Laurens County Extension Coordinator, Raymond Joyce, says the peanut crop in Laurens County looks good this year.  Peanut acreage in the county continues to decline and shifting to soybean acreage and longleaf pine. The total peanut acreage for 2008 was 3,923 acres and the 2009 acreage for the county is even less at 1,654 acres. The drop in the number of farmers growing peanuts has also declined from 40 to 50 down to 10 or less growers. Peanut farmers have faced production issues with controlling herbicide resistant weeds, high input prices, and low commodity prices. Farmers in Laurens County also grow soybeans, corn, cotton, and hay.