SPFF News & Resources

U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Austin Scott (R-GA) both shared their perspectives on the new administration, gridlock in Congress, and the outlook for a 2018 farm bill at the 2017 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Saturday.

“It’s going to be a tough fight, I don’t want anybody to fool themselves,” said Rep. Rogers about getting the next farm bill passed in Congress. He says he would like to see the legislation – which is about 80 percent nutrition programs – split just for a vote to see who votes for or against. “Neither one of them will pass on their own, but it’ll show us who our friends are.”

Rep. Scott says his number one concern is to make sure “we don’t get splits between the commodity groups and within the commodity groups” with respect to farm programs. “I think one of the big debates in the farm bill will be planted acres versus base acres, I can tell you it’s coming,” he said. “The discussion of permanent law versus temporary law is another issue that we’re going to have some honest discussion about.”

Other topics the Congressmen addressed in their remarks and interview afterwards include infrastructure legislation, the recent farm bill listening session held in Florida, and more.

Listen here:

Remarks from Reps. Mike Rogers and Austin Scott

Interview with Reps. Austin Scott and Mike Rogers

Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

The National Peanut Board was honored at the 2017 Southern Peanut Growers Conference with the Valent Valor award – the first time in 19 years the award has recognized an organization instead of an individual.

“We’re hugely honored and excited that the industry would recognize us in such a way,” said Bob Parker, NPB CEO, pictured here in the center surrounded by staff and board members at the conference.

The board was recognized primarily for work they have done in peanut allergy research and education. “We’ve invested over 22 million dollars in food allergies,” said Parker. “We don’t deny the existence of peanut allergy, but it can be managed and quality of life can be maintained.”

Parker spoke to the conference this year about marketing to millennials and how peanuts fit very well into this demographic group’s desire for food that are sustainable, healthy, versatile and good for snacking.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Bob Parker, National Peanut Board CEO

Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

The theme for the 19th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference theme is Navigating the Marketplace and this marks the 10th year in a row for us to attend and populate the conference blog for this great group of farmers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

This is the second year the event has been held at the Sandestin Resort on Florida’s emerald coast. There is lots of farm bill talk going on here with Reps. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Austin Scott (R-GA) on the program and we’ll learn more about what’s behind the “Peanut Program Works” campaign.

Florida Peanut Producers Association Executive Director Ken Barton talks about what is in store at this year’s meeting, and how the Florida peanut crop is doing.

Interview with Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers

Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Alabama Peanut Producers Association Executive Director Caleb Bristow survived his first “real” Southern Peanut Growers Conference and came through with flying colors.

“Last year I didn’t have a whole lot to do because I was still the new guy on the block, but this one has been a lot more involved and it’s been good,” said Bristow, who adds that attendance was back up in the 600 range this year.

Bristow says the theme of Survivor really struck a chord with participants this year. “Market prices are low, farmers are struggling – they’re surviving,” he said.

In this interview, Caleb also discusses the state of the Alabama peanut crop: Interview with Caleb Bristow, Alabama Peanut Producers

2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler was honored last week by a Congressional resolution honoring him for his 30 years of service to the industry.

“It was a real shock,” Don said after receiving the presentation from Michael Reed, chief of staff for Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA2). In addition to Bishop, the motion for the resolution was introduced by several other Georgia Congressional representatives, including Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA1), Austin Scott (R-GA8), David Scott (D-GA13), and Rick Allen (R-GA12). “The commission’s been in business 53 years and I’ve been there 30 of them as executive director and I love the people I do this with and for – I’m a blessed person.”

In this interview, Don talks about this year’s SPGC and what the peanut crop looks like in Georgia – all the good, the bad and the ugly of it. Interview with Don Koehler, GA Peanut Commission

2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Verdesian Life Sciences was on hand at the 2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference to talk about a new product to help producers survive.

“We have a new liquid in-furrow peanut inoculant called Primo Power CL,” said Stan Deal with Verdesian. “It’s a higher concentrated form inoculant for the rhizobia for the peanut plants and it’s going to be released this year.”

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Stan Deal, Verdesian

2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Providing a new jet fuel source could be a new market for the peanut industry, one that is in the process of being evaluated by both USDA and the Navy.

“I think we owe it to ourselves that any time we can get our product into a new market that we explore these options,” said Dr. Marshall Lamb with the USDA/ARS National Peanut Research Lab during a panel presentation at the 2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference on the potential for peanut oil as a fuel source.

Dr. Lamb told attendees that peanuts have an advantage over many other crops in that they have a very high oil content. “We’ve got an oil content of roughly 50 percent,” he said, compared to soybeans at just 18 percent and canola about 40. “And if you look at the amount per acre, peanuts are far higher than any other crops we can grow.”

Listen to Marshall’s presentation here: Dr. Marshall Lamb, National Peanut Research Lab

Also presenting during the session were Ronnie Davis, USDA Rural Development, and Ed Coppola, Applied Research Associates and you can listen to them below. Chris Tindell with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy was unable to attend the conference as scheduled but another representative gave a power point presentation by phone on the evaluation of peanut oil as a fuel under the U.S. Navy’s biofuel mandate.

Ronnie Davis, USDA Rural Development

Ed Coppola, Applied Research Associates

2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album