SPFF News & Resources

Central location and beautiful beaches are the main reasons why Panama City, Florida has been the place for southern peanut industry members and their families to gather once a year for a “working vacation.”

“This continues to be a combined effort between the four southeastern states and together we coordinate this conference, plan the program and include some time in there for families,” said Florida Peanut Producers executive director Ken Barton. “It’s a great location and not a great amount of travel time for anyone.”

There is record attendance at the meeting this year, despite a serious drought situation that producers in the entire southern producing area are facing. “It’s been a tough year so far,” Ken said. “We’re just now receiving some beneficial rains and that will go a long way in getting that crop going.”

Ken says the mood of the industry this year has gone from “an all time high to an all time low” with peanut prices high at the beginning of the year followed by what he calls “the most severe drought” he’s ever seen.

Listen to my interview with Ken in the player below.

Ken Barton Interview (MP3)

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

The peanut industry has been blessed with much and they are pleased to be able to give back when they can to help others less fortunate.

Peanut Proud was an effort started two years ago when the peanut industry faced the salmonella outbreak that threatened consumer perceptions of healthy peanut butter. When the industry came through the challenge stronger than before, Peanut Proud started looking for a way to give back to the people, and that opportunity came without warning when a string of tornadoes struck the southeast this spring, devastating many communities.

Peanut Proud president LeaJean Manry (who works for Georgia-based Birdsong Peanuts in her spare time!) says the industry stepped up to provide peanut products and other provisions to victims of the storms. “We have delivered over 83,000 jars of peanut butter to seven states, about 1975 backbacks to kids who lost their schools,” LeaJean said. “It’s not how we helped them survive the storm, it’s the love and help we give them that helps them dance in the rain.”

You can hear how passionate and excited LeaJean is about Peanut Proud in this interview.

LeaJean Manry Interview (MP3)

Tyron Spearman, better known to many as Mr. Peanut, serves on the board of Peanut Proud, and has been very active in the effort, delivering to people in tornado-stricken areas. “We’ve had over $87,000 worth of items donated and about $71,000 in cash, so it’s been a tremendous response from the industry to help these people out,” Tyron said.

In this interview, Tyron talks about this effort, as well as the current status of the peanut industry and the crop this year.

Tyron Spearman Interview (MP3)

The effort will continue as long as there are people in need and peanut growers here at the conference helped to raise more money for Peanut Proud during a Casino Night after the opening dinner Thursday. Donate to PO Box 446 Blakely, GA 39823.

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Don Koehler, Executive Director, Georgia Peanut Commission, helped me wrap things up for the conference. As of this point in time everyone has a free afternoon before our concluding dinner this evening. I’ll be adding some photos from that event to the photo album. You can also find another set of photos taken by Joy Carter, Georgia Peanut Commission on her photo album with this link.

Don says the conference attendance has been consistent with previous years in spite of the economy and gulf oil worries. He says farmers are all positive and that’s the best word to describe the conference. The mood is upbeat and even with some areas needing some rain. He’s looking forward to conference number 13 next year. The move to an end of the week program has been very positive so that’s likely to be the schedule next year too.

Listen to my interview with Don here:

Don Koehler Interview (MP3)

12th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Showing farmers how to get involved in renewable energy was Steve Flick, Show Me Energy Cooperative. Steve thinks his participation on the program was a two way educational experience since he learned a lot about peanut farming while he was here.

Steve says they have shown that farmers can produce renewable energy on a local level and peanut farmers in the south can do the same thing. He says it will allow them to make productive use of unproductive land. He says they are in control of their own destiny. With the organizational structure that exists it’s an opportunity to learn how to build and operate a plant just like they’ve done.

Listen to my interview with Steve here:

Steve Flick Interview (MP3)

12th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Bioenergy was a big topic this morning with a pair of presentations. First up was Dennis Wiese, Growth Energy.

Dennis says they need to get outside the cornbelt on this issue so he was happy to have a chance to speak to farmers in the southeast. Growth Energy is an ethanol advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. He’s hoping that farmers here will get involved, especially by joining Growth Force. It’s a free membership to help advocate for renewable energy. You can hear more about what Growth Energy is working on in my interview.

Listen to my interview with Dennis here:

Dennis Wiese Interview (MP3)

12th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album