SPFF News & Resources

The recently semi-retired executive director of the Alabama Peanut Producers was surprised to be honored with the annual Valent Valor Award at the kick off of the 16th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City Beach.

“I like to know what’s going on and all the details and this is something I sort of missed,” said Randy after receiving the award from John Altom of Valent. “I’m touched and I’m humbled.”

Randy retired from the Alabama peanut growers group in December but he agreed to remain involved with the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation at least through this meeting. Announcing the award to his friend and colleague, Don Koehler of the Georgia Peanut Commission noted that the conference was Randy’s idea back in the late 1990s, but Randy says it is totally a group effort. “Something like this is team work, it’s not one person,” he said. “We couldn’t have done it without the producers and the industry to make this conference what it is.”

Interview with Randy Griggs, Alabama Peanut Producers retired exec – Valor Award Winner (MP3)

2014 SPGC photo album

The sun is shining and Panama City Beach is beautiful as peanut growers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi are arriving today for the 16th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference.

A record number of attendees are expected at this conference that just keeps getting better every year.

Florida Peanut Growers Association executive director Ken Barton says it’s a pleasure to host this conference in the Sunshine State. “We want to welcome farmers and agribusiness here to Florida again,” Ken says. “Folks love to come to the beach and they thoroughly enjoy coming to our conference to hear the information and the programs we have planned for them.”

Ken says PCB is really a pretty central location for the four states involved. “Pretty much in the middle of the production area, a great location and not a tremendous burden to travel for farmers.”

The Florida peanut crop is looking pretty good right now, according to Ken. “We were a little late planting but the crop has recovered from that really well, we’re on schedule,” he said, noting that they are getting good rains throughout the state’s peanut producing area.

Listen to my interview with Ken here: Interview with Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association (MP3)

The photo album is already started and will be growing quickly so check back often.

The last time peanuts were the subject of a USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) was 2004 but soon those outdated figures for peanut farmers financial and crop production practices will be updated.

“This is a crucial time for us to get the information from the peanut industry because there’s been a lot of changes since 2004,” said Shiela Corley, Manager of the Environmental & Economic Surveys Section for USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). “We have three different phases. We just finished up the first phase and the second phase will be looking at chemicals, fertilizer use, production practices, pest management practices. Then we’ll come back in winter/early spring 2014 and ask about economic issues.” The ultimate goal is to get a total economic picture of the industry.

Interview with Shiela Corley (MP3)

USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) is also involved in this survey and Dr. William McBride is leader of the Commodity Cost and Return Estimation Project. “We do estimates for 12 different commodities on a rotating basis and we’re doing peanuts this year,” he said.

Dr. McBride says the data collected in this survey is important for growers because it is used in policy decision making processes at both state and federal levels. “Cost of production is a piece of information that really helps,” he said. “This information goes a long way in informing policy makers…so all commodities can be compared on an even basis.”

He stresses that all personal information collected from farmers is completely confidential and is only reported and made public in aggregate form and he urges all growers who are contacted to respond as quickly as possible so they can meet their goal of 100% participation.

Interview with William McBride (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Three regional winners of the 14th annual Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards were honored Saturday morning at the SPGC, but one was unable to be there to accept this year.

Southwest Region winner Murray Phillips of Pearsall, Texas had to stay back home on the farm, but you can read all about him and the other two winners in the latest edition of Farm Press.

Southeast Farm Press Editor Paul Hollis (far left) presented the southeast region award this year to the gentleman standing next to him – Tim McMillan of Enigma, Georgia. Tim, who is a seventh generation farmer with his brother Steve, says 2012 was the most perfect peanut producing year ever. “It was one of the years you dream about having,” he said. His yields were the highest he has ever had at 5,732 pounds dryland and 5,991 irrigated.

Associate Editor Roy Roberson (far right) presented the Virginia Carolina Region award to Jart Hudson of Turkey, NC who also had a very good year in 2012, although not a record. “We had yields around the 4400 range, all dryland,” said Jart. “It was a little above average but we have made higher.”

The award is not just about yields, it’s about profitability and both winners mentioned timeliness – for everything – as one of their keys to profitability.

Listen to my interview with Tim and Jart here: Interview with 2013 Profitability Award Winners (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Most folks in the peanut industry know the guy in the suit pictured here with a few other members of the University of Georgia Peanut Team. But as of the end of this year, Dr. John Beasley will be retiring from UGA after 30 years to become head of the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University on January 1, 2014.

“It’s the department where I got my bachelor’s degree a very long time ago,” said John. “It will be a change for me. I’ve been a peanut agronomist for a long time.” In his new position, John will have a role in all kinds of crops grown in the region, but he says he will still be involved in the peanut industry and expects to be at the SPGC next year.

Unfortunately, John won’t be continuing his role with the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club, which inducted its newest high-yielding members during the SPGC, but he leaves the program in good shape.

Interview with Dr. John Beasley (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Production techniques and disease management were among the topics explored during a session on Production Sustainability at the 2013 SPGC.

Kip Balkcom with USDA/ARS at Auburn University discussed some of the sustainable production techniques farmers are using now and could be using in the future. He says sustainable production boils down to three things, “minimize surface tillage, utilize cover crops and extend crop rotations.” Kip Balkcom comments (MP3)

Bob Kemerait with the University of Georgia Peanut Team talked about more sustainable methods of disease management for growers. “We’re talking about the judicious use of nematicides, fungicides and insecticides to feed the world,” he said. Bob Kemerait comments (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album