U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE APPROVES FARM BILL

                The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture voted to pass the Farm Bill, titled “The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024” in a 33-21 vote. Four democrats – Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), Don Davis (NC-01), and Eric Sorenson (IL-17) – joined with all Republican Committee members in voting yes on this legislation.

                Earlier this week, the U.S. Peanut Federation sent a letter to U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson in support of the legislation, stating: “The United States Peanut Federation sincerely appreciates the hard work that went into producing the 2024 Farm Bill. This legislation will support peanut producers who have been struggling in recent years due to increases in farm inputs, labor shortages, trade barriers, and supply chain disruptions.”

                Throughout the Farm Bill process, the peanut industry has been united in its priorities, namely a meaningful increase in the reference price for the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. The historic rise in input costs and cost of production make a reference price increase a necessity to keep the farm safety net intact. This legislation includes a 17.8 percent increase in reference price for peanuts in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, bringing the reference price from $535/ton to $630/ton.

                The legislation also includes other peanut priorities, including a provision for a one-time voluntary base update which will be essential for young farmers and new production areas that have not been able to utilize safety net programs to date.

                Peanut-state Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) stated: “As Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, I am pleased that several of my priorities to ensure a strong farm safety net were included in this legislation, and I appreciate the bipartisan support for final passage through committee.”

                “The U.S. Peanut Federation appreciates the hard work of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in drafting this Farm Bill and passing it out of committee,” stated USPF Chairman Jamie Brown. “The peanut industry has struggled in recent years due to increases in farm inputs, labor shortages, trade barriers, and supply chain disruptions. Yesterday’s markup was an important first step in getting producers the assistance they need to continue to produce our nation’s food, fuel, and fiber. USPF applauds the Members of Congress who supported farm communities by voting to advance this important legislation.”

                 Following the markup, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson said that he does not expect the legislation to be considered on the House Floor before September due to the busy appropriations schedule for the upcoming months.

 PEANUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS PRAISE REP. THOMPSON & HOUSE AG COMMITTEE

 OPEN LETTER TO:   The Honorable G.T. Thompson, Chairman, U.S. House Committee on Agriculture,

Dear Chairman Thompson:

                The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) represents a unified voice of the peanut industry and is comprised of peanut growers, shellers, and buying points. USPF’s mission is to protect, promote, and improve business conditions for the peanut industry. The United States Peanut Federation sincerely appreciates the hard work that went into producing the 2024 Farm Bill. This legislation will support peanut producers who have been struggling in recent years due to increases in farm inputs, labor shortages, trade barriers, and supply chain disruptions.

                Throughout the Farm Bill process, the peanut industry has been united in our priorities, namely a meaningful increase in the reference price for the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. The historic rise in input costs and cost of production make a reference price increase a necessity to keep the farm safety net intact. The increase in the peanut reference price included in this Farm Bill proposal will restore certainty to peanut growers and ensure they stay economically viable into the future.

                Secondly, USPF supports and appreciates the provisions for a one-time voluntary base update included in this legislation. A voluntary base update will be essential for young farmers and new production areas that have not been able to utilize safety net programs to date.

                USPF applauds the House Agriculture Committee for their diligent work and care for farmers that shows throughout this bill. We urge this legislation to move forward in a bipartisan manner and we are committed to working with the U.S. House and Senate leadership to ensure this legislation is passed this year.

NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD GETS 93.23% VOTE TO CONTINUE

                 Peanut producers voted overwhelmingly to continue the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Program, administered by the National Peanut Board (NPB), in a referendum conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from April 8-19, 2024.

                  Results show that 93.23% of voting farmers said “yes” to continuing NPB’s research, marketing and promotion program.  

                “We accomplished almost every goal in our strategic plan, including reaching record-high per capita consumption of 7.8 pounds in 2022, growing peanut love among millennial and Gen Z consumers, and making peanut production more sustainable,” said NPB President and CEO Ryan Lepicier. “This resounding approval encourages us to continue working as hard as we can to drive impact for America’s peanut farmers and their families.”

                For the continuance referendum to pass, a simple majority of eligible producers needed to vote in favor of continuing the Order. Growers who paid assessments on peanuts produced during the representative period from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022, were eligible to vote.   

                “I am extremely proud of the work NPB does as a whole but especially proud of our work in the areas of production research and peanut allergy prevention,” said Greg Baltz, 2024 NPB chairman and a peanut farmer from Arkansas. “It’s great to see that USA peanut farmers see the exceptional work that the Board does promoting our sustainable, nutritious peanuts.” 

                    The last referendum for peanuts was conducted by USDA in 2019.

PEANUT EXPORT PROMOTION EXPANDS WITH RAPP FUNDS

                  USDA has launched the $1.2 billion Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) in 2023 in response to a bipartisan request from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.  RAPP aims to diversify and expand market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products beyond the traditional top customers – Canada, Mexico, the European Union, and China (including Hong Kong and Macau) – which collectively comprise nearly 60 percent of U.S. agricultural export sales.

                  Instead, RAPP will focus on enhancing U.S. exports to new markets in parts of the world – including South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa – where the middle class is growing and the desire for high-quality food and farm products is increasing. Gaining market share in these diverse and dynamic markets will help U.S. exporters better weather global shocks and better compete in an increasingly volatile global marketplace.

                  Total awarded funds for 2024 RAPP were $300 million.  The American Peanut Council will receive $2,970.000. 

CLAY PIRKLE HIRED BY GAFSIS

                   The Board of Directors of GA Federal State Inspection Service is pleased to announce that Clay Pirkle of Turner County has been hired as Director of Operations. This job is a training position leading up to President. TE Moye will remain as President during the training period.

                The Board of Directors has chosen this approach in order to have a smooth transition by providing on the job training for Clay.  USDA sets the guidelines and parameters for the inspection process, and it can be a lengthy learning period to completely understand the working relationship GA Federal State has with farmers, buying points, shellers and USDA.

                T E Moye, President, said “We welcome Clay and his family to our Federal State family. I look forward to working with him as he learns the procedures for inspecting peanuts, other nuts, fruits and vegetables that are produced and/or imported into the state of GA. “  Clay began in this official capacity on May 20.

GEORGIA PEANUT PRODUCERS REAFFIRM THE GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION

                The Georgia Peanut Commission’s referendum received reaffirmation with a vote of 91.99 percent during the recent referendum, held March 8 through April 8, 2024.

                “I appreciate the farmers’ confidence in the commission, and we are committed to continue earning that confidence,” says Joe Boddiford, farmer from Sylvania, Georgia, and GPC chairman. “The commission continues to work together as a partnership between Georgia’s peanut farmers and the commission board and staff, in funding research projects, promoting peanuts and working on the farmers’ behalf in Washington, D.C. All of these combined efforts allow us to provide a healthy, nutritious product for consumers and help keep farmers profitable for the future.”

                As required by Georgia state law, the state’s peanut farmers vote on the commission every three years. The ballots were mailed to peanut growers the week of March 8 and the Certified Public Accounting firm of Allen, Pritchett and Bassett counted the ballots.

                “Our staff is humbled by the support of peanut farmers in Georgia,” says Don Koehler, GPC’s executive director. “We will continue to seek opportunities through programs in research, education and promotion to enhance profit opportunities on the farm.”

                Georgia peanut farmers invest $2 per ton annually to the commission to be used in the program areas of research, promotion and education. For additional information on the Georgia Peanut Commission and its activities, visit www.gapeanuts.com.

MANA CELEBRATES WITH FUNDS AND EXPANSION TURNING PEANUTS INTO MEDICINE

                  Over 200 friends, supporters, employees and neighbors joined the celebration at MANA Factory last week in Fitzgerald, GA.  CEO Mark Moore said, “Today marks a milestone for MANA.  It has been a 14-year journey, starting with a dream, little expertise, even less money, and lots of grit and optimism.  Today, we are launching the biggest plant in the world for making Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).  RUTF is the key intervention for feeding and saving severely malnourished children.  Along the way we have fed more than 8 million children with over one billion little packets.”

                  “We have not done this alone, and today we thank the many donors, investors, and collaborators who have helped us reach this important milestone, most notably Sir Chris Holm as our capital imvestment partner and USAID as our purchasing partner, but also many others who we can’t possibly list without leaving some out.” Moore said. “Here’s to billions more packets and millions more children fed when this plant is not needed because the scourge of Severe Acuter Malnutrition has been eliminated from our planet.

                  Samatha Power, Administrator of the U.S. International Development (USAID) was keynote speaker noted that “Here you can see that when you combine head and heart around a vision, miracles can happen. This vision meets the moment.”  She noted that 164 million kids are at risk of food insecurity and 8,000 die every day.”  Program facts indicated that 29% of children under five suffer from malnutrition globally and that 45% under-nutrition is an underlying cause of 45% of deaths among children under five, mainly in low and middle-income countries.

                  Power, a Georgia native, reported the public-private partnership was successful as in 2022, USAID invested $200 million urging private matching donors that raised $330 million. Today, we are announcing that USAID will provide another $200 million to make resources that will purchase many more RUTF packages and get them around the world.  Global Hunger is a soluble problem as we make investments in this life saving system by turning peanuts into medicine.”

AMERICAN PEANUT COUNCIL APPLAUDS RUTF PURCHASE

                   The American Peanut Council welcomes the announcement by USAID that it will make a special $200 million purchase of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) as part of U.S. food aid programs. The additional purchase will have a tremendous impact on getting peanut-based, lifesaving nutrition to millions of children around the globe.

                Twenty-five percent (by value and volume) of RUTF is made using peanuts. As part of the American Peanut Council’s export work, the organization promotes the use of U.S. peanuts in RUTF and educates stakeholders about the exceptional nutritional value of peanuts as its primary ingredient. 

                RUTF is a nutritionally dense paste given to children suffering from acute to severe malnutrition. RUTF does not require water or refrigeration, can be administered at home, and can rehabilitate a child under the age of five in just eight weeks. Peanut-based RUTF combines 500 calories and micronutrients to help children gain weight quickly and has a taste profile that children enjoy. It has saved tens of millions of lives around the globe.  “In light of devastating events currently taking place around the world, the American Peanut Council applauds USAID’s decision to purchase additional RUTF to help feed those who are most impacted,” said Peter Vlazakis, senior director of international programs for APC. “The U.S. peanut industry is committed to helping address global hunger by providing RUTF to disadvantaged and developing countries where children are facing severe malnutrition. This additional purchase by USAID will go a long way toward supporting that mission.               

THE NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD MENTIONS MISSION

                  Board members issued statements about the National Peanut Board as renewal votes were being  cast by farmers.  In the last five years, NPB has delivered on its mission of improving the economic condition of USA peanut farmers and their families through compelling promotion and groundbreaking research.

Some highlights include:

1.)     Peanut per capita consumption grew to an all-time high, growing steadily from 7.4 pounds in 2019 to 7.8 pounds in 2022.

2.)    Among millennials, peanuts have the strongest reputation and are the preferred nut over other nut choices, according to a 2023 National Peanut Board Brand Tracking Study by The Bantam Group.

3.)    Since 2001, America’s peanut farmers have invested more than $36 million to help address peanut allergies. In 2020, for the first time the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) stated, “Introducing peanut-containing foods in the first year reduces the risk that an infant will develop a food allergy to peanuts.” Additionally, two new allergy treatments are available. In January 2020, the first ever FDA-approved treatment for peanut allergy became available in Palforzia. Then, in February 2024, the FDA approved Xolair (omalizumab) to be used for reducing allergic reactions to multiple foods including peanut after accidental exposure.

4.)    Since its inception, the National Peanut Board has invested a total of $48.5 million toward production research, contributing to significant yield increases and efficiencies for peanut producers. This total includes NPB’s leverage of over $1.9 million of NPB funds and other industry partners’ funds to receive over $4.2 million in matching funds for peanut production research from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. You can find a list of the projects on the website at production resource database.