Tag Archives: Georgia peanuts

Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service’s Important Role within the Peanut Industry

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Ty Ty, GA |

Each Fall, all across the state, peanuts are dug up, harvested, and taken to buying points that will shell them and market them to their final destination. However, an important part of that process is what’s called grading, which is completed by the Georgia Federal-State Inspection service, that ensures both the grower and shellers receive a non-biased grade that’s used to make sure all parties get compensated fairly.

“We’re an organization founded in 1927 to be a non-biased third party between the buyer and the producer. Mostly in Georgia it’s peanuts, but it’s different commodities also. What we really do is we ensure that the buyer isn’t paying too much for the peanuts and the producer is getting a fair amount for the peanuts as well. So, our organization doesn’t lean toward one side or the other. We’re here to be a nonbiased party,” says Willie Musselwhite, District Manager for the GA Federal-State Inspection Service.

According to Musselwhite, the job is one that’s taken very seriously, as they strive for uniformity so that it’s an equal playing field for everyone, which is why when they take samples from each truck, they work it in a very methodical way to ensure it’s done properly and consistently.

“To the farmer, he wants to get paid. He worked very hard to produce this product and he wants to get paid the ultimate price for his profit. So, once we are going in there and determine the grade, it really determines how much the farmer’s getting paid for his peanuts. So, if it grades really high, he wants a premium grade for his peanuts, but on the other hand, if it were to grade a lower grade, the buyer would not want to pay that premium price for it. So, what we’re doing is we’re telling the farmer, and the buyer; this this is what you have. We don’t set the prices for them, USDA and the buyers, they set the prices, but whatever grade it has that determines the price on the peanut,” says Musselwhite.

Musselwhite says that the grading process is also important because it can help further improve peanut production here in Georgia as it gives researchers, breeders, and growers information that can be useful in the future.

“Georgia produces technically 50 percent of nation’s peanuts and we strive every year to produce different varieties; University of Georgia, yield better yields and make higher quality peanuts. So, we do the research through grading, different trials and all that they’re trying to make a better product. Because after a while, the problems you have now, it fails to grade what it was . We’re always having different things come out the university system and different geneticists are making it happen. It’s very important for the peanut industry to have to have somebody doing that because it’ll provide more income for the farmers in the long run and a better quality peanut for the shellers, the candymakers, and the industry in general,” says Musselwhite.

By: John Holcomb

Annual Peanut Farm Show Provides Growers with Insight

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Tifton, GA |

For almost five decades, peanut growers in Georgia have convened at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show – an annual event facilitating fellowship among producers, showcasing cutting-edge equipment, and providing updates from industry experts.

“We always see new challenges on the farm and there’s always some new technology and maybe new ways of doing the same things. So, we get this to look at maybe new planters or updated harvest machinery. And so, it’s always an opportunity for us to think about how we’re doing things and maybe there’s some changes we would like to make to our own production system. It’s a really good opportunity to just see what’s out there,” expressed Donald Chase, Vice Chairman of the GA Peanut Commission.

In addition to networking with vendors and exploring new equipment, attendees participated in production seminars led by industry experts like Scott Monfort, an Extension Peanut Agronomist at the University of Georgia. Monfort addressed the tumultuous year for growers, highlighting the detrimental impact of weather fluctuations on crop yields.

“Unfortunately, if we get into a situation with a disease problem or insect problem, yeah, they might have done some damage, but we can get in there and correct that pretty quick and it wouldn’t hurt as much, but when you’re talking about the weather and its impact on the overall growth and productivity of the plant, you really don’t see that as a whole until you start digging. It’s not uncommon for us to see that in a small geographic location, but not across the whole state,” explained Monfort.

The adverse growing conditions led to a challenging harvest season, as Monfort noted grading issues stemming from the erratic weather patterns witnessed statewide.

“Not only did non-irrigated get impacted, but our irrigated did too. That’s where we had pods that aborted some of the nuts. We didn’t get them formed. They didn’t fill out all the way to the hull. So, we get smaller peanuts. Dry land didn’t produce much at all in some areas. So it just just compounded on us and then this whole grade issue was with what happened in May, then what happened in June and July. If we would have stayed hot in late August going into September and October, we could have corrected some of that because the plant could have really put on a lot of pods and matured them out, but we didn’t, we cooled off. So that hit us again,” Monfort elaborated.

Bob Kemerait, Extension Plant Pathologist at UGA, emphasized the significant role of disease pressure alongside unfavorable weather conditions.

“The yields that came off of last year were disappointing to a lot of growers. We weren’t at the top; it wasn’t a terrible year, but we weren’t the best. Some of the things that affected that was tomato spotted wilt virus and also white mold. So, a lot of that was environmentally driven. The hot, dry weather made the white mold worse, especially for farmers with non-irrigated fields. Also, our tomato spotted wilt virus, based upon some of the early situations in the 2023 crop was more severe, and so in part, the disappointing yield was not just the growing season, but it was growing season in concert with things like tomato spotted wilt virus and white mold,” Kemerait explained.

By: John Holcomb

Georgia Peanut Commission honors farmers and industry supporters

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TIFTON, GA

Attendees were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the 46th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference Jan. 19, 2023, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

The one-day show offered farmers a chance to view the products and services of 100 exhibitors and education opportunities. The University of Georgia Peanut Team presented an educational peanut production seminar focusing on the impact of weather on peanut growth and development, disease management, challenges in fertility and peanut sustainability. An industry seed seminar was held, which highlighted peanut varieties available for 2023.

The Georgia Peanut Commission installed the seventh recipient into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame by inducting Sonny Perdue, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. A portrait of Perdue, unveiled at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show, will be displayed at the GPC headquarters in Tifton, Ga. Prior to becoming chancellor, Perdue was the 31st Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2017 to 2021. He also served two terms as the governor of Georgia, from 2003 to 2011, and was a member of the Georgia Senate from 1991 to 2001, where he chaired the Senate Higher Education Committee and eventually became Senate President Pro Tem.

Additionally, the Georgia Peanut Commission presented awards to individuals and businesses for their service to the peanut industry and promotion of peanuts across the United States. The award recipients include Distinguished Service Award – Gary Black, former Georgia Agriculture Commissioner; Research and Education Award – Calvin Perry, retired superintendent of the University of Georgia’s C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park, and the University of Georgia Peanut Team; Innovator Award to William D. Branch, peanut breeder at the University of Georgia; Promotion Award to Bob Parker, president of the National Peanut Board; Media Award – Peanut Farm Market News; and the Georgia Peanut Special Award to Darlene Cowart, vice president of Food Safety and Quality with Birdsong Peanuts.

The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award, sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF, was presented to Adam Curles, Camilla, Georgia. The award is presented to one Georgia peanut farmer based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental and stewardship practices; and leadership and community service activities. Curles, a fifth-generation farmer, grows peanuts, cotton and corn. Curles strives to utilize innovative stewardship practices on the farm to reduce his carbon footprint and water usage. He is also active within a number of community and agriculture organizations within his county and across the state of Georgia.

In addition to the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Agri Supply presented the Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmers of the Year Award to individuals representing each of the commission’s five districts. The GPC board members started this award to honor farmers who have the passion, diligence, leadership and desire to see the peanut industry in the state of Georgia continue to be the highest quality. Winners include District 1 – St. Elmo Harrison, Whigham; District 2 – Armond Morris, Tifton; District 3 – Lamar Black, Millen;
District 4 – Barry Martin, Hawkinsville; and District 5 – Jack Miller, Leslie. These farmers received a sign to display at their farm and gift cards from Agri Supply and the Georgia Peanut Commission.

By: Georgia Peanut Commission

46th Peanut Farm Show Educates Producers on Devastating Disease

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Tifton, GA

For the past forty-six years, peanut growers here in Georgia have made their way to the Georgia Peanut Farm Show – a yearly event that gives producers the chance to fellowship with one another, see the latest and greatest equipment, and hear updates from experts on the industry.

“It’s just a great, information sharing show here for peanut growers and peanut representatives. Those who quit learning, quit growing, and certainly in today’s technological age and the environmental concerns that we have, there’s new information, there are changes if not every day, certainly every year and we need to update our farmers and keep them as up to date and informed as we can about issues and new products that are coming up, so that we can continue to be profitable in the industry we all love,” says Joe Boddiford, Chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission.

Aside from getting to meet with vendors and see the newest equipment, producers also got to attend production seminars in which industry experts, like Bob Kemerait, an Extension Plant Pathologist with the University of Georgia, spoke about a devastating disease many growers dealt with this past season known as tomato spotted wilt virus.

“The disease caused by tomato spotted wilt virus leads to significant yield reduction,” says Kemerait. “It leads to stunting of the plant, wilting of the plant, and also leads to a much lower pod yield on it, and so if we don’t manage tomato spotted wilt virus it’s very likely that our yields could be off by thousands of pounds, and that’s why it’s so important. We’ve been seeing this virus, tomato spotted wilt virus in peanuts since the mid nineties. The problem in 2022, the 2022 season was it was more severe than it’s been in recent years. It was really, in some fields, was devastating, and we’re not exactly sure why that was but we believe the Winter we had, or didn’t have – it was a warm winter, the impact on the thrips populations, the vectors that transmit the virus may have been a factor, but also because it’s been a few years since our growers have had a really bad year with the disease, they may be becoming a little bit lax, not focusing as much on all the management strategies that they have.”

Kemerait says the importance of having the correct management strategy can’t be overstated, as growers only have one chance to keep the virus under control.

“When they close the furrow, when they move their tractors out of the field, there’s nothing really else they can do to protect the crop, and the UGA Peanut Team works with growers to facilitate the information and also help them understand they get once chance to fight this disease. You either put the right combination down at planting or you don’t. There’s no going back,” says Kemerait.

It’s because of that reason Kemerait says it’s vital producers utilize Peanut RX – a planting tool that will help them minimize the risk of the disease on their operations as they gear up for this upcoming season.

“If you are serious about fighting tomato spotted wilt virus in 2023, you must pay attention to Peanut RX,” says Kemerait. “Peanut RX is available to our growers through a website, peanutrx.org they can also go to our production guides, the University of Georgia extension and they can also get it from various companies as well; following the steps to minimize the risk of this very important disease.”

By: John Holcomb

National Peanut Board Resolution Honors Farmer Armond Morris

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ATLANTA – During the February meeting of the National Peanut Board (NPB), the Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution honoring Georgia peanut farmer and industry advocate Armond Morris upon his retirement from the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC).

The resolution acknowledged that Morris has spent over 50 years managing a successful peanut farm; devoted substantial time and efforts to the peanut industry as an influential spokesperson, advocate and leader for peanut farmers on a state, national and international level; and served on the GPC with honor and distinction for over 40 years, including over 20 years of service as chairman.

During his tenure as GPC chairman, Morris led pivotal efforts to ensure that the U.S. peanut industry remained competitive against imports and paving the way for the significant subsequent expansion and growth of the U.S. peanut industry. Additionally, Morris has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and peers through his dedicated commitment to the peanut industry and diligent representation of the vital needs and challenges of peanut farmers.

The Board recognized Morris for his many years of dedicated support and invaluable service to the peanut industry as well as his significant leadership in supporting and strengthening the U.S. peanut industry. Further, the Board offered profound gratitude and congratulations to Morris.

The resolution was adopted on Feb. 17, 2022 and signed by Casey Cox, a fellow Georgia peanut farmer and NPB secretary.

Plant Expansion Helps Peanut Industry

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DOUGLAS, GA – With the state of Georgia accounting for nearly half the nation’s peanut production, it’s important that each aspect of the industry work in harmony. Nothing exemplifies that more than the grower-owned operation Premium Peanut, which helps farmers with each step of the process.

“We are essentially a cooperative of over 350 farmers in 30 counties throughout Georgia, and we work with them to grow, harvest, and then shell peanuts,” says Karl Zimmer, President of Premium Peanuts. “We are the only shelling plant east of 75 and as peanut production and peanut growing has moved into southeast Georgia over the past 15 years, there really was a need logistically to have something close.”

This facility, which shells up to 900 tons of peanuts a day, helps save farmers time and money thanks to its convenient location right in the middle of peanut country.

“It’s extremely beneficial just from a logistical standpoint to minimize those freight costs getting the product out of the field at harvest into the buying points and from the buying points or the collection points into the shelling plant,” says Zimmer.

One of the major partners for this operation since its opening in 2015 has been SunTrust Bank, who provided both working capital and flexible financing. It’s the kind of partnership they believe is essential not just for agriculture, but to the future of the country.

“If you look at food and agriculture in the United States, it’s a significant part of our GDP and it’s a category that we are not likely to rely on a foreign source of supply. So, as we look at the next several decades, food and agriculture will be a significant part of the US domestic economy,” says Todd Southerland, Senior Vice President of SunTrust bank.

With that in mind, Premium Peanut recently expanded their operation, building a state of the art peanut oil facility, which creates more value to the product by using the entire supply.

“We are generating a lot of not edible peanuts. They’re part of the manufacturing process. I come from metals manufacturing. You need scrap there. Well, our scrap is peanuts that are too small, they’re broken, maybe they have damage to them, and we can’t sell them to the edible market. But you can absolutely crush them and produce peanut oil from them,” says Zimmer.

As for how the oil is produced, it’s really a simple process.

“You break them down into small pieces. You heat them up to release that oil. Then it’s a mechanical press, and it is really just using mechanical pressure to squeeze the oil out,” says Zimmer.

With the addition of a new operation comes an addition of new jobs as well, and with the peanut industry being so far reaching in the state, it’s not just the local community that sees the benefits from this expansion

“When you think about premium peanut, it’s had a huge impact on the greater Douglas community,” says Southerland. “It’s obviously having an impact on this particular business. It’s also helping light the way to financial well-being for hundreds of farmers that are members of the cooperative. So, indirectly, it touches literally hundreds of families in South Georgia.”

“We have over 200 employees,” says Zimmer. “So, I think that is clearly important to this county and for where we are locally. Our growers are in 30 counties throughout southern Georgia and we have 10 buying points spread out through the southern part of the state. So, I think when you look at our true economic impact to agriculture and to the peanut industry throughout the state of Georgia, it’s very significant.”

By: Damon Jones