DuPont’s Arcade Blast of Fun

Join in the fun this year at the DuPont’s Arcade Blast of Fun on Friday, July 22, 2016 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Blast Arcade at Baytowne Wharf. The arcade will be open for conference attendees to enjoy more than 50 redemption and video games, Laser Maze and the Blast’ Em Shooting Gallery. Adults can join in the fun and games or relax with some appetizers and beer/wine in DuPont’s refreshment area. To pick up tickets for this event visit the DuPont booth during the conference on Friday. Each attendee receives a gift card for the arcade games and the opportunity to navigate through the Laser Maze and visit Rootin Tootin in the Blast’ Em Shootin Gallery. Come and experience this addition to the conference in the Village of Baytowne Wharf . . . and don’t forget to have a BLAST!

If you are planning to attend this event then please email Whitney Yarbrough at whitney@gapeanuts.com with the number in your family who will need arcade gift cards.

Click here for more info on the Blast Arcade

2016 Peanut Conference Back on the Gulf

After a brief excursion to enjoy the mountains in Georgia last year, the 2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference is back on the Gulf Coast at a new location – Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida.

The 18th annual event will be held July 21-23, with sessions on peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotion. In addition to the conference sessions, the event focuses on the family by offering a ladies program and a golf tournament. Registration is now open – both online and by printed form.

Sponsorship opportunities for this great event are still available. If you’re looking for the best place to promote your company’s products and services to the southern peanut growing industry, this is the place to be. Join us!

Big Thanks to the 2015 SPGC Sponsors!

The Southern Peanut Growers Conference would not be possible without the generous sponsorship of so many wonderful industry friends.

From folks like Syngenta who have been top level sponsors since the start of the conference 17 years ago, to new sponsors this year like Crop Intel, these companies help defer the cost of the conference to make it more affordable for everyone to attend. Not only that, they help raise money for worthy industry causes. Proceeds from the Bayer CropScience sponsored opening Casino Night went to Peanut Proud and the Long Run 5K & Fun Run this year sponsored by Syngenta raised money for MANA Nutrition.

Please show your appreciation all year long for the fine companies and organizations listed on the side bar of the website here.

We look forward to seeing everyone again next year for the 18th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference – wherever it might be! It will be exciting to find out the new location and we will make sure to let you know as soon as we do.

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Trade Opportunities with China

Earlier this year, a group of peanut industry representatives including Bob Parker of the National Peanut Board and Don Koehler with the Georgia Peanut Commission visited China on a trade mission organized by the American Peanut Council.

Bob and Don gave an overview of the challenges and opportunities they found in the most populous country in the world during the very last session at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. “We want to sell raw peanut to markets around the world, that’s our traditional business model,” said Parker. “But we realize with on-line commerce there’s some great opportunities for our manufacturers to sell more finished products to China.”

China is the number one peanut producing country in the world, but Koehler says it’s really not very efficient. “It’s more modern than just with the water buffalo anymore,” Don says. “But it’s still one row production in most of the areas and it’s older people doing it, the young people don’t want to work quite that hard.”

Listen to more of what Bob and Don learned on their visit to China in this interview:Interview with Bob Parker, National Peanut Board, and Don Koehler, GA Peanut Commission (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

2015 Peanut Profitability Awards

The 16th annual Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards were presented at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference, as usual.

This year’s winners, from left to right, are pictured here with Dr. Marshall Lamb of the National Peanut Research Laboratory who serves as advisor for the awards program.

Left to right the winners this year are:

Southwest region – Anthony Reed of Oklahoma
Upper Southeast region – Brian McClam of South Carolina
Lower Southeast region – Johnny Cochran from Sylvester, Georgia

Listen to interviews from each of the winners and from Dr. Lamb by clicking on the links below:

Interview with Anthony Reed, Oklahoma award winner (MP3)
Interview with Brian McClam, South Carolina award winner (MP3)
Interview with Johnny Cochran, Georgia award winner (MP3)
Interview with Dr. Marshall Lamb, National Peanut Research Lab (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Keeping the Farm for Future Generations

Good financial and estate planning is important for everyone, but especially for farmers who want to keep their land and business in the family.

“Farm succession planning gives current owners and operators of farms and ranches the opportunity to really spell out their intentions and wishes and let their family understand that during their life,” said Taylor Spangler with the University of Florida, who gave some good advice during the afternoon session at the 2015 SPGC.

Taylor says it’s better for the whole family to take part in the planning during a non-stressful time and also to get the advice of experts in the field. She pointed to resources such as county extension offices and Annie’s Project, an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in the modern farm enterprise.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Taylor Spangler, University of Florida (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Georgia Farm Bureau President Visits SPGC

The president of the Georgia Farm Bureau visited the Southern Peanut Growers Conference this year for the first time, appropriately since it was held in his state for the first time.

“I’m with the peanut growers of Georgia and they are very dear to my heart,” said Zippy Duvall in an interview at the conference. “We’re number one in peanuts across the country and we’re very proud of that.”

Duvall recently announced his intention to run for president of the American Farm Bureau Federation next year as current president Bob Stallman is retiring. “I’m just so passionate about agriculture and I think I can bring that to the table,” said Duvall. “The other thing I can bring to the table is that I’m really good at building bridges and relationships and I think everything in life is accomplished through relationships.”

There have been AFBF presidents from South Carolina and Virginia but not from the lower Southeast and Duvall is hoping to be the first.

Listen to my interview with Zippy here: Interview with Zippy Duvall, Georgia Farm Bureau (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Redding Honored with Valor Award

Each year at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, John Altom with Valent USA Corporation has the pleasure of presenting the Valor award to someone in the industry who exhibits the definition of Valor according to Webster’s dictionary – “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery.”

This year that award went to Bob Redding, longtime lobbyist in Washington DC for the peanut industry, a job that definitely requires personal bravery to fight political battles for farmers on Capitol Hill.

Redding gave his annual legislative update to the organization with a strong emphasis on the need for growers to be involved in the political process through contributions to political action committees (PACs). “The pressure for fundraising on members of Congress grows every cycle,” said Redding. “Growers need to participate more – it is what it is.”

Redding says financial support for members of Congress is critical to keep advocates for agriculture in office. “The House Ag Committee for us has never been stronger,” said Redding. “Senate Ag Committee’s been very good for us so we feel good about where we are.”

Interview with Bob Redding, peanut industry lobbyist (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Peanut Research Future Includes Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is new to the peanut research world but Doug Britton who manages the Agricultural Research Program at the university believes they are bringing a new perspective and expertise to the table.

“Georgia Tech has a great engineering and science faculty,” said Britton. “A lot of things that we develop are in manufacturing or other aspects of engineering and bringing some of those ideas, processes and approaches might be useful when we look at some of the agricultural spaces.”

That includes research into new technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and sensor platforms that can provides meaningful data for farmers. Britton discussed some of his ideas on the potential for both of those during the opening panel of the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference on Research – The Future is Now.

Listen to my interview with Doug here: Interview with Doug Britton, Georgia Tech (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album

Bigger Southeast Peanut Crop Looking Good

Peanut acreage in the United States this year is up 18%, but in the southeast it’s more like 25% percent – with a 33% increase in Georgia alone.

University of Georgia extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort gave an overview of the crop at the 2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. “We started off kind of bumpy but it’s kind of come out of that and we look very good right now,” said Monfort. “We have a large crop and we are just encouraging growers to keep pushing forward and let’s try to keep this crop moving.”

The increased crop acres this year of course means more peanuts. “It means that we’re going to put some pressure on this industry on where to put this crop going into 2016,” Monfort said. “We’re going to have a tight time here trying to figure out what to do next year.”

Listen to my interview with Scott here:Interview with UGA extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort (MP3)

2015 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Photo Album