After leaving the University of Georgia’s Gibbs Research Farm, the Peanut Tour caravan headed over to Kelley Manufacturing Co. in Tifton. Kelley Manufacturing Co. is the industry’s leader in developing top-quality peanut harvesting equipment. They have significantly impacted the peanut industry through providing state-of-the-art equipment. KMC employs some of the top engineers and specialists in the manufacturing process with over 180 employees. All products are built in-house at the manufacturing facility located in Tifton, Ga. Each piece of equipment is designed with the farmer’s needs in mind, ensuring a top quality implement that will produce top quality results. 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! Check out the video below of equipment parts receiving a fresh coat of paint!
Author: Jessie Bland
Peanut Research at the University of Georgia’s Gibbs Research Farm
Georgia Peanut Tour attendees were able to see some of the ongoing research being conducted at the University of Georgia’s Gibbs Research Farm in Tifton, Ga., on the second stop of the tour. The Gibbs Research Farm is one of the many research farms in Georgia where peanut research takes place. During the stop, attendees were able to hear first-hand where research dollars are being spent and some of the latest research that is being carried out at the Gibbs Farm. Discussion of current issues affecting Georgia’s peanut production, such as the affects of the large amount of rainfall Georgia has received over the last several months and how it may affect crop yield, disease management and pest management were covered. 
All topics during this stop included discussion of planting, harvesting and crop development by Dr. John Beasley; nematode management and early season fungicide application by Dr. Bob Kemerait; information on the USDA-ARS breeding program by Dr. Corley Holbrook; peanut insect management research by Dr. Mark Abney; weed science and nutsedge issues in peanuts by Dr. Timothy Grey; foliar diseases in peanuts by Dr. Albert Culbreath; thrips and transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus by Dr. Babu Srinivasan; and peanut agronomic research by Dr. Scott Tubbs.
Attendees also had the opportunity try some of Tyron Spearman’s famous grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the Gibbs Farm stop. Tyron is with the National Peanut Buying Points Association and usually has the chance to share some of his grilled pb&js each year on the tour. According to Tyron, the key to making a great grilled pb&j is to mix your peanut butter and jelly before spreading it on your bread. Definitely a great twist on the original peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Colquitt County Ag Update
While at Sunbelt this morning, peanut tour attendees were able to hear a crop update on Colquitt County from Dr. John Beasley and Colquitt County extension agent, Matt Roberts. Below is an outline of the update from Roberts.
- Overall crop condition is good to very good, even after a rough start with cool conditions at planting, early Thrips pressure, and wet growing season. Things could certainly be worse right now.
- We have seen a huge acreage drop this year as we should have….went from probably an all time high or close to it of nearly 23000 to just a little more than 15000 about where we usually are. This was around 35% decease in acreage and still below the state average.
- Not sure on the price situation but i don’t foresee yield being anywhere close to last year’s numbers.
- We have run alot of maturity samples in the past week. Late April and very early May planted peanuts are running about 145 to 150 days. Later planted peanuts are running around 140 days. Looks like the crop is going to be ready all about the same time.
- There will be a good many dug in the next week or so.
- We have had a few growers dig and harvest. Grades have been in the low to mid 70s.
- Diseases have not been all that terrible this year. TSWV has maybe been a little worse than the past few years, especially on larger plants. Leaf spot and white mold have ramped up in the past weeks. If growers were more than two weeks from digging according to the profile board and a week or two from their last fungicide spray, we have recommended another application to get them through to harvest.
Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition: UGA researchers are taking things a step higher with UAVs
The first stop of the 27th annual Georgia Peanut Tour was the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie, Ga. Many of you may be familiar with the annual expo that takes place at Sunbelt each October. This facility is not only the home to one of the largest farm shows in the country, it is also home to a 600 acre research farm. At Sunbelt, Dr. John Beasley and Dr. Glenn Harris with the University of Georgia, demonstrated their research related to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) supported by the Georgia Peanut Commission, Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Centers of Innovation for Aerospace and Agribusiness, as well as the Sunbelt Ag Expo, University of Georgia Tifton Campus and Middle Georgia State College. Their project’s primary focus is on detecting pests, irrigation needs, diseases and nutrition issues in peanuts earlier in the production process.This early detection becomes a huge benefit to crops as it can help prolong the life of crops, better-manage pesticide applications, as well as maximize yields and profits. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems expects the unmanned aircraft systems industry to grow by leaps in bounds in the upcoming years, and believes agriculture is the largest potential sector for UAVs to be used. Check out this video demonstration of the UAV in action.