Earlier this year, the International Peanut Genome Initiative successfully sequenced the genomes of two ancestral parents of the modern cultivated peanut. “Those two added together are very similar to the peanut genome,” said Dr. David Bertioli who explained how this provides researchers access to 96 percent of all peanut genes in their genomic context that can result in faster breeding … Read More
Ag Leader Takes Peanut Growers to AgFiniti
This was the fifth year that Ag Leader Technology was a sponsor and exhibitor at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference and the best so far, according to representative Tre Hammontree. “This is the best turnout and the best traffic we’ve had,” said Tre. “Mainly they are interested in steering and they know we can go on any brand.” Ag Leader’s … Read More
Addressing Peanut Allergy Concerns with Facts
Less than one percent of the overall population have peanut allergies but sometimes the concerns about the issue override the facts and that is something the National Peanut Board (NPB) is working to address. Sherry Coleman Collins is a registered dietitian nutritionist consultant with the NPB who discussed how they are doing that. “We really have a well-rounded approach to … Read More
New Bayer Nematicide Coming in 2015
Bayer CropScience is excited about the anticipated launch of a new nematicide in 2015 called Velum Total for cotton and peanuts. “It’s kind of a Temik replacement,” said Keith Rucker with Bayer at the SPGC. “It’s going to be a liquid in-furrow application you make at planting time. We’ve just had really good research results with this in our trials … Read More
Hormel Skips into Peanut Butter Market
Hormel is mainly known for its meat products – like Spam, for example – but last year they jumped into the peanut butter market with the acquisition of the Skippy brand from Unilever. “Skippy peanut butter is the largest acquisition we ever made,” said Mike Guanella, Hormel Senior Product Manager, who spoke at the SPGC. “We actually were in the … Read More
New from Syngenta for Peanuts
Syngenta is one of the companies that has been a sponsor of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference since the very beginning, and for good reason. “We live and die by peanuts,” says Syngenta’s Lyle Stewart who has been handling the southeastern district for the company nearly two decades. “We’ve always have a tremendous portfolio for peanuts and we continue to.” … Read More
Generic Base Basics
One of the most interesting, yet not yet clearly understood, parts of the new farm bill is the conversion of cotton base acres to generic base acres and what that means for peanut growers. “We can convert generic cotton base into one of the covered programs commodities, peanuts being one of them,” said Dr. Marshall Lamb, research leader at the … Read More
BASF Priaxor New for Peanuts
The BASF peanut team was out in force at the 14th Southern Peanut Growers Conference to talk about what’s new for farmers in the southeast. Our good friend Dan Watts, district sales manager for BASF, says this year they are pleased to offer Priaxor for peanuts. “Priaxor is some new chemistry that’s a combination of two fungicides. We taken the … Read More
New High Yield for Georgia
When the University of Georgia began recognizing peanut farmers for high yields, it was originally called the “One Ton Club.” Now we’re getting closer to FOUR tons! The overall state yield winner in the Georgia Peanut Achievement Awards was Philip Grimes from Tifton who hit a yield of 7,084 pounds, the highest ever. “We had a lot of rain last … Read More
2014 Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards
The winners of the 2014 Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards once again included some amazing farmers who make up the best of the best. This year’s honorees, pictured here in the front row, are: Upper Southeast Region — Billy Bain, Dinwiddie, Va. Southwest Region — Isaac, John and George Guenther, Gaines County, Texas Lower Southeast Region — Owen Yoder, Orrville, … Read More