to the production research NPB funds through state peanut producer organizations and research institutions. In total, the board intends to contribute $2 million to the Peanut Genome Initiative over a five-year period. To date, National Peanut Board has funded more than $18 million in production research through state and industry organizations. April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Southern Peanut Growers Southern Peanut Growers coordinates High School Basketball Championships sponsorship The Southern Peanut Growers coordinated the sponsorship of the Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi high school basketball championships in February and March. PlayOn! Sports has the exclusive relationship with the Georgia, Malcolm Broome, executive director of the Alabama, Florida and Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, distributed peanuts during the boys and Mississippi High girls basketball high school championship School Sports games and was interviewed live on court Associations to during three of the games. broadcast their athletic events online first as a streamed live event with commercials, half-time billboard spots and 10 second sponsor IDs. Those events are then available on-demand with all commercials and sponsorship mentions intact. Georgia had thirty-two 30-second commercial spots in eight games along with a presenting sponsor 15-second commercial at the beginning of each game as part of this deal. Alabama had twenty-four 30-second commercials in six games. Florida had thirty-two 30-second commercial spots in eight games along with a presenting sponsor 15-second commercial at the beginning of each game. Mississippi had twelve 30-second commercials in three games along with live on-court interviews and inarena presence to distribute peanuts to the crowd. The Mississippi and Alabama games were also broadcast live on television statewide. All four states also have presence for 6 months on the respective state high school pages with a Recipe of the Month. Anticipated page views in Georgia are 850,000, in Alabama are 600,000, in Florida are 450,000 and in Mississippi are 300,000.

Restaurant Hospitality magazine The Southern Peanut Growers winning chef’s contest recipe, Peanutty Peppered Pork Sliders, was featured in the February issue of Restaurant Hospitality magazine.

Marketing arm of

Southern Peanut Growers celebrates March, National Peanut Month The Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) reached out to writers across the web to help celebrate National Peanut Month. One of SPG’s favorites was Epicurious.com which shared their nine favorite peanut butter recipes including: Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, Black-Bottom Peanut Butter Mousse Pie, Peanut Butter and Fudge Brownies with Salted Peanuts, Peanut Butter Buckeyes, Individual Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bundt Cakes, Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate-Peanut Butter Frosting, Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies and Peanut Butter Beignets. To get the recipes visit: http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/ 2013/03/celebrating-national-peanut-butter-lovers-day.html.

Southern Women’s Show in Savannah

During the Southern Women’s Show in Savannah, Ga., Don Koehler (left), executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commimssion, and Alex Reethof (right), celebrity chef representing the Georgia Beef Board, team up to showcase a new recipe, Peanut Marinated Beef with Vegetables.

The Southern Peanut Growers and Georgia Peanut Commission exhibited at the Southern Women’s Show February 15-17, 2013, in Savannah, Ga. Celebrity Chef Alex Reethof, representing the Georgia Beef Board, and Don Koehler, executive director of Georgia Peanut Commission, teamed up at the show to create a new recipe, Peanut Marinated Beef with Vegetables, which features two of Georgia’s top commodities. Their joint cooking demonstration was one of the highest attended demos of the entire show. Visit www.PeanutButterLovers.com for the Peanut Marinated Beef with Vegetables recipe.

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

GEORGIA CERTIFIED PEANUT & COTTON SEED Peanut Seed Varieties GA 06G Tifguard Cotton Seed Varieties Conventional Cotton Varieties BRS 269 BRS 293 BRS 335 BRS 286 Local county agents have UGA variety test trial results. Produced & Processed by: Stacy L. Heard Farms 644 Grassy Flats Road Colquitt, GA 39837 Phone: 229-758-2610 or 229-205-0864 stacyheard1950@yahoo.com

g n i d i v o Pr seeds qualitqyuality for ops cr Seed Varieties GA 06G

GA Greener

GA 07W

Tifguard

GA 09B

FloRunTM 107

Contact your local Birdsong Seed Dealer or one of our seed treating locations listed below:

Blakely , GA (229) 723-3641

Damascus, GA (229)725-3353

Colquitt, GA (229) 758-3520

Goshen, AL (334) 484-9221

April 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Southern Peanut Growers Conference EDGEWATER BEACH RESORT July 18-20, 2013 Panama City Beach, Florida

Key topics: Legislation, Research and Promotion

l a u n n A 15th nt! Eve

For more information contact:

www.southernpeanutfarmers.org

Alabama Peanut Producers Association P.O. Box 8805 Dothan, AL 36304 334-792-6482 Florida Peanut Producers Association 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 1 Marianna, FL 32448 850-526-2590 Georgia Peanut Commission P.O. Box 967 Tifton, GA 31793 229-386-3470

Brought to you by the: Alabama Peanut Producers Association Florida Peanut Producers Association Georgia Peanut Commission Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

Mississippi Peanut Growers Association P.O. Box 284 Petal, MS 39465 601-606-3547 For Hotel Reservations Call 1-800-874-8686 (When making your hotel reservations, please ask for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference rate.)