The Georgia Peanut Commission’s referendum received reaffirmation with a vote of 91.99 percent during the recent referendum, held March 8 through April 8, 2024.

“I appreciate the farmers’ confidence in the commission, and we are committed to continue earning that confidence,” says Joe Boddiford, farmer from Sylvania, Georgia, and GPC chairman. “The commission continues to work together as a partnership between Georgia’s peanut farmers and the commission board and staff, in funding research projects, promoting peanuts and working on the farmers’ behalf in Washington, D.C. All of these combined efforts allow us to provide a healthy, nutritious product for consumers and help keep farmers profitable for the future.”

As required by Georgia state law, the state’s peanut farmers vote on the commission every three years. The ballots were mailed to peanut growers the week of March 8 and the Certified Public Accounting firm of Allen, Pritchett and Bassett counted the ballots returned on May 1.

“Our staff is humbled by the support of peanut farmers in Georgia,” says Don Koehler, GPC’s executive director. “We will continue to seek opportunities through programs in research, education and promotion to enhance profit opportunities on the farm.”

Georgia peanut farmers invest $2 per ton annually to the commission to be used in the program areas of research, promotion and education. For additional information on the Georgia Peanut Commission and its activities, visit www.gapeanuts.com.

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors has approved $791,639 in research project funding for the 2024-25 research budget year. This action was taken during the commission’s March board meeting. The research projects approved include 40 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

“As a peanut grower, I’m proud to invest in the Georgia Peanut Commission and in the future of the peanut industry by supporting research that continues to demonstrate a return on our investment,” says Donald Chase, GPC Research Committee chairman. “We are proud of our partnership with research institutions and look forward to seeing the results which will benefit farmers in the state and enhance the sustainability of our crop.”

Georgia’s peanut growers invest $2 per ton annually toward GPC programs which includes research, promotion and education. The research programs primarily focus on peanut breeding, conservation methods, irrigation and water management, as well as, pests, weed and disease management.

The GPC board of directors approved additional projects focusing on non-food uses of peanuts. The projects aim to provide a new opportunity for growth within the peanut industry. The new projects are looking at utilizing high-oleic peanuts in poultry feed, converting peanut oil from a non-drying oil to a drying oil for timber oils and coatings, reviewing George Washington Carver’s peanut uses for application in today’s world and finding new non-food applications of peanuts and by-products.

Additionally, GPC manages funding for the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative which includes research funding of $1,557,580 for projects in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. These projects are funded through the National Peanut Board checkoff dollars from farmers.

For additional information and a complete list of the research projects funded by the Georgia Peanut Commission visit www.gapeanuts.com.

The Georgia Peanut Commission will hold a referendum March 8 through April 8 giving peanut producers an opportunity to vote on reaffirming the commission. State law mandates a referendum be held every three years. Georgia peanut producers invest $2 per ton to fund the commission and its research, education, promotion and communication programs.

The last referendum in 2021 passed with a 94.43 percent reaffirmation.

“I urge all peanut producers to vote in this referendum. Research, education, and promotion continue to be the core focus of the commission,” says Joe Boddiford, GPC chairman. “It is extremely important for growers to continue to focus their efforts on supporting research and promotional efforts through their checkoff dollars. One way for farmers to do that is by continuing their support of the Georgia Peanut Commission.”

GPC Executive Director Don Koehler urges producers to contact him by email at don@gapeanuts.com or 229-386-3470 if they have any questions about the commission’s activities or the referendum.

Peanut producers who do not receive a ballot may obtain one by calling the commission. The commission requests that anyone who receives a ballot but is no longer farming to write, “no longer producing” on the certification envelope and return it to the commission. This will assist the commission in updating its mailing list. The commission’s address is P.O. Box 967, Tifton, Georgia 31793.

The Certified Public Accounting Firm of Allen, Pritchett, and Bassett will count the votes.

The Georgia Peanut Commission, Texas Peanut Producers Board and South Carolina Peanut Board are seeking eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board.

Nomination election meetings will be held to select two nominees each for member and alternate from each state to serve on the National Peanut Board. All eligible producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop.

USDA requires two nominees from each state for each position of member and alternate. The National Peanut Board will submit each state’s slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments.

The National Peanut Board encourages inclusion of persons of any race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status. NPB encourages all persons who qualify as a peanut producer in each respective state to attend the meeting and run for nomination.

It is USDA’s policy that membership on industry-government board and committees accurately reflect the diversity of individuals served by the program.

The schedule is as follows:

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) seeks eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The GPC will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board at their meeting on February 7, 2024, during the GPC Research Report Day at the Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory, located on the University of Georgia Tifton Campus, 2360 Rainwater Road, Tifton, Georgia.

Casey Cox Kerr of Camilla is the current Georgia National Peanut Board member and Wesley Webb of Leary serves as the alternate. The term for the current Georgia board member and alternate expires Dec. 31, 2024.

The South Carolina Peanut Board (SCPB) seeks eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The South Carolina Peanut Board will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board during a meeting on March 13th, 2024 at 4 PM at the Buddy Jennings Building at the State Farmers Market in West Columbia.

Neal Baxley of Marion is the current South Carolina National Peanut Board member and Doug Jarrell of Estill serves as the alternate. The term for the current South Carolina board member and alternate expires Dec. 31, 2024.

The Texas Peanut Producers Board (TPPB) seeks eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The TPPB will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board on March 20, 2024, at 9:00 AM CST at the Hilton Southlake Towne Square Hotel, 1400 Plaza Place, Southlake, Texas.

Jeff Roper of Lubbock is the current Texas National Peanut Board Member, and Mason Becker of Brownfield serves as the alternate. The term for the current Texas board member and alternate expires December 31, 2024.