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Peanut Trade Show Feb. 12

Peanut Trade Show Feb. 12

AL-FLPodium16x22ProofThe annual Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show is fast approaching. This year’s show will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, located on Hwy 231 South, Dothan, Ala.

Sponsored by the Alabama and Florida Peanut Producers Associations, the one-day event offers growers a full day to view the products and services of more than 70 exhibitors and a day of education. The show will be open from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Peanut farmers who attend will not only be able to fine tune their farming operations, but will have a chance to win thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. Kelley Manufacturing Co. is offering as a Grand Door Prize the use of a new 6 Row Peanut Combine, on the winner’s farm, for the 2015 peanut harvesting season, (valued at $15,000), with the option of purchasing the combine through an authorized KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price. In lieu of the 6 Row Combine the winner can choose the use of another KMC Peanut Harvest Implement with a 10% discount off of the list price for purchase. These discounts are non-transferrable. The winner must be certified as a peanut grower with an FSA farm number, and must be present to win.

During the catered lunch there will be a legislative update followed by a grower production segment and a seed seminar during the afternoon.

Topics and guest speakers for the seed seminar are as follows: Farm Saved Seed – Know the Law – Dr. Jim Bostick – Alabama Crop Improvement Association; Varieties Currently in Production and on Horizon – Dr. Bill Branch, Professor/Peanut Breeder, University of Georgia, Dr. Corley Holbrook, Peanut Breeder, USDA/ARS, Dr. Barry Tillman, Professor / Peanut Breeder, University of Florida; and Current Breeding Research Update – Dr. Marshall Lamb – National Peanut Research Lab / Auburn University.

All peanut growers are strongly encouraged to attend. For more information on the show, including exhibit space availability, contact: Teresa Mays at APPA (334)792-6482 or email: teresa2@alpeanuts.com

 

Mike Conaway Named 50th Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture

Mike Conaway Named 50th Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture

Congressman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) issued the following statement after the House Republican Steering Committee selected him as the 50th chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.
“I am humbled and honored to be selected as the 50th chairman of the storied House Committee on Agriculture.  The work that farmerMike Conaway 2s and ranchers do is part of our country’s foundation.  They feed, fuel, and clothe our nation.  I look forward to building on the bipartisan work of the chairmen who have led this committee for the past two centuries.

“I represent, and love, rural America. It’s the backbone of our country.  The values and concepts that make America great are stored in rural America, and I want to protect that.  There are fewer and fewer voices representing rural America, and I am honored to be one of those voices. That is my overarching drive as the Committee moves forward.”

Coverage Selection for New 2014 Farm Bill Safety Net Programs Begins Nov. 17

Coverage Selection for New 2014 Farm Bill Safety Net Programs Begins Nov. 17

growers looking for web storyProducers have Until March 31, 2015, to Choose the Program Best for their Operation

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farm owners and producers that the opportunity to choose between the new 2014 Farm Bill established programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), begins Nov. 17, 2014, and continues through March 31, 2015. The new programs, designed to help producers better manage risk, usher in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs in decades.

“USDA is committed to keeping farm owners and producers well informed on all steps in this process to ensure that they have all of the information that they need before making their coverage choice,” said Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini. “The new ARC and PLC programs provide a more rational approach to helping farmers manage risk by ensuring families don’t lose the farm because of events beyond their control.”

USDA helped create online tools to assist in the decision process, allowing farm owners and producers to enter information about their operation and see projections that show what ARC and/or PLC will mean for them under possible future scenarios. Farm owners and producers can access the online resources, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, from the convenience of their home computer or mobile device at any time.

“In addition to the new online tools, USDA has done extensive outreach, including partnering with State Cooperative Extension Services to hold meetings and meet with farm owners and producers,” said Dolcini. “USDA leaders will continue visiting with farm owners and producers to share information and answer questions the new programs. We want to help producers boil the information down, understand their options and make the best decision on which program – ARC or PLC – is right for them.”

Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grain rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity.

Dates associated with ARC and PLC that farm owners and producers need to know:

Now through Feb. 27, 2015: Farm owners may visit their local Farm Service Agency office to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres. Nov. 17, 2014 to March 31, 2015: Producers make a one-time election between ARC and PLC for the 2014 through 2018 crop years. Mid-April 2015 through summer 2015: Producers sign contracts for 2014 and 2015 crop years. October 2015: Payments issued for 2014 crop year, if needed.

To learn more about which safety net options are most appropriate for specific farming operations, farmers can use new Web tools at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, which can be accessed from the convenience of a home computer or a mobile device at any time. To learn more about upcoming educational meetings, farmers can contact their local Farm Service Agency county office at http://go.usa.gov/pYV3

The announcement was made possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

 

APPA makes peanut butter donation

APPA makes peanut butter donation

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association donated a pallet of peanut butter to the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank September 30th, 2014 during the National Peanut Festival Volunteer Kick-Off celebration.

This donation is a total of 1,440 jars of peanut butter totaling 1,620 pounds of peanut butter.

This donation began a special food drive called “Dream Big” coordinated by the National Peanut Festival, Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank, and the Alabama Peanut Producers Association.

The food drive will continue during this year’s National Peanut Festival, October 31 – 8, 2014. Special ticket prices will be given for peanut festival tickets. Complete details are available at www.nationalpeanutfestival.com.PB donation from APPA at npf kick off 2014

On hand for the peanut butter donation were: (L-R) George Jeffcoat – APPA board member and NPF past president, Julie Gonzalez – Wiregrass Food Bank Development Director, Fred Helms – APPA board member, Teresa Mays – APPA Information Specialist and Jim Cravey, APPA executive director.

New peanut revenue policy

New peanut revenue policy

Washington, D.C.- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on September 26, 2014 a new peanut revenue policy that will be available for eligible peanut producers. The policy, approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors, paves the way for USDA’s Risk Management Agency to make it broadly available to producers for the 2015 crop year in all counties where yield-based insurance coverage is currently offered.

The peanut revenue policy is one of several new risk management options authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill that will help farmers manage risks beyond their control. The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Western Peanut Growers developed the policy under section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, which allows private entities to design and submit crop insurance products to the FCIC Board.

“This policy will help extend revenue insurance coverage to peanut producers to help them manage risks,” said Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden. “My parents are hardworking peanut prUSDA2official_logooducers in a small town in Southwest Georgia, so I know first-hand how important this new policy will be to provide a lifeline to farmers affected by events beyond their control.”

The new insurance policy, which will be offered through the federal crop insurance program, replaces current peanut crop provisions. The policy will be based on the Common Crop Insurance Policy currently available for other major commodities and provide growers with a choice of Yield Protection, Revenue Protection, and Revenue Protection with the Harvest Price Exclusion. Available coverage levels will range from 50 percent to 85 percent. Information on the new peanut revenue policy for 2015 will be available on the Risk Management Agency’s website later this fall.

The announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill.The 2014 Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

Growers gain tips during field day

Growers gain tips during field day

Field Day 1Farmers saw their checkoff dollars in action Friday while attending the annual Crops Field Day at the Wiregrass Research Extension Center in Headland. About 50 farmers toured fields of peanuts, cotton and sesame and met with scientists conducting research for those crops.

“We hold this tour every year about this time, just before the fall harvest,” said Kris Balkcom, research associate for the Wiregrass Research Extension Center. “Farmers can see the crops as they get close to maturity and ask questions to the scientists who are actually conducting the research. It’s a great way for farmers to see what their checkoff dollars are being used for.”

Peanut and cotton farmers contribute money at harvest to checkoff funds used for research, education and promotion. The scientists at the center test new plant varieties; planting methods; harvest techniques; seeding rates and irrigation – all while recording the data with the hopes of improving production and efficiency.

Nick Snellgrove, a peanut and cotton farmer from Ashford, said he’d been to four of the annual tours, and each year he learns something different.

“I can learn more and see what’s changed,” he said. “This year I learned about sesame and about possibly rotating it as a crop with peanuts.”

Tours like this help farmers realize how important their checkoff dollars really are,” said Alabama Peanut Producers Association President Carl Sanders. “Actually seeing the crops in the fields is always better than hearing or reading about it. As the world population continues to grow, it’s important that farmers look for ways to improve our efficiency while continuing to produce an affordable and abundant food supply. Tours like the one today help us realize there are still a lot of opportunities for us to do that.”

A similar tour will be Aug. 28 in east Alabama. It starts at 8 a.m. at Auburn University’s Old Rotation with three additional stops along the way. Lunch will be served the E.V. Smith Conference Center.

To see more photos of the tour, visit the https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alabama-Peanut-Producers-Association/126195030767276

Statement by the APC on recall

Statement by the APC on recall

Alexandria, VA (August 20, 2014) – The American Peanut Council (APC) is closely monitoring the nSpired Natural Foods Inc.’s voluntary recall of certain retail lots of Arrowhead Mills® Peanut Butters, MaraNatha® Almond Butters and Peanut Butters and specific private label nut butters because of possible contamination with Salmonella, as indicated in its news release. nSpired is working closely with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and the APC has every confidence that the company is doing its utmost to carry out the recall in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

A complete list of affected products can be found in the company’s August 19, 2014 news release, which is posted on the FDA website at

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

“We are very concerned that anyone may have become ill from eating nut products, and wish anyone affected a speedy recovery. Public health and food safety are the U.S. peanut industry’s highest priorities, and that is why we work closely with manufacturers and regulators to advocate and strive for the safest peanut supply chain in the world. While there is no such thing as zero risk, that is exactly what we strive for,” said Patrick Archer, president of the American Peanut Council

The American peanut industry fully supports federal and industry guidance documents and recommendations regarding the testing and prevention of

Salmonella, including how to prevent Salmonella when manufacturing low-moisture foods.

Here are some of the industry’s food safety actions:

• Strengthened and updated the industry’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to reflect our most current scientific knowledge.

• Commissioned scientific studies to better understand how to eliminate contaminants.

• Completed and published a baseline pathogen prevalence assessment in order to better understand risk (Journal for Food Production )

• Conducted and published a kill-step study to better understand pathogen resilience ( Peanut Science)

• Designed a special Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)-accredited food safety course for peanut processors in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Food Science Department.

• Collaborated with FDA to provide food safety education and training to industry members

The American Peanut Council is open to input from growers, shellers, manufacturers, regulators, food scientists and consumers on how we can continue to maintain the highest food safety standards in the world. The council also strongly supports the increase in federal food safety oversight provided for in the Food Safety Modernization Act, and we will continue to work with FDA, health officials, academia and industry experts to further develop the industry’s food safety tools.

Field Crops Day August 22 in Headland

Field Crops Day August 22 in Headland

Alabama’s Wiregrass Research and Extension Center’s 2014 Field Crops Day is set for Friday, August 22, 2014.

Registration starts at 8 a.m., the program commences at 8:30 a.m. and field tours begin at 9 a.m. Topics will include: Long-term sod-based rotations for peanut FD 1production, plant disease control, performance of commercial peanut varieties, managing cotton pests, sesame seed production, and developing peanut cultivars for Alabama.

The center is located at 167 East Highway 134 in Headland. For more information, contact the WREC at 334-693-2010.

Rep. Crawford talks legislation

Rep. Crawford talks legislation

Farming legislation is always a concern for peanut producers. This year during the Southern Peanut Growers Conference held in July, 2014, attendees heard froRep crawford 2 mugm Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas, a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

Crawford said it was very tough in getting a farm bill finally passed this year. He also said he personally felt it should be called the USDA Re-Authorization Bill, like other agencies like the Department of Defense, for example. He said he thought it would “help us to communicate more efficiently just exactly what we’re doing.” He noted that in reality, 80% of this authorization is nutrition.”

Griggs recognized during conference

Griggs recognized during conference

Former Alabama Peanut Producers Association Executive Director Randy Griggs, center, was honored during the morning session of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference today. He is pictured with APPA Executive Director Jim Cravey, left, and APPA President Carl Sanders.

RandyRandy griggs spgc 2014 j cravey and c sanders joined the Alabama Farmers Federation in 1978. During his time in Montgomery, Alabama, he served as Director of the Horticulture Division and its Export Development Division.

Griggs became Executive Director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association in 1982 and was extensively involved in industry organizations and legislation on behalf of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association.