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CHECKOFF REPORT
Investments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry
Grower dollars allocated from the National Peanut Board Research Committee funded three research proposals for Mississippi State University researchers. The projects funded include "Optimizing Fungicide Applications for Soil-Borne Disease as Infl uenced by Crop Rotation" by Brendan Zurweller and Alan Henn, "Evaluating Return on Investments of Poultry Litter Amendments within a Peanut-Cotton Rotation" by Brendan Zurweller and "Standardization of Mississippi Peanut Variety Trials" by Brad Burgess.
The total grower dollars allocated to the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association by the National Peanut Board for use in peanut research since 2009 is $467,524.
A new research project awarded for 2021-22 by The Peanut Institute includes one from Mississippi. There were 48 proposals received from 11 countries in the areas of brain/mental health, cardiometabolic health, dietary patterns, health disparities, nutrient composition, product innovation, pregnancy/infant/ child nutrition and wellness. Four top projects were selected by TPI Research Committee and one of those was from Mississippi State University on Peanuts and Mental Health/Depression. This is a randomized control trial studying the implications of daily peanut consumption on depression, cognitive function and biomarkers for metabolic health in college students. Three others chosen came from Loma Linda, University of Barcelona, Spain and Virginia Tech.
FPPA exhibits at Florida State Fair in Tampa
The 2022 Florida State Fair kicked off this year with much excitement. This marks the 118th year the Florida State Fair has celebrated agriculture through the 12-day event that takes place every year in Tampa, Florida. The Fresh From Florida breakfast kicked off opening day of the state fair as the Florida Peanut Producers Association served grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to attendees.
One day was designated as Peanut Day at the Fair and FPPA provided roasted peanuts, recipe cards, health and nutritional information and general information about peanut production in Florida. One of the more popular items at the FPPA exhibit was "Grow Your Own Peanut" seed kits. Thousands of attendees were excited to get the seed kit and have the opportunity to grow their own peanut plant. More than 600,000 people attended the Florida State Fair with more than 1,500 4-H and FFA students competing and displaying more than 5,000 animals. "The Florida State Fair provides a great opportunity for us to showcase new recipes using peanuts and peanut butter," says Ken Barton, FPPA executive director. "We also share the message of the health and nutritional benefi ts of consuming peanut products and provide information about peanut production in Florida."
Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association executive director, visits with attendees during the Florida State Fair in Tampa.
Alabama peanuts promoted at Mercedes Benz Marathon Race
More than 7,000 people visited the Mercedes Benz Race Expo, Feb. 11-12, 2022, in Birmingham, Alabama. The Alabama Peanut Producers Association provided samples of roasted peanuts and peanut butter to the participants. Runners also picked up peanut allergy information, recipes and other peanut swag.
Taste of Alabama Legislative Reception
The Alabama Farmers Federation hosted the Taste of Alabama legislative reception in Montgomery, Alabama, February 10, 2022. Staff from the Alabama Peanut Producers Association grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the attendees. County Farmers Federation presidents and FarmPAC advisory trustees from across the state visited with more than 100 elected offi cials, including 80 legislators; Supreme Court justices and appellate judges; members of the Public Service Commission and Alabama State Board of Education; and FarmPAC-endorsed candidates for statewide offi ce. Attendees included Gov. Kay Ivey, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, State Treasurer Young Boozer and Secretary of State John Merrill.
Alabama Peanut Grower Production Meetings Held
The Alabama Peanut Producers Association hosted eight peanut grower production meetings across the state Feb. 21-25, 2022. More than 200 growers came out to hear Alabama peanut researchers from Auburn University and Alabama Cooperative Extension share their latest research and best practices for the 2022 growing season.
APPA also produced a 2022 Peanut Production Guide containing production meetings from the researchers. The guide was mailed out to all Alabama peanut growers. In addition, recordings of the researchers’ presentations are available on the APPA website.
Sponsors for the production guide and production meetings were: ADAMA, Alabama Ag Credit, Alabama Farm Credit, BASF, First South Farm Credit, Sanbuck Insurance, Syngenta, United Bank, Valent, Vantage South, Visjon Biologics.
George Washington Carver Inducted to Hall of Honor
George Washington Carver was inducted into the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor on Thursday, February 17, 2022. Carver received the Pioneer Award for being arguably the most infl uential agricultural chemist and agronomist in American history. At a time when agriculture in the South Representatives from Alabama Peanut was in a steep decline, Carver urged Producers Association and Tuskegee University farmers to plant peanuts, sweet are on hand for the induction of George potatoes and soybeans. This restored Washington Carver posthumously with the Alabama Agricultural Pioneer Award. the nitrogen to the soil that cotton had depleted. Ultimately Carver developed 300 derivative products from peanuts and 118 from sweet potatoes.
The Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor was established in 1984 with the sole purpose of bestowing honor and recognition upon living Alabamians who have made signifi cant contributions to the state’s agricultural history. The Agricultural Pioneer Award was established later in 1995 to posthumously recognize individuals whose lives and work impacted the industry. In attendance at the banquet was several APPA board members as well as faculty and staff from Tuskegee University.
Georgia Peanut Commission hosts PB&J Day at State Capitol
The annual Georgia PB&J Day was held March 1, 2022, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. At the event, Georgia Peanut Commission board and staff distributed Smucker's Uncrustables to state legislators and staff at the Capitol. Chairmen of the Georgia Senate and House Ag Committees, Sen. Larry Walker and Rep. Robert Dickey presented resolutions highlighting the Gov. Brian Kemp presents a proclamation for importance of peanuts to Georgia’s Georgia Peanut Month to the Georgia Peanut economy. Gov. Brian Kemp proclaimed Commission on March 1, 2022. the month of March as Georgia Peanut Month in the state with a proclamation. Special thanks to The J.M. Smucker Company for donating 1,000 Smucker's Uncrustables for the event.
Georgia Peanut Commission donates peanut butter and sponsors Atlanta Community Food Bank Hunger Walk/Run
Joy Crosby, GPC, visits with an attendee at the Atlanta Community Food Bank Hunger Walk.
The Georgia Peanut Commission donated 10,080 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) and 7,200 jars of peanut butter to Second Harvest of South Georgia in celebration of National Peanut Month during March. Also, GPC sponsored the annual the annual ACFB Hunger Walk/Run held March 6 in Atlanta, Georgia. The annual event brings ?? attendees to help support the food bank by walking or running in the event. The GPC distributed packs of peanuts to attendees and promoted the humanitarian relief efforts through Peanut Proud.
Georgia Peanut Commission promotes peanuts for National Peanut Month
The Georgia Peanut Commission promoted peanuts throughout the month of March through a variety of promotions. To kick off National Peanut Month, GPC hosted a Twitter party with Foodiechats that had an estimated 7.8 million impressions. The Twitter party also included new peanut recipes from food infl uencers in Illinois, Nebraska, New York, Maryland, Texas and Georgia, who created recipes ranging from Georgia Peanuts Thai Curry to Gluten Free Espresso Spice Peanut Cookies.
GPC sponsored a special series, “Proud to be a Georgia Farmer,” with WTOC-TV in Savannah and WALB-TV in Albany. The program highlighted farmers in the viewing area during the evening news in March and featured a special 30-minute show about the Georgia peanut industry including information on production, research, peanut nutrition and more.
GPC teamed up with Annessa Chumbley, registered dietitian, for a March - National Peanut Month media campaign in Georgia. Chumbley demonstrated a variety of peanut inspired recipes featuring a Peanut Packed Party Mix, Peanut Butter Banana Pops and Pad Thai Cups with Peanut Butter Sauce. The recipe videos are available on the GPC website and aired on television stations in Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah.
GPC provided peanuts and recipes to the state’s 11 welcome centers for tourists and provided television media news teams throughout Georgia with a gift basket of Georgia peanut products.
Throughout the month, GPC promoted peanuts through television and radio ads with the Georgia Association of Broadcasters, billboards in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as digital banner ads through iHeart Media.
