Tift County – Brian Tankersley, Tift County Extension coordinator, provided information to the Georgia Peanut Tour group on agriculture in the county. Tift County farmers planted 16,000 acres of peanuts in 2008. Tankersley estimates production in 2008 at 25,000 tons. The county is very diverse with farmers growing peanuts, cotton, commercial vegetables, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum and small grains. The peanut crop looks good but farmers have had their share of dry weather this year. Farmers were also hit hard by the increasing cost of inputs such as fuel, chemicals and fertilizer. Learn more online at the Tifton and Tift County Tourism Association web site.

Turner County – Scott Utley, Turner County Extension Coordinator, says the major crops grown in Turner County are peanuts and cotton. Turner County farmers planted 14,000 acres of peanuts this year and Utley estimates production at 1.5 tons per acre. Approximately 60% of the farm land is irrigated in the county. Farmers have also been faced with the drought this year and problems with palmer amaranth. Overall the peanut crop looks good, Utley says. Turner County is also home to the world’s largest peanut. It is located on Interstate 75 at Exit 82 and serves as a monument to Georgia’s Official State Crop – the peanut. The county is also known for it’s popular Fire Ant Festival held the fourth weekend of March. Learn more at the Turner County Chamber of Commerce web site.

Worth County – Rusty Harris, Worth County Extension Coordinator, provided an update from the Peanut Capitol of the World. Farmers in the county planted 13,935 irrigated acres of peanuts and 20,021 dryland acres of peanuts. Harris expects the production to be 49,424.4 tons. In addition to peanuts, farmers also grow cotton, wheat, corn and soybeans. Farmers in the county have had several issues this year with pigweed, white mold in peanuts, and lesser cornstalk borer damage in peanuts. Farmers have also had weather related trouble with the drought and too much rain at some time during the growing season as well as storm damage. Worth County host the Georgia Peanut Festival the third weekend in October. Did you know that every jar of Peter Pan peanut butter is made right here in Worth County? Learn more online at the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce web site.