Oct/Nov 2016 - Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Inside: n

Arkansas farmer wins Expo Farmer of the Year n Precision planting n Peanut Leadership Academy graduation

A communication service of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

Contents October/November 2016

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

David Wildy, a diversified row crop farmer from Manila, Arkansas, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2016.

Director of Advertising Jessie Bland jessie@gapeanuts.com Contributing Writers John Leidner johnleidner@bellsouth.net Teresa Mays Teresa2@alpeanuts.com 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.

Arkansas farmer wins Expo Farmer of the Year

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Precision peanut planting With new technology now available, variable rate planting has become more practical for peanuts. Some of this new technology allows farmers to monitor seed deposition from their tractor cabs and to adjust seeding rates and planter down-force while on the go.

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Peanut Leadership Academy graduates Class IX Nineteen peanut farmers and sheller representatives from across the peanut belt graduated from Class IX of the Peanut Leadership Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

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: David Wildy, a diversified row crop farmer from Manila, Arkansas, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2016. Photo credit: Sunbelt Ag Expo.

October/November 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Editorial

Calendar of Events

Bring on the fall and cool weather all is one of my favorite times of the year!

It gives us time to hopefully have some cool days and nights to recover from those hot summer nights across the Southeast.

Also, the fall brings the wonderful smell of freshly dug peanuts across the Southeast. This time of year, means long hours for farmers and their families but they are finally able to reap the rewards for months of hard work producing their crops.

This also allows an opportunity for future Wesley Peeples, 2, enjoys watching peanuts being farmers to watch in awe how crops are harvested like Wesley Peeples, 2, enjoys doing at his family’s dug in Boston, Ga. farm. You never realize what may be the benefit of letting your children ride in the tractor with you or watch you from a distance as you work on the farm. One day they may decide to follow in your footsteps and develop the love for agriculture that you have. One individual in Georgia recently did just that – Knapp Boddiford of Brooklet, Georgia. He became interested in farming at a young age, joined FFA and started working on the family farm for his Supervised Agricultural Experience in FFA. This led him to an array of awards through the years with the culmination of national finalist for the National FFA Star in Ag Placement. Congratulations to Knapp on his accomplishments!

This fall also brought a new little miracle to my family with the birth of our baby girl, Lauren Marie, on Sept. 23, 2016. She came a couple of months early weighing in at 2 pounds 3 ounces and 13 3/4 inches long. Her original due date was Dec. 4 so I guess she didn’t want to miss the fall time of the year. When unexpected things like this happen in your life, it helps remind you of the wonderful Joy Crosby holding support system you have.

Lauren Marie Crosby.

I am reminded again how wonderful it is to work in the peanut industry. I have had countless messages and notes letting me know they are praying for Lauren so from the entire Crosby family, we are so appreciative of your thoughtfulness and prayers.

I hope all of you have a wonderful harvest and holiday time with your family and friends. t

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Joy Carter Crosby Editor

u National Peanut Festival, Nov. 4-13, 2016, Dothan, Ala. For more information visit nationalpeanutfestival.com. u Georgia Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Dec. 4-6, 2016, Jekyll Island, Ga. For more information visit gfb.org. u American Peanut Council Winter Conference, Dec. 6-8, 2016, Renaissance Washington Dupont Circle Hotel, Washington, D.C. For more information visit peanutsusa.com. u American Farm Bureau Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 6-11, 2017, Phoenix, Az. For more information visit fb.org. u Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference, Jan. 19, 2017, University of Georgia Conference Center, Tifton, Ga. For more information visit gapeanuts.com or call 229-386-3470. u Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Jan. 25-26, 2017, Mississippi State University Bost Extension Center Building B, Mississippi State, Miss. For more information visit misspeanuts.com or call 601-606-3547. u Georgia Peanut Commission Research Report Day, Feb. 9, 2017, NESPAL, Tifton, Ga. For more information visit gapeanuts.com or call 229-386-3470. u Alabama/Florida Peanut Trade Show, Feb. 9, 2017, National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, Dothan, Ala. For more information visit alpeanuts.com or call 334-792-6482. u Florida Peanut Producers Annual Meeting, Feb. 16, 2017, Jackson County Agricultural Complex, Marianna, Fla. For more information visit flpeanuts.com or call 850-526-2590. u National Peanut Buying Points Association Winter Conference, Feb. 17-20, 2017, Marriott Waterside, Tampa, Fla. For more information visit peanutbuyingpoints.org or call 229-386-1716.

(Let us know about your event. Please send details to the editor at joycrosby@gapeanuts.com.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

Arkansas Farmer of Year is a new peanut farmer avid Wildy of Wildy Family Farms in Manila, Arkansas, is new to growing peanuts. It’s a crop that helped him in his quest to become this year’s Swisher Sweets/ Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award winner for the state of Arkansas and the overall winner named at the 2016 Sunbelt Ag Expo.

With a farm encompassing more than 12,000 acres of crops, peanuts may seem like a small component of his overall farm. But it’s not. He had such good results from peanuts in 2015 that he decided to increase his peanut acreage in 2016.

His yields could make traditional peanut farmers from the Southeast envious. “We grew 760 acres last year, and we’re doubling our peanut acres this year,” Wildy says. “Last year, our peanuts yielded an average of 6,800 pounds per acre. But we had 160 acres that yielded 7,200 pounds per acre.”

As a new grower, Wildy was conservative in originally planning for a budgeted yield of about 5,000 pounds per acre. “We greatly exceeded that, and we hope it wasn’t just beginner’s luck,” Wildy says.

In explaining why he started growing peanuts, Wildy says, “Cotton was in the doldrums in 2015, and we were looking for an alternative crop.” He also noted that under the current farm bill, his cotton base became a generic base that he could use for planting peanuts.

Peanut production has been expanding in northeast Arkansas, according to Wildy. He’s able to deliver his peanuts to a Birdsong buying point in Portia, Arkansas. He notes that Golden Peanut has a buying point in Pocahontas, Arkansas. He says a new peanut processing plant is a possibility not far from his farm in the Bootheel of Missouri.

Wildy is using a three-year rotation for his peanuts. He says that keeping to this rotation will limit his overall peanut acreage to about 1,500 to 1,600 acres. He plants cotton behind every acre of peanuts.

Cotton and peanuts make for good rotation crops because peanuts help to control the root knot nematodes that attack cotton. Peanuts are a non-host crop

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Peanuts were a new crop in 2015 for David Wildy and his family. Shown from left are son in law Paul Harris, son Justin Wildy, David Wildy, son Tab Wildy and grandson Blaine Wildy.

for root knot nematodes that are a real problem on our sandy cotton soils. A peanut rotation should significantly reduce root knot nematode pressure in cotton.

“We plant our peanuts on our sandiest soil,” Wildy says. “These soils are in our fields that need additional organic matter.”

While planting peanuts on ground that had no history of peanuts, the Wildys used a liquid in-furrow bacterial inoculant to help the peanut plants produce their own nitrogen.

Peanut farmers throughout the Southeast have found the Georgia-06G runner variety to be high yielding, and that is the variety Wildy has planted on his Arkansas farm.

By planting peanuts on land with no history of peanut production, plant disease wasn’t a major issue for his first crop of peanuts. There were almost no foliar diseases in the first-year peanuts. Wildy said he uses low-cost fungicides such as Muscle, a mix of chlorothalonil and tebuconazole.

Wildy used center pivot irrigation on his peanuts in 2015, but is using furrow irrigation on about 20 percent of his 2016 peanuts.

Last year, the Wildys planted singlerow peanuts on 38-inch rows. This year, they have switched to twin-row planting on 38-inch beds for all of their peanuts.

“With twin rows, we should see some increase in yields,” Wildy says. “We also have tremendous weed pressure on our farm, so the twin rows should help

suppress weeds with a quicker canopy closure.”

David says his youngest son, Tab, is the family member focusing on growing the peanuts. “Tab is meticulous, so he is in charge of the peanuts,” David says.

“Tab planted all of our peanuts. Keeping records is one of his other main jobs on our farm.”

Wildy is known for his generosity in sharing his farm and its resources with agricultural scientists and researchers from private industry and from the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This is the 27th year for the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. The award recognizes excellence in agricultural production and farm management, along with leadership in farm and community organizations.

The award also honors family contributions in producing safe and abundant supplies of food, fiber and shelter products.

The other state winners this year include Wendell Gibbs of Ranburne, Alabama, Paul DiMare of Coral Gables, Florida, John McCormick of Sylvania, Georgia, Keith Lowry of Water Valley, Kentucky, Paul Good of Columbus Mississippi, Jerry Wyant of Vale, North Carolina, Kerry Owens of Pickens, South Carolina, James Haskew of South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Tyler Wegmeyer of Hamilton, Virgina. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

October/November 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Precision peanut planting moves ahead W

ith new technology now available, variable rate planting has become more practical for peanuts.

Wesley Porter, Georgia Extension precision agriculture and irrigation specialist, says the advancements in planting equipment should help peanut farmers avoid some of the yield losses that can come from poor early plant stands.

Some of this new technology allows farmers to monitor seed deposition from their tractor cabs and to adjust seeding rates and planter down-force while on the go. New planter plates have been developed specifically for peanuts, while vacuum-based planters, when properly set, have the ability to offer almost perfect seed singulation.

Singulation is a fancy word for the way the planter’s seed meter will take one

seed at a time from the plate or disk and drop it down the seed tube on its way to its new home in the soil.

When the planter row unit works correctly, singulation is a key step in getting seed ideally spaced in the rows.

Perfect singulation helps to eliminate the possibility of multiples or two (or more) seeds falling at the same time and skips in stands when seed fails to fall as it’s supposed to down the seed tube.

With newer technology, down-force can be set and changed for the planter from the cab of the tractor, according to Porter. “If down-force is set too low, the planter will lift out of the ground during planting preventing uniform seeding depth,” Porter says. He believes downforce adjustments will be important in getting good stands, whether the planter is depositing seed at shallow, deep or optimum soil depths. It is very difficult to achieve a target depth if the planter is

New seed monitors provide a wealth of information on plant populations, singulation, skips, vacuum pressure, down-force and much more.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

allowed to ride out of the ground or if it is causing compaction of the seed trench while planting due to improper downforce settings, according to Porter.

Kris Balkcom, research agronomist with the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland, Alabama, says the new planter technology allows farmers to look at costs per seed.

The new planter technology also allows peanuts to be planted at fast ground speeds, without the common problems such as bouncing planter units that can lead to poor stands. Planting at fast speeds isn’t as much an issue with twin-row planters as it is for single-row planters, according to Balkcom.

Balkcom commends the new technology for the information it offers on seed spacing, plant populations, accuracy in measuring singulation and quick row cutoff, for instance, at the ends of rows and when turning around.

The new vDrive technology runs on electronics to replace the chains, sprockets and bearings on earlier planter models, according to Balkcom. Replacing chains and sprockets with electronic motors should result in less wear and tear on planters.

“The electric motors can quickly cut off the seed meters, while the older models have to have an air clutch, which requires an air compressor that is more troublesome and slower to stop,” he says.

“The new monitors also tell you if your planter units are bouncing,” Balkcom says. “If the planter is bouncing, you won’t have consistent spacing of seed. And you can easily correct that bouncing by adjusting the down-force.”

Sensors on individual planter units constantly measure the weight and maintain a set down-force as the weight of the seed declines while the crop is being planted. These sensors are also called load pins and they measure the weight at the gauge wheels of the planter.

The different soil types may require more or less down-force in addition to the weight of the planter unit changing because of the amount of seed in the hopper of the planter requiring more or less down-force.

This new technology has been used for several years for planting corn and soybeans. And now it is being offered to peanut farmers, according to Balkcom.

Research shows the new planter technology will increase corn yields, and studies by Porter, Balkcom and perhaps others should show if the new planter parts will pay off for peanuts.

Balkcom says some of this new planter technology is provided by firms such as Precision Planting, an aftermarket firm specializing in equipment Kris Balkcom, Auburn University research associate, holds a seed meter along with a newly introduced peanut for planters. plate called vSet that can be used in planters to deliver seed to the ground more precisely and at variable rates.

At a recent field day at the Wiregrass Research and rate seeding is coming,” says Josh Planting. Vantage South covers Alabama, Extension Center, Balkcom showed off a Carnley. “You can’t do that with a the Florida Panhandle and southern new Precision Planting disk or plate traditional planter.” Carnley works for Mississippi. t developed for use with peanut seed called Vantage South, a dealer based in Samson,

BY JOHN LEIDNER vSet. Alabama, for Trimble and Precision “We’re showing growers that variable

USDA-NRCS announces EQUIP sign-up State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced recently that a sign up for fiscal year 2017 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is underway and all Georgia producers who wish to be considered for financial assistance should apply by November 18, 2016.

While producers can apply year round, this application cutoff announcement is for all general EQIP, as well as some special initiatives such as the Longleaf Pine, On-Farm Energy, Organic, Seasonal High Tunnel, StrikeForce, Working Lands for Wildlife and the North Georgia Irrigation Pilot Project. They can do so by visiting to their local USDA Service Center and submitting their Conservation Program Application (NRCS-CPA-1200).

“Together, we have made tremendous strides over the years to improve Georgia’s farms, ranches and forestlands. But there is much more to be done,” Rudolph says.

“We want all of those who are in need of our services to know that we are ready to assist producers get conservation on the ground. They can take this time to stop by their local NRCS field office to discuss their current conservation needs or for those already registered online with the Conservation Client Gateway, all you have to do is log on and submit an application.”

EQIP was originally established under the 1996 Farm Bill and reauthorized in the 2014 Farm Bill. It provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to voluntarily address soil, water and other natural resource concerns on private lands.

EQIP conservation practices include, but are not limited to: pasture and hay land planting, heavy use areas, waste storage facilities, terracing, pest management, tree planting, seasonal high tunnels, organic crop assistance, and wildlife habitat management. More information on NRCS conservation programs can be found at http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov under the programs tab. t October/November 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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

Banks and financial institutions celebrate peanuts The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Georgia Bankers Association joined forces Oct. 17-21, 2016, in an effort to promote Georgia’s peanut industry during the 40th annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week. Local banks and financial institutions across the state honored Georgia’s peanut farmers and their contribution made to the state and local economies during one of the biggest times of the year: peanut harvest.

This year’s theme, “In Georgia, Money Grows on Vines - Peanut Vines,” showcases the importance of peanuts, Georgia’s official state crop, and how Georgia’s peanut farmers contribute approximately $1.3 billion annually to the state and local economy to help maintain Georgia’s largest industry: agriculture. The theme also highlights the National Peanut Board’s campaign, The Perfectly Powerful Peanut, a platform showcasing the nutritional benefits of peanuts.

Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission, is excited about the opportunity for GPC to work with banks and promote one of nature’s most nutritious products.

“This is the fortieth year we have held a special salute to farmers in cooperation with financial institutions,” Morris says. “We have a great nutritional message to share with consumers and we hope by incorporating peanuts into their diet, they will feel the power peanuts have to offer.”

GPC promotes peanuts during Georgia National Fair in October The Georgia Peanut Commission promoted peanuts to consumers passing through the gates at the Georgia National Fair in October. In fact, the fair set a record with attendance totaling 536,840 for all 11 days. GPC had an exhibit in Don Koehler and Joy Purvis, Georgia the Georgia Grown pavilion, Peanut Commission staff, present a cooking demonstration during the Georgia presented a recipe National Fair held in October. demonstration on the main cooking stage, sponsored the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) peanut recipe contest and the Georgia National Fair peanut recipe contest. To view the winning recipes, visit www.gapeanuts.com.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

Georgia Peanut Commission promotes peanuts through sporting events across the state This past fall the Georgia Peanut Commission exhibited at the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, Sept. 3. During the event, GPC promoted Fans were able to sample peanut peanuts at an exhibit in the products at the Georgia Peanut Commission exhibit in the Fan Fan Zone reaching an Zone at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff estimated 19,000 fans. In Game. the exhibit, fans had the opportunity to sample roasted peanuts, peanut butter crackers donated by Lance Snacks and Jif Peanut Butter Granola Bars donated by Jif. Fans were also able to snap a photo of themselves with the GPC Instagram photo board and post it on social media for an opportunity to win a years supply of peanut butter.

To further the promotion, GPC designed a full-page ad in the game program and promoted peanuts through the videoboard and LED ribbon board throughout the game, which had a record attendance of 75,405 fans. Prior to the event, Fans were also able to GPC was listed as an official snap a photo with the sponsor on the game website.

Georgia Peanut Instagram sign.

Throughout the fall, the Georgia Peanut Commission sponsored peanut promotional advertisements with the Atlanta Braves baseball and the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech football. Thirty-second and 10-second promotional messages aired on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network through 680 The Fan, which has approximately 3.5 million listeners per week throughout the Southeast from July to October. As an added bonus, 680 The Fan provided radio spots for Georgia State football games as well this fall.

Also, a 30-second promotional message airs during the UGA and Georgia Tech football season through IMG, where up to 56 radio affiliates will broadcast the message. The commission also promoted peanuts in the Statesboro area on the campus of Georgia Southern through radio ads, website and in-game promotions on the video board and a tailgate for their Ag Day event prior to the Oct. 27 game.

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

Florida Peanut Producers Association awards scholarships

Ken Barton (left), FPPA executive director, presents Colby Hargrove with the 2016 FPPA Scholarship Award.

Chuck Hatch (right), FPPA board member, presents Hailey Hall with the 2016 FPPA Scholarship Award.

Ken Barton (left), FPPA executive director, presents Mary Katherine Pittman with the 2016 FPPA Scholarship Award.

Micah Gallagher receives 2016 FPPA Scholarship Award. (left to right) Jerry Mills, FPPA board member, Andy Robinson, FPPA president, Gallagher, Freddie Bell, Micah’s Grandfather and Arlene Bell, Micah’s aunt.

The Florida Peanut Producers Association continues the tradition of awarding students with scholarships who demonstrate high academic achievement, involvement in community and extracurricular activities and have personal agricultural experience. Other requirements for the applicants are, they or someone in their family must be a peanut farmer and the winners must attend a Florida community college or university.

The 2016 winners are Colby Hargrove, Graceville; Hailey Hall, O’Brien; Mary Katherine Pittman, Bascom and Micah Gallagher, Williston, Florida.

Congratulations to the 2016 FPPA Scholarship winners!

MPGA promotes peanuts through football radio show The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (MPGA) has teamed up with the Friday Night Under the Lights (FNUTL) radio show to promote peanuts in the schools during the 15 weeks of the football season across the state this fall. This is the fourth season for this peanut promotion with FNUTL. The MPGA will receive commercial air time on radio stations, social media impressions, website impressions, as well as, the offical sponsor of the Perfectly Powerful Peanut Game of the Week. The MPGA will be on-site with a display distributing peanuts and information during some of the games.

During the 2015 season, the MPGA peanut production videos received 2.71 million views. The Perfectly Powerful Game of the Week in 2015 received 210,091 views for the ten games. A survey of followers showed that 82 percent of the consumers enjoyed the game of the week.

Peanut Proud & APPA deliver peanut butter to Louisiana flood victims It may be a rough year for commodigroups that make our industry, the ty prices, but the value of peanut butter response to the recent flooding in has rarely been higher than when the Louisiana has been amazing.”

Alabama Peanut Producers Association “It wasn’t just peanut butter; they (APPA) helped deliver pallets of food to delivered gold,” says David Lorency, flood victims in Louisiana during August. Operation Compassion president. “Peanut The donation of more than 60,000 butter was the No. 1 request from those jars of peanut butter from Peanut Proud affected by the flood.” was coordinated by APPA through various APPA vice president Mark Kaiser disaster relief, nonprofit agencies, and board member Joel Sirmon were including Operation Compassion. Peanut joined by August Cassebaum and Ray Proud partners with state grower Bertolla, all Baldwin County farmers, organizations to immediately respond to Teresa Mays, APPA information natural disasters by supplying peanut specialist and Marcie Justice Williams, butter and peanut products.

Peanut Proud board member.

Gregg Grimsley, president of Peanut “We just felt fortunate we were able Proud, says he was very moved by the to help, and everyone was so thankful and outpouring of donations. “I am always happy to see us,” Kaiser says. “We drove overwhelmed by the generosity of people through neighborhoods where both sides in general and especially the people who of the street were piled with debris as far work in the peanut industry. From all the as you could see. It was devastating, but

Peanut Proud and Alabama Peanut Producers Association staff and board members delivered 60,000 jars of peanut butter to Louisiana flood victims in August.

the people affected were so optimistic.”

The historic August flooding in south Louisiana killed 13 people. Early reports estimated 60,000 homes damaged across 20 parishes.

For more photos and videos of the peanut butter donation, visit the Peanut Proud and APPA Facebook pages.

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Peanut Leadership Academy graduates Class IX ineteen peanut farmers and sheller representatives from across the peanut belt graduated from Class IX of the Peanut Leadership Academy July 8, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee.

This class was the largest to graduate from the program to date. During the graduation weekend, graduates and their spouses had the opportunity to learn more about agriculture in the state of Tennessee.

Day one began with a tour of the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, a co-op in operation since 1945 with 33 member cooperatives. Today, TFC has grown to include 54 member cooperatives and 164 co-op retail outlets. These cooperatives operate in 83 of Tennessee’s 95 counties, serving more than half a million customers across the state. PLA graduates visited the TFC headquarters in La Vergne, where operations include a feed mill, fertilizer distribution and metal fabrication. After visiting TFC, attendees traveled to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the only state department of agriculture housed on a working farm.

Here, attendees learned more about the activities and operations of the department, as well as toured the Tennessee Museum of Agriculture.

On day two, attendees traveled north of Nashville to Robert Elliott & Sons Farm in Adams, Tennessee. This farm has been in existence since 1807 and currently farms primarily tobacco and purebred beef cattle. PLA attendees expressed great interest in learning more about tobacco production; one of Tennessee’s top commodities. The Elliott family was extremely hospitable with their time and even gave attendees a tour of the original home built on the farm in the 1800s. The graduation weekend concluded with a dinner hosted at The Southern Steak and Oyster House in downtown Nashville, where graduates received graduation certificates, printed 8”x10” group photos from the program

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and new peanut lapel pins to sport at future industry meetings.

The Peanut Leadership Academy is a cooperative effort between Syngenta Crop Protection, the American Peanut Shellers Association and grower organizations.

The program began in 1998 with the first class of 14 peanut growers from Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Since then, the academy has continued to grow to include growers from Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia and sheller representatives.

Mike Wood, Syngenta technical sales representative, sees value in the Peanut Leadership Academy.

“This program has helped Syngenta to build relationships with our growers, help the peanut industry develop their own leadership and allowed our company a chance to better serve the needs of our growers and the peanut industry,” Wood says. “Just as growers reinvest in their land through fertility and conservation practices, the Peanut Leadership Academy has afforded Syngenta an opportunity to reinvest in an industry that will help it be sustainable and valuable to the rural farming economy, as well as the environment for all.”

American Peanut Shellers Association executive director, John Powell, believes in the future of the program.

“Leadership succession is the lifeblood of any industry and certainly that is true of peanut shelling companies,” Powell says. “The activities of the peanut leadership program have provided our industry with an invaluable tool to educate potential leaders as well as provide those future leaders with the opportunity to know their counterparts in other segments of the peanut industry.”

Activities in the leadership program are structured to give participants a thorough understanding of the U.S. peanut industry. The leadership sessions range from field trips, meetings with industry leaders and professional

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

Peanut Leadership Academy graduates tour the feed mill at Tennessee Farmers Coop in La Vergne.

development training. Each class has one leadership session in Washington, D.C. where class members have an opportunity to visit with members of Congress about issues affecting the peanut industry.

Virginia farmer, West Drake, is the first grower from his state to participate in the program and sees great value in the networking opportunities provided in the program.

“The biggest benefit of having a small number of participants is the continuity that forms between both the participants and other industry leaders,” Drake says. “It doesn’t take long to make new friends because you already have at least one thing in common with everyone else; you each grow peanuts!”

Class X of the program is scheduled to begin in December 2016.

For more information on the Peanut Leadership Academy, visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

BY JESSIE BLAND

Peanut Leadership Academy graduates and industry representatives visit the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in Nashville.

Peanut Leadership Academy Class IX Graduates Alabama: Brian Byrd, Ariton Jeremy Sessions, Grand Bay Marshall Speake, Eufaula Russ Walters, Andalusia

Georgia: Bubba Curry, Shellman Jeffrey Heard, Newton Meredith Rogers, Camilla Austin Warbington, Pinehurst

Texas: Kelton Coleman, Lamesa

Florida: Levi Findley, Jay Dexter Gilbert, Campbellton Jeremy Rolling, Westville Trey Sanchez, Old Town

Mississippi: B. Jones, Ridgeland

Sheller Representatives: Paul Huber, Birdsong Peanuts Japheth Saecker, Birdsong Peanuts Colton Farrow, Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts

North Carolina: Wade Stanaland, Bladenboro

Peanut Leadership Academy class participants learn about tobacco production at Robert Elliott & Sons Farm in Adams, Tennessee.

Virginia: West Drake, Newsoms

Peanut Leadership Academy class participants with the Elliott Family in Adams, Tennessee.

October/November 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference set for January 19 roducers can fine-tune their farming operation with information gained at the 41st annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 19, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the 2017 Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference. The show is sponsored and coordinated by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

The one-day show offers farmers a full day to view the products and services of more than 100 exhibitors and a day of education. A free luncheon begins at noon for all peanut farmers in attendance and an opportunity for farmers to win more than $40,000 in door prizes. The Georgia Peanut Commission will present a short program beginning at 12:15 p.m. that will cover award presentations and other special recognitions.

The University of Georgia will present an educational peanut production seminar focused on irrigation management from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m.

An Industry Seed Seminar will also be held from 10:35 to 11:35 a.m. during the show. This event is sponsored by the American Peanut Shellers Association Committee on Variety & Seed

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Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the 2017 Georgia Peanut Farm Show set for Jan. 19, 2017, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Development, Peanut Foundation, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the Georgia Peanut Commission. Growers will be able to learn about farm saved seed, peanut varieties available for 2017 and varieties on the horizon.

Farmers will also have the opportunity to earn credit towards their private or commercial pesticide

applicators certification.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with the One Blood, will hold a blood drive from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center during the show.

For more information on the show, contact GPC at 229-386-3470 or online at www.gapeanuts.com. t

Georgia Young Peanut Farmer award nominations due Dec. 15 Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced during the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, in Tifton, Georgia. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership, civic, church, and

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community service activities.

“We have so many young peanut farmers making a difference in their communities and I consider this awards program a great opportunity to recognize one young peanut farmer for their contributions to the agriculture industry,” says Armond Morris, GPC chairman.

The award is open for any active Georgia peanut farmer who is not over 45 years of age, as of January 19, 2017. An individual may receive the award only once. There is no limit on the number of

Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

applicants from each county in Georgia.

Applications are due to the GPC office by Dec. 15, 2016. The application is available on the GPC website at gapeanuts.com or by calling the GPC office at 229-386-3470.

The award winner receives registration and hotel accommodations to attend the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. July 20-22, 2017, at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Miramar Beach, Florida, and a sign to display at his or her farm. t

Top Georgia peanut growers honored eorgia peanut growers who produced the highest yields in the state during the 2015 growing season were honored during a recent gathering on Jekyll Island, Georgia.

The 12 farms recognized for high yields share many common production practices. For instance, they all grow the high-yielding Georgia-06G runner variety.

They generally use conventional tillage and they all plant their peanuts in twin rows.

“Twin rows produce faster canopy coverage, and this helps to suppress weeds and tomato spotted wilt virus,” says Scott Monfort, University of Georgia Extension peanut agronomist.

Monfort reviewed some of the production practices used by the growers, and said he appreciates the growers for the information they provide on how they grow peanuts.

The growers with the high yields represent four peanut producing districts or regions within the state of Georgia.

Most of these top yielding farmers in Georgia produced more than 6,000 pounds per acre, according to Monfort. The state average yield in 2015 was 4,470 pounds per acre, and the members of the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club produced peanuts yielding about 2,000 pounds per acre more than the state average.

The highest yields in the state were grown by Eddie Miller Jr. of 4 Miller Farms in Seminole County with 7,063.1 pounds per acre from 918 acres of peanuts.

This farm was recognized for producing the highest overall yield in the state from 300

G

2016 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club winners pictured left to right, Jerry Heard, Baker County; Ken Hall Jr., Worth County; Eddie Miller Jr., Seminole County; Andrew Grimes, Tift County; John Gaines Jr., Baker County; Paul Wigley, Calhoun County; Art Dorminy, Irwin County; Dewayne Beckum, Calhoun County; Wayne Sayer, Irwin County and Hulin Reeves Jr., Ben Hill County. Not pictured: Jeff Heard of Baker County; Al Sudderth, Bob McLendon and Wesley Webb of Calhoun County and Matt Bryan of Baker County.

or more acres of peanuts.

John Gaines Jr., from Baker County was recognized for the highest yield in the state from the category with 100 to 300 acres of peanuts. Gaines grew 6,935.5 pounds per acre from 138 acres.

The Peanut Achievement Club also welcomed a number of district winners for acreage categories of 100 to 300 acres, 300 to 700 acres and for peanut acreage of more than 700 acres.

The District 1 winners include Wesley Webb, Calhoun County; Sudderth Farms, Inc., Calhoun County and Bob McLendon

2015 Georgia Peanut Achievement Club State Winners Name

County

Acres

Yield

4 Miller Farms

Seminole

918

7,063.1

John Gaines Jr.

Baker

138

6,935.5

Matt Bryan

Baker

224.37

6,772.6

Sudderth Farms

Calhoun

680

6,740.6

Art Dorminy

Irwin

303

6,558.4

Wesley Webb

Calhoun

158

6,475

Hulin Reeves Jr.

Ben Hill

581.8

6,237.7

Andrew Grimes

Tift

285.5

6,223.1

Jerry Jr. & Jeff Heard Farms

Baker

938.4

6,142.6

Bob McLendon Farms

Calhoun

1,389.9

6,070.4

Triple K LLC (Ken & Lisa Hall)

Worth

944.0

5,863.1

Sayer Farms

Irwin

797.5

5,614.9

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

Farms, LLC, Calhoun County. The District II winners include Jerry Heard Jr. and Jeff Heard Farms, Baker County and Matt Bryan, Baker County. The District III winners included Hulin Reeves Jr., Ben Hill County and Triple K, LLC farm of Ken and Lisa Hall, Worth County. The District IV winners included Andrew Grimes, Tift County; Art Dorminy, Irwin County and Sayer Farms, Irwin County.

Andrew Grimes joined the Peanut Achievement Club for the first time. For many years, his father, Philip Grimes produced high yields and was recognized as a member of the Achievement Club.

Andrew attributed his 2015 high yields to a good fungicide and pest control program along with adequate water and good weather conditions during harvesting.

Gaines joined his family farm full time in 2012. He attributes his high yields last year, in part, to being able to harvest the crop on a timely basis. “I’m sure other farmers made more peanuts than I did last year, but they couldn’t get into their fields to harvest due to rain,” he says. “I was able to get ten days of good weather to harvest the 138 acres of peanuts last year.”

Gaines also comes from a family with a long tradition of producing high peanut yields. His father John Gaines, Sr., and his uncle Ricky Dowdy, both passed away in 2013, and they were recognized in 2012 for their high peanut yields in 2011. They

harvested 7,267 pounds per acre in 2011 to set a record for the highest yields in the modern era of the Peanut Achievement Club.

Eddie Miller, Jr., of 4 Miller Farms in Seminole County has also been recognized previously by the Achievement Club for his high yields. Miller says he has been able to use an 18-row sprayer with drop nozzles that have enabled him to band fungicides over his twin rows. He says the nozzles are about one foot above the ground, and are able to get fungicides into the crowns of the plants to help control white mold. “Two applications for white mold work great,” he explains.

Miller said he has also been able to get good white mold control by applying Convoy fungicide through his center pivot system.

“The peanut industry has come together, and that is a big reason for our high yields,” Miller says. “We have good peanut breeders, the 06G variety, our Extension people and the new products from our chemical companies.” Miller says that timely, sound management, along with ample irrigation and keeping disease pressure low all contribute to high yields.

Jerry Heard of Baker County credits the assistance he gets from the Extension Service for his high yields. “The Extension guys help us to make decisions and to be timely in our production practices,” he says. “We also are blessed with great seed varieties and irrigation.”

Dewayne Beckum of Calhoun County works with Bob McLendon Farms, and he attributes the high yields to following good plans for the herbicides and fungicides that the farm uses.

Paul Wigley is a retired county Extension agent who is now the peanut manager for Sudderth Farms in Calhoun County. He credits the farm’s high peanut yields to crop rotation, timeliness and attention to details. The crop rotation typically includes three years of corn followed by one year of peanuts. Timeliness is especially important, according to Wigley. “On this farm, Al Sudderth demands that practices are completed one day early, not one day late,” Wigley says.

Ken Hall, Jr., of Worth County has long been a member of the Peanut Achievement Club. He was unique among these elite growers in that he used conservation tillage to grow his peanuts. And he used strip tillage for planting last year for his high yields. However, this year, Hall has switched to conventional tillage. “We did this to get better weed control and to be able to plant on a bed, rather than planting flat as we did with strip tillage,” Hall says. “We should also be able to harvest our peanuts easier with conventional tillage.”

Better pigweed control and fewer digging losses are the main reasons for switching to conventional tillage this year, according to Hall.

Hall still used a cover crop this year, even with conventional tillage. “We use rye or wheat as cover crops for our peanut land,” Hall says. “This year, we sprayed our cover crops early and harrowed them in. We then rip and bed and plant in one trip.”

Sponsors for the Jekyll meeting honoring the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club include BASF, Bayer, the American Peanut Sheller’s Association, the Georgia Peanut Commission and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. t

BY JOHN LEIDNER

How top growers compare niversity of Georgia Extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort has summarized the production practices of members of the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club from the 2010 through the 2015 crop years, and he compared some of these results with the production practices and data available for Georgia peanut growers as a whole.

His data showed a gradual increase in the overall average yields for Peanut Achievement Club members, starting with 5,950 pounds per acre in 2010 and reaching 6,425 pounds per acre in 2015.

From 2010 through 2015, the high-yield growers used corn and cotton as their main rotation crops. Almost all of the high-yield growers used conventional tillage. Bottom plows, disk harrows and field cultivators were their main tillage tools, though field cultivator use declined among these top growers in recent years.

Georgia-06G was the dominant variety since 2010, and was the only variety reported to be grown by the achievement club members in 2015. The only other varieties grown since 2010 by these growers were Georgia Greener, Georgia-07W, Tifguard, Florida-07, Georgia-09B and FloRun 107.

These growers also overwhelmingly planted twin row peanuts, except for one grower in 2011 who planted peanuts in single rows.

Seeding rates were predominantly either 6.0 to 6.5 seed per foot or 7.0 to 7.5 seed per foot for the 2010 through the 2015 crop years.

Herbicide use included Valor and Sonolan as the most widely used pre-emergence weed controls used by the high yielding growers. The most widely used post-emergence herbicides were Cadre and 2,4-DB. “We have a lot of fungicides to choose from,” Monfort says.

The data he compiled showed that the high-yield farmers used some 17 fungicide products to control diseases in their peanuts.

The most widely used fungicides in the 2010 through 2015 crop years included Folicur/tebuconazole and Bravo/chlorothalonil.

Others that were extensively used include Abound, Artisan, Convoy, Fontelis, Headline, Provost and Tilt/Bravo. Other fungicides that showed up in the practices reported by the farmers included Elast, Proline, Stratego, Alto, Evito, propiconazole, Priaxor and Bravo/Topsin.

Insecticide use by the high-yield growers featured extensive use of Thimet/phorate for thrips control. Temik was also used for thrips before it was removed from the market. Steward, Karate and Karate Z were the most widely used insecticides targeting foliar insects.

Monfort noted that in 2015, more than half of the growers used Lorsban as a soil insectide. Nematicides used in 2015 were split among Velum Total, Telone II and Telone, though 58.3 percent used no nematicide.

Irrigation was widely used by the Achievement Club members from 2010 through 2015. The amount of irrigation, however, varied considerably depending on the weather each year. The average number of irrigation applications ranged six in 2013 to 17 in 2011.

The amount of water applied also varied considerably. For instance, in 2015, these growers used an average of ten irrigations. The minimum amount of water applied was three inches and the maximum amount applied was 15 inches. t

U

BY JOHN LEIDNER October/November 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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2016 Georgia Peanut Tour showcases Tifton Georgia area he thirtieth annual Georgia Peanut Tour was held Sept.

13-15, 2016, and based out of Tifton, Georgia. Each year, the tour provides attendees the most up-to-date information on peanuts by showcasing a broad view of the industry through farm visits, processing and handling, as well as manufacturing facilities. For 2016, tour stops were made in Tift, Coffee, Irwin and Ben Hill Counties.

Tour attendees began day one with a Hot Topics session featuring the UGA Peanut Team. During the remainder of the tour, attendees were able to see nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. Tour stops were made at local peanut farms, Peanut Partners Buying Point, Premium Peanut, LLC and Golden Boy Foods. Ongoing peanut research was also featured at the University of Georgia’s Lang-Rigdon Farm.

First-time tour attendee, Kimmi Wernli, president of Crazy Richards Peanut Butter, appreciated the broad overview of peanuts from “soil to spoon.”

“I have really enjoyed every aspect of this tour,” Wernli says. “I think everything has been very different from one activity to the next, and it has really opened my eyes to a different part of agriculture. I

T

Attendees view peanut harvest at the farm of Armond Morris, Irwinville, Ga., during the Georgia Peanut Tour held Sept. 13-15, 2016, in South Georgia.

really enjoyed seeing the whole process from the farming, to harvesting, to the buying point, to the sheller and then shipping over to the actual peanut butter factory.”

A popular highlight of the tour is seeing harvest, where field visits allow attendees to see both digging and picking on the farm. Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission

2016 Georgia Peanut Tour Sponsors Platinum Sponsors American Peanut Shellers Assn.

Bayer CropScience Birdsong Peanuts Dow AgroSciences Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts Nichino America Premium Peanut LLC UGA Peanut Team Silver Sponsors Farm Credit Associations of Georgia Georgia Federal State Inspection Service National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer

Bronze Sponsors Agri Supply Cape Insurance Services DuPont Crop Protection Early Trucking Company Monsanto BioAg Olam Edible Nuts The Peanut Grower UGA Innovation Gateway Verdesian Life Sciences Supporter Sponsors Mars Chocolate North America McKee Foods Snyder’s Lance The Hershey Company

welcomed tour attendees to his farm in Irwin County, where he showcased picking and discussed the condition of his peanut crop.

“We really appreciate attendees coming and visiting with us,” Morris says. “Thank you for visiting with the Georgia farmer and Georgia Extension.

We just appreciate all them working together and putting this together.”

Tift County farmer, Philip Grimes, also visited with attendees about his farm and the diverse operation his family currently operates. The Grimes family grows peanuts, cotton, cantaloupes, broccoli, snap beans and corn.

The tour concluded at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center where attendees were given a glimpse of the input costs farmers face.

Representatives from Kelley Manufacturing Co. and Lasseter Equipment Group visited with attendees about the various equipment farmers use, such as tractors, combines and dump carts. Before leaving, attendees were shown a 30th anniversary video celebrating the last 30 years of the tour.

Continued on page 17

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

Export promotions benefit U.S. peanuts he U.S. peanut industry continues to promote and educate buyers of U.S. peanuts around the globe.

Recent efforts this fall focused on export promotions with Chinese and Japanese buyers.

A group of U.S. industry members attended the Chinese Peanut Conference organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal by-products (CCNFA). The event was held September 7-8, 2016, in Qingdao, Shandong, China. National Peanut Board President and CEO Bob Parker delivered a presentation on the state of the U.S. crop for 2016, and American Peanut Council staff Stephanie Grunenfelder delivered a presentation on peanut nutrition with assistance from the Peanut Institute to the audience during the main session.

Attendance at the conference was more than 400 – a record for CCCNFA. APC board member farmers Otis Johnson and Jeff Roper from Texas, and Tim Burch and Joe Boddiford from Georgia attended the event on behalf of the APC. After the conference, APC participants visited Chinese industry manufacturers and a peanut field.

A group of peanut importers and manufacturers from Japan visited the U.S. Sept. 25-28, 2016, and toured the farm of Armond Morris, Dixon Farm Supply, Tifton Quality Peanuts, Premium Peanut and American Blanching.

There were 25 Japanese participants on the trip this time, a little larger

T

Chinese buyers tour the farm of Donald Chase, Olgethorpe, Ga., to learn more about the quality of U.S. peanuts during a tour coordinated by the American Peanut Council in October.

contingent than the APC has had in past years, Grunenfelder says.

“Japan has been a consistent importer of U.S. peanuts, typically the fourth or fifth largest export market for us,” Grunenfelder says. “We hope missions like the one to Tifton will help us continue to maintain long term relationships with these important export customers.”

According to Grunenfelder, this year Japan has been increasing imports of U.S. peanuts as China’s exports are shrinking.

For the time period January to July, exports to Japan were up 35 percent from the same period in 2015.

The APC also hosted a group of Chinese peanut buyers on a tour of the U.S. peanut industry through southwest Georgia in October. China has become the

largest export market this year for the U.S. The tour group visited the farm of Donald Chase in Oglethorpe, Georgia, and Andy Bell in Climax, Georgia, shelling plants, buying points and JLA. t

BY JOY CROSBY

Georgia Peanut Tour - Continued from page 16

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. Scott Monfort, Extension peanut agronomist with the University of Georgia and chairman of the 2016 Georgia Peanut Tour committee commended all who helped make the tour possible.

“The tour committee and sponsors did a great job pulling together another successful and educating tour,” Monfort says. “The tour committee would like to thank all of the participants and sponsors for being part of this historic milestone for the Georgia Peanut Tour.”

The 2016 tour included more than 200 industry representatives from 16 states and six countries. Visit www.georgiapeanuttour.com to learn more about the stops of the 2016 tour. t

BY JESSIE BLAND October/November 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference 016 marked the 18th annual year for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference held July 21-23 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Miramar Beach, Florida. This year’s theme was “Survivor: Managing the Challenge.” General sessions during the three-day conference provided farmers with information on survival in the marketplace, production uncertainty, the land grant’s role in survival, using peanut oil for fuel in the future and the legislative process.

Farming legislation is always a concern for peanut producers. This year during the conference, attendees heard from Congressman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, chairman of the House Agricultural Committee, as he stressed the importance of preparing now for the 2018 Farm Bill.

“My goal is, as is the goal of every ag chairman, is to get it done before the current one expires, not have to have short term extensions and all the drama that goes along with that,” Conaway says. “But every chairman ever has said that exact same thing so we’ll see how that works out.”

During the awards breakfast on Friday morning, Valent U.S.A. Corporation presented the annual Valor award to Stanley Fletcher, agricultural economist at the University of Georgia and director of The National Center for Peanut Competitiveness.

Fletcher has been a longtime advocate for peanut farmers by providing the various information needed during farm bill debates or additional legislation affecting peanut farmers.

“Valor is defined as courage and boldness, as John Altom (left) of Valent in battle, bravery, courage in defense of a noble presents Stanley Fletcher of cause,” says John Altom of Valent. “Our recipient The National Center for Peanut Competitiveness with has spent a lifetime providing that kind of the Valor Award during the leadership to the peanut industry. He has been Southern Peanut Growers dedicated to helping develop and recommend Conference in July. successful policy for peanut famers in the face of trade agreements. He has also spent many hours developing economic analysis needed to advance the competitiveness of U.S. peanut farmers.”

Three farm families were also recognized during the conference with the annual Peanut Efficiency Awards, which are sponsored by Farm Press. The awards are based solely on production efficiency, honoring those growers who produce the highest yields at the lowest cost per acre.

The awards are based on a producer’s entire farm operation, and not just on individual farms or small plots.

Winners of the 2016 Peanut This year’s honorees include: Efficiency Awards were honored at Southwest Region - Ricky Bearden, Plains, the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Pictured left to right are Texas; Lower Southeast Region - Matt Forrest Laws, Farm Press; Matt and Bryan, Baker County, Georgia; and the Tonya Bryan, Georgia; Brandon Upper Southeast Region - Mike, Cindy and Belch, Lauren Lilly, Mike and Cindy Brandon Belch, Northampton County, North Belch, North Carolina; Ricky and Karen Bearden, Texas and Marshall Carolina.

Highlights of the conference including Lamb, USDA National Peanut Research Lab. photos, presentations and speaker interviews are all available on the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation website at southernpeanutfarmers.org. t

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BY JOY CROSBY

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

Thanks to the 2016 Conference Sponsors Syngenta Bayer CropScience BASF DuPont Crop Protection Farm Press National Peanut Board AgriLogic Insurance Services Ag Technologies Birdsong Peanuts Colombo NA AgGeorgia Farm Credit AgSouth Farm Credit Farm Credit of Florida Farm Credit of Northwest Florida First South Farm Credit Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Kelley Manufacturing Co. Propane Education & Research Council Valent U.S.A. Corporation Vantage South Verdesian Life Science Co. Amadas Industries Dow AgroSciences McCleskey Mills/Olam Edible Nuts National Peanut Buying Points Assn.

Southeastern Peanut Farmer The Peanut Grower Alabama Farmers Federation Alabama Power AMVAC Chemical Georgia Farm Bureau Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts LMC-Ag LLC Lasseter Equipment Group Monsanto BioAg Nichino America, Inc. Premium Peanut LLC SunSouth LLC Visjon Biologics Agri-Supply Georgia Development Authority Newton Crouch, Inc. Nolin Steel Rabo AgriFinance Sessions Co. Inc. Southern Ag Carriers Specialty Sales Co. The KBH Corporation

Washington Outlook

by Robert L. Redding Jr.

Peanut Standards Board approves grower request The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC), Southern Peanut Farmers Federation (SPFF) and state farm bureaus from Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and the Alabama Farmers Federation requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Peanut Standards Board (PSB) increase the maximum allowable damage for incoming farmer stock peanuts from 2.49 percent to 3.49 percent. When finalized, this increase will help those farmers who have been affected by having their peanut crop graded as Segregation 2. (See letter from the organizations to the Peanut Standards Board on the right.)

The Peanut Standards Board was established in the 2002 Farm Bill, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The PSB consists of 18 members representing the peanut growing regions of the U.S. USDA consults with the PSB to establish or change quality and handling standards for domestic peanuts and imported peanuts. The PSB voted overwhelmingly to raise the grading score used to classify peanuts.

USDA staff will forward the PSB recommendation to the Secretary of Agriculture who will decide whether to accept the PSB recommended increase. The GPC and the SPFF are very pleased with the PSB decision and appreciate all the efforts of the Georgia Farm Bureau as well as other peanut state farm bureaus. Those groups involved in this effort are encouraging the Secretary to make a decision as soon as possible. Grower organizations worked with the University of Georgia’s National Center for Peanut Competitiveness to gather data for the PSB proposal.

Peanut leaders go to Capitol Hill Peanut industry officials, growers, shellers and buying points, met with Capitol Hill leaders to discuss the 2014 Farm Bill and the current peanut marketplace. One of the issues that arose during discussions concerned the peanut inventories reported by USDA. Specifically, USDA had projected a July 31 carryout of 1,650,000 farmer stock tons.

With a 2015 crop of more than 3.1 million tons, the implication was that there were too many peanuts. Peanut grower leaders were seeing a marketplace that did not have a surplus of peanuts. USDA recently reduced their estimates by 755,000 tons. SPFF leaders believe the USDA numbers are still too high.

The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation have discussed the USDA projections with ag leaders on Capitol Hill and with the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness.

The federation is also communicating with USDA officials.

Congress set to go home for election break The U.S. Congress is set to wrap up pre-election legislative business with a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through December 9, 2016. To date, the appropriations process has struggled.

House and Senate leaders plan to return in November, after the elections, and pass a final Omnibus Appropriations bill to fund the remaining months of Fiscal Year 2017.

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Southeastern Peanut Farmer October/November 2016

July 13, 2016 Mr. Marty McLendon Chairman, Peanut Standards Board PO Box 10 Leary, GA 39862 Dear Mr. McLendon: The stakeholders signing below respectfully request that the Peanut Standards Board include in its next board meeting agenda an increase in the maximum allowable damage for incoming farmer stock peanuts from 2.49 percent to 3.49 percent.

When the U.S. peanut program was significantly changed in the 2002 Farm Bill, there were components of the old quota program that were carried over into the new peanut program. Under the old quota peanut program, any farmer stock peanuts that were graded as segregation 2 had to be crushed. However, under the new program the sheller has the opportunity to clean the peanuts to meet the outgoing specifications for edible sale.

Despite this change, the loan value for Segregation 2 peanuts was not changed. Due to poor historical crushed peanut prices, the loan value for Segregation 2 peanuts ranged very low, from $120-$130 per ton. Even though the new system allows peanuts to be cleaned and resold at market rate, there has been no change in the loan value for Segregation 2 peanuts. A farmer having their entire crop graded Segregation 2 under the current system would be economically devastating despite the true value of the peanuts being higher.

We ask for the Peanut Standards Board to include our request, an increase in the maximum allowable damage for incoming farmer stock peanuts from 2.49 percent to 3.49 percent on the agenda for the next board meeting.

Sincerely, American Farm Bureau Federation Alabama Farmers Federation Alabama Peanut Producers Florida Peanut Producers Association Georgia Farm Bureau Georgia Peanut Commission Mississippi Farm Bureau Mississippi Peanut Growers Association

Senator Stabenow introduces urgan ag legislation U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, DMichigan, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, introduced the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016. The legislation addresses the unique needs of urban farmers by investing new resources and increasing flexibility through existing programs administered by USDA. “Urban agriculture is steadily growing in cities and towns across Michigan and across our country, creating new economic opportunities and safer, healthier environments,” Senator Stabenow says. “The Urban Agriculture Act will continue this momentum by helping urban farmers get started or expand their business, so they can sell more products and supply more healthy food for their neighbors.”

The bill includes the following: • Agriculture Cooperatives: Expands USDA authority to support farm cooperatives in urban areas, helping urban farmers who want to form and operate an agriculture cooperative get products to market. Reduces individual financial risk and burdensome paperwork by allowing USDA loans to be managed by agriculture cooperatives.

• Rooftops, Vertical Farms &

Indoor Production: Makes it easier for urban farms to apply for USDA farm programs and assists producers with information on operating rooftop and vertical farms. Supports access to land and production sites in urban communities through innovative conservation grants.

• Cutting-Edge Research: Invests $10 million for cutting-edge research to explore market opportunities for urban agriculture and develop new technologies for lowering energy and water needs.

Includes national data collection and a new urban agriculture section in the local and regional foods market report.

• Loans: Expands existing USDA farm loan programs so urban farmers can cover new farm related activities that improve their business. Now urban farmers can use farm loans to finance food production, marketing, and value-added processing.

• Risk Management Tools: Provides a new affordable risk management tool for urban farmers to protect against crop losses, taking into account the risks, food prices and contracts unique to urban farms.

• New Urban Ag Office: Creates a new urban agriculture office at USDA to

coordinate urban agriculture policies across the department and provide urban farmers with technical assistance.

• Mentorship and Education: Connects urban farmers with rural farmers to provide education and mentorship support.

• Community Gardens: Invests $5 million for tools and equipment to develop community gardens that provide community-based nutrition education and donate a portion of the food grown to help feed their neighbors.

• Healthy Food: Creates a new pilot program that provides incentives to urban farmers who use sustainable growing practices and commit to supplying healthy food to their neighbors, connecting urban farms with families who need greater access to healthy, local foods.

• Soil Remediation: Expands resources for technical and financial support to test and clean up contaminated soils, and invests in new research on the best practices for soil remediation.

• Urban Composting: Creates a pilot program to provide urban farmers access to compost while reducing food waste that would otherwise go into landfills.

USDA issues safety-net payments to farmers in response to 2015 market downturn The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that beginning Oct. 4, 2016, many of the 1.7 million farms that enrolled in either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments due to market downturns during the 2015 crop year.

“This fall, USDA will be making more than $7 billion in payments under the ARC-County and PLC programs to assist participating producers, which will account for more than 10 percent of USDA’s projected 2016 net farm income.

These payments will help provide reassurance to America’s farm families, who are standing strong against low commodity prices compounded by unfavorable growing conditions in many parts of the country,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “At USDA, we are standing strong behind them, tapping in to every resource that we have to help.

So far in 2016, this has included creating a one-time cost share program for cotton

ginning, purchasing about $800 million in excess commodities to be redirected to food banks and those in need, making $11 million in payments to America’s dairy farmers through the Dairy Margin Protection Program, and reprogramming Farm Service Agency funds to expand credit options for farmers and ranchers in need of extra capital. As always, we continue to watch market conditions and will explore opportunities for further assistance in the coming months. For producers challenged by weather, disease and falling prices, we will continue to ensure the availability of a strong safety net to keep them farming or ranching.”

Unlike the old direct payment program, which issued payments during both weak and strong market conditions, the 2014 Farm Bill authorized the ARCPLC safety net to trigger and provide financial assistance only when decreases in revenues or crop prices, respectively, occur. The ARC and PLC programs primarily allow producers to continue to

produce for the market by making payments on a percentage of historical base production, limiting the impact on production decisions.

Nationwide, producers enrolled 96 percent of soybean base acres, 91 percent of corn base acres and 66 percent of wheat base acres in the ARC-County coverage option. Producers enrolled 99 percent of long grain rice and peanut base acres and 94 percent of medium grain rice base acres in the PLC option. Overall, 76 percent of participating farm base acres are enrolled in ARC-County, 23 percent in PLC and one percent in ARC-Individual.

For other program information including frequently asked questions, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Payments are made to producers who enrolled base acres of barley, corn, grain sorghum, lentils, oats, peanuts, dry peas, soybeans, wheat and canola.

For more information, producers are encouraged to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.

October/November 2016 Southeastern Peanut Farmer

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Southern Peanut Growers 2016 Sweetest Chef of the South crowned in Ridgeland, Mississippi Chef Dwayne Ingraham was crowned Sweetest Chef of the South for his Funky Monkey Banana Pudding at the Sweetest Chef of the South culinary throwdown held on September 12, 2016 at The Lake House in Ridgeland, Miss. The event was hosted by Visit Ridgeland, presented by Eat Y’all and sponsored by the Southern Peanut Growers. This event is a World Food Championships qualifying event so Chef Ingraham has earned his spot to compete in November.

In its second year, Sweetest Chefs of the South featured the South’s top pastry chefs competing in a people’s choice competition for the title, “Sweetest Chef of the South.” Attendees served as “Official Judges” for the event and ultimately named the winners thru their vote.

Sweetest Chefs of the South pictured Sweetest Chefs of the left to right: Chef Dwayne Ingraham, South wasn’t Ingraham’s Chef Jacqueline Ladnier and Chef first rodeo. As a former Danielle Smathers won the accolades winner of Food Network’s of the night.

Cutthroat Kitchen hosted

by Alton Brown and runner-up in the Food Network’s Spring Baking Challenge in 2015, Ingraham loves to compete.

Chef Jacqueline Ladnier, chef/owner of French Kiss Pastries with locations in Ocean Springs, Long Beach and Biloxi, won Best Presentation for her Strawberry Bavarian Cake. Chef Danielle Smathers, pasty chef from ONE.midtown kitchen in Atlanta, won Most Creative at the People’s Choice style competition for her Thai Basil Lemon Curd Tartlet with Mint Whipped Cream and Bee Pollen.

Southern Peanut Growers partners with Yoplait Yogurt to show America how to makeover their lunchbox Southern Peanut Growers and Yoplait Yogurt partnered during back to school season on a Satellite Media Tour to have cookbook author Rebecca Lang show America easy and healthy lunchbox makeovers on August 26. From the television studio in Atlanta, Rebecca did 26 interviews that morning (23 television and 3 radio) for a total audience of more than 12 million people. This television and radio time would have cost $137,695 if purchased as advertising.

Lang shared how easy the new peanut powder is to stir into yogurt with some mini chocolate chips for a great dip or to combine Rebecca Lang did 26 television and radio interviews promoting with yogurt, milk and a frozen peanut powder as an easy lunch banana for a healthy smoothie. box makeover.

Peanut powder is now readily available from several manufacturers in the grocery store and offers all the protein and fiber of peanut butter with 85 percent less fat.

Lang, who grew up on a South Georgia peanut farm, is a food writer and author of at least six Southern-themed cookbooks including her latest, The Southern Vegetable Book. Rebecca and her cooking have been featured in more than 50 nationally televised Southern Living food segments and in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, Wine Enthusiast, FoxNews.com, The Daily Meal, Glamour and Fitness magazines. She also serves as a contributing editor for Southern Living.

SPG and FPPA promote peanuts at Good for You Girls Day Out Southern Peanut Growers and Florida Peanut Producers exhibited at the Good for You Girls Day Out event in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, Sept. 17.

About 1,200 people paid to attend the day-long health event which included a keynote opening session by Chef Mai Pham, health screenings, exhibitors, breakout presentations on different health topics, and a closing session with Good Morning America anchor Amy Robach.

“This group of women is particularly interested in health issues and is primed to hear our peanut powered health messages regarding diabetes control and prevention, heart health and weight control,” says Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers.

JIF Peanut Powder was the hit of the show this year. Attendees sampled the peanut powder in Greek yogurt topped with some mini chocolate chips.

Marketing arm of

Roberta Stewart with the Florida Peanut Producers Association provides recipes and nutritional information to consumers during the Good for You Girls Day Out event in Jacksonville, Fla.

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

At Golden Peanut & Tree Nuts, we’re on a mission to serve nutrition to the world.

Peanuts and tree nuts are not only delicious, but full of healthy fats, fiber, plant-based protein and loads of vitamins and minerals. We want to get this message out to the world - a world that now communicates by emoji. That’s why we’re leading the charge on making the peanut emoji happen.

Besides, think of all the great emoji combos the peanut could work with. PB & J, anyone? (insert bread, strawberry and peanut emoji) Seventh inning stretch? (insert baseball, beer, popcorn and peanut). And we’re sure you’re not above a few peanut puns. (insert Awww peanut emoji peanut emoji peanut emoji!!!)

But we can’t bring the peanut emoji to your text conversations alone. We need your help to make it happen.

Follow the campaign on social media with the hashtag: #wheresmypeanutemoji and visit www.wheresmypeanutemoji.com to sign the petition!

Georgia’s Largest Commodity Show January 19, 2017 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton, Georgia Free farmer lunch Pesticide applicators certification More than 100 Exhibits Doorprizes

Learn more about the 2017 Georgia Peanut Farm Show by scanning this code with your smartphone.

www.gapeanuts.com

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