SPFF News & Resources

The last time peanuts were the subject of a USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) was 2004 but soon those outdated figures for peanut farmers financial and crop production practices will be updated.

“This is a crucial time for us to get the information from the peanut industry because there’s been a lot of changes since 2004,” said Shiela Corley, Manager of the Environmental & Economic Surveys Section for USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). “We have three different phases. We just finished up the first phase and the second phase will be looking at chemicals, fertilizer use, production practices, pest management practices. Then we’ll come back in winter/early spring 2014 and ask about economic issues.” The ultimate goal is to get a total economic picture of the industry.

Interview with Shiela Corley (MP3)

USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) is also involved in this survey and Dr. William McBride is leader of the Commodity Cost and Return Estimation Project. “We do estimates for 12 different commodities on a rotating basis and we’re doing peanuts this year,” he said.

Dr. McBride says the data collected in this survey is important for growers because it is used in policy decision making processes at both state and federal levels. “Cost of production is a piece of information that really helps,” he said. “This information goes a long way in informing policy makers…so all commodities can be compared on an even basis.”

He stresses that all personal information collected from farmers is completely confidential and is only reported and made public in aggregate form and he urges all growers who are contacted to respond as quickly as possible so they can meet their goal of 100% participation.

Interview with William McBride (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Three regional winners of the 14th annual Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards were honored Saturday morning at the SPGC, but one was unable to be there to accept this year.

Southwest Region winner Murray Phillips of Pearsall, Texas had to stay back home on the farm, but you can read all about him and the other two winners in the latest edition of Farm Press.

Southeast Farm Press Editor Paul Hollis (far left) presented the southeast region award this year to the gentleman standing next to him – Tim McMillan of Enigma, Georgia. Tim, who is a seventh generation farmer with his brother Steve, says 2012 was the most perfect peanut producing year ever. “It was one of the years you dream about having,” he said. His yields were the highest he has ever had at 5,732 pounds dryland and 5,991 irrigated.

Associate Editor Roy Roberson (far right) presented the Virginia Carolina Region award to Jart Hudson of Turkey, NC who also had a very good year in 2012, although not a record. “We had yields around the 4400 range, all dryland,” said Jart. “It was a little above average but we have made higher.”

The award is not just about yields, it’s about profitability and both winners mentioned timeliness – for everything – as one of their keys to profitability.

Listen to my interview with Tim and Jart here: Interview with 2013 Profitability Award Winners (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Most folks in the peanut industry know the guy in the suit pictured here with a few other members of the University of Georgia Peanut Team. But as of the end of this year, Dr. John Beasley will be retiring from UGA after 30 years to become head of the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University on January 1, 2014.

“It’s the department where I got my bachelor’s degree a very long time ago,” said John. “It will be a change for me. I’ve been a peanut agronomist for a long time.” In his new position, John will have a role in all kinds of crops grown in the region, but he says he will still be involved in the peanut industry and expects to be at the SPGC next year.

Unfortunately, John won’t be continuing his role with the Georgia Peanut Achievement Club, which inducted its newest high-yielding members during the SPGC, but he leaves the program in good shape.

Interview with Dr. John Beasley (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Production techniques and disease management were among the topics explored during a session on Production Sustainability at the 2013 SPGC.

Kip Balkcom with USDA/ARS at Auburn University discussed some of the sustainable production techniques farmers are using now and could be using in the future. He says sustainable production boils down to three things, “minimize surface tillage, utilize cover crops and extend crop rotations.” Kip Balkcom comments (MP3)

Bob Kemerait with the University of Georgia Peanut Team talked about more sustainable methods of disease management for growers. “We’re talking about the judicious use of nematicides, fungicides and insecticides to feed the world,” he said. Bob Kemerait comments (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

The peanut industry is working toward an important goal that will ultimately serve to make peanut production more sustainable than ever. That is the mapping of the peanut genome.

“What we’re looking for is traits that will be resistant to diseases, nematode, leaf spot, or will have traits we want like high oil or improved protein content,” said George Birdsong, a member of The Peanut Foundation Peanut Genomics Initiative. “If we can accomplish this, it will result in many benefits to the industry.”

George Birdsong Interview (MP3)

The whole concept of genome mapping is pretty much beyond the grasp of most of us non-scientific types,, but Scott Jackson with the University of Georgia helped to bring it down to the layman’s level during his presentation at the SPGC.

“This has been done for numerous other crops such as rice, cotton, sorghum, maize and soybean,” Scott says. This has helped seed companies and the farmers they serve tremendously. “The application of genomics..has reduced the time from the initial cross to releasing a variety by as much as 50%. That’s what we really want to see in peanuts.”

Scott Jackson Interview (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

The farm bill saga we’ve seen this year has left farm policy veterans like Jim Wiesemeyer of Informa Economics just shaking their heads in amazement. “It’s been the most bewildering, frustrating bill I’ve seen in over 36 years of watching,” Jim says.

He gave a policy and general ag economics outlook for the peanut industry during lunch at the SPGC, sponsored by BASF. I talked with him about some of his insights into the current farm bill situation in this interview: Interview with Jim Wiesemeyer (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album

Improving energy efficiency on farming operations is one of the keys to a sustainable future and there are more options today than ever before.

Take propane, for example. It’s common for propane to be used for peanut drying and on-farm heating use, but new opportunities for farming operations now include fleet vehicle conversions and irrigation. “With diesel running $3.50-3.60 a gallon, propane now at a $1.50 a gallon … it’s a viable product now for a farmer,” said Bill Moore with Conger LP Gas. Plus, it’s an American made product. “Ninety-five percent of our propane is produced right here in the United States.”

Bill explains some of the options in this interview: Interview with Bill Moore (MP3)

Solar energy is getting to be more popular for farming operations because costs have come down, according to Peter Marte with Hannah Solar. “It’s no longer expensive, the price has dropped 80% over the last three years,” he said. For that reason, Marte encourages farmers to take another look at the possibilities for their operations. “If you haven’t gotten a quote for solar this week – not last month, not a year ago, this week – you don’t have a quote for solar.”

Peter also talked about the utility incentives that can help producers in Georgia: Interview with Peter Marte (MP3)

There are also incentives available on the federal level through a couple of USDA Rural Development programs, according to Mary Gavin with the Florida agency office. “We have what we call our Energy Efficiency program where we do replacing of existing equipment or construction of solar panels to facilities so they make their business more energy efficient,” she said. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to make improvements such as installing irrigation pumps or replacing ventilation systems, and conduct energy audits and feasibility studies.

Listen to my interview with Mary here: Interview with Mary Gavin (MP3)

2013 SPGC Photo Album