Twenty-three peanut growers and sheller representatives from across the Southeast, Texas and the Virginia-Carolina area began Class X of the Peanut Leadership Academy Dec. 12-14, 2016, in Miramar Beach, Florida. The Peanut Leadership Academy is hosted by the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and is a cooperative effort between Syngenta Crop Protection, the American Peanut Shellers Association and grower organizations. The program began in 1998 with the first class of 14 peanut growers from Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Since then, the academy has continued to grow to include growers from Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and sheller representatives.

Activities in the leadership program are structured to give participants a thorough understanding of the U.S. peanut industry. Throughout the course of 18 months and five sessions, program attendees participate in sessions ranging from field trips, meetings with industry leaders and professional development training, as well as one session in Washington, D.C., where class members have an opportunity to visit with members of Congress about issues affecting the peanut industry. During this time, class members build on leadership skills, discuss and debate key industry issues and build relationships.

During the first session of the program, leadership academy attendees were introduced, presented an overview of the peanut industry and able to attend the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation annual meeting where they had the opportunity to listen to grower and industry reports. Participating Florida growers in Class X include: Blaire Colvin, Citra; and Ryan Jenkins, Pace.

For more information on the Peanut Leadership Academy please contact the Florida Peanut Producers Association or visit www.southernpeanutfarmers.org

The 12th annual Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, located on Hwy. 231 South in Dothan, Alabama.

Sponsored by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) and the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA), the one-day event offers farmers a full day to view the industry products and services of more than 80 exhibitors. The trade show opens at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until noon with a lunch immediately following.

Dr. Marshall Lamb will speak to growers about crop outlook as well as the current market status.

Peanut growers who attend will not only be able to fine tune their farming operations, but will have a chance to win prizes valued at more than $20,000.

Kelley Manufacturing Company will be providing this year’s Grand Door Prize. The winner will receive the use of a new 6 Row Peanut Combine, on the winner’s farm, for the 2017 peanut harvesting season, with the option of purchasing the combine through an authorized KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price.

The Grower Prize is being sponsored by Amadas. The use of a new 4-Row or 6-Row Amadas Peanut Digger/Inverter for the 2017 harvest season or $10,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas Self-Propelled Peanut Combine or $5,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas 4-Row or 6-Row Pull-Type Peanut Combine.

All winners must be certified as a peanut grower with an FSA farm number, and must be present to win.

All peanut growers are invited and encouraged to attend.

For more information contact the FPPA office: 850-526-2590.

For immediate release:

January 2, 2017

Contact: Ken Barton

Florida Peanut Producers Association

850-526-2590

Florida Peanut Producers Association seeks National Peanut Board nominees

The Florida Peanut Producers Association seeks eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board.  Florida Peanut Producers Association will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board during a meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 6:30 pm cst at the Jackson County Agricultural Complex and Conference Center, 2741 Penn Avenue, Marianna, FL 32448.  All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate.  Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop.

Jeff Pittman, Bascom, Fl is the current Florida National Peanut Board Member and William Carte, Live Oak, Fl serves as the alternate.  The term for the current Florida board member and alternate expires on December 31, 2017.

USDA requires two nominees from each state for each position of member and alternate.  The National Peanut Board will submit Florida’s slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments.

The National Peanut Board encourages inclusion of persons of any race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status.  National Peanut Board encourages all persons who qualify as peanut producers to attend the meeting and run for nomination.

It is USDA’s policy that membership on industry-government boards and committees accurately reflect the diversity of individuals served by the programs.

Florida Peanut Producers Association is the State Check-Off organization for peanuts and represents Florida’s peanut farmers in Promotion, Research and Education.

The National Peanut Board represents all USA peanut farmers and their families.  The mission of the Board is to provide USA peanut growers with a receptive and growing market for their peanuts and the information and tools for improved efficiencies.  Through research and marketing initiatives the Board is finding new ways to enhance production and increase consumer demand by promoting the great taste, nutrition and culinary versatility of USA-grown peanuts.