Rodney Dawson, Pulaski County peanut farmer and Georgia Peanut Commission board member, discusses his farm operation to the Georgia Peanut Tour attendees on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008. Dawson farms with his brothers, Gary & John Dawson, Jr. They utilize the Peanut Intensive Management Program and through the scouting services of Emily Evans they are seeing a savings in their irrigation and fungicide applications. There is more information on Dawson Brothers Farm and the Intensive Management Program in earlier posts on this blog.

Here’s a short video clip of Chris Martin, Pulaski County farmer, on the 2008 Georgia Peanut Tour. He is discussing the transition he is making to growing organic peanuts on a small scale. There is an ealier post with more detail on the transition and what he has learned.

The next stop in the Plains, Ga. area highlighted peanut research through the University of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Agriculure. The group visited the Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center which was established in 1951. The center now maintains 512 acres and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed a foundation seed processing unit and the Department of Industry and Trade has created a welcome center for visitors to former President Jimmy Carter’s hometown. The site was selected years ago based on its heavy red clay soil which is predominant in this region of the state. This soil type can be difficult to farm but can be very productive when carefully managed.

Current research at the center focuses on every major crop in South Georgia including peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, wheat and canola. Researchers also study peaches and pecans. Animal scientists conduct breeding and forage studies using the station’s 75 head cow-calf herd. Researchers are conducting several research projects specific to peanuts and those include peanut variety trials at the center, herbicide tolerance in peanuts, peanut fungicide screening and economic analysis of peanuts.

About 40 percent of the center’s budget improves the quality of life for all Georgians. It provides vital benefits for the state’s agriculture industry, but it also reaches far beyond the farm.  Agricultural research helps provide safer and more nutritious foods, a cleaner environment, new industries and more comfortable homes and communities throughout the state.

Stan Jones, Georgia Peanut Tour chairman, is also the superintendent of the Southwest Georgia Research and Education Center.

The Georgia Peanut Tour would not have been complete in this area of the state without a visit to the home of the 39th President of the United States Jimmy Carter. Tour attendees were able to visit President Carter’s Boyhood Home and learn first hand about the life of President Carter as a child. President Carter made a suprise visit for the tour and talked about his days living in Plains and then in the White House. President Carter started his peanut business at the young age of five. That’s when he pulled up peanuts from his father’s field, cleaned them and boiled them. He then headed into Plains, Ga. to sale the boiled peanuts. He made money selling the boiled peanuts until he was 8 years old. Today, President Carter and Rosalynn are active with Habitat for Humanity. This weekend, Sept. 27, the town of Plains celebrates with the annual Peanut Festival. There are several activities planned all weekend. Learn more online at the Plains, Georgia web site.

Throughout the tour there were hundreds of photos and video taken. A photo album has been created on Flickr. Feel free to download any of these photos for your personal use. More info on Thursday tour stops will be added soon to the blog so check back often.

2008 Georgia Peanut Tour Photo Album

Joel Paz, University of Georgia Extension Agrometeorologist, also created two photo albums.
Check them out too.
Paz’s Photos from President Jimmy Carter visit

Paz’s Photos from Day 2 of the Georgia Peanut Tour

If anyone creates an online photo album of tour photos then email me the link and I’ll be glad to post it on the blog.

After a long day of traveling around south Georgia, touring several local peanut operations and businesses, the 2008 Georgia Peanut Tour group reached their last stop for the evening – The Georgia Agrirama. At the Agrirama tour participants had the opportunity to visit Georgia’s living museum of Agriculture. The grounds consist of five areas: a traditional farm community of the 1870s, an 1890s progressive farmstead, an industrial sites complex, rural town, national peanut complex, and the Museum of Agriculture Center. Over 35 structures have been relocated to the 95 acre site and faithfully restored or preserved. After touring the grounds of the Agrirama, tourists also had the opportunity to visit another structure found on the site – The National Peanut Museum. This museum is the home to several original peanut diggers and combines, along with several old photographs and artifacts. The museum also has a small theatre where visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a short film that briefly discusses the peanuts history to the industry covering all parts of peanut production – from the farm to the factory. As the tour comes to a close on Wed., tour group members are excited to fellowship together and prepare for another day touring and visiting agricultural operations and businesses that all revolve around one special thing…the peanut. Visit the Agrirama and National Peanut Museum online to learn more about their facilities.

Tift County – Brian Tankersley, Tift County Extension coordinator, provided information to the Georgia Peanut Tour group on agriculture in the county. Tift County farmers planted 16,000 acres of peanuts in 2008. Tankersley estimates production in 2008 at 25,000 tons. The county is very diverse with farmers growing peanuts, cotton, commercial vegetables, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum and small grains. The peanut crop looks good but farmers have had their share of dry weather this year. Farmers were also hit hard by the increasing cost of inputs such as fuel, chemicals and fertilizer. Learn more online at the Tifton and Tift County Tourism Association web site.

Turner County – Scott Utley, Turner County Extension Coordinator, says the major crops grown in Turner County are peanuts and cotton. Turner County farmers planted 14,000 acres of peanuts this year and Utley estimates production at 1.5 tons per acre. Approximately 60% of the farm land is irrigated in the county. Farmers have also been faced with the drought this year and problems with palmer amaranth. Overall the peanut crop looks good, Utley says. Turner County is also home to the world’s largest peanut. It is located on Interstate 75 at Exit 82 and serves as a monument to Georgia’s Official State Crop – the peanut. The county is also known for it’s popular Fire Ant Festival held the fourth weekend of March. Learn more at the Turner County Chamber of Commerce web site.

Worth County – Rusty Harris, Worth County Extension Coordinator, provided an update from the Peanut Capitol of the World. Farmers in the county planted 13,935 irrigated acres of peanuts and 20,021 dryland acres of peanuts. Harris expects the production to be 49,424.4 tons. In addition to peanuts, farmers also grow cotton, wheat, corn and soybeans. Farmers in the county have had several issues this year with pigweed, white mold in peanuts, and lesser cornstalk borer damage in peanuts. Farmers have also had weather related trouble with the drought and too much rain at some time during the growing season as well as storm damage. Worth County host the Georgia Peanut Festival the third weekend in October. Did you know that every jar of Peter Pan peanut butter is made right here in Worth County? Learn more online at the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce web site. 

Georgia Peanut Tour attendees received a special treat at the stop at Tifton Quality Peanuts. The National Peanut Buying Points Association was on hand grilling peanut butter sandwiches. The sandwiches are an easy snack to make. According to the chefs, you grill the peanut butter sandwich like you would a grilled cheese sandwich. Ingredients include bread, peanut butter, apple jelly and butter. Of course, if a person wants to try Elvis’ favorite sandwich then add sliced bananas. The chefs are known for grilling these sandwiches at various peanut industry events across the U.S. In the video below they are serving the sandwiches at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference held in July earlier this year.

Dooly County – During the tour stop at Advanced Trailers in Vienna, Ga. the Dooly County Extension Coordinator Chuck Ellis met the group to provide an update on agriculture in Dooly County. The peanut acreage is up 15 to 20% in 2008. Last year the crop brought in a record yield of 3,700 lbs. per acre and Ellis says the 2008 crop is looking good too. Approximately 55% of the acreage is irrigated and farmers in the county are continuing to add pivots when they can get a permit. Approximately 95% of the acreage is in strip till. Growers have continued to have problems with glyphosate & ALS resistant pigweed in the county. The resistance was first noted in 2005 and continues to be a problem today. Dooly County is known as a major cotton producing county and is home to the Georgia Cotton Museum. Learn more about the Dooly County Cotton Museum online.

Wilcox County – Tim Smith, Wilcox County Extension Agent provided an update to tour attendees on agriculture in the county. Farmers in the county planted 16,280 acres of peanuts, 22,340 acres of cotton, 5,213 acres of wheat, 2,475 acres of soybeans, 2,560 acres of sorghum, 1,500 acres of watermelons, 212 acres of cantaloupe, 300 acres of string beans. This diverse agricultural county also has 6,200 acres in the conservation reserve program. According to Smith, the peanut crop looks good overall in Wilcox County. He estimates yields near 5,000 lbs. per acre for irrigated peanuts and 3,000 lbs. per acre for dryland peanuts. Farmers have faced many issues this year including the drought, high fuel costs and additional inputs and pest problems.