This year’s Valent Valor award for leadership in the peanut industry was presented to a team – Jack and Norma Chastain of Georgia. Once again, John Altom of Valent had the pleasure of presenting this industry honor. John noted that Jack and Norma have “made a life mission of integrity and service” to their community and the industry. They met … Read More
Farmer Comedian Jerry Carroll Works for Peanuts
Spending 14 hours a day in a tractor cab growing up in North Carolina gave Jerry Carroll plenty of time to think about his dream of making people laugh. Now, when he’s not back home on the family farm, he harvests a bumper crop of laughs as a corporate comedian. “I’m first and foremost a farmer who happens to be … Read More
The Fabulous Four States of SPGC
Getting off to a great start here at the 15th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference I met up with all four of the state executives for the associations involved in the event as soon as I arrived on the scene at Panama City Beach. Left to right, the fabulous four are Randy Griggs with Alabama Peanut Producers; Ken Barton with … Read More
Atlanta Rhythm Section Rocks SPGC
Playing their hits like “So Into You,” “Champagne Jam,” “Imaginary Lover,” and “Doraville,” the Atlanta Rhythm Section rocked the final night of the 14th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The final night was sponsored, as always, by Syngenta and was so enjoyable that Congressman Frank Lucas and his wife stayed until the very end. Syngenta’s Lyle Stewart, pictured here with … Read More
Peanut Gift Shop Does Brisk Business
Peanut families were loving the peanut belts, photo frames, wallets and flip flops on sale at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, thanks to the efforts of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Through the years, the Georgia Peanut Commission has seen the farmers that really love the cotton belts, so we checked out the company that makes those and was able to … Read More
Keeping An Eye on Government Regulations
Agriculture is fighting a constant battle to stay one step ahead of proposed regulations that keep making raising food more challenging. During the Saturday general session on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Washington, American Farm Bureau Director of Environment and Energy Policy Paul Schlegel talked with peanut growers about the ever growing crop of ugly government regulations. … Read More
Ag Technologies/Trimble Continue as Blog Sponsors
Since it started in 2008, this Southern Peanut Growers Conference blog has been sponsored by Ag Technologies and Trimble. We sincerely appreciate their support in helping to provide both those in attendance and those unable to attend the conference with photos and audio interviews of the various participants. I spoke with Robbie Tabb and Christy Bryan, both with Ag Technologies, … Read More
Georgia High Yielders
Each year at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, the University of Georgia Peanut Team recognizes high yielding growers in the state with the Georgia Peanut Achievement Awards, sponsored by BASF and Syngenta. This year’s overall high yield award for the state went to John Gaines and Ricky Dowdy of Baker County with 7267 pounds per acre on 304 acres, which … Read More
BASF Proud to Support Peanut Growers
BASF has been a proud supporter of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference since the beginning 14 years ago. The company, which makes products for peanut growers like Headline fungicide, sponsors the luncheon and speaker for the event as well as providing other support for this very important group of farmers. “Making our customer more successful really is what we do,” … Read More
State Peanut Group Updates
We already heard from Don Koehler about the conference and what is going on with the Georgia Peanut Commission, now we’ll hear from the other three states that are a part of the Southern Peanut Growers. Alabama Peanut Producers Executive Director Randy Griggs is very pleased with this year’s record attendance and sponsors, as well as a fantastic program. “It … Read More