Checkoff Report

Investments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry

FPPA exhibits at Florida State Fair

The Florida State Fair kicked off Feb. 9, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. The Florida Peanut Producers had the center showcase in the Agriculture Hall of Fame building. The showcase of peanut plants have been prepared at the North West Florida UF/IFAS Research Center greenhouse for several months. One hundred fifty peanut plants made the trip to the state fair to bring a visual appearance of a peanut field in February. To accompany the peanut field, a video played throughout the barn which took spectators through land preparation, planting and peanut harvest. For those up for a challenge, a peanut trivia game tested their knowledge before leaving the exhibit. Grow your own peanut seed kits, roasted peanuts, recipe cards and educational brochures were provided to all who visited the Florida Peanut Producers exhibit. On Thursday's opening day at the fair, the Agriculture Hall of Fame hosted a Fresh Farm Florida breakfast. The Florida Peanut Producers grilled 600 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which were a huge success. Many elected officials and spectators stopped by to talk and learn about peanuts.

Sanders elected president of Alabama Peanut Producers Association

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association held its annual meeting Feb. 2, 2023, in conjunction with the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show in Dothan, Alabama.

Delegates elected open director positions for the APPA board as well. Glen Walters was re-elected to hold Covington County’s one seat. Jerry Byrd was re-elected to hold Dale County’s one seat. Houston County has two seats, and Fred Helms and George Jeffcoat were both re-elected to hold those positions. Darrin Driskell was re-elected to the Southwest district’s one seat.

After the annual meeting was adjourned, the APPA Board of Directors convened to elect officers for 2023. Carl Sanders was re-elected to serve as president. Sanders has held this position for 23 years. Mark Kaiser was re-elected to his seventh year as vice president. Jerry Byrd was re-elected to serve his 23rd year as treasurer.

Carl Sanders, President, Coffee County

Mark Kaiser, Vice-President, Baldwin County

Jerry Byrd, Treasurer, Dale County

Thomas Adams, Henry County

Tom Corcoran, NE District

Darrin Driskell, SW District

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Fred Helms, Houston County

Jimmy Royce Helms, Geneva County

Billy Hixon, NW District

Jesse Scott, Geneva County

Joel Sirmon, Baldwin County

Glen Walters, Covington County

Jason Weber, Escambia County

Ed White, Henry County

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APPA hosts peanut grower production meetings

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association hosted eight peanut grower production meetings across the state during February and March. 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 2023 growing season.

Topics and speakers were: Peanut Disease Management – Amanda Strayer-Scherer; Herbicide Control in Peanuts – Steve Li; Insect Control in Peanuts – Scott Graham; Peanut Market Outlook – Marshall Lamb; Varieties and Agronomic Management – Kris Balkcom.

APPA also produced a 2023 Peanut Production Guide containing production meetings from the researchers. The guide was mailed out to all Alabama peanut growers.

Sponsors for the production guide and production meetings include Alabama Ag Credit, BASF, First South Farm Credit, Rabo AgriFinance, Sanbuck Insurance, Syngenta, United Bank, Valent, Visjon Biologics.

Boddiford elected chairman of Georgia Peanut Commission

Joe Boddiford, peanut farmer from Sylvania, Georgia, was elected chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission during the February monthly board meeting. This is Boddiford’s second consecutive term serving as chairman. He previously served as chairman in 2000.

“I look forward to working with Georgia peanut farmers and our industry partners to help enhance the peanut industry and the profitability of farmers,” Boddiford says. “Farmers can contact me at any time if they have suggestions for the work of the Georgia Peanut Commission on their behalf.”

Other officers elected during the board meeting include Donald Chase, Oglethorpe, Georgia, as vice chairman, and Rodney Dawson, Hawkinsville, Georgia, as treasurer. Additional board members include Tim Burch, Newton, Georgia, representing district 1 and Ross Kendrick, Sycamore, Georgia, representing district 2.

The Georgia peanut production area is divided into five districts based on acreage distribution and geographical location with one board member representing each district.

The Georgia Peanut Commission represents more than 4,000 peanut farm families in the state and conducts programs in the areas of research, promotion and education. For more information on the programs of the Georgia Peanut Commission, visit www.gapeanuts.com.

Georgia Peanuts featured on The Fork in the Road

The Georgia Peanut Commission teamed up with Georgia Grown and Georgia Public Broadcasting to produce a two-part episode on peanuts through their television show, A Fork in the Road. A Fork in the Road, which began in 2021, seeks to educate consumers about how food and agricultural products are produced in Georgia. In the peanut episode, the consumer will follow the peanut from seed to the peanut butter jar.

Part one of the episode aired in February and the second will air sometime in May. Previous episodes, as well as the episode on peanuts, may be viewed online at GeorgiaGrown.com or the Georgia Grown TV channel on YouTube.

Mississippi Visitor Centers, peanuts and Mardi Gras

The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association have donated peanuts to the Mississippi Visitor Centers in preparation for Mardi Gras. The visitor centers located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast along I-10 and I-59 on the way into New Orleans can't keep enough peanut packs and literature to share with increased visitors stopping on the way to Mardi Gras. The two visitor center directors report they have been really busy with tourists and the tourist really enjoy the peanuts, in addition to asking questions about peanuts. The visitor centers have provided tourists with a heart-healthy sheet, infant early introduction cards and sustainability info.

Georgia Peanut Commission holds Research Report Day

The Georgia Peanut Commission held its annual Research Report Day, Feb. 8, 2023, in Tifton, Georgia. The event provided growers and industry representatives an opportunity to hear the latest reports and newest information available on peanut research projects funded by GPC in 2022.

“The commission works to wisely invest peanut farmers’ dollars into research projects across Georgia in an effort to reduce production input costs and improve agronomic techniques,” says Donald Chase, GPC Research Committee chairman. “Although some of the findings are preliminary, the projects are exciting, and many times new recommendations or observations are announced.”

GPC awarded $795,205 to peanut research facilities in the state during 2022. This effort funds 37 research projects from the University of Georgia, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Fort Valley State University. The research programs primarily focus on peanut breeding, conservation methods, irrigation and water management, as well as pests, weed and disease management.

The 2022 research reports are available online at the GPC website, www.gapeanuts.com.