USDA NEW CROP ESTIMATE HIGHER

              U.S. farmers indicate they intend to plant nearly 100,000 more peanut acres than last year for a total of 1.55 million acres for the 2023/24 marketing year (MY). Assuming 96 percent of sown acreage is harvested, and yields improve by 5 percent to 4,230 pounds per acre, U.S. peanut production is forecast to rise to 6.3 billion pounds (3,150,000 tons) from 5.6 billion in 2022/23.

               After accounting for lower beginning stocks, supply is forecast to reach 8.6 billion pounds, 557 million higher than 2022/23. The U.S. average price received by farmers is projected slightly down from its expected 2022/23 value of $0.27 per pound to $0.265 per pound. Moreover, the export program is expected to benefit. The 2023/24 peanut export forecast is 200 million pounds higher than last year at 1.3 billion pounds (650,000 tons). 

COMMODITY PROGRAMS ONLY 4% of BUDGET

            The Farm Bill process kicked off in February with the release of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Baseline, which identifies the expected cost for Farm Programs over the next 10 years and indicates what program spending is available to the U.S. Congress as they begin drafting the 2023 bill. The February Baseline projected a $1.5 trillion total cost for Farm Programs, which is made up of 82% for Nutrition programs, 4% Conservation Programs, 4% Commodity Programs, and 7% Crop Insurance.

            In March, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee approved a letter to the U.S. House Committee on the Budget on views and estimates for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. After the letter was reported favorably out of Committee, Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson issued the following statement:

“The Committee’s budget views and estimates letter outlines a clear, bipartisan blueprint to invest in the hardworking men and women of American agriculture—the folks who work 365 days a year to feed and fuel our nation. While additional funds are necessary, there is no piece of legislation that provides a better return on investment than the Farm Bill. In the wake of record inflation, a global pandemic, and geopolitical turmoil, American farmers, ranchers, foresters, producers, and consumers are suffering. The best way to support them is to pass an effective, bipartisan, and timely Farm Bill, and the letter considered today provides a sensible path forward."

LISTENING SESSIONS AND HEARINGS

              Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15), hosted a Farm Bill listening session in Newberry, Florida on April 24.  Mr. Thompson was joined by Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03), along with bipartisan members of the House Committee on Agriculture.  Held in Newberry, Florida, the event brought together farmers, ranchers, producers, agribusiness owners, and more to solicit public feedback - an integral part of the Farm Bill reauthorization process. 

            On April 26, the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit held a hearing titled “Producer Perspectives on the 2023 Farm Bill”. Daniel McMillan, of Southern Grace Farms in Enigma, GA, is set to testify on behalf of the U.S. Peanut Federation.

            In May, the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade held a hearing on the 2023 Farm Bill.  Karla Thompson, of JET Farms in Camilla, GA, testified on behalf of the U.S. Peanut Federation.

            During their testimonies, McMillan and Thompson gave firsthand accounts of the challenges impacting the peanut industry today – emphasizing the rising costs of production and the necessity for a strong safety net in the 2023 Farm Bill.

A CHALLENGE OF FARMER CHECK-OFF PROGRAMS

            The U.S. Peanut Federation signed on to a letter with other commodity organizations opposing S. 557 and H.R. 1249, titled “Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act”. This legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) and U.S. Congresswomen Dina Titus (D-NV) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) to target commodity research and promotion boards, better known as “checkoff” programs. As stated in the letter, this legislation would substantially undermine the research and promotion boards’ ability to promote U.S. agriculture.

AMERICAN PEANUT COUNCIL MEETS WITH CONTRACTORS

              The American Peanut Council recently held its annual international contractor meeting to conduct strategic planning for exporting more U.S. peanuts in 2023.   Gathering for the first time in-person since 2019, APC representatives and contractors from target countries and regions met to review achievements from 2022 and conduct strategic planning for 2023.

              The meeting was comprised of experts from Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United States. Those in attendance are tasked with executing the industry’s Unified Export Strategy (UES). Presentations included updates on trade technical work, promotional strategies in target markets and U.S. sustainability efforts.

              The National Peanut Board also provided an update on marketing campaigns in the U.S. and the Peanut Institute prepared a presentation on recent developments in health/nutrition research APC’s export promotion programs are funded by USDA Market Access Promotion and Foreign Market Development funds.  A major portion of the matching funds and 100% of the promotion funds are paid by peanut producers.

ALABAMA PEANUT FARMERS APPROVE REFERENDUM

            Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts that is collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). In a referendum conducted on April 20, 2023, ninety-one percent of those who voted said “yes” to continue APPA’s programs in education, promotion, and research.  For the continuance referendum to pass, a majority of eligible producers voting needed to vote in favor of continuing the assessment. Growers who produced peanuts in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were eligible to vote.

            The referendum for peanuts is conducted every three years, which is a requirement of the Alabama Legislature. However, a bill was passed recently to change the requirement to every 5 years after 2026.

“The check-off funds we receive fund production research, grower, and consumer education. It's important that we continue to promote our nutrient-packed peanuts, peanut butter, and other peanut products,” said Carl Sanders, president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association and a peanut farmer in Coffee County. “The referendum results are indicative of the great work APPA does on behalf of our peanut farmers.”

            In the last three years:  More than $500,000 has been invested toward peanut production research in partnership with Auburn University and Alabama Cooperative Extension System, which directly benefits Alabama peanut farmers. This research has contributed to yield increases and more efficient production practices.

             More than $600,000 has been utilized in peanut promotion activities around the state, contributing to increased peanut and peanut butter consumption and adopting the early introduction of peanuts to infants recommendations by more Alabama pediatricians and parents. Peanut allergy education efforts have been included in the promotion activities as well.

             More than $400,000 has been allocated to grower education to share relevant research results, legislative information, and other pertinent information for Alabama growers. This information is dispersed through grower production meetings, the APPA website (alpeanuts.com), quarterly newsletters, social media, and emails. The annual Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show is supported by these funds as well.

PEANUT INNOVATION LAB HELPS AFRICAN FARMERS

            The $15 million grant from USAID will allow the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Peanut, which is headquartered in the UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Science (CAES), to scale up the findings from previous research and get the technology into farmers’ fields. 

            While UGA has hosted international peanut research for decades, the Peanut Innovation Lab embarked on the most recent round of projects in 2018. The lab has managed two dozen research projects led by UGA scientists as well as researchers at a dozen other U.S. universities, including Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, Penn State, Texas Tech, University of California-Santa Barbara and others.

            Many of the research findings apply throughout the world, including in the U.S., but the field work is performed in Senegal and Ghana in Western Africa, and Uganda and Malawi in Eastern and Southern Africa.              Some of the lab’s research involves making stronger peanut plants — varieties that can survive disease or drought — and other studies focus on creating small machines or educational programs to help farmers and processors, designing products to bring the nutritional benefits of peanuts to consumers, or understanding the gender and age dynamics that lead farmers to make the decisions that they do.

FINALLY A NEW HERBICIDE

              One new herbicide available for farmers this year is Brake (fluridone) which was granted full registration by EPA in January 2023.  The new herbicide has a new mode of action and is welcomed news to farmers having trouble with resistance management.

               Another positive is that it provides very effective residual control of Palmer amaranth, peanuts number one weed enemy.  Growers in the south have been dealing with herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth for years. Palmer amaranth is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. The result is greater genetic diversity for plants to develop adaptive traits like herbicide resistance. If herbicide-resistant, it becomes even more important to make sure it is controlled before producing seeds.  

            Palmer amaranth is aggressive competition for peanuts. Plants can grow two-to-three inches per day. At full maturity, the plants may grow to be six-to-eight feet tall. If left unmanaged, Palmer amaranth has the potential to reduce yields by up to 91 percent.

GEORGIA GROWERS INVEST IN RESEARCH

               The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors has approved $706,139 in research project funding for the 2023-24 research budget year. The research projects approved include 35 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

            Georgia’s peanut growers invest $2 per ton annually toward GPC programs which includes research, promotion and education. The research programs primarily focus on peanut breeding, conservation methods, irrigation and water management, as well as, pests, weed and disease management.

            “As a peanut grower, I’m proud to invest in the Georgia Peanut Commission and in the future of the peanut industry by supporting research that continues to demonstrate a return on our investment,” says Donald Chase, GPC Research Committee chairman. “We are proud of our partnership with research institutions and look forward to seeing the results which will benefit farmers in the state and enhance the sustainability of our crop.”

            Additionally, GPC manages funding for the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative which includes research funding of $1,317,215 for projects in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. These projects are funded through the National Peanut Board check-off dollars from farmers.

PEANUT FARMERS PLAN SUMMER CONVENTION

             The 24th Annual SOUTHERN PEANUT GROWERS CONFERENCE is July 27-29, 2023 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida.  Hosted by Georgia Peanut Commission and Grower’s Association in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, the 3 days cover legislation, production, marketing and promotion plus a ladies program and golf tournament.   The theme this year is “Building on our Strengths”, room reservations at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort can be made on line athttp://www.Sandestin.com/24o19r or calling 1-800-320-8115.   For info, see www.southernpeanutfarmers.org.

NEW LOGO FOR NORTH CAROLINA PEANUTS

            As the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association celebrates seventy years of serving the peanut producers of North Carolina, the association unveiled a new consumer-focused logo that represents the three components of the peanut plant but also symbolizes the three missions of the association: advocacy, research, and promotion. Additionally, the logo includes the words nutritious and flavorful, two unique identifiers of the Virginia-type peanut widely produced in North Carolina.

            The logo was unveiled during a luncheon celebrating the fourteen growers who achieved top yields in the state’s peanut production contest. Statewide, growers in North Carolina ended the 2022 growing season with 244,441 tons produced in North Carolina, equating to a statewide average of 4,260 lbs. per acre.

            “It is an exciting time to be in the peanut industry,” states Ashley Collins, Chief Executive Officer for the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association. “Our growers produce more than just a commodity; peanuts are an affordable plant-based protein source and a versatile ingredient in the food industry. Our seventieth anniversary is an excellent opportunity to launch a new identity that is more relevant to today’s consumer audience and will generate demand for North Carolina-grown peanuts.”