Inside: 2013 Irrigation Guide & Scheduling n Real time savings with RTK auto-steer n Watch for Cowpea Aphids this season n
A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.
Contents May/June 2013
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Joy Carter Crosby Editor joycarter@gapeanuts.com 229-386-3690 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.
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2013 Irrigation Guide Peanuts are often considered to be a relatively drought tolerant crop. However peanuts have varying water requirements during the various physiological growth stages of the crop. Learn more about peanut water use and irrigation scheduling for the 2013 growing season.
Real time savings with RTK More evidence supporting the adoption of RTK global positioning by peanut farmers is now available from the University of Georgia and Auburn University. The biggest payoff comes in saving peanuts during digging. Average yields increased by 500 pounds per acre in one year.
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Watch for Cowpea Aphids Alabama Extension entomologist Ayanava Majumdar advises peanut growers to be on the lookout for aphids feeding on peanut pegs. The pest is not a new peanut threat and has recently been detected in damaging numbers in the Florida Panhandle.
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: Irrigation is particularly important in areas that frequently have drought in July through August and on sandy soils. Photo by John Leidner.
May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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Editorial
Calendar of Events
Spring is in the Air
S
pring is finally in the air following weeks of some odd and cold weather for the months of April and May across the Southeast. Now it’s time for sunshine and warm temperatures so farmers can begin planting their peanut crop. The spring time always brings a nice refresher to me on how wonderful God is to provide us this wonderful land to grow the crops and raise the livestock he has blessed us with. After months of cold temperatures through the winter time we can now view the flowers blooming, hear the birds singing and more. This time of year also provides the peanut industry with an opportunity to spread the peanut message and help those who are less fortunate by donating peanut butter to the food banks across the Southeast. Peanut Proud, a humanitarian relief focused organization, teamed up with the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association and Georgia Peanut Commission to donate more than 30,000 jars of peanut butter to food banks across the Southeast. This has been done in the past but the difference this time is a new peanut butter jar with a Peanut Proud label. The label reflects the commitment of the entire peanut industry to help those in need. I’m proud to be a part of events like this where the peanut industry is making a difference in the lives of others. Since summer is right around the corner, then it is time for farmers to turn in their registration forms for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The conference will be held July 18-20, 2013 at Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Fla. This conference provides farmers with a variety of information to help them gain the knowledge they need to continue growing a quality product for consumers. The main focus on this year’s conference centers on sustainability for the peanut industry. General Sessions will focus on maintaining market growth, innovations in sustainability, production sustainability and sustaining farm policy. So, from the lineup of topics I’m sure you will not want to miss all of the speakers and entertainment we have in store for you. Later this summer and early fall brings 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 July and August on the calendar to the right. In other news the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released the March 28 Prospective Plantings report, which estimated a reduction of peanut acreage by 27 percent for 2013 in the U.S. The report is based upon March 1 intentions as collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Across the U.S., peanut growers intend to plant 1.19 million acres in 2013, down 27 percent from the previous year’s 1.63 million acres. According to the report, Georgia farmers plan to reduce acreage by 35 percent, Alabama farmers by 32 percent, Florida farmers by 10 percent and Mississippi farmers by 58 percent. Only time will tell on the final planted acreage results for 2013 since we have had a colder than normal spring. However, I hope you have a wonderful year and production season. t
Joy Carter Crosby Editor
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Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
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 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, Greenwood, Fla. For more information call Barry Tillman at 850-633-4082 or btillman@ufl.edu. 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. (Let us know about your event. Please send details to the editor, using the following e-mail address: joycrosby@gapeanuts.com)
Southern Peanut Growers Conference set for July 18-20
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he 15th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference is set for July 18-20, 2013, at Edgewater Beach Resort, Panama City Beach, Fla. The three-day event provides farmers an opportunity to learn more about the industry and issues affecting them while also enjoying a relaxing time at the beach. This year’s conference offers farmers an opportunity to learn more about legislative issues, market growth and production sustainability.
In addition to the conference sessions, the event focuses on the family by offering a ladies program and a golf tournament. Conference registration information is available online at www.southernpeanutfarmers.org or farmers should contact their state grower organization for a registration form. Deadline to register is June 30, 2013. Hotel registration must be made separately with Edgewater Beach Resort by calling 1-800-8748686. When reserving rooms, be sure to ask for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference rate. t
2013 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Tentative Schedule Thursday, July 18 1:00 - 7:30 p.m. 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. 1:00 - 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. Friday, July 19 6:45 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 8:15 a.m.
9:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. Noon 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 20 6:45 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 8:45 a.m.
Noon 12:30 - 6 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Conference Registration, Edgewater Conference Ctr. Room Registration, Edgewater Conference Ctr. Conference Hospitality, Edgewater Conference Ctr. Welcoming Reception, Sago Palm Ballroom Welcoming Dinner, Grand Palm Ballroom Registration Opens Prayer Breakfast, Grand Palm A & B Presentation of the Valor Award General Session I - Maintaining Market Growth Topics include: Industry Changes & Innovation, The Domestic Markets, The International Markets and A Manufacturer’s View Spouse Program, Sago Palm 2 & 3 Refreshment Break General Session II - Innovations for Sustainability Topics include: Energy Alternatives, Incentatives for Rural Development and Solar Energy Luncheon, Grand Palm A & B General Session III - Production Sustainability Topics include: Production Techniques, Disease Management and The Future in Genomics Evening on Your Own in Panama City Beach! Registration Open Breakfast, Grand Palm A & B Presentation of the Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards General Session IV - Sustaining Farm Policy Topics include: Congressional Viewpoint, Agricultural Political Trends and The Farm Bill Refreshment Break Lunch on your own and afternoon free! Golf Tournament, Hombre Golf Course Reception, Sago Palm Ballroom Dinner and Entertainment, Grand Palm Ballroom May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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2013 Irrigation Guide P
eanuts are often considered to be a relatively droughttolerant crop. However, peanuts have varying water requirements during the various physiological growth stages of the crop (see Table 1) – from less than 0.3 inches per week early in the life of the plant to 0.3 inches per day at peak fruiting stage. To maximize yield and ensure top quality, the water demands of the peanut crop in the Southeast will often have to be met with irrigation as episodic droughts are becoming more common. Past research has shown significant yield reduction when water deficits occur during the 50 to 110 days after planting time frame. Irrigation is particularly important in areas that frequently have drought in July through August and on sandy soils. Multiple years of research trials in Tifton,
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Plains and Midville, Ga., have shown a 1,200 plus pound per acre yield increase from irrigation for the Georgia-06G cultivar. Irrigation is often used as a supplement to rainfall, as total reliance on irrigation would be difficult for some producers.
Research in the 1970s that determined the water response/use curve and irrigation requirement for peanuts was conducted on Florunner cultivar and became the basis of the University of Georgia peanut irrigation recommendations. The research results of the 1970s indicated that a peanut plant needs approximately 23 inches of water from planting until harvest. Approximately 18 of those 23 inches (78 percent) of water is needed during weeks 10-17 (8 weeks, or 40 percent) of the 20-week growing season. Rarely does the state of Georgia receive 23 inches of rainfall during the growing season. Therefore, in most every year, we are in a rainfall deficit for peanut production. The most critical periods are the germination to emergence and the fruiting stages. At peak fruiting period, the plant needs about 0.3 inches of water per day. Irrigation water must be applied correctly (timing and amount) for proper yields and grade. Water can be applied to the soil using overhead sprinkler systems (center pivot, lateral, hose tows, big guns, etc.), surface drip or subsurface drip irrigation. Regardless of the irrigation system type, each system must be managed correctly for proper water application. Over irrigation can increase the risk of disease, while under irrigation can increase the risk of aflatoxin contamination. Proper irrigation scheduling can promote high yield and grade and can be accomplished by manual or electronic sensors to check water content, sensors to monitor plant water status, use of an irrigation scheduling computer program, or by following a schedule such as the one presented in Table 2, which was developed by John Beasley and Jim Hook of the University of Georgia.
Table 1. Critical Periods for Water Use by Peanut
Plant Growth Stage
Plant Indicators
Germination & Emergence
Planting thru vegetative emergence
High
Early Vegetative
Emergence to flowering/pegging
Low
Fruiting
Flowering/pegging to pod addition/fill
High
Maturation
Late pod fill to harvest
Moderate
Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
Relative Drought Susceptibility
Rain gauges should be used to measure the water received from rain and the amount supplied by irrigation. An example of how to use these values is included below. Intervals for most of the season will be three to four days for coarse textured sand, four to six days for more productive loamy sand and sandy loam, and five to eight days for fine textured sandy loam or clay soils. A three to six day interval will fit a majority of the situations. t By CALvin PERRy GARy HAwKinS & JoHn BEASLEy UnivERSiTy oF GEoRGiA
Irrigation example Step 1. The soil type of the field is a Tifton loamy sand. The average available water holding capacity is 0.9 inches per foot. Assuming a rooting depth of 2 feet, the total available water is 1.8 inches (2 feet x 0.9 inches per foot). Step 2. The peanut crop is at eight week of growth. Assume water is not limited and use the 2.0 inch max. From Table 2, the weekly water need by the crop is 1.0 inches (2.0 max). This corresponds to 0.14 inches/day. Step 3. Determine replacement amount by setting the lower allowable limit of available water in the profile. For this example, we will use a typical value of 50 percent (i.e. only half the water in the root zone will be allowed to be depleted). Therefore, 0.9 inches of water will be needed to replace the water used (1.8 inches x 0.50). Step 4. Determine the amount of irrigation to apply by dividing the amount to be replaced by an irrigation efficiency from Table 3. (There are always losses between water pumped and water actually reaching the crop, such as evaporation, drift, etc.). In this example, we will assume a fairly new center pivot with optimal efficiency, so use 88 percent. Thus, amount to apply = 0.9 inches / 0.88 = 1.02 inches. Step 5. Determine the frequency of irrigation by dividing the amount of water replaced (from Step 3) by water use per day (from Step 2). For example, frequency = 0.9 / 0.14 = 6 days. Step 6. In this example, it would be necessary to apply 1.02 inches every six days to maintain 50 percent available water in the Tifton loamy sand soil profile for peanut in the eighth week of growth. Any rainfall received would be subtracted from the amount to apply.
For additional information and to download the University of Georgia 2013 Peanut Production Update visit www.ugapeanuts.com
Table 2. Peanut Irrigation Schedule Suggested for High Yields. Use 1.5 in/wk maximum if water is limited or above normal rainfall. Otherwise, consider using the 2.0 in/wk maximum.
Weeks of Growing 1.5 Inches/Week Season Maximum
2.0 Inches/Week Maximum
0-4
0.1 - 0.2
0.1 - 0.2
5-6
0.5
0.75
7-9
0.75
1.0
10 - 12
1.5
1.5
13 - 17
1.5
2.0
18 - 20
0.5
0.75
Table 3. Examples of Application Efficiency Values for Various Irrigation Systems.
Type Irrigation System
Application Efficiency Attainable
Expected
85% 95%
75 - 90% 75 - 95%
95%
75 - 95%
Micro-Irrigation Subsurface drip Micro-Spray
95% 95%
75 - 95% 70 - 95%
Trickle
95%
70 - 95%
Moving Big Gun
75%
60 - 75%
Center Pivot With Impact Sprinklers With Spray-type Sprinklers Lateral Move with Spray-type Sprinklers
Irrigation scheduling The moisture balance or “checkbook” method of scheduling is a relatively straight-forward means of determining when to irrigate. This helps a grower keep up with an estimated amount of available water in the field as the crop grows. The objective is to maintain a record of incoming and outgoing water so that an adequate balance amount is maintained for crop growth. The University of Georgia EASY PAN Other methods of irrigation is a simplified pan evaporation device scheduling include “expert systems” farmers can use to assist with scheduling irrigation. or software such as Irrigator Pro (USDA), soil moisture sensors from companies such as Irrometer, Decagon, AquaSpy, AquaCheck, John Deere Water and the UGA EASY Pan (a simplified pan evaporation device). These devices provide near real-time readings of either soil moisture content or soil water tension in the root zone and can identify when water is needed to replenish the root zone. t
May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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Checkoff Report Investments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry.
Mississippi growers fund research projects in 2013 The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association and the National Peanut Board are funding three research projects in 2013 in Mississippi. One project will again deal with peanut disease looking at fungicide suppression of Southern Stem Rot infections conducted by Alan Henn, Mississippi State University Extension plant pathologist. A second project involves the impact of insect pests on peanut yields and management options conducted by Jeff Gore and Don Cook at the Delta Research and Extension Center. The third project continues the “Standardization of Mississippi Peanut Variety Trials” getting underway this year at five locations across the state. The variety trials hope to obtain growers yield information on several new peanut varieties plus three widely grown peanut varieties across the state in 2012. The Mississippi checkoff funds through the Peanut Promotion Board also funded a couple of other projects.
Mississippi peanut growers provide educational materials The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, working with the Mississippi Farm Bureau Peanut Commodity coordinator, Samantha Webb, provided educational materials for 105 county offices across Mississippi. The information brochures, provided by the Peanut Institute, covered diabetes and heart healthy peanuts. Also, 12 county Farm Bureau offices made special displays during March to feature peanuts as their commodity of the month and gave away the new MPGA peanut sample bags.
Mississippi peanut growers celebrate National Peanut Month During March, National Peanut Month, Don Self, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (MPGA) board member, was interviewed on two television stations in northeast Mississippi. The MPGA also provided peanut goody baskets to aid in discussion of the many peanut products available to the consumer. Malcolm Broome, executive director of MPGA, had interviews on two stations in Jackson, Miss.; one in Meridian and one on the Gulf Coast. The lead-in for the interviews highlighted how peanuts are heart healthy and endorsed by the American Heart Association. A number of phone calls were received following the interviews by viewers who wanted more information about peanuts.
Georgia Peanut Commission hosts third grade students at new headquarters The Georgia Peanut Commission promoted peanuts to third grade students from Len Lastinger Primary School in Tifton recently. The students had the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the peanut industry from farm to table. Students learned about the history and production of peanuts, as well as environmental conservation and habitats. The children were also able to plant their own peanut plant to take home with them and play a few peanut related games before having lunch and heading back to school. View photos online from the school’s field trip at www.gapeanuts.com.
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Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
Alabama peanut producers participate in March of Dimes walk Members of the 2013 Peanut Teams for the Dothan-Wiregrass area and the Mobile-Baldwin county region recently participated in events for the March of Dimes and their annual “March for Babies” walk. This marked the fourth consecutive year, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) sponsored the Kid’s Activities tent at each walk. Children of all ages and their parents visit the tent to make peanut arts and crafts, receive peanuts and information on the health benefits of peanuts. These events 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 APPA, Alfa Womens Committees and the National Peanut Festival made up the two peanut teams for this year’s events.
Kentucky group tours local Alabama farm The Block and Bridle Club from Murray State University, Murray, Ky., recently toured Southern farms. One tour stop included a visit to Fred Helms’ farm in Rehobeth, Ala. The students heard an informative talk presented by Kris Balkcom, from the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, on growing peanuts in south Alabama. Helms serves on the Alabama Peanut Producers and the Houston County Farm-City Farm Tour Committee. The students also visited additional farms in South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.
Reports from the: Alabama Peanut Producers Association Florida Peanut Producers Association Georgia Peanut Commission Mississippi Peanut Growers Association
Scholarship money available from FPPA The Florida Peanut Producers Association is pleased to announce the opening of their 2013 Scholarship Award Program, effective April 1, 2013. Two $1,200 scholarships will be awarded to deserving high school seniors and/or college students. The applicant or someone in the applicant’s family must be an actively producing peanut grower, not necessarily a member of the FPPA. It is the intent of the Scholarship Award Committee, however, that the award recipients attend a Florida junior college or four-year university. Each winner will receive $600 when the scholarship winners are announced. The remaining $600 will be awarded after the completion of one semester and documentation of passing grades is submitted to the FPPA Office. “The Florida Peanut Producers Association is committed to helping further the education of young people in Florida, and the scholarship program is evidence of our commitment,” says Ken Barton, executive director of the FPPA. For an application, contact the FPPA office at 850-5262590 or download the application online at www.flpeanuts.com. The scholarship applications must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2013.
Peanut day at the Florida State Fair Large crowds gathered at the cooking demonstration stage in the Ag Hall of Fame building during the 2013 Florida State Fair in Tampa while peanut recipes were prepared by Florida Peanut Producers Association. Attendees visited with peanut farmers, enjoyed “Fresh From Florida” peanuts and were able to gain information about peanut production in Florida, as well as health and nutritional information about peanuts and peanut products.
Sherry Saunders, FPPA, prepares a no-bake peanut butter pie on the cooking stage during the Florida State Fair in Tampa, Fla.
Ken Barton, FPPA, discusses peanut production with attendees during the Florida State Fair in Tampa, Fla.
Georgia Peanut Commission educates school foodservice at convention
Georgia Peanut Commission sponsors Georgia FFA Star in Agriscience Award
The Georgia School Nutrition Association celebrated their 58th Annual State Conference in Savannah, Ga., April 11-13, 2013. The Georgia Peanut Commission distributed food service recipes, peanuts and samples of peanut recipes to attendees. For events such as this, special recipes are prepared that take into account for large quantities of school children needing to be nutritionally fortified. Peanuts are high in protein and heart healthy, making them healthy and an excellent choice to fuel and build the minds of tomorrow! One featured recipe was the Peanut Butter Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies. The recipe includes three cups of peanut butter to yield 100 servings. The other recipe, Peanut Butter Crispy Treats, also has three cups of peanut butter as an ingredient and yields 96 servings. The Georgia Peanut Commission has also sponsored a Peanut Recipe Contest to help in the development of new recipes and promote Georgia peanuts to school foodservice.
The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Peanut Institute teamed up to sponsor the Georgia FFA Star in Agriscience Award during the state convention held in Macon, Ga. The State Star in Agriscience award Joe Boddiford, Georgia Peanut was presented to Reaud Commission board member, presents the Star in Agriscience award to the Sims of Lowndes County. state winner Reaud Sims of Lowndes The state finalists were County. Katie Siemion of Cedar Shoals FFA Chapter and Austin Turner of Union Grove FFA Chapter. The Georgia Peanut Commission also exhibited during the career show and sponsored the Georgia FFA Alumni photo booth during the career show. Many FFA members lined up to have their photo taken at the photo booth. Each member received a 4x6 print with the Georgia Peanuts logo displayed on the photo. May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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Photo by Joy Crosby, Georgia Peanut Commission.
Peanut Proud peanut butter is not available in stores and is only processed at Tara Foods in Albany, Ga., for food banks and disaster zones.
Although other peanut butter brands can be found in stores, Peanut Proud is served up only for food banks and disaster zones. “Peanut butter is very nutritious and is packed with protein,” said Carl Sanders, president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. “So it’s no surprise that people in need of food, from facilities as our state’s food banks, have peanut butter at the top of their list.” The thousands of jars of peanut butter were divided in Alabama so that food banks across the state will be able to help those living in their community. Alabama food banks included in the peanut butter
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distribution includes Montgomery, Dothan, Mobile, Opelika/Auburn, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville. “Peanut butter is the most needed item at the food bank because it is jampacked with nutritional value and everyone loves it,” says Rich English, executive director of Second Harvest of the Big Bend. “We just can’t thank FPPA and Peanut Proud enough for this huge contribution of a great food bank staple.” “The partnership with Peanut Proud is a great opportunity for us to expand our ongoing humanitarian efforts in Florida,” says Ken Barton, FPPA executive director. “We look forward to continuing to help fight hunger and to expand our relationship with Peanut Proud.” The peanut butter made with Southeastern grown peanuts will also help feed families in 30 South Georgia counties through Second Harvest of South Georgia. “Second Harvest of South Georgia is so grateful not only to the Georgia Peanut Commission but also to the farmers statewide who helped make this possible. Their donation will help feed thousands of South Georgia families,” says Eliza McCall, chief marketing officer of Second Harvest of South Georgia. “Nutritious foods generally cost more than low-quality foods, which makes it even more difficult for low-income folks to get the nourishment they need. Peanut butter is a great addition to our food bank stores because of its incredible nutritional value.” Second Harvest of South Georgia is the region’s leading domestic hungerrelief charity. Headquartered in Valdosta, the organization has locations in Albany, Douglas and Thomasville. “On behalf of Georgia’s 4,000 peanut farmers, the Georgia Peanut Commission is proud to donate peanut butter to the Second Harvest of South Georgia Food Bank,” says Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Peanut butter is a cost effective way for individuals to receive
Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
Alabama donation to Montgomery Area Food Bank
Florida donation to America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend
Photo by Jessie Turk, Georgia Peanut Commission.
T
wenty-one pallets of peanut butter were recently delivered to food banks in Alabama, Florida and Georgia with a total of 30,240 jars of peanut butter. The donation will be distributed to local food banks within the Montgomery Area Food Bank in Alabama, America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend in Florida and Second Harvest of South Georgia food bank in Georgia. The large donation was made possible through a cooperative effort between Peanut Proud and the grower checkoff organizations. Peanut Proud is a humanitarian effort to curb hunger.
Photo by Teresa Mays, Alabama Peanut Producers Association.
Grower organizations donate peanut butter to food banks
Georgia donation to Second Harvest of South Georgia nutrients such as protein they need in their diets to stay healthy.” The peanut butter donated was processed at Tara Foods, in Albany, Ga., using Southeastern grown peanuts. The peanut butter was delivered to the food banks in Alabama, Florida and Georgia courtesy of Southern Ag Carriers. t By Joy CRoSBy & TERESA MAyS
May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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Real time savings with RTK
M
ore evidence supporting the adoption of RTK global positioning by peanut farmers comes from University of Georgia and Auburn University research. RTK stands for real time kinematic and is the most accurate method of GPSbased automated steering available to farmers. For peanut farmers, the biggest payoff comes in saving peanuts during digging. University of Georgia ag engineer, George Vellidis, points out that while inverting peanuts, the digger-shakerinverter equipment needs to be centered on the rows where peanuts were planted. On a south Georgia peanut farm, he compared the results of RTK-guided planting and digging with those from an expert tractor driver without such guidance. “My research team completed a study evaluating the yield gained by using RTK auto-steer to plant and invert peanuts,” he explains. Vellidis conducted the study over two years on the farm of Keith Barnette in Turner County, Ga. The fields he chose for the study were sloping and many of the rows were curved. The field was divided into row areas with high, medium and low curvature. Average yields increased by 440 pounds per acre one year and 500 pounds per acre in the other year by using RTK auto-steering. What surprised Vellidis the most was that the highest yield increases from RTK came from portions of the field where there was little if any curvature in the rows. “We found that although auto steering outperforms humans under all condi-
University of Georgia ag engineer, George Vellidis, says RTK auto-steering would benefit other crops, in addition to peanuts, grown on the farm.
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University of Georgia ag engineer, George Vellidis, conducted a study comparing the results of RTK-guided planting and digging with those from an expert tractor driver over two years on the farm of Keith Barnette in Turner County, Ga. The fields he chose for the study were sloping and many of the rows were curved. The field was divided into row areas with high, medium and low curvature. Average yields increased by 440 pounds per acre one year and 500 pounds per acre in the other year by using RTK auto-steering.
tions, it outperforms humans the most on straight rows,” he said. “The conventional wisdom was that auto-steer outperforms humans the most on curved rows.” Vellidis adds that even on straight rows, the human operator is not able to keep the tractor over the centerline because of the solid green canopy and because the tractor driver is constantly turning back to check on the implement. He explained that most current RTK auto-steering keeps the tractor over the row, but not always the implements being pulled by the tractor This is particularly true on sloped land or curving rows where either gravity or the momentum of the implement prevent it from following the same path as the tractor. Vellidis says new implement guidance offerings from the equipment industry help keep the implement on the centers of the planted rows. One of these is the Trimble TrueGuide system that places the implement over the center of the row. The purpose of this technology is to keep trailing implements, such as a diggershaker-inverter, from drifting side to side. To be fully effective, the TrueGuide and similar systems require the implement to be towed rather than mounted.
Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
In his study, Vellidis said the TrueGuide system performed poorly under high curvature conditions. He explained this was probably because the system was constantly over-and undercorrecting without being able to properly adjust to the curved row conditions because both the planter and the inverter were mounted to the tractor rather than being towed. On the other hand, the TrueGuide was impressive when used in the low-curvature and low-slope conditions. Vellidis said the TrueGuide would perform best if it was towed behind the tractor rather than mounted on the tractor. Overall, he found that RTK autosteering reduced digging losses by 32 percent in 2010 and 23 percent in 2011. Vellidis concluded that an RTK investment of $23,000 could be paid for in one year with high peanut prices and 180 acres of peanuts. With normal peanut prices, it might take 250 acres to pay for the RTK in one year. He pointed out that RTK auto-steering would benefit other crops, in addition to peanuts, grown on the farm. Kris Balkcom, research agronomist with the Agronomy and Soils Dept. at
Auburn University, is another proponent of RTK auto-steering. Speaking earlier this year at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, Balkcom said peanut farmers looking to save money should look seriously at investing in RTK. “RTK pays for itself,” Balkcom adds. He cited earlier work he did with longtime Extension Alabama peanut agronomist, Dallas Hartzog, that showed the benefits of RTK. At the same time that Vellidis conducted the RTK research in south Georgia, Balkcom conducted similar trials in a companion study at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland, Ala. Balkcom’s trials also featured an expert tractor driver competing with RTK auto-steering. “I thought that every field in Georgia was flat and big, but the one they used there was a field shaped like a horseshoe, and you had to make horseshoe turns,” Balkcom explains. “I guarantee you that you won’t stay on the row without RTK.” Balkcom conceded that the Georgia trials showed a greater advantage and more saved peanuts during harvest for
For peanut farmers, the biggest payoff comes in saving peanuts during digging. Kris Balkcom, research agronomist with the Agronomy and Soils Dept. at Auburn University, says growers can expect to net $20 to $40 per acre in additional yields by using RTK on digging alone.
RTK than his trials. Based on the research, Balkcom says growers can expect to net $20 to $40 per acre in additional yields by using RTK on digging alone. “That is a huge return,” he adds. “It doesn’t take many acres to pay for that.”
Both the Georgia and Alabama studies were made possible by a grant from the National Peanut Board’s Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative Committee. The studies were led by Brenda Ortiz at Auburn University. t By JoHn LEidnER
University of Georgia ag engineer, George Vellidis, said the TrueGuide would perform best if it was towed behind the tractor rather than mounted on the tractor. The purpose of this technology is to keep trailing implements from drifting side to side.
May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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Watch for Cowpea Aphids
Photo credit: Greg Esco, Crop Consultant in Jay, Fla.
Photo credit: Greg Esco, Crop Consultant in Jay, Fla.
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labama Extension entomologist Ayanava Majumdar advises peanut growers to be on the lookout for aphids feeding on peanut pegs. In particular, he’s concerned about the cowpea aphid, a pest detected in damaging numbers last year in Santa Rosa County in the Florida Panhandle. He says drought may aggravate aphid infestations in sandy soils. The cowpea aphid is not a new peanut threat. Majumdar says it has been a documented pest since the 1970s. Many scientists in U.S. and Brazil have reported that cowpea aphids can transmit viruses in peanuts. In the infestations last year, adults and nymphs clustered around developing pegs. This resulted in the loss of pegs and poor pod formation. Cowpea aphid adults are shiny black insects with white legs and black tips on the legs. They also have a pair of dark tube-like structures extending from their abdomens. Cowpea aphid nymphs are smaller than the adults and are grayish in color. Majumdar says cowpea aphids inject a powerful toxin through their piercing-sucking mouthparts. This causes a darkening and deformation of the pegs. There is no economic threshold for aphids on peanut pegs, according to Majumdar. He says constant monitoring of the pegs is the only way to detect aphid
Cowpea aphids feeding in colonies on peanut pegs.
infestations early. Once detected, he advises checking fields randomly twice per week since populations can rapidly increase. He also notes that initial aphid populations tend to cluster in certain parts of the field. So random scouting throughout the field, not just in one location, will be a key to finding the aphids. He adds that scouting for aphid pests on the pegs can also help in detecting the presence of burrower bugs and lesser cornstalk borers that may also require treatment. Aphid populations are generally kept in check by natural enemies, according to Majumdar. However, he warns that routine use of contact insecticides can remove these natural enemies and thereby increase the threat of an explosive growth in the aphid populations. Majumdar says weeds such as dandelion, lambsquarter, pepperweed and pigweed also host cowpea aphids. The best method of controlling cowpea aphids is to spray an insecticide containing imidacloprid. The insecticide Sherpa In the absence of live aphids, numerous molted skin may be contains 17 percent imidaclovisible on the developing pegs.
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Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
prid, and should be directed at the base of the plants. Majumdar says that two applications, five days apart, may be needed for adequate control. He advises scouting fields two to three days after the first treatment to see if a second application is warranted. Admire is another insecticide with imidacloprid as its active ingredient. Majumdar says Admire is best used as an in-furrow spray below the seed early in the growing season. “If you find deformed peanut pegs but no live aphids, then the damage is already done and rescue treatment with imidacloprid may not do much,” adds Majumdar. He also notes that pegs with short lengths of white molted skin from the aphids can indicate a prior infestation of cowpea aphids. Majumdar says that imidacloprid will not affect caterpillars and mites, so keep scouting for those pests. Imidacloprid is an effective product for controlling additional peanut pests such as leafhoppers and whiteflies. He also says growers will need to wait at least 14 days from the time of the last imidacloprid application until harvesting. t By JoHn LEidnER
Stop flowering, raise yields
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magine spraying something onto peanut plants that would stop the flowering process. At first glance, you might think this would reduce yields. But scientists are now saying that if this can be done late in the growing season, it might actually increase yields and grades. Flowers produced at the end of the growing season contribute little if anything to the final yield and grade of the crop. Spraying a herbicide that acts as a plant growth regulator is one way of stopping this fruitless flowering. When the new late flowers stop growing, the carbohydrates and nutrients that are processed by the plant are then redirected to the existing pegs and pods— the ones that actually make up the bulk of the final harvestable yield and grade. This approach was explained to members of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association at their annual meeting earlier this year. The speaker was Marshall Lamb, research leader for the USDA-Agricultural Research Service at the National Peanut Research Laboratory in Dawson, Ga.
from the National Peanut Lab are trying to transform indeterminate peanuts into a determinate crop. “We’re trying to improve the maturity distribution of peanuts,” said Lamb. The idea behind this concept is to get as many peanuts as possible to show the black color, which indicates full maturity, when using the hull-scrape method and peanut profile boards. According to Lamb, the late-forming flowers take energy from the plant that could be used to finish Flowers produced at the end of the growing season contribute maturing the crop. In little if anything to the final yield and grade of the crop. essence, he says depriving the plant of the late flowers produce about 14 flowers per foot per actually helps to accelerate the crop’s day. “Our geneticists looked at the pollen maturity. from new flowers of the treated plants “There is a point in time when these and found that it was not viable pollen,” additional flowers come on and develop pegs that will have no chance to help your added Lamb. Lamb says the research was originalyield and grades,” said Lamb. “Immature ly designed to help improve the flavor of peanuts also give us flavor problems.” peanuts. The scientists were surprised and So far, the pleased when the treatments in their repliUSDA scientists This research is still in the early stages. Neither cated plots increased both the yield and have used two glyphosate nor diflufenzopyr are labeled for this use the grades of the peanuts. compounds. One is in peanuts and until the research is completed, it is “In our irrigated plots, we saw a 700a BASF chemical recommended that producers not try this. Finding pound-per-acre yield increase from these with the common the best treatment rates will be an important next treatments,” said Lamb. “The higher name of diflufenstep for the researchers. yields are mainly due to better kernel denzopyr that is someMarshall Lamb sity. The kernels weighed more and that times used in weed Research Leader control for corn and showed up in better yields and grades.” This research is still in the early pastures. The other USDA-Agricultural Research Service stages. Neither glyphosate nor diflufenis generic National Peanut Research Laboratory zopyr are labeled for this use in peanuts glyphosate, the and until the research is completed, it is Lamb said research on this topic was active ingredient in Roundup herbicide. recommended that producers not try this. conducted last year in Georgia and in “We saw how glyphosate interrupted Finding the best treatment rates will field plots located near Walnut Ridge, pollination on Roundup Ready cotton and be an important next step for the Ark. we wanted to see if it did the same thing researchers. When the rates are too high, Peanuts are indeterminate plants. This in peanuts,” said Lamb. The glyphosate means they produce flowers throughout was applied to the peanuts at rates of two, the herbicidal traits of the compounds can injure and even kill the peanut plants. the growing season, even up until harvest. four and six ounces per acre. Peanut plants also have the ability to Only a small portion of these flowers proThe scientists applied these comduce mature fruit. In other words, peanut pounds about 100 days after planting, and outgrow some of this herbicidal injury. So some visual, temporary injury to the plants continue to make flowers past the then they started counting flowers. plants may be a small price to pay in point of no return. Determinate plants, on After the diflufenzopyr was applied, return for better yields and grades. t the other hand, produce flowers and fruit the new flower count dropped to about over a short period of time. two to three flowers per foot per day, In essence, Lamb says, researchers while the untreated plants continued to By JoHn LEidnER
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Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day set for July 11
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esearch, innovation and education - you’ll hear these three words repeated time and again when describing what a visitor will find at the Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day. The field day is scheduled for Thursday, July 11, at Spence Field in Moultrie, site of the Sunbelt Expo, beginning with a biscuit breakfast at 7:15 a.m. Field Day is an annual preview for the big show held in October and it’s an opportunity for farmers to see the latest seed varieties, chemical applications, irrigation technology and precision ag technology all in an applied research setting. The University of Georgia Peanut Team is conducting a research trial comparing eight runner-type peanut cultivars for their response to single and twin row planting patterns. Five currently available cultivars and three newly released cultivars were planted in late April and will be on display. Peanut producers have a lot to be excited about in regards to peanut cultivar selection. The peanut breeding programs at the University of Georgia, USDA-ARS, and the University of Florida have developed and recently released cultivars that provide producers with a higher yield plateau compared to the old standard, Georgia Green. Early results indicate these new cultivars can,
on average, yield 500 to 1,000 pounds per acre more than Georgia Green. Target Spot or Corynespora Leaf Spot is a fungal disease of cotton that has become an increasing concern for producers as researchers learn more about its impact on yield and quality. As John Beasley, University of Georgia peanut agronomist, discusses the research trial during a previous Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day. more is known about this disease, it can have the answers they need for disis clear that there may be a few simple ease management in the upcoming years. ways to more effectively and efficiently Every grower wants to be as efficient manage its impact. We do know that a well-timed application of an effective fun- with his irrigation and fertilizing systems as possible. BB Hobbs will give growers gicide will pay-off in most cases. a chance to see whether subsurface drip However, recent university research irrigation could be part of their plans to throughout the Southeast has shown that susceptibility and tolerance to this disease save on water, fertilizer and, in effect, cost. The company will show off a threevaries by variety, potentially affecting if acre demonstration plot at Field Day. and how we use fungicides in these cerSpecializing in the design, installation and tain varieties. Collaborative research is supply of large, automated, drip and solid currently underway between the set irrigation systems, BB Hobbs also University of Georgia and the Sunbelt works with an affiliated company to manAgricultural Exposition to address these ufacture the liquid fertilizer blends suitissues collectively so that cotton growers able for use in drip irrigation. In addition to getting the most out of his investment in a drip irrigation system, a grower can save on fertilizer costs with Biscuit Breakfast Reception beginning at 7:15 a.m. with a fertigation plan or maximize the yield Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and Farm Bureau from the same amount of fertilizer. While 1st Vice President Gerald Long. Registration and breakfast will be in drip irrigation and fertigation technology the Morton Agribusiness Building. aren’t new, BB Hobbs is seeing some growers make the change from no irrigation or spray irrigation to a drip method. Trams will begin their route to the fields promptly at 8:00 a.m. Buried eight inches deep and 76 inches apart, the lines lose less water to evaporaGrand Prize and Door Prize Giveaways. Every attendee receives an tion and aren’t susceptible to damage. Expo cap. The three major grand door prizes are a Brown 472-six Also on hand at Field Day, UGA foot Rotary Cutter donated by Brown Manufacturing of Ozark, Ala., Cooperative Extension agent Rad Yager farm Tires donated by Titan/Goodyear and a shotgun donated by will show the advantages of incorporating Field Day participants and Sunbelt Ag Expo. soil moisture sensors into irrigation management compared to standard irrigation More information available by calling 229-985-1968 or visiting scheduling methods. www.sunbeltexpo.com. Field Day will also include a look at the latest varieties of cotton, corn and Expo is 4 miles southeast of U.S. Hwy 319 on Hwy 133. soybeans. Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, July 11, 2013, and trams will 36th Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo - October 15-17, 2013 depart for the fields by 8:00 a.m. t
Field Day Schedule
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Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
Washington Outlook by Robert L. Redding Jr.
House farm bill mark-up set
Secretary Vilsack outlines school meal effort
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture has scheduled its mark-up of the farm bill for May 15. Expectations are that the mark-up vehicle will be similar to last year’s committee-passed legislation. The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture has not finalized its schedule for mark-up, but is anticipated to in May. The House and Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittees have begun their hearing process for Fiscal Year 2014. Both subcommittees have new chairmen, Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., in the House and Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., for the Senate subcommittee.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently discussed USDA efforts to improve school meals and outlined the need for a renewed commitment to improve childhood nutrition, which will lead to a healthier generation of Americans. The Secretary outlined a series of USDA initiatives designed to improve school meals: • USDA recently issued a proposed rule to improve the health of snacks sold in schools. • USDA’s MyPlate symbol and the resources at ChooseMyPlate.gov provide quick, easy reference tools for parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and communities. • USDA also created SuperTracker, a free online planning and tracking tool used by over two million Americans daily to help them improve food choices, maintain a healthy weight and track physical activity. • USDA provides shopping strategies and meal planning advice to help families serve more nutritious meals affordably through its 10-Tips Nutrition Series and the Thrifty Food Plan. • Through USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, the department has worked to increase access to nutritious food through the development of strong local and regional food systems. The number of farmers markets increased by more than 67 percent in the last four years and there are now more than 220 regional food hubs in operation around the country. • USDA launched a new $5 million Farm to School grant program in 2012 to increase the amount of healthy, local food in schools.
Peanut grower organizations oppose crop insurance means testing The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation joined other agricultural organizations in opposing means testing for crop insurance participation. In a letter to U.S. Senate Agricultural leaders, ag groups noted: As with other lines of insurance, crop insurance requires a broad pool of participants to function properly. Arbitrarily assigning a means test for support will impact the pool of participants, both in the near term and longer term. If adopted, a threshold is likely only temporary and can reasonably be expected to be lowered in the future. Means testing unfairly discriminates against fulltime farms and those producing higher value crops, such as specialty crops. Making crop insurance protection unaffordable would cause producers to reduce their program participation, resulting in a higher risk pool of insured producers, higher loss ratios over time and increased premium rates for those that remain in the program. Amendments to restrict crop insurance participation are expected on the House and Senate floors during consideration of the farm bill.
Senate ag guestworker program proposal released The Senate bipartisan working group on immigration reform has released its Ag Visa Program for guestworkers. The legislation proposes that ag employers register guestworkers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency. Elements of the program include: • A new program would be established that has two work options: 1) a portable, at will employment based visa and 2) a contract based visa program; • H-2A program would sunset one year after the new visa program is enacted; • Three year visa term; • New visa program is administered by USDA; • Employers must register with the USDA as a Designated Agricultural Employer (DAE); • Worker would lose status and must depart the U.S. if they were unemployed for more than 60 consecutive days; and • Contract worker who breaches employment contract must depart the U.S. before accepting another job with a U.S. employer.
Legislative Updates available online at www.americanpeanuts.com
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Southeastern Peanut Farmer May/June 2013
National Peanut Board unveils new website
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ational Peanut Board recently announced the launch of a new and improved website at www.nationalpeanutboard.org. The revamped site has an editorial focus with beautiful images and engaging stories to draw visitors in and inspire them to learn more about peanuts and use them in their everyday life. “We’re excited about the launch of our new website because it serves as a valuable resource for people everywhere who are looking for good nutritional information about peanuts, easy-to-use peanut recipes and food ideas and peanut industry news,” says Ryan Lepicier, National Peanut Board vice-president of marketing and communications. The new website is designed with a fresh new look and user-friendly navigation. Enhanced social media tools make it easier for visitors to engage with the content. Users can leave a comment on the site and share what they find on the popular social networks Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. The website serves multiple audiences and covers a range of topics related to peanuts, including nutrition, agri-
culture, products and recipes. One of the most popular sections of the website, the recipe category, is grouped by topics that are especially relevant to consumers like quick and easy, gluten free and world flavors. The website contains information for experts in nutrition and health, as well as food service and food product professionals. The nutrition section includes disease and lifestyle specific topics such as heart health, diabetes, food allergies, plant-based eating and pregnancy and child diets. The facts section explores fun facts, history of peanuts and peanut butter, how and where peanuts grow, as well as providing valuable resources for the classroom. The farmers section of the website includes useful information for peanut growers including a calendar of events, NPB communications, production research projects and marketing and promotions program details. The new website now also houses the NPB blog formerly at www.energyforthegoodlife.org to encourage the blog’s millions of visitors to explore the NPB site. t
Sec. Vilsack names Peanut Standards Board members Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed five representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board. Each member will serve through June 2015. A sixth nominee has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board through June 2014. The Peanut Standards Board is made up of 18 members representing the Southeast Region, which covers the states of Alabama, Georgia and Florida; the Southwest Region, covering Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico; and the Virginia-Carolina Region, which includes Virginia and North Carolina. One third of the board is appointed each year. Secretary Vilsack selected Alabama producer Carl Sanders and industry representative Ann D. King of Georgia to
represent the Southeast Region; Oklahoma producer Leslie D. Crall to represent the Southwest Region; and North Carolina producer George H. McGee and industry representative Jane Campbell of Virginia to represent the Virginia-Carolina Region. Carl Gray of North Carolina was also selected to fill an industry representative vacancy, which ends June 30, 2014, for the Virginia-Carolina Region. An additional vacancy remains in the Southwest. The Peanut Standards Board is authorized under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. USDA consults with the board to establish or change quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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Southern Peanut Growers Southern Peanut Growers attends Research Chef’s Association Conference The Southern Peanut Growers attended the 2013 Research Chef’s Association (RCA) Annual Conference and Culinology® Expo in Charlotte, N.C., in March. “With more than 1,200 food research and development professionals in attendance, this meeting continues to be the single best place for Southern Peanut Growers to develop the relationships that ultimately lead to our restaurant partnerships,” says Jeanne Bauer, SPG foodservice consultant. “The good news: price wasn’t the peanut discussion this year!” The RCA is the premier source of culinary and technical information for the food industry and is committed to the advancement of Culinology® -- the blending of the culinary arts and food science.
Southern Peanut Growers partners with Noodles & Company during National Peanut Month The Southern Peanut Growers worked with Noodles & Company to help their patrons celebrate March, National Peanut Month with a focus on all the great peanut and peanut butter items featured on the Noodles & Company menu. Chef Tessa also featured peanuts and peanut butter in two different stories to their 600,000 e-club members during the month of March with fun facts, recipes Noodles & Company menu items featuring peanuts and peanut butter and a link to the Southern Peanut Growers website.
Southern Peanut Growers participates in Peanut Industry Marketing Roundtable Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers, was invited to participate in a Peanut Industry Marketing Roundtable in April in Chicago, Ill. Marketing representatives from branded products, National Peanut Board, the state grower groups and Peanut Institute spent two days sharing information and discussing how the industry can work together to promote peanuts and peanut butter to ensure that peanuts continue to hold the top place in nut consumption moving forward.
Southern Peanut Growers celebrates March, National Peanut Month and doubles Facebook likes to 21,065 fans The Southern Peanut Growers celebrated March, National Peanut Month with “PB my kid’s Way,” a national consumer recipe contest driven primarily by social media. “In the fourth year of this ‘PB my way’ themed contest, we were really looking for recipes and stories about how kids and families like to cook with and eat peanut butter,” says Leslie Wagner, executive director of SPG. More than 200 recipes were submitted for the chance to win an iPad. The winning recipe – Jammin’ Peanut Butter Sundae Parfaits – was submitted by Laurie Lufkin in Essex, Mass. It features a peanut butter brownie which can be made and used as an on-the-go or lunchbox snack. To make it special, you can make the Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce and the Jammin’ Grape Sauce. Add a little vanilla ice cream and you’re ready to make a spectacular dessert! Four people also were awarded a case of peanut butter for their finalist status in the contest. During the campaign, which included some low-cost Facebook advertising, SPG more than doubled its Facebook ‘likes’ to 21,065 fans, generated 2.5 million impressions, and received more than 11,000 new visitors to the PeanutButterLovers.com.
Southern Peanut Growers develops new recipe cards for school foodservice The Florida Peanut Producers Association and Georgia Peanut Commission attended their state school nutrition association meetings and were looking for some new recipes to sample and distribute. The Southern Peanut Growers developed two new recipe cards for Peanut Butter Crispy Treats and PB Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies.
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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
University of Georgia hires peanut entomologist The University of Georgia recently hired Mark Abney as assistant professor with responsibilities in crop insect pest management with a focus on peanut production. Abney grew up near Cochran, Ga., in Bleckley County. He received a bachelor’s degree in crop science from the University of Georgia in 1998, a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Georgia in 2000 and a doctorate in entomology from North Carolina State University in 2005. He has served as assistant professor and Extension specialMark Abney ist in vegetable entomology at North Carolina State University for the past six years. While at NC State, Abney’s efforts focused on assessing the insect management challenges faced by vegetable producers, developing research questions to address the most critical challenges and designing projects to answer those questions. According to Abney, research priorities were based on existing needs of, and emerging threats to, the North Carolina vegetable industry, and he plans to use the same model to direct his program in peanut research. My work in North Carolina focused on three key areas of importance to the vegetable industry: 1. biology and management of soil insects; 2. landscape ecology and management of stink bugs; and 3. optimizing insecticide use for efficacy and environmental safety. “The kinds of problems my program addressed in vegetables are very similar to those faced by Georgia peanut growers,” Abney says. “Burrower bugs, three cornered alfalfa hoppers, thrips, and caterpillars are just some of the pests affecting peanuts. Solutions to these problems will not come overnight, but I am looking forward to the challenge of developing effective insect control strategies and providing our growers with the most accurate and up-to-date pest management information.” Abney concludes, “the University of Georgia has a great group of scientists working on peanuts, and I am excited about joining the UGA Peanut Team.”
Georgia Peanut Commission welcomes new staff The Georgia Peanut Commission is proud to announce the recent addition of two new staff to assist with the commission’s core program areas. The commission has hired Jessie Turk of Gillsville, Ga., and Jamison Cruce of Blue Ridge, Ga. Turk began serving as project coordinator for the Georgia Peanut Commission April 16, 2013. With this role, she will be responsible for managing various projects carried out by the commission, along with assisting in areas of communication, promotion and education. The daughter of Doug and Sharon Turk, Turk grew up in northeast Georgia raising registered and Jessie Turk
commercial Angus cattle, as well as registered Quarter Horses. She received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Georgia in 2010 and a master’s degree in agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University in 2012. Throughout her collegiate career, she was active in a variety of campus clubs and organizations including Block and Bridle, Ag Hill Council, the Livestock Judging Team, as well as many others. As a graduate student, her research focus was technology use and information preferences among agriculturalists. Cruce began serving as director of research and education for the Georgia Peanut Commission May 16, 2013, with the responsibilities of carrying out the research and education programs of the commission, along with working directly with regional and national promotions. He is a native of Blue Ridge, Ga., and the son of Tony and Michelle Cruce. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia Tifton Campus with a bachelor’s Jamison Cruce degree in agricultural education, and also attended North Georgia College and State University and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Prior to taking this position, Cruce worked as a student worker and intern for the commission for the past two years. He is currently involved with the Georgia FFA Alumni Association and is an alumnus of the Gamma Delta Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. Turk can be reached at jessie@gapeanuts.com and Cruce can be reached at jamison@gapeanuts.com. Both of them can be reached via phone at 229-386-3470. May/June 2013 Southeastern Peanut Farmer
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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.)