Peanut Farmers Interested in SAF

Cindy Zimmerman

Finding new uses for peanuts is becoming a priority for the industry and there was a lot of interest at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference this year in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). “Peanut oil is very suitable for conversion into a jet fuel…to be able to get into that market would be a further use for peanuts and peanut oil …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, cover crops, Peanuts

Rep. Austin Scott Addresses Peanut Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

With Congress on summer vacation until September 12, it’s unlikely the September 30 deadline for a new farm bill before the old one expires will be met. But, as Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) told the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Congress still has to do something. “Every five years we write a farm bill, it’s a temporary change to permanent law …

Audio, Farm Bill, Peanuts, SPGC

The 2023 Southern Peanut Growers Conference State Updates

Chuck Zimmerman

At the start of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference I get a chance to visit with each of the state peanut association executives. This year we have a new Executive Director at the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Libbie Johnson. Along with her are Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Don Koehler, Georgia Peanut Commission and Malcolm Broome, Mississippi Peanut Growers …

Ag Groups, Audio, Peanuts, SPGC

Peanut Policy Remarks from Congressman Michael Cloud, R-TX

Chuck Zimmerman

Congressman Michael Cloud (R-Texas), shared thoughts on the state of U.S. peanut policy during the 2022 Southern Peanuts Growers Conference. He said the American agriculture industry continues to do a great job even amid policies that are sometimes restrictive. “What we’ve seen over the last year is the American ag industry continues to have higher yields with less inputs. That’s …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Policy, Peanuts, SPGC

2022 Peanut Efficiency Award Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Southern Peanut Growers Conference four peanut producers received the annual FarmPress Peanut Efficiency Awards presented at the Friday Saturday breakfast. Producers were praised and recognized for efficiently growing high-yielding peanuts. The 2022 winners are: Upper Southeast: Ben Cowin, Williamston, N.C. Lower Southeast: Wayne Hobbs, Irwin County, Ga. Delta: Mitchell Rogers, Covington County, Miss. Southwest: Karl Stutzman, Weatherford, Okla. …

Ag Groups, Audio, Peanuts, SPGC

Southern Peanut Growers Update

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2022 Southern Peanut Growers Conference was held once again in Panama City Beach, Florida last week, and once again we got an update from the executive directors of the Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi peanut grower associations about their state situations. Questions include what the crop looks like and how many acres were planted, effects of the pandemic and …

Audio, Peanuts, SPGC

Verdesian Adds to Peanut Farmers’ Plant Health Options

Cindy Zimmerman

“The Nutrient Use Efficiency People™” at Verdesian Life Sciences are delivering a plant health lineup for peanut farmers with the addition of Primacy ALPHA®, MicroSync®, and SEED+™ GRAPHITE to their peanut product portfolio of offerings. The three products complement the peanut industry staple, Primo Power CL, a standard production protocol for peanut growers and researchers, which is always supplied as …

Nutrient Management, Peanuts, Soil, SPGC

Hearing Explores Agricultural Trade Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

Senators heard from representatives of U.S. peanut growers, dairy producers and wheat farmers Thursday during a hearing on “Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers.” Representing the U.S. Peanut Federation before the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, was Karla Baker Thompson with JET Farms Georgia and Integrity Farms of Camilla, Georgia. Thompson highlighted the decline …

Audio, Dairy, Exports, Peanuts, Wheat

Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

This year the Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Awards breakfast at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference was twice as special as winners were honored for both 2020 and 2021 because last year’s conference was canceled. Pictured first are the 2020 winners who attended the breakfast. The winners were: Mark, Tim and Michael Mullen, Lower Southeast Region; Kirk Jones, Upper Southeast Region; …

Peanuts, SPGC

Update from Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member

Cindy Zimmerman

The Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee paid a visit to the 22nd Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference over the weekend to provide a policy update. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) discussed the current status on a number of issues important to agriculture including trade, estate taxes, climate policy, infrastructure, rural broadband, WOTUS, farm bill and more. …

Audio, Peanuts, SPGC