Author Archives: Kaye Lynn Hataway

Top Peanut Producing Counties Announced

Top Peanut Producing Counties Announced

The USDA – National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has announced the top  peanut producing counties in Alabama for 2021. Leading off the state in total peanuts produced is Houston County with 124,200,000 lbs. Geneva County follows with 74,850,000 lbs, Baldwin County with 74,660,000 lbs., Henry County with 70,380,000 lbs., and Escambia County rounds out the top 5 with 52,370,000 lbs.

 

Other top producing counties include Coffee, Dale, Mobile, Covington, Monroe, Barbour, Pike and Dallas.

 

Alabama peanut growers harvested 182,000 acres of peanuts and produced a total of 622,200,000 lbs. of peanuts in 2021. Alabama stands as #2 in peanut production in the nation. Georgia ranks #1.

 

Information shared by: USDA, NASS – Southern Region; Media Contact is Anthony Prillaman; www.nass.usda.gov; released May 2022

EPA Approves Brake Section 18 label for Alabama Peanuts

EPA Approves Brake Section 18 label for Alabama Peanuts

Section 18 label for Brake® herbicide to be used in Alabama peanuts has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry (ADAI) for resistant Palmer amaranth control. Peanut growers can take advantage of this new label as soon as the 2022 season.

 

Alabama counties included in this label are:
AUTAUGA, BALDWIN, BARBOUR, BLOUNT, BUTLER, CALHOUN, CHEROKEE, CLARKE, COFFEE, CONECUH, COVINGTON, CRENSHAW, DALE, DALLAS, DEKALB, ESCAMBIA, FAYETTE, FRANKLIN, GENEVA, HENRY, HOUSTON, JACKSON, LAWRENCE, LEE, MACON, MOBILE, MONROE, PICKENS, PIKE, RUSSELL, TUSCALOOSA, WASHINGTON

 

Key points regarding this new label:

1. Brake® can only be applied to runner type varieties, do not apply to Spanish or Valencia varieties.
2. Use rate of 12-16 oz./ acre depending on soil type. Do not apply more than 16 fl. oz. per acre per year. Multiple year data from Alabama suggested sufficient peanut tolerance to 16 fl. oz./ acre of Brake® when applied pre-emergent.
3. Brake® can be applied from 14 days prior to planting until 72 hours after planting. Do not spray Brake® on emerged peanut as severe injury will occur.
4. Zero month plant back restrictions on cotton and peanut, 2 month on soybean and sweet potato, 8 month on wheat, barley and rye, 10 month on corn and sorghum.
5. Tank mixing Brake® with another peanut residual herbicide is highly recommended to defer herbicide resistance and increase spectrum of weed control. Dual Magnum®, Outlook®, Warrant®, Prowl H2O®, Valor® and Strongarm® are tank mix partners with Brake® for pre-emergent and Pre-plant applications.
6. Brake® is a good alternative for Palmer amaranth control when Valor® splashing injury is a concern.
7. Brake® works great on cover crop residues and no till fields in previous Alabama field trials funded by Alabama peanut check-off. A 0.5 inch of rain/irrigation is sufficient to fully activate this herbicide.

 

View the full Brake® label – CLICK HERE

 

Questions? Please contact:

Dr. Steve Li
Extension weed scientist
334-707-7370
steveli@auburn.edu

 

Join us for the 2022 Southern Peanut Growers Conference

Join us for the 2022 Southern Peanut Growers Conference

Registration is now open for the 2022 Southern Peanut Growers Conference,
July 21-23 at Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida.

This year’s theme is “Together Towards Tomorrow.” You can access conference registration, hotel information and sponsorship information at http://southernpeanutfarmers.org/southern-peanut-growers-conference/.


Important Details Regarding Lodging
There is no longer a block of rooms available at Edgewater Beach Resort for the conference. All rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. It is very important for you to go ahead and reserve your room ASAP before the resort books up.

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to visit with peanut growers and industry leaders from across the southeast! If you have questions, please contact the APPA office 334-792-6482.

 

The Southern Peanut Growers Conference is brought to you by:

U.S. Peanut Federation Testifies at U.S. House Ag Committee Hearing

Washington, D.C. (March 2, 2022) – The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing March 1, 2022, on “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Commodity Group Perspectives on Title I.” Chairman David Scott, D-Georgia, opened the hearing stating, “As we look ahead to the 2023 Farm Bill, I am committed to making sure that the full breadth of voices from our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and consumers is represented in our efforts. Today’s panel is an integral piece in that process, and I look forward to the months ahead as we discuss the other farm bill titles and issue areas.”
Nine commodity groups testified at the hearing including the U.S. Peanut Federation’s witness, Meredith McNair Rogers, a Camilla, Georgia, peanut grower. Ms. Rogers discussed the rising costs of inputs in peanut production and related analyses from representative farming operations.
“When I met with the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee early last fall, I spoke of increased input costs such as fertilizer and equipment. In addition, I shared with you the delays in equipment parts and repair. Since the Subcommittee’s Roundtable last year, the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia, has completed its review of U.S. Representative Peanut Farm data covering all the peanut production regions. These 22 peanut farms, from Virginia to New Mexico, have been reviewed for 21 years (2001-2022). What we have learned from this most recent, comprehensive data is that peanut growers have struggled to cover their cost of production.”
Rogers provided the Committee specific data from representative peanut farms that demonstrated the increases in cost of production:
“… The 2021 representative farm update revealed the average expected peanut yield to be 4760 lbs. per acre. In a cash flow analysis, the 2021 total cash flow was $545.97 per ton. The projected 2022 peanut total cash flow cost to produce a ton of peanuts is estimated to be $666.94. This is approximately a 22% increase over the 2021 cost of production.”
The House Agriculture Committee is expected to continue its hearing process in preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill. Fifteen members of the Committee are from peanut producing states. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee will announce its 2023 Farm Bill hearings in the near future.
The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association, and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. USPF serves as a unified voice in Washington, D.C. for all sectors of the peanut industry and advocates actively for strong agricultural policy. For additional information, please contact the USPF at (202) 543-7464.
APPA Holds Annual Meeting

APPA Holds Annual Meeting

Peanut farmers from across Alabama gathered in Dothan for the 2022 Annual Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) meeting on Thursday, February 3.
One order of business for this meeting was the election of five board of director seats. Having two seats in Geneva County, Jimmy Royce Helms and Jesse Scott were both re-elected to their positions. Billy Hixon was re-elected to hold the seat in the Northwest District. Tom Corcoran was re-elected to his seat in the Northeast District. Finally, Jason Weber was newly elected to the Escambia County seat.
On February 17th the new APPA board members voted to re-elect their current officers. Carl Sanders of Coffee County has been President of the APPA board for 22 years and will continue to serve in his position. Mark Kaiser of Baldwin County will serve his 6th year as Vice President. Treasurer, Jerry Byrd of Dale County, will serve his 22nd year.
The association is voluntarily funded by peanut growers and its programs are directed by a board of 15 growers. Directors are elected by grower delegates from each of the major peanut producing counties. The number of delegates from each county is determined by the number of acres in that county.
2022 Peanut Production Meetings Scheduled

2022 Peanut Production Meetings Scheduled

It’s the time of year when peanut farmers are making plans for the new growing season. There are several decisions to be made between now and planting time. The researchers who work for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Auburn University College of Agriculture are ready to share their research-based recommendations to help Alabama peanut farmers have a successful 2022 peanut year. The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) is sponsoring eight grower production meetings around the state during the week of Feb. 21.

 

The topics will include disease control, herbicide control, insect control and peanut markets outlook. In addition, growers will hear the results of peanut variety and production trials performed around the state. Make plans to attend the one closest to you. A meal will be served at each meeting.

 

Monday, Feb. 21
11 am – Cullman County Extension office, Cullman
6 pm – Lazenby Farms, Society Hill

Tuesday, Feb. 22
11 am – Ketchem’s Restaurant, Hartford
6 pm – Wiregrass Research & Extension Center, Headland

Wednesday, Feb. 23
11 am – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers- Alabama River Lakes Bldg., Tyler

Thursday, Feb. 24
11 am – The Lighthouse Restaurant, Irvington
6 pm – Baldwin County Farmers Federation, Robertsdale

Friday, Feb. 25
11 am – Grace Fellowship Church, Atmore

 

In addition to the in-person meetings, APPA is producing the 2022 Peanut Production Guide with the help of the research team. Each grower in the state will receive a copy in their mailbox in the coming weeks. The researchers’ presentations will be available online as well.

 

2022 Production Meetings and Production Guide Sponsors:

ADAMA
Alabama Ag Credit
Alabama Farm Credit
BASF
First South Farm Credit
Sanbuck Insurance
Syngenta
United Bank
Valent
Vantage South
Visjon Biologics

 

For more information, contact the APPA office at 334-792-6482.

 

2022 Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show A Success

2022 Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show A Success

DOTHAN, Ala. – More than 400 attendees were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show on Feb. 3, 2022, at the National Peanut Festival fairgrounds, in Dothan, Alabama. The show is sponsored by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, and the National Peanut Board.

 

The one-day show offered peanut growers and industry partners a chance to view the products and services of over 60 exhibitors.

 

A complimentary lunch was provided to trade show attendees. After lunch, Bob Parker, President and CEO of the National Peanut Board (NPB), brought greetings from the NPB and updated growers on how their check-off dollars are being spent on the national level. Dr. Marshall Lamb, with the National Peanut Research Lab, provided an update on the 2022 peanut market and crop outlook. Bob Redding, of The Redding Firm, presented a legislative update as well. Dr. Darlene Cowart with Birdsong Peanuts gave an encouraging talk on the value of food safety from the peanut field to the shelling facility.

 

Several door prizes were given out throughout the morning of the trade show, but the prizes everyone was most looking forward to winning were announced after lunch.

 

The Grand Door Prize donated by Kelley Manufacturing Co. was presented to Chad Wells of Gordon, Alabama. Wells received a $5,000 voucher for any one piece of KMC equipment or parts for KMC equipment.

 

James Harrell of Rehobeth, Alabama, won a free trip to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in July. Thomas Kirkland of Headland, Alabama, won a Remington 12-gauge shotgun.


THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 EXHIBITORS

A Healthy You, A Healthy Farm (ADAI)
ADAMA
Advanced Trailer
AG Nutrients LLC
Ag Spray Equipment
AgAmerica Lending
AgLogic Chemical LLC
AL Dept. of Agriculture & Industries
Alabama Ag Credit
Amadas Industries
American Peanut Council
AMVAC
Atlantic & Southern Equipment
BASF
Bayer Crop Science
Birdsong Peanuts
Blueline Dryers/ Cook Ind Electric Co
BRANDT
Carden & Associates
Columbo North America
Corteva Agriscience
DeltAg Formulations
Double L Global
EcoGEM, LLC
Fillingim Crop Insurance
First South Farm Credit
FL Farm Credit Associations
FL Foundation Seed Producers
FMC
G & M Starter-Alternator
Georgia Organic Solutions
GRI Tires
Harrell Ag Products
HBT Supply, LLC
Helms Manufacturing Company
Houston Co. Soil & Water Conservation District
Kelley Manufacturing Co.
Kilgro & Associates, Inc.
LMC Ag
Miller Chemical & Fertilizer LLC
National Peanut Research Lab
Nichino America
Nolin Steel
Novozymes BioAg
O’Bryan Agri Insurance
Peanut Proud Festival
Peerless Manufacturing Co.
Pig Brig Trap Systems
Rabo Agrifinance
Rentz Irrigation
SanBuck Insurance
Schutz Insurance Agency
Southeastern Peanut Farmer
Southern Silage Supply, LLC
SunSouth John Deere
Sweet Grown Alabama
Syngenta
Synthetic Materials
Telamon Corporation
The KBH Corporation
Tidewater Equipment Company
UBLY Peanut Blade Mfg. Inc
UPL
Valent
Vantage South
Visjon Biologies
Wiregrass Equipment Co.

Harvest Tour Helps Spread Good News About Peanuts

Harvest Tour Helps Spread Good News About Peanuts

A group of food bloggers and culinary experts learned about peanuts, from farm to flavor, during the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) Harvest Tour Sept. 19-22.

 

The seven participants visited southeast Alabama peanut farms, toured the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland and experienced the inner workings of a buying and shelling facility in the area. They also heard from Dr. Samara Sterling of The Peanut Institute who discussed peanut nutrition and research relating to peanut consumption and cognitive benefits.

 

“Learning that peanuts contain many nutrients that help support our immune systems certainly makes me want to incorporate more peanuts into my diet,” said blogger and recipe developer Stacey Little of Prattville.

 

Little, a contributor to Neighbors magazine’s Farmhouse Kitchen, said the experience equipped him with tons of great information he’ll pass along to his readers.

 

“Being able to share about peanut harvest and processing, along with the health benefits of adding peanuts to your diet, will certainly allow my readers to make better informed decisions,” he said. “This tour has also helped me refocus on how important our farmers are. So many times, we lose sight of the work that goes into a product on the grocery store shelf. Seeing the level of effort and care each of these farmers puts into producing a healthy, nutritious and affordable crop has given me a new appreciation for something I often overlook.”

 

Lynda Self, a food and travel blogger from Decatur, shared Little’s appreciation for the tour.

 

“I might have seen peanuts driving down the road, but I had never actually been in a peanut field until now,” Self said. “The entire tour has been a great experience for me. Learning about the nutrition and health benefits of peanuts was especially fascinating. If I can eat a handful of nuts, instead of taking a pill to improve my health, who wouldn’t want to do that?”

 

Auburn University’s Dr. Mark Traynor was on the tour. He is a culinary science associate professor and program coordinator in the College of Human Sciences. He said he was fascinated by the research that’s being done to improve peanut production and studies to determine the health and nutritional benefits of peanuts.

 

“There’s a lot of work that goes into the humble peanut before consumers get them,” Traynor said. “It’s been interesting to profile the flavor from raw, fresh-from-the field peanuts and then them prepared in several ways.”

 

Peanut farmer Ed White of Headland was a tour host. Attendees observed his GPS-guided tractor dig and turn peanuts that they picked from the vines.

 

“I think they were especially interested in the technology we use on the farm,” said White, who is an APPA board member and Henry County Farmers Federation president. “I hope they help spread the good news about peanuts, and now they have some good first-hand experience to share.”


Article written by Debra Davis, Alabama Farmers Federation

 

The Alabama Farm-to-Table Peanut Harvest Tour was sponsored by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, The Peanut Institute and National Peanut Board.

Wiregrass Pod Blast Schedule

Wiregrass Pod Blast Schedule

Peanut harvest season is just around the corner. Henry County Extension Coordinator, Jimmy Jones, has announced the 2021 pod blasting dates for the Wiregrass Area. The pod blasting will be held at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in Headland.

 

Click here for the schedule.

 

Don’t miss the opportunity to check your peanuts to determine the optimum maturity date. Digging your peanuts at the right time is one of the most important decisions you will make this season. This one management tool can make you 300-500 pounds more peanuts and 3-5 points on your grade putting more money on your bottom line this fall.

 

For more information, contact Jimmy Jones at 334-726-1804 or Sedrick Mack at 334-441-8384.