USDA Undersecretary Dr. Gale Buchanan may work in Washington, DC but his heart is in the southeast. “I spent 21 years at Auburn University conducting research in peanuts and other crops,” said Buchanan. “Then went to the University of Georgia as the director of the Coastal Plain Experiment Station and dean at the college of agriculture.” He also attended the … Read More
Farm Press Peanut Profitability Winners
Three producers from the major peanut growing regions of the country were honored Tuesday morning as the 2008 Peanut Profitability Award Winners, presented by Farm Press/Penton Media and the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation. Left to right, the winners are William McElveen of Bishopville, SC; Otis Johnson of Seminole, TX; and Mike Nugent of Willacoochie, GA. Nugent farms 330 acres in … Read More
Congress 101
A great interactive session held on Monday at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference should be a required course for every agricultural producer in the country. Led by Cody Lyon with the American Farm Bureau and Keith Gray of Alabama Farmers Federation, several hundred peanut growers got a taste of what it is like to serve in Congress. Split into groups, … Read More
“Peanut Congressman” Provides Update
Congressman Sanford Bishop of Georgia’s 2nd District says he is proud to be known in the House as the “peanut congressman,” since he serves the southwest part of Georgia “the largest peanut growing district in our country.” Congressman Bishop gave peanut producers an update on the “2007 Farm Bill finally passed in 2008” as well as concerns about USDA now … Read More
Congressman Recognized for Support
Congressman Terry Everett of Alabama is retiring after 16 years representing the interests of peanut producers and other southeastern farmers in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Everett is pictured here with Randy Griggs of the Alabama Peanut Producers after he was recognized by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation for his many years of service to the industry, especially as … Read More
Williams Receives Valor Award
University of Georgia agricultural engineer Jay Williams was honored with this year’s Valor award from Valent USA Corporation at the 2008 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Valent’s John Altom presented Jay with the award, recognizing his 42 years of service to peanut research and extension as part of UGA’s Peanut Team. “Looking at him, he must have started when he was … Read More
Nearly 500 Registered for Conference
Nearly 500 peanut industry representatives from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and beyond are already registered for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, according to Randy Griggs with the Alabama Peanut Producers. “We thought that maybe because of the fuel prices our attendance might be off, but that’s not the case,” Randy says. In fact, with families coming, Randy expects there to … Read More