SPFF News & Resources

It was a homecoming for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The number two person at the USDA was raised on a peanut farm in Camilla, Georgia so she felt right at home.

“That’s what qualifies me for my job, that’s what gives me my passion and my love and the ability to help, to listen, to work for this great industry,” she said. “There is nothing more important to me than agriculture. Keeping farmers on the farm and ranchers on the ranch is why I’m in Washington … I have never forgotten where I’m from.”

Harden talked passionately about the future of agriculture and the need to get young people interested in the industry. “I’m talking about what I love, the people I love, the industry I love and it’s future and I encourage you to do the same,” she said.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden at SPGC (MP3)

After her remarks, I interviewed Harden about some of the important issues at USDA – from conservation compliance to funding for research, avian flu and international trade, and more.

Interview with Krysta Harden (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

The peanut crop in Mississippi overall looks real good, but Mississippi Peanut Growers Association executive director Malcolm Broome says there are a few problem areas. “Couple areas in the state were too wet and got late planting and then it went dry and got 100 degree days, but in the last week we’ve gotten rain all across the state so crop should be coming on okay,” he said.

Acreage is up this year in Mississippi, as it is in all the states, although at 35-40,000 acres the Magnolia State still has a ways to go to catch up with its bigger brothers in the southeast. “We’re going to catch up with that 800,000 acres in Georgia pretty quick,” Malcolm joked.

Malcolm says he is pleased with the attendance at this year’s conference in the new location and looking forward to see where they decide it will be held next year. One of the possibilities is Biloxi, Mississippi, so he could be the host sometime in the future!

Listen to my interview with Malcolm here: Interview with Malcolm Broome, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Caleb Bristow is the new executive director for the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, who has been on the job since February. He is pictured here with his predecessors, longtime exec Randy Griggs who retired at the end of 2013, and Jim Cravey, who served as interim director until Caleb was hired. In case you couldn’t figure it out, Caleb is the guy on the left.

This is Caleb’s first SPGC and he is really enjoying it. “From industry reps to the farmers, it’s just a great group of folks,” Caleb said. “We’re all a big family.”

Bristow is from Henry County, Alabama where his family raises peanuts, cotton and catte. He is a two-time Auburn University graduate, earning his master’s degree in agronomy (weed science) in 2012 and his bachelor’s in agronomy and soils in 2010.

Caleb says the peanut crop looks good right now in Alabama. “Acreage is up about 15 percent from what it was last year, still not quite as big as 2012, but as far as the crop itself, everything looks good,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Caleb here: Interview with Caleb Bristow, Alabama Peanut Producers Association (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

The location is new this year but the 17th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference has the same great line up of information and entertainment for peanut farmers and industry partners from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

Conference registration kicked off as usual with grilled PB&J sandwiches sponsored by the National Peanut Buying Points Association and ice cream with lots of peanut toppings.

Also as usual, we started off the event by talking to the executive directors of the states that make up the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, starting with Ken Barton of the Florida Peanut Producers Association and Don Koehler with the Georgia Peanut Commission.

For the first time in 17 years, Georgia is the host state for the event that has always been held in Panama City Beach, Florida. “It’s a little bit of a breath of fresh air,” says Koehler of the new location in Pine Mountain. There is lots more to do at Callaway Gardens, from hiking the cool mountain trails to checking out the butterfly center – and they even have a beach! “Actually Callaway Gardens has the largest man-made beach in North America,” Koehler says.

In this interview, Don also talks about this year’s peanut crop and issues of importance to farmers: Interview with Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission (MP3)

Conversely, it is the first time that Florida has not hosted the conference and Barton says attendees will have the opportunity this year to determine the future for where the event will be held. “We may not have a permanent home, it may be that we move from state to state,” said Barton. “One of the sessions will include a survey that asks our farmers what they would like to do.”

Both Georgia and Florida can lay claim to the big name speakers at this year’s conference. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden, a Georgia native, will give the keynote address during the Friday luncheon sponsored by BASF, and Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL) will speak to attendees on Saturday morning.

Listen to my interview with Ken here: Interview with Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association (MP3)

Check out the photo album link below for photos updated regularly throughout the conference.
2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album