It’s that time again – time for peanuts on the beach in Panama City, Florida. Not the Charles Shultz kind of Peanuts – the real ones! It’s the 13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference, being held once again at the beautiful Edgewater Beach Resort, July 21-23, and I will once again be your official SPGC blogger. This will be the … Read More
Peanut Academy Awards
I think we should call them the “Goobers” – the first ever Peanut Academy Awards presented at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City last week. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Mr. Peanut himself, Tyron Spearman, and the presenters were some of the biggest stars in show biz – from yesteryear and the present. Presenters included … Read More
Stars Come Out for Peanuts
The Southern Peanut Growers Conference rolled out the red carpet Tuesday night for the stars of the peanut industry. The first ever Peanut Oscar awards night and dinner was sponsored by our good friends at Syngenta, who got into the spirit of the evening by coming dressed as some of their favorite stars. Oscars were handed out for best humanitarian, … Read More
Getting the Message Out with Social Media
Communicating the message of agriculture to the public has gotten much more personal with the help of social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and many agricultural groups, including peanut grower organizations, are already wetting their feet in the new media waters. A panel discussion at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference Tuesday featured communications staff members from the Alabama … Read More
Increasing Peanut Producer Profitability
This year is the 10th year for the Peanut Profitability Awards sponsored by Farm Press. Dr. Marshall Lamb and USDA’s National Peanut Research Laboratory, working with a national peanut advisory board, helped to bring in an outstanding amount of nominations this year – the most ever. Dr. Lamb says the program is not just about the winners. “This program gives … Read More
Speaking Up for Agriculture
Peanut growers heard from the dairy industry about how important it is to speak up for agriculture and be a good industry ambassador. Cheryl Hayn with the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association was on the program at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference to talk about what they are doing to get producers comfortable with speaking to the media and the … Read More
Peanuts are Energy for Life
The National Peanut Board kicked off a new promotional campaign this year that focuses on all the great benefits of peanuts – Energy for the Good Life. “It’s kind of self-explanatory,” says NPB Chairman Roger Neitsch, a producer from Texas. “I think it’s really a great slogan that will further the consumption of peanuts and peanut products.” The new slogan … Read More
Peanut Profitability Award Winners
This morning, three growers were recognized at the 10th Annual Peanut Profitability Awards Presentation. The awards, sponsored by Farm Press, are based on production efficiency and honor those growers who produce the highest yields at the lowest cost per acre. The awards are based on a producer’s entire farm operation – not just on individual farms or small plots. This … Read More
Trimble/Ag Technologies Continue Blog Sponsorship
This is the second year for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference blog and the second year it has been sponsored by Trimble and Ag Technologies. The two companies work together to provide the very latest in technology to help growers be more productive. I spoke once again this year with Tim East of Trimble and Brian Kelly of Ag Technologies … Read More
Peanut Growers and Food Safety
Peanut growers were not to blame for the salmonella contamination problem that happened earlier this year, but everyone can do their part to make sure peanuts are the safest product possible from farm to plate. The role that peanut growers play in food safety was addressed during the Southern Peanut Producers Conference today by Dr. Darlene Cowert, president of JLA … Read More