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FARMERS STILL NEED HELP AT PLANTING TIME Washington, DC -- Severe weather, high expenses and global uncertainty are hitting farmers from all sides, squeezing them to the breaking point. Fifty-four agriculture groups laid out the challenges facing rural America in a letter to President Donald Trump. STILL TIME TO CHECK SEED - PEANUT SEED REMINDERS All peanut varieties produced in a state certification program (i.e. Georgia Crop Improvement and Southern Seed Certification) have some level of intellectual property protection. Most are covered by the Plant Variety Protection law (PVP). For PVP protected varieties, a farmer may save enough seed to plant his or her own holdings but no seed may be sold without permission from the variety owner. In addition to PVP, a number of varieties are also protected by a plant patent or utility patent. These include Georgia-18RU, Georgia-VAL/HO, Georgia-SP/RKN, Georgia-21GR, and Georgia-22MPR. It is illegal for farmers to save any seed of patented varieties. If growers have questions re: PVP or patent protection, please visit www.georgiacrop.com for additional information. The Georgia Department of Agriculture State Seed Laboratory is happy to accept and test seed for farmers, seed dealers, wholesalers, etc. The easiest way to submit seed is to call the lab and request seed sample envelopes. Seed can be hand delivered or mailed to the lab in Tifton, GA. Each seed sample submission will need to be at least one or two pounds to be able to complete all testing requested. We also must have the following information: Name of Submitter, Mailing Address, Telephone number, Email address, Kind of Seed, Variety of Seed (if known), Lot Number, Tests Requested (Purity, Germination, or both), Seed Treatment Used. Georgia Farmers will receive seed germination and purity testing at no charge. PEANUT STANDARDS BOARD USDA is seeking nominees for the Peanut Standards Board to fill seats for six producers and six industry representatives. Six seats will be appointed for two-year terms of office ending June 30, 2028, and six seats will be appointed for three-year terms of office ending June 30, 2029. Nominations will be accepted by mail and email, and nomination forms must be submitted to the board by April 17, 2026. Authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, the board recommends updates to the minimum quality standards, food safety requirements, and aflatoxin screening for USDA consideration. The board is seeking nominees for producers and industry representatives for the following areas: PRODUCERS Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia) – two members; Southwest (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) – two members Virginia/Carolina (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina) – two members INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia) – two members; Southwest (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) – two members Virginia/Carolina (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina) – two members . For additional nomination information, contact USDA Marketing Specialist Steven Kauffman at (863) 324-3375 or [email protected]. To qualify as a producer member, nominees must be engaged in a proprietary capacity in the production of peanuts for market. To qualify as an industry representative, eligible nominees include, but are not limited to, representatives of shellers, manufacturers, buying points, marketing associations and marketing cooperatives. The board is comprised of 18 members. Nine members represent producers and nine members represent industry representatives. More information about the board is available on the Peanut Standards Board webpage on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website. 2025 PEANUT CROP VALUE The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has issued the value of the U.S. peanut crop by state for the past three years. The value is based on marketings and monthly prices received from August 1, 2025 until December 31, 2025. The value of the 2025 crop is $1,776,868,000, 3.6% more than the 2024 value of $1,715,505. The 2023 value was $1,610,050. The average price in 2025 was $.247 or $494 per ton. That compares to $.261 per pound in 2024 or $522 per ton. Georgia, the top producing state, received 49.0% of the value. The average price that farmers received in Georgia was $470 per ton. The highest price per pound was Texas at $.303 per pound or $606 per ton average. Oklahoma was second with $.284 per lb or $568 per ton. The lowest price received by farmers was in Arkansas at $.215 per lb. or $430 per ton. HOUSE AG COMMITTEE APPROVES FARM BILL 2.O After a two-day markup held by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, H.R. 7567,the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 was officially passed by the Committee early this morning by a 34-17 vote. The bill was supported by Republican members of the Committee, along with seven Democrat members. Democrats who joined the Republicans in voting to pass the bill were Reps. Jim Costa (CA), Sharice Davids (KS), Don Davis (NC), Gabe Vasquez (NM), Adam Gray (CA), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI), and Josh Riley (NY). The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, or commonly referred to as “Farm Bill 2.0,” builds upon the traditional Farm Bill provisions included in last year’s final passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in 2025. Specifically, this legislation strengthens the operation of the Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) program by clarifying program authority and ensuring that the program remains fully operational during any future lapses in federal government funding. These updates reinforce the farm safety net and provide greater certainty for producers and market participants who rely on the MAL program for financial stability and market flexibility. The legislation also underscores continued support for agricultural export markets, which remain a top priority for the U.S. peanut industry. In addition, the bill includes important provisions related to international and emergency food assistance programs—longstanding markets for U.S. peanut products. The allocation of $200 million annually to support emergency food assistance programs for the procurement and distribution of ready-to-use therapeutic foods will provide meaningful benefits to the entire U.S. peanut industry. Furthermore, transferring the authorities of the Food for Peace Act from the U.S. Agency for International Development to the U.S. Department of Agriculture will expand opportunities for program participation. The bill also reserves 50 percent of Food for Peace resources for U.S.-grown commodities, which will help ensure continued utilization of peanut products in these programs. USPF recently joined the American Soybean Association, National Milk Producers Federation, and U.S. Dairy Export Council in sending a letter to U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson and Ranking Member Angie Craig, supporting the inclusion of funding for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) in the bill text. U.S. House Agriculture Committee Vice Chair Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA-08) included this support in his opening remarks during the markup. “The U.S. Peanut Federation appreciates the hard work of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in completing the Farm Bill and passing it out of committee,” stated USPF Chairman Jamie Brown. “The inclusion of enhancements to the Marketing Assistance Loan program are significant for improving the process for our peanut growers. Additionally, new investments in food assistance programs will benefit the entire U.S. peanut industry. USPF thanks Chairman GT Thompson for his leadership and applauds the Members of Congress who supported farm communities by voting to advance this important legislation SPREADING THE PEANUT NEWS IN ATLANTA March is National Peanut Month, a time to celebrate one of America’s favorite foods! The Georgia peanut industry kicked off the celebration this week by hosting the 2026 Georgia PB&J Day in Atlanta, Georgia. During the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud donated 10,000 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “Peanuts are Georgia’s official state crop, and the state boasts the largest share of peanut production in the U.S. at approximately 50 percent,” says Donald Chase, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Georgia’s 4,000 peanut farmers contribute approximately $2 billion annually to the state and local economy.” Sponsors and exhibitors included the Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Buying Points Association, Kroger, Georgia Farm Bureau, Peanut Proud, Atlanta Community Food Bank, The Peanut Institute and the University of Georgia Peanut Team. |