Market Watch

By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor A pipeline of old and new crop peanuts and cheap prices from other commodities have dampened the hopes of a profitable 2014 for producers. The 2012 crop filled warehouses, and producers, knowing that production had...

By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor Despite a whopping supply from 2012, no Farm Bill, a sequester situation and a full-on government shutdown, the peanut market is going strong. Planting season was unusually cool and wet, and rains continued through the season...

Phenomenal success has been achieved by working together and accepting change. By John Baldwin Retired Professor Emeritus Along with a few others, The Peanut Grower magazine, which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary in circulation, has been an avenue for distributing information...

USDA Announces New Program Manager Michael Schultz, Deputy Administrator of USDA Farm Programs has announced that DeAnn Allen will be the new Market Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments (MAL/LDP) Program Manager for peanuts. Allen was born and raised in northwestern...

A lower-than-estimated planting report could bring markets to life By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor The 2013 U.S. peanut crop is off to a slow start. Producers faced a cold spring and markets that were just as disappointing. Many farmers wanted...

No contract offers to encourage peanut planting By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor Every peanut year is different. But 2013 is mounting to be the most unusual in the history of the peanut industry. Planting has begun in most regions without...

Cool weather late affects early planting decisions, crop acreages By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor The U.S. peanut industry seems to be in a state of flux, waiting for markets to signal the next move. Farmers are poised to plant another peanut...

The peanut market: the good, the bad and the really big questions By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor Contracts for peanuts are normally offered by shellers before the start of the New Year, and peanut producers can start their planning for...

Could exports whittle carry-over down to a manageable amount? By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor Trends in the peanut world are certain to change the future. A record crop in 2012 of more than 3,400,000 tons has resulted in low prices at...

2013 Begins With Need For Patience As Market Develops By J. Tyron Spearman Contributing Editor The U.S. peanut industry has been in an over-supply position before and worked out of it. Production of 3.2 million tons is more than anyone predicted, and...

What will we do with a 3 million ton crop? BY J. TYRON SPEARMAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Peanut farmers will harvest the largest crop in history. Couple an ideal growing season with new, higher yielding varieties and little disease and insect pressure and...

Balancing supply with demand is the key to sustained prices. BY J. TYRON SPEARMAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Water and balance are two keys to the 2012-2013 peanut market. The Southeast and Southwest are starting the season with moisture levels at record lows and...

Will contracts return?  Will usage continue up with double-digits? BY J. TYRON SPEARMAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Marketing peanuts at the farm level this season has been a wild ride, ignited when a perceived peanut shortage from the 2011 crop caused shellers to...

Will the crop be short and affect demand with higher prices? BY TYRON SPEARMAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR A perceived peanut shortage and early signs of quality problems have sent the industry into a pricing frenzy. The impact could change the way the peanut...

A consistent, high quality, affordable supply is needed BY TYRON SPEARMAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR A combination of factors worldwide, including strong cotton markets, poor quality from 2010 crops and record consumption, has caused peanut prices to dramatically increase in the last six months....