Nolin Steel is a third-generation family manufacturer, that values on quality, integrity and constant improvement. They provide in-house design, quality materials and cutting-edge technology with a customer-focused process from start to finish.

Beginning in 1975 with Guy and Frank Nolin, Nolin Steel’s roots and passion began and remain in the peanut industry; however, Nolin is quickly becoming a leading provider of processing and handling systems for dry bulk solids.

For peanuts specifically, Nolin supplies equipment and turnkey projects throughout the world and serve all segments of the industry. In addition to system designs and modeling services, they handle installation, millwright and maintenance services.

Segments of the peanut industry Nolin serves: buying points, commercial shelling, blanching, seed shelling, in-shell cleaning and processing, and specialty niche projects.

To learn more about their peanut systems, click the following link: Information on Peanut Systems.

To watch a brief video summarizing their quality of their peanut systems, click the following link: Quality Preciseness and Simplicity

View the 2024 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album.

After leaving the farm, tour attendees traveled over to the Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center and Georgia Seed Development. Here, they split into two groups to tour each.

Georgia Seed Development is responsible for overseeing the foundation plant material production in Georgia. As a nonprofit, self-supporting organization, GSD provides economic support for new business opportunities that help keep agriculture as Georgia’s No. 1 industry. This effort has resulted in more than $15 million of additional support for University of Georgia cultivar development since 1997.

Overseen by an 11-member board, operating funds are derived from seed and vegetative plant material sales, as well as royalty fees for cultivars developed by UGA.

GSD works closely with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the University of Georgia Research Foundation and the Georgia Crop Improvement Association in supporting various research projects and in bringing new cultivars to market. GSD has an active seed production program for most crops grown in the state including peanuts, soybeans, small grains, cotton, canola, blueberries and bahia grass. Their programs maintain varietal identity and high seed quality as they increase seed quantities from a small amount of breeder seed to a sufficient volume of certified seed and plant stock for commercial crops. Quality factors such as purity, germination and freedom from noxious weeds are monitored during the certification process.

Georgia Seed Development also maintains foundation material of vegetatively propagated turfgrass and horticultural cultivars developed by the University of Georgia and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service.

GSD’s peanut program is housed at their Plains, Georgia, location. They recently completed a multi-year expansion of this facility to add enhanced equipment for drying, storage, shelling and treating peanuts. The Plains facility also has the capacity to condition and store small grains and soybeans using an air-screen machine with flat bag storage. A large temperature- and humidity-controlled room at this site provides long-term seed storage.

View the 2024 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album.

While at LMC Manufacturing, tour attendees had an opportunity to sample grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made by Tyron Spearman, executive director of the National Peanut Buying Points Association.

Tyron Spearman (left) and Wesley Powell grill peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the tour attendees.

Each year, Spearman joins attendees on the tour and gives them a taste of America’s favorite sandwich with a unique twist. Spearman says the key to a great grilled PB&J is to mix your peanut butter and jelly together first before spreading it on the bread. After that, you can butter each side of the sandwich and grill it just like you would a grilled cheese. Be sure to try it at home!

Below is a throwback video from the 2016 tour, where Spearman describes the simple process of making your own grilled PB&J.

View the 2023 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

Lewis Carter, Jr. welcomes Georgia Peanut Tour attendees to LMC Manufacturing in Donalsonville, Georgia.

After leaving SunSouth, tour attendees headed over to LMC Manufacturing. With a history of more than 80 years, LMC has been a leader in producing world class machinery. The company offers solutions tailored to meet the needs of a specific industry and/or company. From gravity separation machines and destoners to vibratory conveyors, LMC produces custom-built industrial separation equipment for the customer’s unique processing requirements.

Throughout the years, the Carter family has built equipment ranging from peanut shellers for Georgia farmers to bow hooks for the Navy during World War II. At the root of it all remains the consistent mechanical innovations helping numerous industries operate smarter and more efficiently.

LMC’s focus on process application separates it from other manufacturers. This focus drives them to understand the process and design applications with specific purposes. LMC equipment is custom-built for the required process whether for a food product or recyclable materials and is adaptable for a variety of commodities.

LMC is committed to delivering peanut processing systems and equipment to help peanut processors achieve maximum capacity and efficiency for their dollar. Originating from the rural peanut farms of South Georgia, LMC has become the world leader in peanut shellers and equipment for the peanut shelling process. LMC equipment is responsible for shelling 90 percent of the commercial peanut market. These machines are designed specifically to maximize processing speed along with separation effectiveness.

What makes LMC unique is the staff of peanut specialists that can design, build, deliver and install an entire peanut processing operation. From cleaning to separating, back to cleaning and shelling, LMC equipment can go through the entire process customized to the customer’s specifications. Also, by removing the lower-grade peanut prior to shelling, the end-produce will be of the best quality, yielding the ultimate monetary profit.

Below are some of the types of peanut processing systems LMC can design and build from the ground up. To learn about each, click here.

• Peanut Shellers
• Sizing Shakers
• Destoners
• Aspirators
• Peanut Blanchers
• Vibratory Conveyors
• Gravity Separators
• Easy Dump Elevators
• Air Gap Cleaners

With LMC’s large range of peanut customers, they have made contacts all across the globe including: South America, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the Western United States including California.

Click the video below to learn more about LMC and the Lewis Carter Family.

View the 2023 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

Georgia Peanut Tour attendees began Thursday morning at SunSouth in Donalsonville, Georgia. SunSouth, LLC formed in June 2006. Joining forces with several local tractor cornerstones, SunSouth began with 11 stores, and by 2016 grew to 21 locations in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The SunSouth team prides itself on integrity, quality, commitment and innovation.

SunSouth representative, Russ Worsley, shows tour attendees a KMC digger.

During the stop, SunSouth employees discussed the different types of equipment farmers use to produce a crop of peanuts and the investment it requires. From John Deere tractors to peanut planting and harvesting equipment, as well as equipment to spray the crop when necessary, SunSouth offered tour attendees a chance to understand the cost associated with farming.

Tour attendees learn about the investment of an Amadas combine.

John Deere tractors are on display for tour attendees.

Below is a list of some of the equipment discussed and the estimated cost associated with each:

• John Deere 8R 280 – $360,000
• John Deere 8R 310 – $435,000
• John Deere 6 or 8 row planter – $50,000-$70,000 (depending on specs and technology)
• John Deere 12 row planter – $200,000
• John Deere See & Spray – $800,000+
• KMC Digger – $50,000
• KMC Dump Cart – $75,000
• Amadas Unload-on-the-Go Combine – $240,000

To put it into perspective, a farmer’s peanut yield would have to be near 4,500lbs per acre to breakeven at $535/ton.

View the 2023 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

After enjoying lunch, the Georgia Peanut Tour attendees traveled a short drive up the road to learn more about the equipment farmers need and use in peanut production.

“We design and build farm and land development equipment to give our customers peace of mind that our products will always perform on demand no matter how demanding.” This is the mission statement of Harrell Ag Products, located in Bainbridge, Ga.

Brandon Ellerbee, Harrell Ag Sales Manager, visits with GPT attendees.

Since 1954, the Harrell Family has served the farming community with innovative products, service, parts and technical support that their customers expect and deserve. From land preparation to harvest, Harrell Ag has developed products to meet the farmer’s need every step of the way. In the late ’50s, they introduced the 4-Row Vada Cultivator frame, and in the ’60s and ’70s, they developed a line of cotton and peanut transport equipment, as well as on-farm crop drying equipment. Later in the 1980s and 1990s, cotton module builders, boll buggies and module feeder systems were added to their line up.

 

The on-land switch plow, which is still used around the world today, was patented by Harrell Ag. In the past 20 years, they have continued innovation by introducing new products like a crop chopper, cotton stalk puller and the rock-n-root rake.

 

 

 

With almost 75 years of manufacturing agricultural equipment, the team at Harrell Ag understands the needs of the farming community.

 

To learn more about their products, click here.

To locate a dealer near you, click here.

View the 2023 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

After leaving the peanut field, tour attendees traveled to Sylvester, Georgia, to visit the Birdsong Peanuts shelling facility. For five generations, Birdsong Peanuts has delivered naturally nutritious peanuts to manufacturers around the corner and around the world. Birdsong buys carefully selected peanuts directly from the farmers’ fields. The peanuts are then cleaned, shelled, sized and shipped in truckload lots to manufacturers who turn them into many popular food items sold across the globe, from peanut butter to peanut candies.

Birdsong serves its customers from five shelling plants. The plants are supported by many buying points and warehouses to store 2.4 billion pounds of Farmers Stock peanuts. Their cold storage facilities keep 250 million pounds of shelled peanuts in a controlled environment for their customers.

Video and photography is not allowed inside the plant; however, here is a short video showing a glimpse inside Birdsong’s Suffolk, Virginia, location.

View the 2022 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

Located in Camilla, Georgia, Hays LTI has been providing agricultural equipment for more than 50 years. A family-owned and operated business, Hays is best known for its dry fertilizer tenders and liquid tankers. Their equipment can be purchased, rented or both.

Every Hays-LTI product is hand-crafted on site in their state-of-the-art facility located in Camilla, Georgia. Their user-friendly design and attention to detail is what makes their equipment stand the test of time. From fertilizer plants to fields, their equipment moves liquid and dry fertilizer in over 42 states.

The company’s rental fleet includes more than 900 trailers that make up 40% of the company’s income. This option allows customers to have a known cost with no upkeep or repair.

The Hays Tender for dry fertilizer was developed in 2010 and has changed the market. This particular piece of equipment offers a lower trailer weight, equating to extra payload; greater slope on the hoppers for easier unload; covered hydraulic lines and hoses for protection from fertilizer; and all stainless steel augers, bearings, nuts and bolts. Hays employees can produce roughly seven tenders per week.

Hays’ current location was constructed in 2016 and contains all company operations on 60 acres. The location employs 65 people and generates better lead times, as well as the ability to grow the company’s product line and include other fertilizer hauling equipment.

Founder of Hays LTI, Mr. Ray Hays, started a sweet tradition after his retirement. When he called on customers, he wanted to take them something homemade, so Hays began baking homemade pecan pies for Mr. Hays to share. His daughter, Donna, said he never left town without an ice chest full of pecan pies. When he stopped to visit customers, he enjoyed giving out a homemade pecan pie, piece of literature, a business card and good handshake. Today in the Hays kitchen, they make about 600 pies a month to share with friends, vendors and customers. Tour attendees were able to have a slice on their visit, as well.

Donna Hays Stewart, co-owner of Hays LTI, attributes the following life lessons to what she feels help make their family business successful:

• Be on time
• Work hard
• Do things right the first time
• Take pride in what you do
• Protect your name
• Learn from your mistakes, try not to make them again
• Show appreciation and stay humble
• Believe that you can and never give up – don’t quit
• Value people, all people
• Build strong relationships
• Treat people right
• Give 110%
• Love what you do and trust God

Check out this video showcasing their products from the ground up!

View the 2022 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

Upon leaving the Georgia Department of Ag Seed Lab, the Peanut Tour caravan headed over to Kelley Manufacturing Co. in Tifton. Kelley Manufacturing Co. has been building dependable equipment for progressive farming for more than 45 years. Their Tifton site occupies 28 acres, with 193,000 square feet under roof and more than 210 employees year round.

Since 1966, Kelley Manufacturing Co. has been committed to their original philosophy of maintaining integrity, quality and craftsmanship. Their engineers are continually researching and developing fresh and innovative products to help increase the farmer’s profits and productivity.

Kelley Manufacturing’s product line is complete in that they build equipment for every phase of the farming process – from initial ground preparation through the field cleanup after harvest. Few manufacturers offer such a wide range of products to their customers. KMC employs some of the top engineers and specialists in the manufacturing process and hand-builds every component and machine sold.

During the KMC stop, peanut tour attendees were able to hear more about the history of KMC, participate in a tour of the plant showcasing how the equipment is manufactured, as well as  a hands-on tour of peanut equipment! 

View the 2022 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

After seeing how peanuts are harvested from the field, the Georgia Peanut Tour attendees stopped at Tifton Peanut Company to see what happens once the peanuts leave the farm. Tifton Peanut Company has six locations in Tifton and offers multiple services for the peanut farmer. They are a shelling plant, seed treatment facility, buying point and warehousing facility.

Tour attendees arrive at Tifton Peanut Company.

Peanut arrive to Tifton Peanut Company on wagons or semi-trailers.

Peanuts arrive from the farm to Tifton Peanut Company via wagons or semi-trailers. If needed, the peanuts will go through a cleaner where dirt, rocks, sticks, etc. are removed. The moisture of the peanuts is then read and if needed, the peanuts may go into a dryer if moisture is above 10.5 percent. This threshold is determined by USDA; however, Tifton Peanut Company prefers to dry their peanuts to nine percent to prevent any storage issues throughout the year. A flexible duct extending from a fan is attached to the front or back of a semi-trailer or wagon, where air that is no more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient temperature and no higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit is pushed through the peanuts to dry them.

Peanuts are dried if needed.

The trailers the peanuts arrive on are sent to a mechanical sampler, where wagons are probed eight times and a semi-trailer is probed 15 times. In semi trailers, this equates to roughly a 150-200 lb. peanut sample. From there, a 3,600 gram sample goes into a riffle divider that divides the sample in half. One half is an official grade sample that goes into the grading room and the other as a “just in case sample” to double-check accuracies of the grading or to use in case something happens with the initial grade sample.

Peanuts are sampled for grading under this shed.

Tifton Peanut Company offers green grading, also known as high moisture grading. This allows peanuts to be graded up to 18 percent moisture, which results in a deduction in grade and value and requires the load to go back on a dryer; however, the peanuts are not required to be re-graded. Check out the video below to see how the grading process works.

For seed treatment, peanut seed is shelled and stored in 2,200 lb. totes. A 5 lb. sample is retained out of that and sent off for germination where it has to germ to at least 75 before it can be put on the market. Tifton Peanut Company does not save anything unless it’s 85 or above. Once it has a germination, they will work through Georgia Crop Improvement to get tags for that lot. Each lot is 45,000 lbs. From there, the peanut seed goes through a shaker to eliminate any splits. It then receives a fungicide treatment. There are several different types of treatment available. Tifton Peanut Company uses a polymer treatment they feel better protects the peanut and allows them to color it for identification. After being treated, the peanuts go back in the 2,000 lb. tote bags or 50 lb. bags and return to storage until farmers are ready to purchase for planting season. Planting season for peanuts begins in the April/May timeframe each year. Good quality seed is critical for peanut farmers. And a 4 oz. seed treatment can be the determining factor on whether a crop is successful.

Peanut seed is treated at Tifton Peanut Company.

View the 2022 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album