SPFF News & Resources

Now that a new farm bill has been passed and is in the process of being implemented, attention in Washington for peanut growers has been more focused on regulations than legislation.

“We’ve had gridlock now for most of President Obama’s administration and we’re seeing the administration working more through the regulatory process in moving policy,” said Bob Redding, The Redding Firm. “The fear is a regulation is proposed, we get to make comments, and then the agency decides to do it.” One of those regulations of concern is the proposed Waters of the United States rule from EPA, which Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) talked about in detail at the conference.

Redding says Congress will likely get very little done before the election and then we’ll likely have a lame duck session. “They’ll have a continuing resolution for appropriations,” he said. “What we’re seeing now is really treading water maintenance. We’re seeing Congress is willing to fund pretty much status quo.”

Comments from Bob Redding, The Redding Firm

2014 SPGC photo album

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 of drought- and disease-resistant, lower-input and higher-yielding varieties of peanuts.

Interview with Dr. David Bertioli, UGA

Also during the production issues session, Dr. Joe Touchton, Auburn University professor emeritus, talked about the direction of research funded by peanut producers. He has found that peanut dollars on both the state and national level are being spent effectively to meet research needs. “Even though there’s not enough dollars, they can leverage them out against experiment station money and get a lot of bang for the buck,” said Touchton.

He says there are nearly 80 peanut researchers in three different states in a variety of areas and it is well coordinated to avoid duplication in order to leverage dollars efficiently.

Interview with Dr. Joe Touchton, Auburn professor emeritus

2014 SPGC photo album

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 peanut butter business back in the 1930s but got out of that very quickly and been focused on hog and turkey processing.”

Mike says Skippy has two main benefits for Hormel. “One is, it’s a protein and Hormel is a protein company,” he said. “Second is, it’s a great brand, it’s a brand people know and love.”

Hormel has already made some market share growth since taking over the brand. “This brand is the largest in the center of the store for Hormel, so you can imagine the attention that it’s getting and we’re seeing some of the benefits of that attention,” said Mike.

Interview with Mike Guanella, Hormel Foods

2014 SPGC photo album

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 USDA-ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory. “When that came about, a lot of growers became more interested in possibly expanding peanut production to get the generic base payments.”

But Dr. Lamb thinks that’s a mistake because of the current oversupply situation. “Also, you have to produce the peanuts. When prices are low, you might get a higher payment from the additional generic acres, but you’re going to lose it producing the peanuts. When prices are high, you won’t get the payments but you might make money producing the peanuts,” he said. That’s why he says rotation is more important now than ever. Interview with Dr. Marshall Lamb, USDA-ARS

Dr. Stanley Fletcher with the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness (NCPC) gave the final presentation of the SPGC on managing farm base in the new farm bill.

I recorded Dr. Fletcher’s presentation and we should be getting his power point to post as well. He provides some very detailed and important information for farmers to consider so this is worth 30 minutes of your time to hear.

Presentation by Dr. Stanley Fletcher, NCPC

2014 SPGC photo album

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 year and we had an aggressive spray program and the peanuts done real well,” he said. Being in the farming business for 40 years, Philip is not sure he ever expected to see yields this high. “We used to make two tons, now three and a half – it’s really amazing the genetics they have in the peanut varieties now,” he added. Interview with Philip Grimes, Georgia state yield winner

UGA Extension Weed Specialist Eric Prostko filled in as the awards emcee this year after John Beasley retired and moved to Auburn University after last year. “But we have a new agronomist coming on Scott Mumford, we stole from Clemson, and ultimately he’ll be doing some of these duties with the peanut team,” Eric said, noting that Scott Tubbs has been filling the agronomist role since John left at the end of last year.

Eric says the “One Ton Club” started back in the 1950s and the new record this year was amazing. “Now we’re over 7,000 and I can see these growers getting 8,000 at some point, especially with the new varieties that we’ll potentially have in the future,” he said. Interview with Eric Prostko, UGA Extension Weed Specialist

The Georgia Peanut Achievement Awards are sponsored by Syngenta, BASF – and now Bayer Crop Science as well.

2014 SPGC photo album