The vote is being held March 15 through April 15 under the state law mandates that a referendum be held every three years. Georgia peanut producers invest $2 per ton to fund the commission and its research, education, promotion and communication programs. The last referendum in 2009 passed with an 87.4 percent reaffirmation.

Georgia’s peanut farmers have experienced record prices this past year and the industry has also witnessed record yields and consumption of peanut products the past several years. “I urge all peanut producers to vote in this referendum. Research, education, and promotion continue to be the core focus of the commission,” says Armond Morris, GPC chairman and Irwin County peanut farmer. “With continuing budget cuts at the federal and state level it is extremely important for growers to continue to focus their efforts on supporting research and promotional efforts through their checkoff dollars. One way for farmers to do that is by continuing their support of the Georgia Peanut Commission.”

Among the many promotional efforts that GPC supports is the annual “Peanut Proud” event. Peanut Proud 2012 is set for March 24 in Blakely, Georgia, starting with a 5K & Fun Run, followed by the Peanut Proud Parade, and including lots of entertainment, activities, food and fun.

Peanut Proud will also be hosting an educational symposium on the day before on March 23 in Blakely. That event will feature a variety of government officials and industry representatives who will be talking about the importance of peanuts and peanut butter as a nutritious and sustaining foodstuff for disaster situations, malnourished children, and hunger victims around the globe.

The Georgia Peanut Commission also broke ground recently on a new building. Contact them if you’d like to purchase a commemorative brick that will be used in the construction.

The new headquarters will be the first net-zero energy building for state government in Georgia. The cost for the new building will be covered from the sale of the existing building, energy grants, sponsorships and a commemorative brick program.

2011 Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

The event, held at the end of September in the Southwest area of Georgia, allowed many first time attendees to actually walk through a peanut field and see peanuts plowed up with a digger at harvest. The tour included stops in some of the top ten peanut producing counties in Georgia including Decatur, Seminole, Miller and Early counties.

The Georgia Peanut Tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry quality and infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. The 2011 tour included farm visits, peanut harvest clinics, production research at the University of Georgia Attapulgus Research and Education Center, peanut handling and grading facilities and on-farm demonstrations. The tour also included a visit to LMC and American Peanut Growers Group in Donalsonville, Ga., Birdsong Peanuts, JLA and Olam Edible Nuts in Blakely, Ga.

The Georgia Peanut Tour is coordinated by the Georgia Peanut Commission, the University of Georgia Tifton and Griffin Campus, Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center in Plains, Attapulgus Research and Education Center and the USDA ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory in Dawson, Ga.

See photos from the tour by the Georgia Peanut Commission on Flickr and find out more on the Georgia Peanut tour blog.

Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black was on hand along with local dignitaries to celebrate with GPC. “This is a building of the future which shows the stewardship of American agriculture and a great marketplace to reach thousands that come by on a daily basis,” Commissioner Black says. “I know this is going to be a headquarters and destination for all of the peanut industry, but really a beacon for all of agriculture as this program moves forward.”

This project has been in the works for a number of years. The GPC board of directors has reviewed many options and potential locations for the new site before deciding on the location off of Interstate 75.

Watch a video of the ceremony here:

“We have to engage with the 98 and a half percent of the population who are not farmers,” she said, encouraging the peanut growers to use the social media tools available like Facebook and Twitter and YouTube. “Just use your smart phone and shoot a little video the next time you’re out in the field and throw it up on YouTube,” she told them.

To illustrate how the agriculture industry needs to fight for itself, Michele brought some peanut industry representatives up on the stage and taught them some kickboxing moves. It was pretty darn funny and, yep – now it’s on YouTube!

Peanut Proud president LeaJean Manry 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 LeaJean is about Peanut Proud in this interview.

Tyron Spearman, pictured here with LeaJean at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, 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. The peanut industry raised another $2000 for the effort during the conference in addition to a check for over $3200 that was presented by the Williston Florida FFA and the Florida Peanut Producers Association. You can send donations to PO Box 446 Blakely, GA 39823.

In this interview, Tyron talks about this effort, as well as the current status of the peanut industry and the crop this year. Tyron is with the National Peanut Buying Points Association and is also the peanut industry reporter for Southeast AgNet.

Take a look at how Peanut Proud has been helping in the YouTube video below.

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN) of the freshman class in the House of Representatives for 2010 would like to see the next Farm Bill delayed until after the 2012 election. “We’ve got to make sure as we approach writing a new Farm Bill that we’re very level-headed,” he said. “Farmers understand that we’ve all got to tighten our belts a little bit, but we can’t kid ourselves and think that we can balance the budget on the back of one percent of the budget, which is what ag gets.”

Fincher is a real minority in Congress as a 7th generation cotton farmer but he is proud to be able to represent agriculture and help to educate his colleagues about the importance of the industry. This guy is good – would love to see him run for president!

Listen to or download my interview with Rep. Fincher here: Congressman Stephen Fincher

Mary Kay Thatcher with the American Farm Bureau Federation also talked to the southern peanut growers about farm bill possibilities. Mary kay is a veteran when it comes to farm bills, having been through the process six times before, and she thinks we may actually see two new Farm Bills if the debt ceiling negotiations mean the kind of cuts they are considering for agriculture. “We’re unfortunately going to take a pretty fair amount of cuts this year, probably in the range of $30-40 billion out of the commodity and conservation titles,” she said. “If indeed we lose that much money, it will sort of require us to write a farm bill in the next couple of weeks, and then to write it next year for re-evaluating what we have left and looking the other titles.”

Listen to my interview with Mary Kay here: Mary Kay Thatcher, AFBF

13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

It’s the 13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference (SPGC), being held once again at the beautiful Edgewater Beach Resort, July 21-23, and I will once again be the official SPGC blogger. This will be the fourth year we have been providing this forum for all the action from the event – photos, interviews and video – officially kicking off today with registration and yummy grilled PB&Js! Follow all the action, and check out the past three years of SPGC on the blog.

The theme this year is “Windows of Opportunity” and the schedule is packed full of powerful peanut production presentations, like the general sessions on “The Marketplace” and “Production Agriculture & The Land Grant System” as well as “Challenges for Agriculture,” including insight on the next Farm Bill debate coming in Congress. In addition, the motivational keynote speaker for lunch on Friday will be none other than AgChat Foundation founder Michele Payn-Knoper!

The annual event is hosted by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, which includes the producers associations of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi and has a whole host of great sponsors. The blog is once again jointly sponsored this year by Trimble Agriculture and Ag Technologies. Be sure to check it out and feel free to download and use any of the photos or audio you happen to find there.

See you on PCB!

In addition to providing plenty of grilled PB&J’s and boiled peanuts, the peanut industry put on a program about the importance of peanuts to the state.

“Peanuts are Georgia’s Official State Crop and the state boasts the largest share of peanut production in the U.S. at nearly fifty percent,” says Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Georgia’s 4,500 peanut farmers contribute approximately $2 billion annually to the state and local economy.”

Coincidentally, March is National Nutrition Month – a great time to recognize the nutritional value of peanuts. One serving of peanuts is a good source of protein, Vitamin E, Niacin, Folate, Phosphorus and Magnesium. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat.

The sponsored program also included the latest in peanut research being done by University of Georgia Peanut Team and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Peanut Research Lab in Dawson, Ga.

Don says he wanted the farmers attending the show that were here from all over the world to know how good and healthy peanuts are for them. He says peanut butter is more than just a “bread spread.” He also told me that the 2010 season had about every kind of weather condition possible but wound up with a pretty good crop and they expect better weather in 2011.

You can listen to my interview with Don here: Don Koehler Interview

2011 AFBF Annual Meeting Photo Album

The app features more than 30 dietitian selected recipes and allows you to set reminders to have a snack or take a break. Snacks supply energy throughout the day when hunger strikes, and help to prevent overeating during meals. With more protein than any nut, USA-grown peanuts and peanut products are great snacks that provide the energy needed to “trump the slump” and get through the day.

Don’t forget to get the AgWired iPhone App!

Ethanol plants in the southeast are pretty rare – in fact, First United Ethanol, LLC (FUEL) is really the only one to speak of that is operating at any capacity. FUEL is a 100 million gallon per year corn-based ethanol plant with 860 mostly rural investors from the local Georgia-Florida area. “Most of the ethanol plants in the Midwest are ‘rubber in and rail out’ and we’re sort of ‘rail in and rubber out,’” says FUEL CEO Murray Campbell. While most of their corn comes in by rail from the Midwest, they are starting to buy more local corn as farmers in the agricultural area surrounding the plant are starting to put more corn back in their crop rotation with peanuts and cotton.

Murray is pictured here (right) giving Vilsack and Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA) a tour of the plant on Monday.

I interviewed Murray about the timeliness of Vilsack’s visit, coming right on the heels of the biofuels initiatives announced by USDA last week, and the importance of having ethanol production in all areas of the country. Listen to or download my interview with Murray here: Murray Campbell Interview

Vilsack also visited with Georgia’s peanut growers on Monday at the American Peanut Shellers Association office in Albany at a meeting hosted by Congressman Sanford. During the meeting, the secretary heard from representatives of the Georgia Peanut Commission about their concerns that peanuts were excluded from a recent disaster assistance package, even though other commodities like rice, soybeans, cotton and sweet potatoes were included. Vilsack was also encouraged by the peanut industry to increase peanut butter purchases for federal nutrition and food aid programs, and to continue offering storage and handling in the next farm bill.

The secretary is pictured here with Tyron Spearman, who is known as “Mr. Peanut” in the southeast. Among the many hats he wears is official peanut reporter for Southeast Agnet and you can listen to his report about the peanut growers meeting with the secretary here. You can also read more about it from the Georgia Peanut Commission. Thanks to Joy Carter for the photo!

That’s just a few of the ten winning recipes in the Southern Peanut Growers “PB&J My Way” contest. The contest kicked off during March Peanut Month, pledging to donate one jar of peanut butter to Feeding America for each recipe submitted. They are donating 3,000 jars to the charity – that amounts to a whole bunch of creative PB&J recipe ideas!

“Not only did this contest inspire imagination among peanut butter lovers,” said Leslie Wagner, executive director, Southern Peanut Growers, “it also gave participants a unique opportunity to make a difference by providing nutritious food to the people who need it most.”

SPG narrowed the recipe entries down to the top ten creative sandwiches. Rules were simple: include peanut butter, and offer a fresh perspective on the traditional treat. Below are SPG’s top three picks:

The Bangkok Peanut Butter Sandwich, submitted by Michael C. of California, with ingredients including Serrano pepper, soy sauce, coconut and mint leaves. The spread is layered over sliced bread and topped with cucumber slices and a hint of orange marmalade.

Peanut Butter, Strawberries and Basil Sandwich, submitted by Merry G. of California, simply peanut butter-covered baguette slices topped with freshly sliced strawberries and finished with a sprinkle of fresh, chopped basil.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich, submitted by Dyan C. of Virginia, which is two dark chocolate cookies, smothered with peanut butter and vanilla ice cream to resemble a moon pie.

Check out all of the winners here.

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. Don Koehler Interview

Joy and I will be heading north tomorrow to join the Ag Media Summit which is already in progress.

12th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

I spoke with Steve “Beaver” Yoder, Altha, FL. Steve brings his family as many peanut farmers do. They look forward to it as a “tradition” and it shows his children what he does and how he keeps himself informed as a farmer. He sees the conference as a great opportunity to combine some vacation time with a professional improvement conference. He says his peanut crop is off to a good start by the way. That’s what I’m hearing a lot in the hallways.

12th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

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 anniversary cake to celebrate with. You can see the cutting of the cake below.

Southern Peanut Growers used to be the Peanut Advisory Board but changed its name last year. Leslie says that SPG has had a great couple of years doing promotion and publicity. She is really excited that peanuts and peanut butter are mentioned as healthy foods in the new dietary guidelines that were published recently.
Leslie Wagner Interview

12th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Ken provided me with an overview of the conference in a short interview. He says the content seems to get better each year. The registration room was very busy so it looks like attendance is off to a great start.

The program will include speakers talking about each segment of the peanut industry including research and promotion. Of course farmer attendees get some time to enjoy the beach with their families. Ken points out that the water is beautiful and clean.

I asked him about the status of the Florida peanut industry and he says it’s “very healthy.” Consumption is increasing and the crop is in good shape although some areas could use more rain.

12th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

So, I’ve already had my hot grilled PBJ sandwich in the registration room and conducted a couple of interviews in advance of this evening’s opening dinner. Photos will be added to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album so check it often.

I’m taking a slight detour along the way to a Gulf fishing spot a little south of there with Gary Cooper, Southeast AgNet (ZimmComm client). I’m hoping for good weather and some awesome photos in the sunshine!

Since March is National Peanut Month, Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) is celebrating with “PB&J My Way,” a national recipe contest looking for nutty new takes on the classic PB&J. For every peanut butter sandwich recipe received, SPG will donate a jar of peanut butter to hunger relief organization Feeding America.

No matter how you slice it, the PB&J is a classic. In a recent poll by SheSpeaks.com, nearly 50 percent of respondents said they opt for the traditional PB&J; 10 percent favor peanut butter and honey; 13 percent are with The King (Elvis, of course), making their peanut butter sandwich with bananas; and another 13 percent just reach for the jar, enjoying peanut butter sans the sandwich. The remaining 14 percent of respondents said their favorite peanut butter sandwich combo is unique to them – and those are the recipes “PB&J My Way” is seeking!

Easy to make and eat, a peanut butter sandwich has countless variations. Tell SPG what “PB&J My Way” means to you, and the organization will donate one jar of peanut butter to Feeding America for each recipe submitted, up to 4,000 jars. Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger relief charity, providing assistance through a nationwide network of food banks.

The top ten creative peanut butter sandwich recipes will also win enough peanut butter to enjoy for an entire year – that’s one case for each of the best recipes – and they will also be featured on www.peanutbutterlovers.com.

Click here to enter your favorite peanut butter sandwich recipe.

The peanut industry has already donated $108,500 in contributions and four truckloads of peanut butter have been shipped so far totaling nearly three million servings. The peanut butter is being delivered to families in Haiti through Operation Blessing, Catholic Relief Services and Food for the Poor.

Donations can be sent to: EC 2055 – PB for Haiti P.O. Box 725 Blakely, GA 39823

Make checks payable to Early County 2055 and note on check: PB for Haiti. All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a letter acknowledging the donation.

Find out more on-line here from the Georgia Peanut Commission.

Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by .

The National Peanut Festival (NPF) — the nation’s largest peanut festival — is held each fall to honor peanut growers and to celebrate the harvest season

The Miss National Peanut Festival winner is Katie Andrews -Miss Ozark.

Follow the NPF on Twitter.

As the peanut harvest arrives to the Alabama, Georgia, and Florida tri-states; people gear up for an enormous event that is held each year to celebrate the important role peanuts play in Southeast Alabama, known by locals as the “Wiregrass” area. During this time, residents also extend a salute to the actual peanut producers of this crop for their continued hard work and dedication in producing this healthy and tasty nut.

Known as the “Peanut Capital of the World,” Dothan, Alabama, is a prime location for producing peanuts. In fact, if you’re in Dothan, you’re in the heart of peanut country considering this area produces more than 65% of all the peanuts produced in the United States.

“We are very appreciative of all the donations and efforts that have made this donation come to fruition. This donation will supply needed food protein to thousands of households fending off hunger,” says Ronald Raleigh, executive director of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank. “We serve a population of needy seniors, families and children in middle Georgia, and we’ve found that everyone loves peanut butter regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity.”

The donation was made by the Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Buying Points Association, American Peanut Shellers Association and Georgia Farm Bureau along with fourteen other individuals, organizations and businesses.

You can watch part of the presentation on the GPC YouTube channel:

But, for those who can’t be there – they can follow along on the Georgia Peanut Tour blog.

For the second year in a row, master blogger Joy Carter with the Georgia Peanut Commission will be blogging all the events starting with the Hot Topics Seminar on Tuesday with food safety experts discussing production practices, quality management, and outbreak investigations. The tour includes a cross section of field conditions in South Central Georgia, peanut harvest clinics, production research at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, peanut handling and grading facilities as well as a focus on biofuels, equipment and implements, trailers and dryer, dome storage and handling, shelling and blanching.

In honor of Hunger Action Month, representatives from the Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Buying Points Association, American Peanut Shellers Association and Georgia Farm Bureau along with fourteen other individuals, organizations and businesses donated 28,224 jars of peanut butter to the Food Bank of Southwest Georgia. That’s enough peanut butter to make 350,000 sandwiches!

“Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and an ideal item to have in our pantries because adults and kids alike can make a quick meal or snack out of it,” said Brett Kirkland, president of the Food Bank of Southwest Georgia. “Thanks to the peanut industry and the donors of this project, this large donation of peanut butter will help us and our 300 partner agencies continue to distribute high-quality, easy-to- prepare food to those in need of food assistance.”

The Food Bank of Southwest Georgia serves 20 counties throughout Southwest Georgia and partners with over 300 agencies to serve approximately 30,000 people each year, including 10,000 children. In the 20 county service area, there are 100,000 people living in poverty and 200,000 people at risk of being food insecure at some point during the year.

Read more from the Georgia Peanut Commission here.

See more photos here.

The Eighth Annual Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest encourages families to spend time together in the kitchen as an activity to foster creativity. A parent can submit their child’s original recipe which is scored based on creativity, nutritional balance, taste, appearance and ease of preparation. Ten semifinalists’ recipes will be selected in January 2010 and posted on www.Jif.com as part of a nationwide online vote. Peanut butter lovers who are 13 years or older can then vote for the five finalists who will compete in a live judging event in New York City during March 2010.

Steve Bailey with Redfish Riviera and Captain Daniel Snapp with Grassy Flats Charters, in colorful shirts promoting peanuts, presented tips and tricks of the fishing trade to peanut growers and their families.

Listen to an interview with Steve and Captain Daniel here:

In recognition for his strength and leadership of the peanut industry during a time of crisis, American Peanut Council president Patrick Archer received the Valor Award, presented by Valent USA.

Patrick says this year is one he hopes he never has to repeat. “The recall started January 9th and was greatly expanded the following weekend, which was inauguration week in Washington DC,” Patrick said. “The city was in lock down, we had to work from home. It made a difficult situation even more of a challenge.”

He credits everyone in the peanut industry with the massive communications effort that helped get information out that eventually helped to resolve the situation. “The industry really pulled together during the crisis and everybody from the grower all the way through the manufacturer really worked hard in a concerted and coordinated effort to combat the problem,” Patrick said.

Listen to an interview with Patrick here: