Pam Knox of the University of Georgia discussed the differences between weather and climate and how both affect agriculture. Weather focuses on short-term conditions such as temperature, rainfall, frost, and storms, while climate looks at longer-term patterns that influence farming decisions. 

Knox highlighted the role of climate variability, including El Niño and La Niña, in shaping seasonal conditions across the Southeast. She also explained that Georgia has experienced significant warming since about 1970. While precipitation has not changed as dramatically, rainfall patterns are becoming more variable, with heavier rain events and longer dry periods. 

These changes can create challenges for Georgia farmers, including drought, erosion, heat stress, pests, diseases, and increased water needs. At the same time, longer growing seasons may provide opportunities for double cropping and other production changes. 

Knox emphasized that understanding climate trends can help farmers prepare for the future. Producers can use climate information to make better decisions about planting dates, crop selection, irrigation, pest management, and protecting livestock and outdoor workers from extreme heat. Planning ahead will be important for maintaining productive and resilient farms as Georgia’s climate continues to change. 

View the 2026 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

Wes Porter of the University of Georgia discussed the importance of irrigation management and water conservation during the Georgia Peanut Tour, emphasizing how critical efficient water use is to Georgia’s peanut industry. 

Porter highlighted Georgia’s extensive irrigation infrastructure, with approximately 1.4 million irrigated acres and nearly 27,000 center pivots across the state. With that level of irrigation, he stressed the importance of using water efficiently and making informed decisions about when and how much to irrigate. 

Porter encouraged growers to move beyond waiting for visible crop stress before irrigating. He outlined several tools available to producers, including checkbook methods, smartphone apps, computer models and soil moisture sensors. Newer technologies are also combining soil moisture data with crop-growth models and artificial intelligence. 

For peanuts, finding the right balance is especially important. Under-irrigation can reduce yields, while over-irrigation can waste water and money and lead to excessive vegetative growth rather than productive growth. 

Cost is another major consideration, particularly with diesel-powered irrigation systems. Porter noted that irrigation can represent a significant production expense, making efficient management increasingly important. 

He also discussed the dry conditions leading into the 2026 growing season. Much of Georgia entered planting season with below-average water levels, creating additional challenges for growers. 

For peanut growers, the goal is finding the right balance: providing the crop with the water it needs without over-irrigating or adding unnecessary costs.

View the 2026 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

We would like to welcome you to the 2026 Georgia Peanut Tour. Whether this is your first time joining us or you are a “Peanut Tour Veteran,” we are very happy to host you on our 38^th tour. As in previous years, you will be immersed in the production of one of Georgia’s most important agricultural crops. We hope this experience gives you greater insight into the challenges our farmers face, as well as the many reasons we proudly say that the world’s best peanuts are produced in Georgia. On this year’s tour you will be see peanut production from A to Z. It is our hope that you will come away with a great understanding and appreciation of the legacy, hard work, and dedication that go into peanut production in our state. Those engaged in the peanut industry, including farmers, buyers, processors, researchers, Extension personnel, and representatives of the Georgia Peanut Commission, are proud that Georgia is the leading peanut-producing state in the United States, and we are excited to share this year’s crop with you.

The 2026 Georgia Peanut Tour is staged in the south-east region of our state’s production area and begins on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 22, with a “Hot Topics” symposium. Expert speakers will provide updates on the status of this year’s peanut crop, with a special focus on enhancing the resilience of the peanut industry.

The next two days of the tour will provide opportunities to learn more about peanut production, research, processing and more. Field visits will give you a glimpse of peanut production, digging, and harvest. You will also learn about the important role research plays in the peanut industry, from improving crop production in Georgia to managing pests and addressing other challenges facing growers. The tour will also take you through several important parts of the peanut industry and production chain, including stops at the Ports of Savannah, the Southeast Research and Education Center, Mana Nutrition and other locations.

Again, on behalf of the Peanut Tour Committee, with members from the USDA-ARS Peanut Lab, the Georgia Peanut Commission, and the University of Georgia, I warmly welcome you to the 38^th Georgia Peanut Tour! We hope that over the next few days you will better appreciate the complexity of the peanut industry in Georgia and the personal commitments from all involved in producing the world’s finest peanuts! We hope our events will allow for fellowship and that you enjoy Georgia’s hospitality exploring a beautiful, rural part of our state. We offer our sincere thanks to all the sponsors, who through their generosity, help make this tour possible. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you as we travel the highways and byways of our state’s production area. We are proud of our peanut farmers and our peanut industry, and we are happy that we can share them with you.

View the 2026 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

The thirty-eight annual Georgia Peanut Tour will be held Sept. 22-24, 2026, in Savannah, Georgia, and the surrounding area. The tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties in South Georgia.

Attendees can expect to see first-hand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour hosts many exciting stops including on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, research at the University of Georgia Southeast Research and Education Center, Georgia Ports Authority and MANA Nutrition.

The tour kicks off this year with the Hot Topics Seminar on Sept. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at The Clyde Venue in Savannah, Georgia. The seminar topics include an update on the 2026 Georgia peanut crop and a special focus on production challenges, enhancing production and climate issues with emphasis on irrigation, fertilizer and other inputs.

For attendees flying, the closest airport is the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Savannah, Georgia. Hotel accommodations can be made at the host hotels, Embassy Suites Savannah Historic District or the Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah Historic District in Savannah, Georgia, by calling 800-548-8690 and mention the code 90P for Embassy Suites and 90W for Hampton Inn. Reservations can also be made online. The room block’s deadline is Aug. 7, 2026.

For specific tour info or details, contact David West at 229-386-3470.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the USDA-ARS National Peanut Laboratory coordinate the tour.

Register online  (Online Registration Now Closed)
Print Registration Form
Download Tour Schedule
Driving Directions & Maps – Wednesday
(Thursday map not available since everyone will be riding the buses)
Download Sponsorship Packet

We would like to welcome you to the 2025 Georgia Peanut Tour. Whether this is your first time with us, or you are a “Peanut Tour Veteran,” we are very happy to host you on our 37^th tour. As in previous years, you will be immersed in the production efforts of one of Georgia’s most important agricultural crops, and we hope this gives you better insight not only into the challenges our farmers face, but also reasons why we say that the world’s best peanuts are produced in Georgia. It is our hope that you will come to better understand and appreciate the heritage of peanut production in our state. Those engaged in the peanut industry, including farmers, buyers, processors, researchers, Extension personnel, and Georgia Peanut Commission representatives, are proud that Georgia is the leading peanut-producing state in the United States, and we are excited to share this year’s crop with you.

The 2025 Georgia Peanut Tour is staged in the south-central region of our state’s production area and begins on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 16, with a “Hot Topics” symposium. Expert speakers will address the status of our peanut crop and provide a special focus on enhancing the resilience of the peanut industry.

The next two days of the tour provide you an opportunity to learn more about production, research, processing and more. Field visits will provide you with a glimpse of peanut production, digging, and harvest. In addition, you will learn about the importance of on-farm research collaborations between the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and commercial peanut farmers. The tour also includes visits down the supply chain to Tifton Quality Peanut’s shelling plant and Douglas Peanut’s buying point. Attendees will also tour Columbo, MANA, BCT Gin, and more!

Again, on behalf of the Peanut Tour Committee, with members from the USDA-ARS Peanut Lab, the Georgia Peanut Commission, and the University of Georgia, I warmly welcome you to the 37^th Georgia Peanut Tour! We hope that over the next few days you will better appreciate the complexity of the peanut industry in Georgia and the personal commitments from all involved in producing the world’s finest peanuts! We hope our events will allow for fellowship and that you enjoy Georgia’s hospitality exploring a beautiful, rural part of our state. We offer our sincere thanks to all the sponsors, who through their generosity, help make this tour possible. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you as we travel the highways and byways of our state’s production area. We are proud of our peanut farmers and our peanut industry, and we are happy that we can share them with you.

The thirty-seventh annual Georgia Peanut Tour will be held September 16-18, 2025, in Valdosta, Georgia, and the surrounding area. The tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties in South Georgia.

Attendees can expect to see first-hand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour hosts many exciting stops including on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, as well as, research projects through the University of Georgia Extension Service.

For attendees flying, the closest airport is the Valdosta Regional Airport in Valdosta, Georgia. Hotel accommodations can be made at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 2 Meeting Place Drive, Valdosta, Ga. 31601 by calling 229-241-1234 or Fairfield Inn & Suites at 2010 W. Hill Ave., Valdosta, Ga. 31601 by calling 229-242-1225. Reservations can also be made online. The room block deadline is Aug. 18, 2025.

For specific tour info or details, contact David West at 229-386-3470.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the USDA-ARS National Peanut Laboratory coordinate the tour.

Online registration is closed. Individuals can register on-site.
Tour Schedule
Map & Driving Directions: Wednesday, Sept. 17 & Thursday, Sept. 18
Download Sponsorship Packet

The first stop of the 2024 Georgia Peanut Tour was a stop at the 102 year old farm, Davis Farms, in Terrell County, Georgia. Davis Farms is owned and operated by Glenn and Riley Davis. They farm peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans and pecans on approximately 4,500 acres. Riley is a fourth generation farmer and feels very fortunate that his father helped him get a start in farming once he finished college. Riley hopes to be able to pass the love of farming onto his three boys, Luke, Drew and Landon.  Learn more about Riley and why he is proud to be a Georgia farmer from a WALB News Interview.

This stop highlighted the first step of harvesting peanuts which includes digging the peanuts up out of the ground. The field of the runner type of peanut, Georgia-12Y, was planted April 15 and is currently 152 days old. According to recent maturity tests of the field, the field has about 10 to 14 days until it reaches full maturity. Digging too early can cause a loss so farmers use the peanut maturity board and pod blasting to determine the optimum time for digging their peanuts.

The field was planted behind a cover crop of black oats and radish. Riley strip tilled the peanuts in at planting. Throughout the season, Riley has an issues with drought in the dry corners of the field where the irrigation does not apply water to the crop. He has also had issues with spider mites which thrive in dry conditions.

Terrell County, Georgia is in the heart of peanut production in the state. According to Seth McAllister, Terrell County Extension agent, the county has 60,000 acres of row crops. Many farmers in the county plant using a 3-year rotation of corn, cotton and peanuts.

To learn more about peanut production in the state of Georgia, click here.

View the 2024 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album.

The thirty-sixth annual Georgia Peanut Tour will be held September 17-19, 2024, in Americus, Georgia, and the surrounding area. The tour brings the latest information on peanuts while giving a first-hand view of industry infrastructure from production and handling to processing and utilization. Tour stops will be made in several peanut producing counties in South Georgia.

Attendees can expect to see first-hand nearly every aspect of peanut production in the state. This year’s tour hosts many exciting stops including on-farm harvest demonstrations and clinics, as well as, research at the University of Georgia Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center and the USDA-ARS National Peanut Research Lab.

Hotel accommodations can be made at the host hotel, The Windsor in Americus, Georgia by calling 229-331-7076. A standard room ranges from $129 – $199++ (depending on room type). Breakfast is not included in the room at The Windsor. Be sure to ask for the 2024 Georgia Peanut Tour room block when making a reservation. Additional rooms are available at the Hampton Inn in Americus. A standard room is $129++ (breakfast included). Call 229-924-3890 and mention the Georgia Peanut Tour for a discounted rate. The room block’s deadline is Aug. 16, 2024.

For attendees flying, the closest airport is the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany, Georgia.

For specific tour info or details, contact David West at 229-386-3470.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the USDA-ARS National Peanut Laboratory coordinate the tour.

Registration for the 2024 Georgia Peanut Tour is now closed.
Download Sponsorship Packet
Tour Schedule
Map & Driving Directions – Wed., Sept. 18 & Thurs., Sept. 19.

During the final stop on the Georgia Peanut Tour attendees were able to tour the grower-owned peanut processing facility, American Peanut Growers Group, which is based in Donalsonville, Georgia. Throughout the tour, attendees were able to visit the buying point, shelling plant, blancher and learn more about APGG’s new peanut ingredient processing facility. APGG was formed in late 2002 and the company includes two buying points, two shelling plants, one blancher, one cold storage facility, multiple warehouses, a feed mill, a solar field for renewable energy and their newest venture, a ready-to-eat peanut ingredient facility.

Neal Flannagen, president and CEO of APGG, welcomed attendees to APGG and provided an overview of the facility. The first step of the process includes peanuts arriving to APGG from the farm. APGG currently processes 80,000 tons of farmer stock peanuts at their buying point.

When peanuts first arrive their moisture level is checked. If the moisture level is not below 10.49 percent, then the peanuts are sent to the drying shed. Once peanuts are dried, they are cleaned if needed and then they are inspected and graded by the Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service. Then the peanuts are stored in a warehouse on-site at APGG until they are needed.

APGG sells raw and blanched peanuts to all major peanut product manufacturers in the U.S. and many companies worldwide. APGG offers bulk packaging to their customers through rail cars or semi-trucks. Additionally, APGG exports peanuts to customers in South America, Europe and Asia, through the port of Savannah, Georgia, which is one of the busiest ports on the east coast of the United States.

APGG has the ability to roast 20,000 pounds of peanuts per hour. After roasting they temper the peanuts for six to eight hours before shipping. Peanuts can also go to the blancher where the red skin is removed. The blanched peanuts are sorted by size, splits are removed, and orders are shipped based on customer specifications.

In 2022, APGG began their newest venture with the creation of the American Peanut Ingredients, LLC (API). The new 140,000 square-foot facility includes an additional shelling plant and a ready-to-eat peanut ingredient plant. The new venture allows API the ability to sale peanut butter in bulk, peanut paste or as a granule.

One unique thing about the grower owners of APGG is that they have a higher percentage of irrigated land than the state average for Georgia. All of the APGG farmer members are excellent growers who deliver exceptional quality and high yields to APGG’s shelling plants.

For more information on APGG visit their website at www.apgg.com.

View the 2023 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

Mark Abney, peanut entomologist at the University of Georgia, provided an overview of his work during the 2023 Georgia Peanut Tour. He receives the question many times from people asking, what does the peanut entomologist at University of Georgia do?

According to Abney, peanuts are not really any different than other agricultural commodities and the focus now is on sustainability.

“In order to be sustainable, you have to be profitable and insects threaten profitability right,” Abney says. “Insects in the field are going to eat the crop and they are either eating the leaves and we need leaves to make peanuts or they are eating the peanuts.”

At the end of the day, insects can cost growers money. Even though, Abney can find insects in almost every field in Georgia, the insects do not always need to be controlled. Some of the insects are pests while some of the insects are beneficial. In some cases, the insects present may be a pest but the population in the field may not warrant an insecticide application.

For growers, trying to manage insects can be troublesome. That is where Abney sees his role as the peanut entomologist in helping growers. Abney conducts research on the insects that occur in peanuts, develops thresholds and evaluates chemistry of products for insect management.

When Abney evaluates chemistry, he looks at the insecticides that are available, what works best, what is most economical to put on the peanut crop to manage the insect pests that farmers have so they can preserve yield and preserve profitability.

According to Abney, it is important for individuals to know that farmers don’t kill insects for fun. Farmers work to manage insects in their field and should use insecticides in crops when the insect pest is going to cause yield loss.

“If they’re going to cause yield loss that costs more than what it costs to kill them, then that’s the only time we should manage insect pests in the crop,” Abney says.

Every year is different in terms of insect and disease pressure and 2023 is no different. This production year started out cool and with thrips pressure and tomato spotted wilt virus. In August, farmers had caterpillars including velvet bean caterpillars come in the last few weeks of the growing season.

Abney’s research and extension program focuses on determining what the best products are, what the best tools are and what the best practices are to reduce the risk of insect injury and then control those insects or manage those insects when they do occur in the field.

So, when it gets right down to it the goal of my research and extension program is to understand the insect pests that are present and learn how to best manage them,” Abney says. “Then what can we do to manage them when they occur and then get that information out to our growers so that they can implement those practices on their farm and ultimately preserve yield and profitability.”

View the 2023 Georgia Peanut Photo Album.