Month: October 2009

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Peanut Equipment at Lasseter Implement Company

Nathan Smith, University of Georgia

Nathan Smith, University of Georgia

The Georgia Peanut Tour visited Lasseter Implement Company in Hazlehurst, Ga. to learn more about the equipment farmers use to produce quality peanuts and the investments made by each farmer when purchasing the equipment. University of Georgia economist Nathan Smith presented information on a farmer’s investment and operating costs for peanut equipment.  According to Smith, if a farmer purchases a tractor (200 hp, 4 Wheel Drive), six-row digger, four-row combine and peanut dump cart their total investment is approximately $325,000.  This is a large investment for a farmer since the only piece of equipment, the tractor, can be used with other crops. If a farmer is growing 300 acres then they would need $532 per ton on irrigated peanuts and $567 per ton on non-irrigated peantus to breakeven and be able to pay for the equipment.  The same farmer growing 300 acres would need to yield 4,920 pounds per acre on irrigated peanuts and 3,825 on non-irrigated peanuts to breakeven and be able to pay for the equipment.

So, how many acres of peanuts does a farmer need to grow to be able to pay for this equipment?
•  Assuming a 3,700 lb/ac yield and a price of $400/ton, a farmer would need to grow 935 acres of peanuts
•   If they combine 20 ac/day, it will take 47 days to combine 935 acres 

John Hayes with Lasseter Implement Company provides overview of the company on the Georgia Peanut Tour.

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2009 Peanut Acreage Report

Stanley Fletcher, University of Georgia ag economist and director of the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness, provided an overview on the tour regarding peanut production across the U.S.  According to the September 11, 2009, crop production report by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service peanut production is forecast at 3.68 billion pounds, down 29 percent from 2008. For 2009 planting was delayed by several weeks due to wet weather during the month of May. During this past year with the farmers checkoff money in organizations like the Georgia Peanut Commission and the National Peanut Board, we did not see the drop in peanut butter usage as one would have predicted due to the salmonella recall, Fletcher says. These checkoff organizations were able to help with marketing efforts and promoting peanuts and peanut butter.

2009 Georgia Peanut Production Map
2009 Southeast Peanut Production Map

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Value of the Peanut Tour

University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Assistant Dean of Extension Steve Brown attended the Georgia Peanut Tour this year. He has served in the past on the organizing committee of the tour when he worked as the peanut entomologist for UGA. Dr. Brown says the tour is well known throughout the country and the world as the best place to learn about peanuts.  The tour is held annually in the fall prior to peanut harvest. So, viewers of the blog should check back often to see when the date and location is set for the 2010 Georgia Peanut Tour.