Peanut Proud Helping Tornado Victims

Cindy Zimmerman2011 Conference, Audio1 Comment

The peanut industry has been blessed with much and they are pleased to be able to give back when they can to help others less fortunate. Peanut Proud was an effort started two years ago when the peanut industry faced the salmonella outbreak that threatened consumer perceptions of healthy peanut butter. When the industry came through the challenge stronger than … Read More

Wrapping Up With Don Koehler

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, AudioLeave a Comment

Don Koehler, Executive Director, Georgia Peanut Commission, helped me wrap things up for the conference. As of this point in time everyone has a free afternoon before our concluding dinner this evening. I’ll be adding some photos from that event to the photo album. You can also find another set of photos taken by Joy Carter, Georgia Peanut Commission on … Read More

Show Me The Energy

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, AudioLeave a Comment

Showing farmers how to get involved in renewable energy was Steve Flick, Show Me Energy Cooperative. Steve thinks his participation on the program was a two way educational experience since he learned a lot about peanut farming while he was here. Steve says they have shown that farmers can produce renewable energy on a local level and peanut farmers in … Read More

Promoting Ethanol In The Southeast

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, AudioLeave a Comment

Bioenergy was a big topic this morning with a pair of presentations. First up was Dennis Wiese, Growth Energy. Dennis says they need to get outside the cornbelt on this issue so he was happy to have a chance to speak to farmers in the southeast. Growth Energy is an ethanol advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. He’s hoping that … Read More

Ag Technologies Going Wireless

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, Audio, Conference SponsorsLeave a Comment

The sponsor once again this year for the conference blog is Ag Technologies/Trimble. I spoke with Josh Pitts to learn what’s new with the company. Josh says that technology has become more solutions based so they’re moving more toward implement control after being focused on guidance for so long. So they’re introducing wireless technology which will allow growers to connect … Read More

New Auburn University Ag School Dean

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, AudioLeave a Comment

The new Dean of the College of Agriculture at Auburn University, Bill Batchelor, joined us this morning. I spoke to him about his new position on a break. Bill comes from an ag engineering background and sees dealing with the realities of the economic downturn as a priority for the school. He says that they have to learn how to … Read More

Investing Farmer Checkoff Dollars

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, Audio, Conference SponsorsLeave a Comment

One of the sponsors of the conference is the National Peanut Board. I spoke with Marie Fenn, President and Managing Director, about the ways the Board is investing farmer dollars. She says it’s on two fronts. One is production research. She points out that the profitability winners announced here are using technology and information that comes out of research projects … Read More

Peanut Profitability Winners

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, Audio, Conference SponsorsLeave a Comment

The Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards were announced this morning. A winner is selected from each of the three main peanut producing regions. Pictured are (l-r) Richard Rentz, South Carolina, Greg Frey, Publisher, Farm Press, Rusty Strickland, Texas and Al Sudderth, Georgia. I spoke to each of the winners and asked them what the award means to them, what makes … Read More

Determining Peanut Maturity

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, AudioLeave a Comment

We heard from National Peanut Research Laboratory, representative, Wilson Faircloth during a question and answer session all about research and production. He was part of a large panel for growers to pose questions to. Wilson says that he’s working on irrigation since we’re at that peak time when peanuts need moisture. He says they’re refining models and encourages to use … Read More

Supporting County Extension Agents

Chuck Zimmerman2010 Conference, AudioLeave a Comment

According to the peanut farmers I’ve spoken with here at the conference, their local county extension agent is a very important resource for them. The Georgia Peanut Commission made sure that some of them could be here. One of the ones I met was Rusty Harris, Wirth Co., GA. He was participating in the Georgia Peanut Achievement Team meeting yesterday. … Read More