Our sponsor for the opening dinner was Bayer CropScience, represented by John Hand. He welcomed us before the evening’s entertainment got started. During a break today I spoke with John to learn what’s new with Bayer CropScience. He started out by saying how important the conference is to the company and that they are committed to creating new technologies for … Read More
Valor Award Presented To Leslie Wagner
Leslie Wagner, Executive Director, Southern Peanut Growers, was presented with this year’s Valor Award. The award was presented by John Altom, Valent. I spoke with Leslie prior to the award and you can listen to our conversation below. So congrats to Leslie because she’s also celebrating the 30th anniversary of Southern Peanut Growers. In fact, during registration yesterday there was … Read More
Grilling Peanut Butter and Jelly Sanwiches
Hot grilled PB&J’s are welcoming attendees once again to the conference. Thank you to the The Peanut Institute and the National Peanut Buying Points Association for grilling. One of the master grillers is Larry Cunningham, pictured center. I asked what makes a great grilled PB&J. He says it’s just like a grilled cheese sandwich only 10 times better. He says … Read More
Florida Peanut Producers Say Industry Is Healthy
One of the associations that puts on the Southern Peanut Growers Conference is the Florida Peanut Producers Association. Ken Barton is Executive Director for FPPA and was welcoming people as they registered. Ken provided me with an overview of the conference since it’s my first one. He says the content seems to get better each year. The registration room was … Read More
Getting the Message Out with Social Media
Communicating the message of agriculture to the public has gotten much more personal with the help of social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and many agricultural groups, including peanut grower organizations, are already wetting their feet in the new media waters. A panel discussion at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference Tuesday featured communications staff members from the Alabama … Read More
Increasing Peanut Producer Profitability
This year is the 10th year for the Peanut Profitability Awards sponsored by Farm Press. Dr. Marshall Lamb and USDA’s National Peanut Research Laboratory, working with a national peanut advisory board, helped to bring in an outstanding amount of nominations this year – the most ever. Dr. Lamb says the program is not just about the winners. “This program gives … Read More
Speaking Up for Agriculture
Peanut growers heard from the dairy industry about how important it is to speak up for agriculture and be a good industry ambassador. Cheryl Hayn with the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association was on the program at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference to talk about what they are doing to get producers comfortable with speaking to the media and the … Read More
Peanuts are Energy for Life
The National Peanut Board kicked off a new promotional campaign this year that focuses on all the great benefits of peanuts – Energy for the Good Life. “It’s kind of self-explanatory,” says NPB Chairman Roger Neitsch, a producer from Texas. “I think it’s really a great slogan that will further the consumption of peanuts and peanut products.” The new slogan … Read More
Trimble/Ag Technologies Continue Blog Sponsorship
This is the second year for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference blog and the second year it has been sponsored by Trimble and Ag Technologies. The two companies work together to provide the very latest in technology to help growers be more productive. I spoke once again this year with Tim East of Trimble and Brian Kelly of Ag Technologies … Read More
Peanut Growers and Food Safety
Peanut growers were not to blame for the salmonella contamination problem that happened earlier this year, but everyone can do their part to make sure peanuts are the safest product possible from farm to plate. The role that peanut growers play in food safety was addressed during the Southern Peanut Producers Conference today by Dr. Darlene Cowert, president of JLA … Read More