Southeastern Peanut Farmer - July/Aug 2013

Inside: UGA offers degree program in Tifton n 2013 Harvest Guidebook n Peanut industry helps Oklahoma families after tornado n

A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Contents July/August 2013

6

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

Tifton, Ga., is known for its leading agricultural research but now the town can add University of Georgia college degree programs to its list of accomplishments. UGA has graduated 150 plus students on the Tifton Campus since 2004.

Teresa Mays Contributing Writer Teresa2@alpeanuts.com 334-792-6482 John 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.

University of Georgia offers degree programs in Tifton

10

2013 Harvest Guidebook Determining when to harvest is one of the most important decisions farmers make each year. To assist farmers with knowing when to harvest, the Southeastern Peanut Farmer has published the 2013 Harvest Guidebook which includes information on the hull-scrape method, cultivar maturity, growing degree days model and safety at harvest time.

14

Peanut Butter to Oklahoma Victims of the recent Oklahoma tornadoes received more than 60,000 jars of peanut butter from the U.S. peanut industry through the humanitarian relief organization Peanut Proud.

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: The University of Georgia Tifton Campus allows Randall Ellis, Blakely, Ga., the opportunity to continue farming while receiving a degree from the university. Photo by Joy Crosby.

July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

3

Editorial

Calendar of Events

Harvest is just around the corner

S

ummer is in full swing and before you know it, those peanuts you planted in the spring will be ready to harvest this fall. This issue features the Southeastern Peanut Farmer’s Harvest Guidebook. So, take a look and refresh yourself on pre-harvest equipment maintenance and determining when to dig to obtain high quality peanuts.

Also, during the year many of you are moving equipment on the highways from field to field, so be sure to clean off your slow-moving vehicle signs and follow the tips on page 12 to be sure you are safe during harvest time.

Late summer and early fall bring additional educational areas for farmers through field day events across the Southeast. Researchers provide production updates at many of the research centers across the Southeast on topics relating to variety trials, disease, weed and insect management, irrigation management and more. Be sure to check out the dates for the upcoming field day events in August and September on the calendar to the right.

The grower-funded checkoff organizations have been busy representing peanut farmers through the farm bill the past few months. The Senate approved the farm bill June 10 by a vote of 66-27. Unfortunately, the House version of the farm bill was defeated by a vote of 195-234. A summary of both bills, provided by the University of Georgia National Center for Peanut Competitiveness, is available on page 21 in this issue.

The U.S. peanut industry has also been busy helping those families who were devastated by tornadoes in Oklahoma. Peanut Proud organized the relief efforts of the U.S. peanut industry through donating peanut butter and supplies to families in Oklahoma. The peanut industry shipped more than 60,000 jars of peanut butter for Project Oklahoma Relief. If you would like to donate to Peanut Proud for future relief efforts, visit www.peanutproud.com or read more about it on page 14 in this issue.

Hats off to the following peanut industry representatives who received recognition during the USA Peanut Congress. During the USA Peanut Congress, special awards were presented from the American Peanut Shellers Association, Peanut Foundation and the American Peanut Council. The award recipients were: • APSA Life Achievement Award - (for exceptional support of the entire peanut industry) - U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. • APC Lifetime Achievement Award (exceptional lifetime contributor to the advancement of the U.S. peanut industry) - Jack Chastain, general manager, Doster Warehouse, Inc. • APC Hall of Fame Award (significant lifetime contributions to the peanut industry and to the American Peanut Council) - Tyron Spearman, editor of the Peanut Farm Market News and executive director of the National Peanut Buying Points Association • APC/PF - Peanut Research and Education Award (Sponsored by Bayer CropScience) - John Beasley, UGA peanut agronomist • APC/PF - Special Appreciation Award (For coordinating $6 million fund-raising project for Peanut Genomics) - George Birdsong, CEO of Birdsong Peanuts All of these individuals are very deserving for these awards. Congratulations to them all! t

Joy Carter Crosby Editor

4

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

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 229-888-2508. u Southeast Research and Education Center Field Day, Aug. 14, 2013, Midville, Ga. For more information call Anthony Black at 478-589-7472 or rablack@uga.edu. u Florida Peanut Field Day, Aug. 15, 2013, North Florida Research and Education Center, Marianna, Fla. For more information call 850-394-9124. 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 UGA Cotton & Peanut Research Field Day, Sept. 11, 2013, Tifton, Ga. For more information call 229-386-3006. u Georgia Peanut Tour, Sept. 17-19, 2013, Valdosta, Ga. and surrounding area. For more information call 229-386-3470 or visit www.gapeanuts.com. u Tri-state Peanut Disease Tour, Sept. 2426, 2013. Tour stops include research plots in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. For more information contact Albert Culbreath at spotwilt@uga.edu or call 229-386-3156. u Plains Peanut Festival, Sept. 28, 2013, Plains, Ga. For more information call 229-824-5373 or visit www.plainsgeorgia.com. u Sunbelt Ag Expo, Oct. 15-17, 2013, Moultrie, Ga. For more information call 229-985-1968 or visit www.sunbeltexpo.com. u National Peanut Festival, Nov. 1-10, 2013, Dothan, Ala. For more information call 334-793-4323. u Georgia Farm Bureau, Dec. 8-10, 2013, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more information call 478-474-8411.

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

2013 Southern Peanut Growers Conference

Thanks to the 2013 Conference Sponsors

Conference Blog Reports Daily The 15th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference was highlighted again this year through a blog.

Be sure to check it out for photos, stories and interviews on the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation website at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org or http://spgc.wordpress.com.

The blog is sponsored by Ag Technologies.

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

Syngenta Bayer CropScience John Deere Ag-Pro Company Albany Tractor Company Blanchard Equipment Lasseter Equipment Company Smith Tractor Company Sparrow & Kennedy SunSouth LLC BASF National Peanut Board DuPont Crop Protection Ag Leader Technology Ag Technologies Aimtrac Birdsong Peanuts Colombo North America Farm Press Kelley Manufacturing Co. Valent U.S.A. Corporation Amadas Industries First South Farm Credit National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

Olam Edible Nuts Peanut Grower Southeastern Peanut Farmer AMVAC Chemical Dow AgroSciences Alabama Farmers Federation Georgia Farm Bureau Golden Peanut Company INTX Microbials McCleskey Mills Nichino America, Inc. Novozymes BioAg Quantum BioTek AMG Farm Credit Florida Georgia Organic Solutions LLC Jim Cary Consultant Newton Crouch Sessions Co. Inc. Snyder’s-Lance The KBH Corporation As of 6/28/13

July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

5

T

ifton, Ga., is known for its leading agricultural research at the University of Georgia’s Coastal Plain Experiment Station. Now the city can add UGA college degree programs to its list of accomplishments. In fact UGA has graduated 150 plus students on the Tifton Campus since 2004.

The University of Georgia began laying the groundwork for a teaching program in 2001 and the first classes began in the fall of 2003. However, still today many folks do not realize classes are offered in Tifton and individuals can receive a degree on the Tifton Campus of the University of Georgia.

The number of students may be small, but the program continues to add educational opportunities and hands-on experience to assist the 33 undergraduates who will begin this fall in one of the four majors offered.

Currently, the UGA Tifton Campus offers four undergraduate degree programs including Agriscience and Environmental Systems, Agricultural Education, Agribusiness and Biological Science.

Graduate programs offered include Agricultural Leadership and Plant Protection and Pest Management.

The UGA Tifton Campus also has

6

The University of Georgia Tifton Campus allows Randall Ellis, Blakely, Ga., the opportunity to continue farming while receiving a degree from the university.

articulation agreements with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Waycross College (now South Georgia State College) and Bainbridge College. These agreements give students the opportunity to know exactly what core classes are needed before transferring to the UGA Tifton Campus, and the students will receive an automatic transfer if all admission requirements are met. According to Joe West, assistant dean of the UGA Tifton Campus, the college is reaching out to their sister colleges in the area. This will enable students to know they have a home in Tifton waiting for them.

By studying on the UGA Tifton Campus, the students have a unique opportunity to learn from world renowned professors with outdoor laboratories and hands-on instruction.

“If someone wants to study production ag with some of the best research scientists and extension specialists in the U.S. then it is the perfect place to study,” West says.

Rising senior in Agribusiness Randall Ellis, Blakely, Ga., agrees. He really enjoys the small class size and the ability to take classes under the research scientists and specialists he has read articles from in

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

various ag magazines before coming to UGA Tifton.

Ellis chose Tifton since it is relatively close to Blakely, Ga., and allows him the ability to continue farming while taking classes. Ellis is a third-generation farmer who started planting his first crop of 30 acres of peanuts while a freshman at ABAC in Tifton. Since then, he has continued to grow his farming enterprise to include 85 acres of peanuts, cotton and soybeans. He is the son of Steve and Starla Ellis of Blakely, Ga. “Because Tifton is only a couple hours away from my hometown of Blakely, I am able to travel back home nearly every weekend to work on the farm.

During pinch times, such as harvest, I sometimes make the commute several times a week,” Ellis says. “I have been known to go to class in the morning, eat lunch on the way home, pick peanuts all afternoon and drive back to Tifton at night.”

According to Ellis, if the UGA Tifton Campus program had not been offered, he would not have been able to continue his preferred education that will also help him with farming in the future. Once Ellis graduates in May 2014 with a degree in

Agribusiness, he plans to return to the family farm. One of his favorite classes, Futures and Options class, taught by Nathan Smith, UGA Extension economist, has helped him to understand how to market his crop and understand the fundamentals of marketing.

Like many students who choose the University of Georgia, Ellis wanted a degree from UGA and Athens wasn’t an option for him.

“We’ve had students leave Tifton and transfer to Athens only wanting to return to Tifton the next year to finish their degree,” says Amber Dowd Turner, coordinator of academic programs at the UGA Tifton Campus.

The degree requirements are the same for each major whether the student is pursuing the degree in Athens or Tifton.

However, the Tifton program does offer students more hands-on instruction, Turner says.

Through the years, the UGA Tifton Campus has had traditional and non-traditional students from Georgia and across the U.S. The small class size and campus help some students feel right at home, says Meredith Rutland, UGA Tifton Campus academic recruiter.

“The programs offered in Tifton are unique because they include professors who are the central hub for the cuttingedge research, and those researchers are willing to share their knowledge with the students,” Rutland adds.

In addition to classroom instruction, students are able to participate in a variety of clubs and activities on campus including Collegiate FFA, Agribusiness Club or serve the campus as Ambassadors.

According to West, the UGA Tifton Campus is putting out well-trained students who choose to stay in South Georgia to work. “We feel like we are adding to the workforce in South Georgia,” he says. “That is one goal we can be proud of.”

However, there are other goals on the horizon including the need for faculty and dedicated teaching space. He has a plan in place but funds are needed to make this goal a reality. “UGA Tifton is here to stay and we are working hard to recruit more students,” West says.

In addition to the undergraduate studies, the UGA Tifton Campus provides a unique opportunity for those already in the workforce to return to campus while working to pursue a master’s degree in Agricultural Leadership or Plant

Protection and Pest Management.

These degree programs provide a solution for extension agents, agricultural teachers and others in the ag industry who would like to further their education while continuing to work full-time.

According to Bill Starr, UGA Extension agent in Sumter County, the master’s program in Plant Protection and Pest Management was perfect for his career since most of the classes related directly to what he does every day.

“This program is perfect for county agents because the knowledge gained was practical to real world situations,” Starr says.

Starr, like Ellis, admits that if the degree would not have been offered in Tifton then he most likely would not have been able to pursue a degree of that nature. He says the degree program in Tifton was a blessing for him.

“I like the small class size and the availability of the professors. I already knew some of my professors at the UGA Tifton Campus because they are Extension specialists and have teaching appointments as well,” Starr says. “I am so glad the MPPPM program was available in Tifton.”

In addition to the students who enjoy the opportunities the UGA Tifton Campus has provided them, there are Extension specialists and researchers who are proud to teach classes along with their current duties of research or extension programs.

One of those Extension specialists John Beasley, UGA Extension peanut agronomist, always thought he would enjoy teaching and now he has his chance.

Beasley teaches a crop production and management class every other fall semester and a seed technology class in the alternating fall semester for undergraduate and graduate students. Even though Beasley’s primary responsibilities include extension programs and research, he decided to give it a try with the attitude and promise that if the teaching distracts from his extension appointment, he would give it up. Now ten years later, Beasley is still managing the busy schedule of extension, research and teaching.

Through his career as Extension peanut agronomist, he travels the Southern part of Georgia many times and his greatest reward is seeing the graduates of the UGA Tifton Campus out working in the agricultural industry. t

By JOy CrOSBy

UGA Tifton Campus attracts North Georgia students Production agriculture is different from state to state, or even in some cases, opposite ends of the state. Many students attending the University of Georgia Tifton Campus have the opportunity to learn more about South Georgia agriculture while taking classes in Tifton, Ga. “Production agriculture is a whole different ball game in South Georgia than in the North Georgia Mountains. The main agricultural emphasis consists of apple orchards, broiler production and small beef cattle operations rather than cotton, peanuts, and corn,” says Jamison Cruce, a recent graduate of the UGA Tifton Campus from Blue Ridge, Ga. “Our largest fields might be 200 acres of pastureland, compared to over 1,000 acre fields producing row crops and vegetables.”

John Beasley, University of Georgia Extension peanut agronomist and professor at the UGA Tifton Campus, discusses peanut production with Jamison Cruce, a recent graduate of the UGA Tifton Campus.

Cruce completed his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture with a major in agricultural education from the UGA Tifton Campus. He is currently employed full-time at the Georgia Peanut Commission as the director of research and education.

“The UGA Tifton Campus is in the premier location for an agricultural institution in the state for a lot of reasons. Tifton is the heart of agriculture in South Georgia, so it provides for a well-rounded learning experience. The professors are some of the most world-renowned scientists in their respective fields,” Cruce says.

“A student has the opportunity to not just sit in a classroom or at a lab bench, but the ability to go straight to the research field plots and study the subject first-hand.” t

By WHiTney yArBrOUGH GeOrGiA PeAnUT COmmiSSiOn COmmUniCATiOnS inTern

July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

7

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

Mississippi growers team up with The Peanut Institute The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association has teamed up with The Peanut Institute to be the first to gain the American Heart Association’s (AHA) approval for their oil-roasted, salted peanuts to use the Heart-Check Mark logo on their packages. Oil-roasted, salted peanuts are well below the AHA requirement of 140 mg per one ounce serving, and also meet the criteria for fiber and saturated fat, making them a great healthy snack choice. The MPGA has also teamed up with The Peanut Institute and AHA to develop a two page information brochure titled, “Heart-Healthy Peanuts.” This will be given out by MPGA at the Mississippi Diabetes Association “Walks” around the State, Mississippi School Nutrition Association Annual Conference and other events, such as the Mississippi High School Championship Play-offs.

The brochure has six talking points with factual educational statements about each one. For example, “Surprise! Even salted peanuts can be low in sodium; Fact: one ounce of salted peanuts typically contains less sodium than a slice of bread (one ounce). References are given to verify the six talking points. It is surprising to find most people don’t know peanuts are heart-healthy.

Florida Ag Literacy Day a success The 2013 Ag Literacy Day in Florida reached approximately 65,000 elementary students across the state. More than 1,600 volunteers read to 3,200 classrooms. They read from a book that is part of a series developed specifically for the annual event, which is in Sherry Saunders, Florida Peanut its tenth year. The new book, “Florida’s Farm Producers, reads the Florida Ag History!,” commemorates the 500th year Literacy Day book to students at anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s discovery of North Bay Haven elementary school Florida and the agricultural events that played a in Panama City, Fla. part in the state’s history.

“Florida Ag Literacy Day is a popular program that puts agricultural industry volunteers from around the state in touch with students in the classroom to teach students about agriculture,” says Ken Barton, chairman of the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom board of directors.

Volunteers make March of Dimes event fun for kids Members of the 2013 Peanut Team for Mobile-Baldwin County joined hundreds who participated in the March of Dimes annual Walk for Babies. The event this year was held at Spanish Fort and marked the fourth consecutive year the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) has sponsored the Kids Activities tent. Children of all ages and their parents visited the tent to make peanut arts and crafts, and receive peanuts and information on the health benefits of peanuts. Such walks are held across the U.S. to help raise money so the March of Dimes can fund research and help prevent prematurity and birth defects. Representatives from the Alabama Peanut Producers Association and Alfa Womens Committees made up peanut team volunteers for this year’s events.

8

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

Florida’s peanut farmers represented at Epcot The Florida Peanut Producers Association participated in the “Fresh from Florida Weekend” at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival in May. This was the fifth year that FPPA as “Fresh From Florida” members, have been invited to help spotlight Florida Agriculture.

“This venue allows us the opportunity to share information about peanut production in Florida, as well as distribute health and nutritional information, recipe cards and brochures and provide seed kits for those who want to plant and grow a peanut plant in their garden,” says Scott Robinson, vice president of FPPA and peanut farmer in Williston, Fla. “We are thankful to the Florida Department of Agriculture for inviting us back to participate in this year’s Fresh From Florida Weekend.”

Scott and Nancy Robinson visit with attendees at the “Fresh From Florida Weekend” at Epcot during the International Flower and Garden Festival.

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

Alabama offers Peanuts E-news service To keep peanut growers and others in the industry up-to-date on happenings within the industry, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association has created a “Peanut E-News” service. Emails will be sent when there are issues that may affect you or you need to be aware of within the industry and agriculture in general.

To sign up, go to: www.alpeanuts.com and complete the registration information located at the top left-hand corner of the home page.

Georgia Peanut Commission swears in board members and elects officers During the June Georgia Peanut Commission board meeting, re-elected board members were sworn in and officers were elected. Superior Court Judge Melanie Cross of Tifton, Ga., sworn in the three re-elected board members.

In December 2012, nomination meetings were held for the board seats in District 2, 4 and 5. Morris is the incumbent for District 2 and he defeated Wes Shannon of Tift County, by 65.24 percent of the vote. The Georgia Farm Bureau conducted the nomination meetings and votes were counted by the certified public Judge Melanie Cross of Tifton swears in recently accountants at re-elected Georgia Peanut Commission board members Armond Morris, Ocilla, Ga., Rodney Allen Pritchett Dawson, Hawkinsville, Ga., and Donald Chase, & Bassett in Oglethorpe, Ga. Tifton, Ga. Additional board members renominated without opposition included Rodney Dawson of Hawkinsville, Ga., representing District 4, and Donald Chase of Oglethorpe, Ga., representing District 5.

The Georgia Peanut Commission board members elected officers during the meeting and Morris was elected chairman, Joe Boddiford, Sylvania, Ga., as vice chairman and Dawson as treasurer.

Additional information on the programs of the Georgia Peanut Commission is available online at www.gapeanuts.com.

Georgia Peanut Commission showcases crop demonstration plot at new headquarters The Georgia Peanut Commission is now showing off how crops grow at it’s new headquarters in Tifton, Ga. A crop demonstration plot on the south end of the property showcases peanuts, cotton and corn. The plot was made possible by the University of Georgia Peanut Team.

The crops were planted in May and photos and video of the demonstration plot have been posted online at www.gapeanuts.com for those wanting to follow the progress throughout the season.

The Georgia Peanut Representatives with the University of Georgia Peanut Team plants peanuts, Commission continues cotton and corn in the Crop to educate travelers Demonstration Plot at the Georgia passing by the headPeanut Commission headquarters. quarters on Interstate 75. The most recent tourists have been from Kansas, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois and other states. The tourists have stopped in to learn more about Georgia peanuts and obtain a free sample of peanuts.

Lasseter Equipment Group donates riding mower to Georgia Peanut Commission Lasseter Equipment Group recently made a donation of a John Deere 42” riding mower to the Georgia Peanut Commission. The lawnmower allows the commission to maintain the grounds on-site at the new headquarters off of Stewart Keith, salesman with Lasseter Equipment Group, presents Don Interstate 75 in Tifton, Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission Ga. executive director, with the John Deere “We are fortunate to riding mower for the GPC headquarters. have a partner in the agricultural industry willing to donate a mower to us for use at the new headquarters,” says Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director. “We are very appreciative of Lasseter Equipment Group and their efforts to support Georgia’s peanut farmers.”

July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

9

Harvesting quality peanuts at the right time

O

ptimizing maturity at harvest time is one goal farmers should set for this production year.

Farmers should be cautious and not harvest peanuts before they are fully mature.

Farmers have tools available to assist them with determining the right time to harvest peanuts.

“Determining when to harvest is one of the most important decisions growers make each year,” says John Beasley, University of Georgia peanut agronomist.

“The maturity of a peanut affects yield, flavor, grade, and shelf life.”

Research has been conducted by Beasley and Jay Williams, retired UGA peanut engineer, on harvesting peanuts early, on time and late. Research has shown that peanuts harvested too early had an off flavor. Peanuts harvested too

early or too late had reduced yield by 500 to 700 pounds per acre.

Determining maturity One of the best ways to determine crop maturity for a number of years has been to use the “hull-scrape method” to compose a pod-maturity profile. The hull scrape method is based on color changes in the middle layer of the peanut hull as the nut matures. However, if the work of a scientific team continues to show promise, the words “adjusted growing degree days” may soon replace “hull-scrape” and “profile boards” in the annual chores of predicting crop maturity and deciding when to begin harvesting.

This doesn’t mean the old hull-scrape will find its way to the scrap heap. It does mean that the hull-scrape method will get a powerful new partner, a complementary

Maturity Range of Peanut Cultivars Variety

Type

Maturity* (140-145 DAP)

Georgia-06G

Runner

0

Georgia-07W

Runner

0

Georgia-09B

Runner

0-7 (-)

Georgia Greener

Runner

0-7 (-)

Florida-07

Runner

0

Runner

0-7 (-)

Runner

0-7 (-)

FloRun

TM

‘107’

Tifguard

* Maturity range is related to Georgia-06G (typically 140 - 145 days after planting). A plus sign (+) following the range of days means the cultivar is that number of days later than Georgia-06G. A negative sign (-) following the range of days means the cultivar is that number of days earlier than Georgia Green. A “0” indicates the maturity is the same as Georgia-06G. The range of days to maturity is relative and can be greatly influenced by environmental conditions all during the season.

Always monitor maturity using the Hull-Scrape Maturity Profile.

10

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

tool for farmers to use in estimating the ideal digging date.

The hull-scrape and its profile board are most vulnerable to human error in judging the colors of the scraped hulls.

The adjusted growing degree day model adds a degree of precision to the determination of peanut maturity.

The new adjusted growing degree days model was originally developed at the USDA’s National Peanut Research Laboratory in Dawson, Ga., by Wilson Faircloth and Diane Rowland.

Diane Rowland has continued to work on the model in her new role at the University of Florida agronomy department. She has made the model available for peanut farmers across the Southeast on the University of Florida website. This website for use by peanut farmers is: http://agronomy.ifas.ufl.edu/peanutfarm/o verview. You will also be directed to the website if you use a search engine and type in the words “peanut field agronomic resource manager.”

To calculate adjusted growing degree days, Rowland and her colleagues use a mathematical formula that accounts for daily maximum and minimum temperatures along with the amount of water received by the crop from rainfall and irrigation. For runner peanuts grown in the Southeast, peanut maturity peaks and harvesting should begin when the model reaches a total of 2,500 adjusted growing degree days.

There are numerous factors that affect when to harvest individual fields.

According to Beasley, farmers can plant the same variety on the same day in different fields and the peanuts may still

Harvest Equipment Checklist Peanut Digger Pre-harvest Checklist u Check the entire machine for loose or worn parts. u Make sure the plow shanks are not bent and the digger blades run level. u Straighten any bent rattler bars. u Check all bearings and the gear box oil level. u Check coulters and vine cutters for proper location and condition. u Align the inversion rods before digging (see operator manual for proper spacing). u Check for binding or unusual noises by operating the machine briefly. u Have plenty of extra digger blades on hand.

Harvest Season Checklist u Check digger blades for proper sharpness and depth. u Coulters should cut vines leaving no clumps. u Check the flow of material through the digger. Make sure ground speed is synchronized to produce a smooth flow of vines and soil into the digger. u Make sure drive belts are tight. u Check for proper vine inversion and inversion rod spacing.

Combine maintenance checklist Pre-harvest Checklist u Clean inside and out, removing all dirt and residue from the previous crop. u Check for loose, bent, broken, or missing parts such as pickup springs, cylinder springs and stripper springs. u Check air lift ducts for holes, lodged objects and dirt buildup. u Make sure all shields are functional and in good shape. u Replace the “Slow Moving Vehicle” sign if it is not in good condition.

Harvest Season Checklist u Adjust settings according to windrow conditions.

Remember, no combination of settings will remain optimal throughout a given day. u Check combined peanuts periodically for LSK’s and foreign material. u Check chaff passing through the combine for excessive pod loss. If problems occur, adjust stripper spring settings.

Peanut Hull Color Groups and Distinctive Characteristics Major color

Pod maturity profile board is used to determine if peanuts are ready for harvest. This is based on color changes in the middle layer of the peanut hull as the nut matures. mature at a different rate due to soil type differences, climate and weather differences and pest problem differences.

Checking each field individually is also important since the peanuts may not mature in the order in which they were planted.

Farmers also have to weigh out their options on when to harvest due to several factors including the number of acres to be harvested, equipment availability and

Characteristics

Development period (days)

White

Soft, watery, poorly defined kernel, between the size of a match head and a full size pod

14-16

Yellow

Spongy texture, pod is full size, kernel is somewhat defined

10-14

Dark Yellow

Coarser pod texture then yellow, well-defined kernel

10-14

Orange

Pink seed coat developing

12-14

Brown Rough pod texture, dark pink 10-12 capacity, labor seed coat availability and Black Completely developed kernel, 19-21 impending weathextremely rough pod texture er conditions.

Lastly, farmplex decision with many facets, yet most ers need to know the maturity range of of the quality and profits depend on that the cultivar they planted. Maturity range decision being made accurately. Beasley is related to the cultivar Georgia-06G and encourages growers to contact their local some newer cultivars mature earlier or extension service for assistance. t later.

Determining when to dig is a comBy JOy CrOSBy July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

11

Stay alert this harvest

S

taying alert is a must for anyone driving on roadways, especially during harvest time. There are many distractions that are simply uncalled for while operating a motor vehicle. Wikipedia defines texting while driving as: “the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email or making other similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle.” This practice has been viewed by many people and authorities as dangerous. It has also been ruled as the cause of some motor vehicle accidents.

But there are numerous other distractions, as well. Not surprising, other diversions include: eating while driving, adjusting the stereo, using a GPS, talking on the phone, grooming, singing and loud music – the list goes on and on.

Those individuals working within the agricultural industry know that extra precautions are needed during the spring and fall months. Motorists need to heed to all

traffic laws and realize there may be farm equipment using the highways, as well as themselves.

Trooper Kevin Cook, public information/education officer with the Alabama State Trooper’s office in Dothan, Ala., urges motorists to pay attention and look for slow-moving vehicle signs.

“It’s an easy precaution to take and just pay attention,” Cook says.

“Everybody seems to be in a hurry in this fast-paced society and not as alert as

someone needs to be who is operating a motor vehicle.”

Farmers know all too well how important it is to be alert when driving on any road – dirt or paved.

“Operators of vehicles need to keep in mind that they are moving fast and drivers on farm equipment are moving slow,” says Carl Sanders, president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. “I urge drivers to please be patient and realize we want to get off the road as soon as possible so we can get busy in our fields.”

Sanders also suggested to farmers to make sure your slow-moving vehicle emblems are clean and visible.

Drivers of the roadways, make sure you know where you are going at all times, watch for and avoid obstacles such as ditches and embankments and watch your speed. Take all precautions when driving and please, please “stay alert!” t

By TereSA mAyS

Stay Safe this Harvest Season Follow these simple reminders to have a safe harvest season.

1. Turn off power before adjusting, servicing or unclogging power-driven machinery.

2. Make sure loads being towed are properly hitched to the drawbar and that pins and chains are in place.

3. Display slow-moving vehicle signs on machinery towed or driven on the highways.

4. Have shields and guards in place and maintained at all times.

5. Inspect and maintain all hydraulic hoses and couplings.

6. Make sure tires are properly inflated.

7. Inspect and maintain all machinery, equipment and tools to keep them in proper working condition.

8. Have first-aid kits available and develop an

emergency plan.

12

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

V

ictims of the recent Oklahoma tornadoes received more than 60,000 jars of nutritious, shelfstable peanut butter from Georgia-based humanitarian organization Peanut Proud.

Several truckloads of donated peanut butter and peanut products were delivered to emergency management stations and food banks in Shawnee/Tecumseh, and Moore/Oklahoma City between May 27 and May 31, 2013.

“The hearts and prayers of everyone in the peanut industry are with the people of Oklahoma during this difficult time,” says Gregg Grimsley, Peanut Proud president. “One of the main reasons we established Peanut Proud was to quickly respond to disasters and provide victims with peanut butter, a nutrient-dense, nonperishable food that provides sustaining energy. It’s these benefits that make peanut butter one of the most requested items by food banks across the country.

The outpouring of support from peanut and agricultural organizations and individ-

Monetary donations may be sent to: Project Oklahoma Relief c/o Peanut Proud P.O. Box 446 Blakely, Ga. 39823 www.peanutproud.com

uals will make it possible to deliver tens of thousands of jars of peanut butter and peanut products to Oklahoma families in these hard hit areas.”

The Oklahoma Peanut Commission is coordinating distribution of the products so generously donated by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, American Blanching, American Peanut Council, American Peanut Shellers Association, B&G Seed Processors, Damascus Peanut Company, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Georgia Federal State Inspection Service, Georgia Peanut Commission, Kroger, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, Sanfillipo & Son, Southern Ag Carriers, Texas Peanut Producers Board, Virginia-Carolina Peanut Promotions, Clint Williams Company of Madill, Okla., and other organizations.

Individuals can contribute to Peanut Proud’s Oklahoma Relief campaign at www.peanutproud.com. Peanut Proud, Inc. is a 501c3 humanitarian organization representing all segments of the peanut industry.

Peanut Proud produces and provides nutrient-dense, shelf-stable peanut butter to address both chronic hunger (through regular deliveries to food banks and similar organizations in the 11 major peanutproducing states) and crises (through quick response to disasters) with high volume donations of peanut butter. t

Photo by Whitney Yarbrough, Georgia Peanut Commission.

Peanut industry donates peanut butter to Oklahoma relief

Peanut industry representatives joined together to ship 22 cases (31,680 jars) of peanut butter to families in Oklahoma for the first shipment, May 24, 2013. Pictured left to right are: Robert Mock, Tara Foods (Kroger); Miriam Crosby, American Peanut Shellers Association; Van Griffin, Lineage/ Flint River Services; Gregg Grimsley, president of Peanut Proud; Rodney Williams, Southern Ag Trucking and Joy Crosby, Georgia Peanut Commission.

The U.S. peanut industry delivered peanut butter and supplies to Moore, Okla., on May 28, 2013. Pictured left to right: Mike Kubicek, Oklahoma Peanut Commission; Rodney Williams, Southern Ag Carriers; Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese and Blayne Arthur, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture associate commissioner.

Peanut Proud donates peanut butter to local community Peanut Proud donated 6,700 jars of peanut butter in May to Harvest of Hope Food Pantry in Americus, Ga. Peanut Proud uses Georgia, Florida, and Alabama grown peanuts to produce a peanut butter to feed people in need.

Peanut Proud provides peanut producers with an opportunity to give back to their local communities. Their peanut butter can easily be spotted by their label specifically designed for food banks.

14

Harvest of Hope Food Pantry, located in Americus, Ga., is an up and coming food bank that is very thankful for this generous donation from Peanut Proud.

“We are greatly appreciative of the sizeable donation from Peanut Proud. This will help needy families in the Americus,

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

Sumter County and the surrounding area,” says Sonny Pinckard, Harvest of Hope executive director.

Harvest of Hope had a successful Open House May 30, 2013, and has been distributing this product to many local recipients. Donations to the Peanut Proud can be made online at www.peanutproud.com. t

2013 Georgia Peanut Tour set for September

T

he twenty-seventh annual Georgia Peanut Tour will be held September 17-19, 2013, and located out of Valdosta, Ga., at the Fairfield Inn & Suites. The tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties including Lowndes, Tift, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook and stops in North Florida.

Attendees can expect to see first-hand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour hosts many exciting stops including on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, peanut processing facilities, and several special highlights which include research at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, Kelley Manufacturing Co. in Tifton, Ga., Georgia Department of Agriculture Laboratory in Tifton, Ga., Colombo North America in Adel, Ga., DuPont Crop Protection in Valdosta, Ga., R.L. Cunningham and Sons seed and custom shelling facility in Quitman, Ga., and Birdsong Peanuts buying point in Lee, Fla. One special interest of the tour has

Many attendees on the Georgia Peanut Tour are able to learn more about the University of Georgia and National Peanut Research Lab peanut research and visit a peanut farm for their very first time.

always been the Early Bird “Hot Topics” Seminar set for Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. This year’s “Hot Topics” Seminar, held at Fairfield Inn and Suites, will focus on economic sustainability of peanut farms. The seminar speakers will include University of Georgia faculty in the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department, Nathan Smith, Stanley Fletcher and Allen McCorvey.

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 www.gapeanuts.com to register and view tour schedule. For more information contact Sonya Hancock at sonya@gapeanuts.com or call Sonya at 229-386-3470. t

USAID grant to fund global UGA peanut research

A

$15 million grant from the U.S. Agency on International Development is giving a boost in funds to international peanut research at the University of Georgia.

The USAID grant awarded to the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will go toward management of the Peanut and Mycotoxin Innovation Lab, formerly known as the Peanut Collaborative Research Support Programs, or Peanut CRSP. One of ten innovation labs in existence, the lab is designed to help provide essential research for impoverished countries where people suffer from malnutrition.

“I think the peanut industry has always had an interest in helping humanitarian situations,” says the grant’s principal investigator Steve Brown, who is the

16

college’s assistant dean for extension.

“The University of Georgia and the peanut industry are proud to have this program centered out of the state of Georgia. It means a lot to us.”

Brown also will serve as interim director of the Peanut and Mycotoxin Innovation Lab. The newly funded program will be anchored at UGA and over the next four years will focus helping five countries: Haiti, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.

One project already in the works will look at mycotoxins, which are potent toxins produced by fungi and found in several staple food products. Their goal will be to look for ways to eliminate the toxic problem, which can be a major health issue in some developing countries.

“The countries we are going to be

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

working in are not and will never be competitors of the U.S. peanut industry,” Brown says. “We’re trying to help them crawl their way out of poverty, and if peanuts can help them do that, then we’re the logical ones to lead the effort.”

Scott Angle, dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said the Peanut and Mycotoxin Innovation Lab’s research will also be applied in Georgia.

“It is not often that we can have a truly win-win project such as this,” he says.

For more about the Peanut and Mycotoxin Innovation Lab, see peanutcrsp.org. For more information on peanut research at UGA, see caes.uga. edu/commodities/fieldcrops/peanuts. t

By ClinT THOmPSOn UniVerSiTy OF GeOrGiA

Peanut politics can sometimes create unpredictable humor Editor’s note: Frank McGill, retired University of Georgia peanut agronomist, shares a lighthearted story regarding the farm bill from the early 1970s.

F

rom 1960 through 1982, historically since 1941 every four or five years new farm bills, including peanuts, were debated and crafted at the Congressional level. If history is any teacher, we can expect some hot-button peanut politics later on this year.

Hopefully, there will be a little humor and comedy along the way.

Take the peanut bill in the early ‘70s for example: Mr. Richard (Dick) Nixon was president. Mr. Earl Butz was the new Republican Secretary of Agriculture. Mr. Butz had repeatedly made it public that he would use the power of his office to phase out the peanut program. (This did not happen until 1996.)

Earlier, the Civil Rights Act had been passed. The Georgia Farm Bureau had received a suggestion “that it would be nice if the Georgia farm delegation would include at least one African American to testify at a proposed Congressional hearing.” Consequently, the Georgia Farm

Bureau invited a small African American peanut grower from Sumter County, Ga., to join the Georgia delegation for the upcoming testimony in Washington; his name was “Willie.”

Later on, Willie joined our group at the Atlanta airport en route to Washington to testify. He was impeccably dressed, wearing a blue serge suit with a razor sharp crease that reflected a fluorescent green color. The president of the Georgia Farm Bureau had previously told Willie, as well as all others designated to testify, “Remember, every word you speak will be recorded in the Congressional Record.”

The other Georgia delegates were a little nervous since Willie didn’t have his testimony written down.

The next day, all the delegates assembled at 10 a.m. in the Congressional hearing room. Testimonies, both pro and con, would be heard representing every segment of the U.S. peanut industry. The atmosphere was filled with tension.

Secretary Butz was one the first to congratulate the presence of Willie and shook his hand. Then he said to Willie, “You may be one of those that has been calling me an _ _ _ _.” Willie said, “No,sir; no,sir

U.S. Representative Bonner to resign from Congress U.S. Representative Jo Bonner has announced his plans to resign from Congress this coming August. He will be taking a newly-created position of Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and Economic Development at The University of Alabama System. “I was not looking for another job; in fact, the opportunity to work for The University of Alabama System was both unexpected and certainly unsolicited,” Bonner says. “Moreover, I also firmly believe there are many ways you can serve your state and nation without having your name on a ballot.”

Bonner said serving as U.S. Congressman for the 1st District of Alabama for the past decade has been one of the highest honors in his life. He also noted that even after he leaves office, his

18

office staff will remain to assist with any issues until such time that a new representative has been elected by the people of Alabama’s First Congressional District. It will be up to Governor Robert Bentley to announce the date for a special election.

“Even though I was grateful to, once again, run for reelection unopposed last November, both Janée, my wife, and I have known that this time would one day come,” Bonner says, “But quite frankly, it has come sooner than either of us could have anticipated.”

Bonner will be working in two areas – Government Relations and Economic Development – where he said his experience can hopefully have an immediate impact. t

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

- not yet!” We knew then, we were going to be okay with Willie’s forthcoming testimony. We also knew that there might be a little humor in an otherwise tense situation.

Congressman Charlie Rose from North Carolina called the hearing to order and announced the time limits for each testimony. Ironically, Chairman Rose called Willie as the first one to testify.

Willie, without a single note, came to the podium and said, “Mr. Chairman, I am a peanut farmer from Sumter County, Ga. I have to put everything in my own words and all I got to say that is, if Mr. President do what he says he is gonna do with our peanut program, he will truly be living up to his nickname of ‘Tricky Dick’!”

The whole room immediately broke out with hearty laughter and some clapping of hands from those who were there to defend the peanut program.

You can be assured that Willie’s unpredictable response with humor did more to reduce the tension in that room that day than did any other testimony, pro or con. t

By FrAnk mCGill

Farm Service Agency County Committee nomination period open until August 1 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees are open until August 1, 2013.

To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.

Official forms and details regarding county committee elections are available online, http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Nomination forms for the 2013 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2013. Elections will take place this fall. t

Washington Outlook

by Robert L. Redding Jr.

Senate approves farm bill

Farm bill defeated on House floor

The U.S. Senate voted June 10, 2013, to approve the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, a bipartisan Farm Bill authored by Senator Debbie Stabenow, chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Ranking Member Senator Thad Cochran. The bill was approved with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 66-27. The bill, which saves taxpayers more than $24 billion, represents the most significant reform of American agriculture policy in decades.

The bill reforms food and agricultural policy by eliminating direct payments and transitioning to responsible risk management tools for farmers, saving billions of dollars. The farm bill also consolidates programs to end duplication and addresses fraud and misuse in nutrition programs. These reforms allow for the strengthening of key initiatives that help farmers and small businesses reach new markets and create American jobs.

“The Senate today voted to support 16 million American jobs, to save taxpayers billions and to implement the most significant reforms to agriculture programs in decades,” Chairwoman Stabenow says. “By eliminating duplication and streamlining programs, we were able to save $24 billion while strengthening initiatives that help farmers and small businesses reach new markets. This bill proves that by working across party lines, we can save taxpayer money and create smart policies that lay the foundation for a stronger economy.”

Stabenow continues, “I want to thank my Ranking Member Senator Thad Cochran for his leadership and commitment to bipartisan partnership, and all my colleagues in the Senate for voting on behalf of the 16 million American jobs that rely on a robust, innovative agriculture sector. I look forward to continuing to work in a collaborative and bipartisan way to see that this reform bill is signed into law. There can be no more kicking the can down the road—it’s time for Congress to finish its work on the Farm Bill.”

To view a copy of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, visit the Senate Agriculture Committee website at www.ag.senate.gov/issues/farmbill. A section-by-section summary of the bill is also available. The Senate Agriculture Committee bill being considered includes the following peanut provisions in the table to the right.

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee passed 2013 Farm Bill was defeated on the floor of the House of Representatives 195 to 234.

House leaders had highlighted key Federal Agricultural Reform and Risk Management Act or FARRM Act provisions yet the bill failed to obtain a majority vote. The Southern Peanut Farmer Federation leaders, including the Georgia Peanut Commission, conferred with key peanut state representatives on options to move the bill forward.

Key FARRM provisions of the House farm bill include: • FARRM saves taxpayers $40 billion, including $6 billion in sequestration.

• FARRM repeals or consolidates more than 100 programs administered by USDA, including Direct Payments to farmers.

• FARRM is the product of three years of debate and over 40 hearings, including a two-year audit of every farm bill program.

• Without passage of FARRM, no budget savings will be achieved beyond sequestration. Food Stamps are exempt from sequestration. Failure to pass FARRM means the status quo for Food Stamps.

House Agriculture Committee leaders are evaluating next steps for the legislation that expires on September 30, 2013. The University of Georgia’s National Center for Peanut Competitiveness has outlined provisions specific to peanut producers in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee passed 2013 Farm Bill .

USDA announces loan rates for 2013 peanut crop USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) recently announced 2013-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. CCC calculated the price support levels for each peanut type using the same method as last year.

CCC uses the national average loan rate of $355 per ton and fiveyear average quality factors, along with a three-year simple average weighted production. The rates take effect Aug. 1, 2013, the beginning of the peanut crop year. For an average grade ton of 2013-crop peanuts, loan levels by type are: Runner-type peanuts $354.74 per ton Spanish-type peanuts $334.93 per ton Valencia-type peanuts $358.38 per ton Virginia-type peanuts $358.38 per ton CCC applies premiums and discounts for quality factors to compute the loan value for an individual ton of peanuts. The actual loan level depends on the percent of various sizes of kernels in each ton.

CCC uses the percentage of sound mature kernels (SMK) and sound splits (SS) to compute the basic loan value of the load.

For each percent of SMK in a ton of peanuts, plus each percent of SS, the loan levels are: Runner-type peanuts - $4.845 per percent, Spanish-type peanuts - $4.821 per percent, Valencia-type peanuts $5.322 per percent and Virginia-type peanuts - $4.942 per percent.

Legislative Updates available online at www.americanpeanuts.com

20

Southeastern Peanut Farmer July/August 2013

U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Peanut Provisions Peanut Provisions

2013 U.S. Senate Ag Committee

2013 U.S. House Ag Committee

Direct Payments

Eliminated

Eliminated

Target Price (TP)/Reference Price

$523.77

$535

Counter-Cyclical

Eliminated

Eliminated

Adverse Market Payments

Paid if the 12 month marketing year price is below reference price on 85% of base

Not included in House Bill

Base

Same as in 2008 Farm Bill. Current peanut base holders have an option to adjust but total farm base cannot be increased. 2009-2012 crop years to be used for adjustment.

Sum of the base acreage for all covered commodities and cotton on a farm

Payment Yield

Same as in 2008 Farm Bill. If peanut base holder adjusts their peanut base, Secretary will automatically adjust payment yield based on 2009-2012 crop years.

Same as in 2008 Farm Bill. New peanut producers without a peanut payment yield will have one established. Payment yield can be adjusted to 90% of the 2008-2012 crop years average yield for PLC payments.

Payment Acres

85% of planted acres plus 30% of prevented planted acres for given year by crop. Sum of payment acres by covered commodity cannot exceed the farm base acres.

Average Crop Revenue Election Program

Eliminated

Eliminated

Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC)

Must make a 1 time decision whether to take the individual farm level coverage or county level coverage

Not included in House Bill

ARC payment

Paid if actual crop revenue is less than agricultural risk coverage guarantee on planted eligible acres

Not included in House Bill

Farm Risk Management Election

Not included in Senate Bill

Producer must decide whether to take Price Loss Coverae or REvenue Loss Coverage (Producer Choice).

Price Loss Coverage (PLC)

Payments if effective price is less than reference price and paid on payment acres.

Revenue Loss Coverage (RLC)

Payment if actual county revenue is less than the county revenue loss coverage trigger and paid on payment acres.

Marketing Assistance Loan

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Loan Deficiency Payments/Marketing Loan Gains

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Storage, Handling and Associated Costs

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Peanut Revenue Crop Insurance Program

Mandating RMA to implement the program for the 2014 crop

Mandating RMA to implement the program for the 2014 crop

Payment Limits

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Same as 2008 Farm Bill

Payment Limit on AMP and ARC

$50,000

Payment Limit on PLC & RLC

$125,000

Payment Limit on CCP

Eliminated

Eliminated

Payment Limit on DP

Eliminated

Eliminated

Payment Limit on MLG/LDP

$75,000

Same as 2008 Bill

Adjusted Gross Income Limitation

3 year average AGI exceeds $750,000

3 year average of total AGI exceeds $950,000

Chart provided by the University of Georgia National Center for Peanut Competitiveness.

July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

21

Southern Peanut Growers Create memories in the kitchen this summer with these five family-friendly peanut butter recipes Southern Peanut Growers shares winning recipe from “PB My Kid’s Way” contest The Southern Peanut Growers offers five fun recipes for families to make together. The peanut butter creations were submitted by families across the country in the PB My Kids Way recipe contest – from marshmallow cows to a peanut buttery parfait and reinvented “hot dogs,” these winning recipes are sure to spark the interest of children and adults alike. All five recipes are available at www.peanutbutterlovers.com.

No-Bake PB Energy Squares Submitted by Carlene from Illinois One batch of these energy squares will feed the whole family, and with a deliciously chewy texture and peanut buttery flavor, they are sure to provide a boost for the afternoon lull.

Grand Prize Winner

Finalists

Jammin’ Peanut Butter Sundae Parfait Submitted by Laurie from Massachusetts Because this parfait has multiple elements – a peanut butter brownie, salted peanut butter caramel sauce and “jammin’ grape sauce” – you can choose to make the brownie as a stand-alone snack or go all the way with the sundae parfait. “My family goes absolutely nuts – I mean peanuts for this recipe! This recipe is fancy enough for company, but can also be served in paper cups in the backyard for some comfort food,” Laurie says.

Cows Out to Pasture Submitted by James from Illinois This recipe not only tastes delicious, but is a perfect afternoon craft project for the family. Just put the ingredients into bowls or dishes, and everyone can create their own cows in the pasture.

Marketing arm of

Peanut Butter Cookie Oatmeal Submitted by Jen from Pennsylvania Don’t be fooled by the name – this oatmeal may taste like a cookie, but packs a healthy punch. Family members can customize the oatmeal with ingredients such as bananas, maple syrup or milk.

PBB&B Dogs Submitted by Rick from Washington This banana “hot dog” provides all the fun, but with a healthy peanutty twist, whether you’re in your backyard or on the go.

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 Peanut Commission pledges $50,000 towards University of Georgia research endowment

T

he Georgia Peanut Commission recently pledged $50,000 towards the newly created University of Georgia Peanut Team Research Endowment. This is the first ever peanut endowment for research created at UGA. The endowment was initially made possible through a donation by the Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service.

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

Other donors to date include Damascus Peanut Company.

The Georgia Peanut Commission plans to donate $5,000 per year over a ten-year period to the endowment.

“The Georgia Peanut Commission is proud to support the future of peanut research at UGA through this long-term commitment to the endowment,” says Donald Chase, Georgia Peanut Commission research committee chairman. “As funds continue to shrink from state support, it is critical for the peanut industry to focus on ways to continue supporting research. The endowment is one way to support research and issues that may arise in the future.”

“Farmers are committed to making investments for the future of peanut research,” Chase adds. “This investment and partnership with additional donors will definitely pay rewards to farmers long into the future.”

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 donation from the Georgia Peanut Commission is a tremendous commitment to the UGA peanut team in their research and extension program from the growers in the state,” says John Beasley, UGA Extension peanut agronomist. “The donation shows how they value the results and financial impact of peanut research in Georgia. We greatly appreciate the commitment of these funds in the support of the endowment.”

Earlier this year, the Georgia Peanut Commission board of directors approved $292,500 in new research project funding for the 2013-14 research budget year. t

By JOy CrOSBy

Introducing the peanut novelty items including . . . belts, money clips, wallets, key chains, photo frames, and more.

To place an order, contact: Georgia Peanut Commission Phone: 229-386-3470 Email: info@gapeanuts.com Website: www.gapeanuts.com Click on Photo Gallery to view photos of Georgia Peanut Commission Gift Shop items.

July/August 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

23

September 17 - 19, 2013 Valdosta, Ga. & Surrounding Area

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

Tour Coordinated By: GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Tifton Campus and Griffin Campus Southwest Research and Education Center Attapulgus Research and Education Center USDA/ARS, NATIONAL PEANUT RESEARCH LAB