SPFF News & Resources

As they have done since the inception of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Farm Press Publications presented their annual Peanut Profitability Awards at the SPGC Saturday morning breakfast. Pictured here is Farm Press publisher Greg Frey with this year’s winners – Vic Swinson of North Carolina for the Upper Southeast Region, Cornelius Enns of Texas for the Southwest Region, and Kreg Freeman of Georgia for the Southeast.

Kreg was also the statewide winner in the Georgia Achievement Club this year for the 100-300 acre category with a yield of 6626 pounds per acre. He attributes a good part of his increase in profitability and yields to precision technology, as much as 500 pounds per acre. “We use GPS and auto steer tractors,” he told me. “What I got paid for the auto steer part of the tractor in one year.”

Listen to my interview with Kreg here: Kreg Freeman Interview (MP3)

If there is one thing all three of these gentlemen have in common, it is humility. They were all clearly uncomfortable at taking credit alone for their achievements, since farming is always a team effort! Listen to my very brief interviews with Vic and Cornelius by clicking on the links below.

Vic Swinson Interview (MP3)

Cornelius Enns Interview (MP3)

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

A panel of experts from around the southeastern peanut growing region entertained questions from growers on a variety of topics during the SPGC on Friday.

Those experts included, in no particular order:
Jay Chapin – Clemson University, David Adams – University of Georgia, Nicholas Dufault – University of Florida, Tim Brenneman – University of Georgia, Mike Howell – Mississippi State University, Kris Balkcom – Auburn University, Eric Prostko – University of Georgia, Glen Harris – University of Georgia, and Scott Tubbs – University of Georgia.

One of the questions they were asked was “what is the most limiting factor for peanut production?” Thanks to Randall Weiseman with Southeast Agnet, you can listen to their answers to that question here:

Ask the Experts Panel (MP3)

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Jack DeLoney was raised on a farm and his art reflects his Southern roots.

“I paint a lot of agricultural things, peanuts and cotton,” the Alabama artist says. His new watercolor print called “Pickin’ Time” is a bit of a departure from much of his work that tends to focus on the heritage of farming in the south. “Usually they’re more of the mule-powered, older type work from the 1930s, 1940s,” he said. “This painting is very much the modern age for me and first time I’ve done a piece with this flavor.”

Jack’s new print was a hot selling item at the SPGC this year and framed copies were also awarded to the Peanut Profitability Award winners. Another copy was donated to the Casino Night effort to raise funds for Peanut Proud. All of Jack’s work can be seen and ordered on his website JackDeLoney.com.

Listen to my interview with Jack by clicking on the link.

Jack DeLoney Interview (MP3)

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association is still the “new kid on the block” at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, even though they have been involved since 2006. Because Malcolm Broome is the newest of the executive directors charged with planning the conference, the running joke this year was that he got blamed for anything that went wrong!

Malcolm says being involved with conference has been great for the Mississippi peanut industry. “Worked to our advantage a lot, gave us contact with a lot bigger audience and we’ve been just tickled to death to be a part of it,” he told me.

There’s about 120 peanut farms in Mississippi now and one buying point, according to Malcolm. “We’re beginning to see some growth now where Louisiana and Arkansas bump up to Mississippi,” he said. “With the price of peanuts like they are, folks are interested in planting more acres.”

Listen to my interview with Malcolm by clicking on the link.

Malcolm Broome Interview (MP3)

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Increasing global demand for food will keep world agricultural trade on the forefront for U.S. producers well into the foreseeable future.

“You’re talking about farmers getting anywhere from 25% to 33% of their income from products being sold overseas,” said USDA Global Analysis and Policy Division Deputy Director Daniel Whitley in an interview with Randall Weiseman of Southeast AgNet after his presentation at the SPGC. “These times are prosperous and we’re expecting them to continue over the long term.”

Listen to Randall’s conversation with him here:

Daniel Whitley Interview (MP3)

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album