Georgia Peanut Farm Show provides educational opportunities

TIFTON — More than 1,200 attendees were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the 43rd annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference last week.

The conference was held Thursday at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, and sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. Officials with the commission said the one-day show offered farmers a chance to view the products and services of 102 exhibitors, as well as a day of education.

The UGA Peanut Team presented an educational peanut production seminar with a question-and-answer segment focused on overall agronomic production, economics, weed, insect and disease control as well as irrigation. An industry seed seminar was held, which highlighted peanut varieties available for this year.

The peanut commission presented awards to individuals and businesses for their service to the peanut industry and promotion of peanuts across the United States. The award recipients were:

— Distinguished Service Award: Marcus Evans, retired director of farm and field services at the GPC;

— Research and Education Award: Corley Holbrook, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant breeder;

— Media Award: Braid Haire, editor of “Southeast Farm Press;”

— Georgia Peanut Special Awards: Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, the American Peanut Shellers Association and the UGA Tifton Campus.

The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award, sponsored by the GPC and BASF, was presented to Ryne Powers of Baxley. The award is presented to one Georgia peanut farmer based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation, environmental and stewardship practices and leadership and community service activities.

Powers’ farming operation includes 2,000 acres of cropland where he grows peanuts, cotton, soybeans, corn, wheat and rye. He also raises beef cattle and has three breeder poultry houses with Claxton Poultry. Powers also operates a custom harvesting operation for farmers in his area.

In addition to the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award, the commission and Agri Supply presented the Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmers of the Year Award to individuals representing each of the commission’s five districts. The GPC board members started this award to honor farmers who have the passion, diligence, leadership and desire to see the peanut industry in the state of Georgia continue to be the highest quality.

The winners were:

— District 1: Joe Heard, Newton;

— District 2: Ray Peele, Lenox, posthumously;

— District 3: Bobby C. Smith Jr., Rocky Ford;

— District 4: Windell Gardner, Cordele;

— District 5: James Gaston, Americus.

These farmers received a sign to display at their farm and gift cards from Agri Supply and the GPC.

At the close of the day, the presentation of the grand door prize package donated by Kelley Manufacturing Co. was presented to Jason Cox of Pelham and Mike Roberts Jr. of Sylvester. Cox received one season’s use of a new KMC peanut combine and the option of purchasing the combine from a KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price at the end of the this year’s season. Roberts received one season’s use of a new KMC digger shaker inverter or dump cart and the option of purchasing the peanut digger or dump cart from a KMC dealer with 10 percent off the list price at the end of this year’s season.

Amadas Industries also provided the grower door prize to Mike Bruce of Rochelle and Mark Knowles of Milan. Bruce received a certificate for $10,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas self-propelled peanut combine, or $5,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas pull-type peanut combine or $1,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas peanut dump cart. Knowles received a customized Grizzly cooler and a $1,000 certificate for Amadas parts.

For additional information on the peanut farm show and conference, visit www.gapeanuts.com.