Dr. Yen-Con Hung, also introduced the group to a new web site that is being developed during the Hot Topics Seminar. This web site, Peanut Information Network System (PINS), will be one central place to find peanut organizations, peanut related publications, research results and training materials. The material on the Web site which is funded through USAID Peanut CRSP Project will be organized in three categories focusing on the producer, processor and consumer. The producer section will contain information useful for peanut farming and will contain information on agronomics and fertilization, diseases, pest management, irrigation, peanut drying and harvesting, peanut grading and testing as well as peanut storage. The processor section contains information on aflatoxin management, processing and sensory qualities, postharvest handling and storage, value added products and biodiesel. The consumer section highlights recipes, nutrition and health information and information on peanut allergies. Check out the new web site at www.worldpeanutinfo.com or www.ugapeanuts.com. The site is not available yet so check back often.

In addition to all the great tour stops at peanut farms, research centers and shelling plants the Georgia Peanut Tour is also known for great Southern hospitality and good country cooking. This year is no different. Tour attendees were able to sample boiled peanuts, fried quail, barbecue, fried chicken, a low country boil and peanut butter icecream. One stop on the tour was at Marise’s Country Cooking in Vienna, Ga. This restaurant is owned by the mayor’s wife, Marise. At this restaurant attendees had their choice of fried chicken, beef tips and rice, black eyed peas, collard greens, corn, fresh tomatoes, corn bread or biscuits. Desserts were also a big hit! Options included sweet potato pie, pecan pie, red velvet cake, chocolate cake, apple pie and the list goes on. So, next time you are passing by the area be sure to stop in. The restaurant is located off of Interstate-75 at Exit 109. You will be impressed by the food and great Southern hospitality!

Ronnie Barentine, Pulaski County Extension Coordinator, Rodney & Gary Dawson, Pulaski County farmers, and Emily Evans, scout for farmers in Pulaski County.

While in Pulaski County, Georgia Peanut Tour attendees learned about the Peanut Intensive Management program farmers are utilizing to provide total production management. Ronnie Barentine, Pulaski County Extension Director, developed the concept to help farmers in his area. Peanuts contribute $7 million to farm income in Pulaski County each year. There are 8,000 acres of peanuts grown in Pulaski County with a production of 12,000 tons. The primary crops grown in the county are cotton, peanuts and corn. This year farmers have been faced with the drought, high temperatures and high energy costs. Farmers in Pulaski County have utilized the Peanut Intensive Management Program since 2002 on 18,000 acres. The program involves the use of computer programs and integrated pest management to assist growers with management decisions. Computer programs consist of Irrigator Pro, Harv-Pro and AU Peanut and assist the farmers with irrigation scheduling, timely harvest decisions and scheduling fungicide applications. The Integrated Pest Management consists of scouting fields for weeds, insects and disease. Farmers in the area have also hired the services of Emily Evans in scouting their peanut fields. She is the eyes for them in the field when looking for insect or disease problems and enters information such as soil temperature to help with scheduling irrigation.

The program is working and grower testimonials indicate yield increases of 275 pounds. According to Barentine, the value of the program is $1.3 million to farmers in Pulaski County. By utilizing the AU Peanut Model farmers have been able to reduce the number of fungicide applications thus saving them some expense on the farm.

Wednesday during the Georgia Peanut Tour attendees were able to visit with Chris Martin, a farmer in Pulaski County. Martin is trying his hand at growing organic peanuts on a small scale. He has been very successful in the past at growing low input conservation till peanuts so the next step for him to try is organic peanut production. The majority of organic peanuts are produced in Texas and New Mexico, but these states are unable to meet the growing demand. The Georgia climate is excellent for growing peanuts, but they have to be sprayed with pesticides to control insects, weeds and diseases due to the hot humid climate. Researchers have been successful in growing organic peanuts in small plots, but needed research at the farm level. Martin prepared the land and agreed to grow 5 acres of organic peanuts on his farm in 2007. He planted 4 acres of variety DP-1 and 1 acre of the variety Georganic. Martin plowed and irrigated the peanuts and did not apply pesticides during the growing season. The yields for the 2007 crop were 3,000 pounds per acre. “The peanuts in the test yielded just as good as my peanuts I sprayed with pesticides,” Martin says. So, now in 2008, he has decided to participate in a three-year Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) transition study from conventional to organic peanuts. Martin has received tremendous assistance with this project from his local county Extension agent Ronnie Barrentine and other researchers with the University of Georgia and USDA.

Martin currently grows green peanuts for Hardy Farms for boiled peanuts. There has been an interest in growing organic peanuts for the boiling market. Consumers are continuing to demand organic foods so several major food companies have made a commitment to buy organic peanuts. There is also a growing demand for organic peanut butter. This may be a great project to try since the price received for organic peanuts is likely to be three times the amount received for farmer stock peanuts.
View video of Chris Martin on the Georgia Peanut Tour.

The Georgia Peanut Tour attendees also learned about Cook Industrial Electric Company’s operation in Vienna, Ga. while visiting Advanced Trailers headquarters. Cook Industrial Electric Company has been serving the businesses of Southwest Georgia since the early 1960’s. While agriculture has seen dramatic technological and economic changes Cook Industrial has remained faithful to their original philosophy: to fairly provide our customers with products and services that will maximize productivity and minimize downtime. Known for their Blueline Peanut and crop dyers, Cook Industrial Electric has evolved into a highly diversified company that is rarely found in a rural area such as southwest Georgia. Their Blueline dryer is a simple design and operation, energy-efficient and trouble-free. This industrial dryer helps peanut farmers increase their production numbers while lowering the operating costs. In addition, peanuts that have been through a Blueline dryer have a higher quality. To learn more about the Cook Industrial Electric Company, visit their Website.