2022 Census of Agriculture underway

(Dec. 19, 2022) – Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed the 2022 Census of Agriculture paper questionnaires to all known agriculture producers across the nation and Puerto Rico. Last month, producers in the states received their survey codes with an invitation to respond online. Any producer who did not respond online now has the option to complete the ag census at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. Producers who have already responded to the 2022 Census of Agriculture online do not need to respond again. The deadline for response is Feb. 6, 2023.

“We encourage producers to respond online,” said USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Administrator Hubert Hamer. “We know producers are busy, which is why NASS worked to make responding to the ag census more convenient than ever before. The online questionnaire is secure and user friendly with several time saving features, such as skipping questions that do not pertain to the operation, pre-filling some information with previously reported data, and automatically calculating totals.”

The Census of Agriculture remains the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and U.S. territory. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included in the ag census. The data inform decisions about policy, programs, rural development, research, and more. The Census of Agriculture is the producer’s voice in the future of American agriculture.

Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the results of the ag census in 2024.

To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus.

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National Peanut Board elects officers

The National Peanut Board held its last meeting of 2022, Dec. 5 – 6, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Board approved a new slate of officers for a one-year term beginning on
Jan. 1, 2023.

Paul Rogers, a peanut farmer from Wakefield, Virginia, was elected chairman of the National Peanut Board during the quarterly meeting. Last year, Rogers served as vice chairman. Les Crall of Weatherford, Oklahoma, is the immediate past chairman.

Also, the National Peanut Board elected Greg Baltz of Pocahontas, Arkansas, as vice chairman; Casey Cox Kerr of Camilla, Georgia, as treasurer; and Neal Baxley of Mullins, South Carolina as secretary.

Committee meetings were also held including Strategic Planning and International Trade, Domestic Promotions, Evaluation and Measurement and Budget and Finance. The next board meeting is planned for in-person attendance Feb. 7-8, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Field Rows and Field Shows

Jim McArthur, better known as Randy the Farmer, has taken the social media platforms Tik Tok and YouTube by storm. He is well known for his comedic videos, especially when it comes to his infamous tripping and crazy wig. His fame due to his farming was a long time coming though.

McArthur had always grown up around the farm, but farming had not always been in his plans.“Growing up, I wasn’t your normal farm kid that was all about farming and loved it,” McArthur says. “I tolerated farming, but dad always had me doing the grunt work that he couldn’t ask his main guys to do like leveling peanuts in the wagon at harvest.”

McArthur is now a second-generation farmer but his family’s involvement in agriculture goes back further generations. His grandfather owned the peanut mill, which back then was known as McArthur Croft Peanut. It is now Malone Peanut in Malone, Florida. Also located in Malone is the chemical and feed store that his father currently runs. The feed store began back in the early eighties. His father began farming in 1974 and is still producing crops to this day. Forty-eight years later, McArthur is still producing peanut, cotton, and small grains on the family farm.

It was 2009 when he decided to move back and once he got home, he never left. A few short years later, McArthur and his wife welcomed their first child. Years continued to pass by, and McArthur continued to make videos for himself of small things around the farm. He quickly realized that YouTube videos heavily focused on farming were becoming a big hit and he decided to take a shot at it in 2020.

McArthur’s original game plan for his YouTube channel was for it to be cartoon-like and centered around kids. That was when his first video was created called the “Kitty Kat Seafood Bar.” Regulations and restrictions got in the way and his channel then morphed into the farm video channel it is today throughout multiple social media channels. His channel is now widely known as “Field Rows.”

Although McArthur’s success with “Randy” was never planned, he has become widely successful with roughly 339.2K followers. “Randy” began as a joke with his kids.
McArthur’s children loved the idea of crazy Uncle Randy and Aunt Sandy. The crazy wig, tightly tucked in shirt, and constant falling brought humor for the kids, but what McArthur did not realize was the humor it would bring for the entire world. “Randy’s” career on Tik Tok took off when one of McArthur’s close friends, Jeff, suggested he should try out the new social media platform Tik Tok. From the very first video, “Randy” was receiving a lot of traction.

McArthur and his wife now have three kids all while running a farm and a successful social media platform and business. Although his plate stays quite full, he still gets to follow his true passion of creating videos. McArthur truly is living his best life doing the three things he loves most, raising his kids, farming and creating videos. His success now gets him noticed in public places, but he would not have it any other way.

 

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Rippey Joins Alabama Peanut Producers Association

Kaycee Rippey joined the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) staff on Nov. 3, 2022, as the Communications Coordinator. Rippey holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences with a minor in Communications from Auburn University. She has been involved in agriculture throughout her life and has a passion to see it thrive.

Most recently, she worked as the Marketing Representative for Encore Rehabilitation, Inc. Rippey and her husband Clay are also looking forward to welcoming a baby girl in 2023.

Rippey is grateful for this opportunity and is excited to make an impact for Alabama peanut farmers.

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October/November 2022 – Southeastern Peanut Farmer

The October/November 2022 issue of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer is now available online.
Click here!

This issue features:

  • Field Rows and Field Shows
  • Williams Family Honored as Grand Marshal of Plains Peanut Festival Parade
  • 2022 Southern Peanut Growers Conference In Review
  • Peanuts for the Win
  • Young Leaders Take on West Texas
  • 2022 Georgia Peanut Tour Showcases Peanut Belt
  • Georgia Peanut Farm Show Set for Jan. 19, 2023, in Tifton
  • Georgia Peanut Achievement Club
  • Check off reports from the state grower organizations
  • Legislative Update
  • Southern Peanut Growers Update
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Peanut Organizations and Congress Comment on U.S. EPA’s Consideration of Revocation of Tolerances and Cancel Registrations for Certain Organophosphate Uses

Earthjustice petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to revoke tolerances and cancel registrations for the food uses of organophosphates. The U.S Peanut Federation, Georgia Peanut Commission, American Peanut Shellers Association and other peanut organizations filed comments in opposition to the revocation of tolerances or cancellation of registrations for certain organophosphate uses.

In addition, peanut state members of Congress also have raised concerns with the U.S. EPA.

See letters below.

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Report Drought Conditions

The National Drought Mitigation Center, the National Integrated Drought Information System and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Climate Hubs are working with states, tribes and others across the country to collect Condition Monitoring Observer Reports on
Drought (CMOR-Drought), including photos. We want to know how drought is affecting you. Report drought-related conditions and impacts within the U.S. This is a nation-wide service provided by the National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska, in partnership with the National Integrated Drought Information System. Information submitted by this form appears on a map and becomes part of a permanent public record. Please note that this form is not part of the process to apply for assistance.

How does this benefit you?
Your reports help us understand how drought is affecting local conditions. They appear on a map. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) author may consult the CMOR map to help identify areas that need more attention. The USDM triggers drought responses, including the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and Internal Revenue Service tax provisions. State agencies, including emergency management and
public safety, may also make use of maps to know where to direct assistance.
Download fact sheet.

Where do you find CMOR-drought reporting?
Landing page for CMOR-drought: go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
Includes current and archived maps of reports, and QR code for current form
Direct link to current CMOR-drought form: go.unl.edu/CMOR
Works on mobile*, tablet or computer *To report from your mobile phone, see “Getting started with the field app”

How often should you report?
We recommend that you submit a photo each month or each season, to provide an ongoing comparison of wet, dry and normal conditions. Of course, we also welcome more frequent submissions.

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July/August 2022 – Southeastern Peanut Farmer

The July/August 2022 issue of the Southeastern Peanut Farmer is now available online.
Click here!

mayjune2022_coverThis issue features:

  • Utilizing Drones in Crop Production
  • More than a Salesman
  • 2022 Peanut Harvest Guidebook
  • Upcoming Field Days
  • Feral Swine Survey
  • MANA Nutrition Expands
  • 2022 Georgia Peanut Tour set for Tifton area
  • UGA establishes Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture
  • MYIPM App Series Expands to Include Row Crops
  • USA Peanut Congress Held in June
  • Check off reports from the state grower organizations
  • Legislative Update
  • Southern Peanut Growers Update
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U.S. Peanut Federation Testifies at U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearing focusing on Agricultural Trade

USDAJune 9, 2022, WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, held a hearing June 9, 2022, on “Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers.” Representing the U.S. Peanut Federation, Karla Baker Thompson with JET Farms Georgia and Integrity Farms of Camilla, Georgia, presented testimony on the export market for peanuts and some of the issues the peanut industry is facing.

In Thompson’s testimony, she presented information on some of the major export markets. In Canada, the U.S. has witnessed an increase in the last few years, but it is still significantly off when compared to export numbers prior to 2013. In Japan, the U.S. has generally seen a flat trend line with significant market swings year after year. The U.S. has experienced a general upward trend in market share for Mexico. However, there are large swings in the Mexican market year after year. China is an unpredictable market for U.S. peanuts. While the China market made a large purchase of U.S. peanuts in 2016 and then again in 2020, there is clearly no consistency in U.S. peanut export sales to China.

Thompson highlighted the decline in peanut exports to the European Union (EU) for U.S. peanuts. While the EU market saw a significant increase over 2021 in the first 3 months of 2022, the overall trend line since 2003 has been downward. The U.S. market share decreased in the EU from approximately 40 percent in 2003 to 14 percent in 2021. Much of this market share loss has been to developing countries. The increase in U.S. market share in early 2022 is deceptive since the overall U.S. peanut exports to the EU have decreased drastically since 2003.

“A look at our major export markets shows some of the issues we are facing. Our best markets, and those with the most potential for growth, are the markets that pay premium prices,” Thompson says. “These markets provide prices that are profitable for exporters and have an impact on grower prices. Unfortunately, some of these best markets are not healthy.”

U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, Chairman of the Subcommittee, opened the hearing stating, “Today’s hearing, titled ‘Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers,’ is an opportunity for members of this Subcommittee to hear directly from our farmers regarding their trade challenges and priorities in today’s changing economy. Just last week, I spent time in Musella, Georgia, meeting with a group of farmers and agriculture leaders to discuss the stress our farmers are experiencing. The message I heard was clear – farming is always a tough job, but especially right now. Farmers in Georgia and throughout the country have been forced to navigate a tremendous amount of uncertainty over the last few years. Trade wars, COVID-19 supply chain disruptions, and Russia’s war in Ukraine have all sent shockwaves through global commodity markets.”

Chairman Warnock also commented on the peanut industry’s struggles with the EU, “Last year, I partnered with Senator Tuberville to highlight concerns to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) raised by our peanut farmers in getting their products to market in Europe, and ways we need federal agencies to better coordinate and step up to help address this issue.”

In addition to Thompson, other individuals testifying include Gopi Munisamay, distinguished professor at the University of Georgia Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Sheryl Meshke, co-president and CEO of Associated Milk Producers Inc. and Neal Fisher, administrator of the North Dakota Wheat Commission.

The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association, and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. USPF serves as a unified voice in Washington, D.C. for all sectors of the peanut industry and advocates actively for strong agricultural policy. For additional information, please contact the USPF at (202) 543-7464.

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2022 Irrigation & Water Management Guidebook

USDAFor 2022 many farmers may be searching for ways to reduce their production costs when irrigating while at the same time boosting yield. Wes Porter, University of Georgia precision ag and irrigation specialist, recommends for farmers to check over their irrigation system for any preventative maintenance and utilize one of the scientifically proven irrigation scheduling methods throughout the season to make sure they do not have down time from breakdowns and are efficiently applying the correct amount of water when needed.

The University of Georgia Extension’s Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL) program can even set up and perform a pivot test for farmers. Farmers should check their irrigation system first for issues and if they notice uniformity problems or uneven quantities of water application, then it might be time to contact the MIL for a pivot test.

“Weather conditions are variable, can be difficult to plan for, and have a large impact on crop growth, development, and yield,” says Wes Porter, “Farmers must find ways to adapt to changing conditions and manage the crop in these conditions.”

To aid farmers, many years of research has been conducted on various irrigation scheduling methods. One of the most commonly used scheduling methods is the UGA Checkbook method which was developed based on historical evapotranspiration averages, thus, is not an exact fit for years that are either wetter or drier than normal as it will over and under predict water need in those years respectively. The total estimated water requirement from the UGA Checkbook for peanuts is 18” inches.

Additionally, advanced methods for peanuts include PeanutFARM.org, Irrigator Pro or soil moisture sensors to estimate actual crop water needs. For more information on these irrigation scheduling methods, farmers should contact their local county Extension agent.

Download these guidelines:
Spring Center Pivot and Lateral Irrigation System Preparation
Chemigation in Georgia
State of Georgia Rules and Regulations – Subject 40-23-2 Anti-Syphon Device

 

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