News Briefs

PB Delivery To Washington D.C. Food Bank The U.S. Peanut Federation combined advocacy with service during their Spring 2022 Washington D.C. fly-in.  In conjunction with the Georgia Peanut Commission, the USPF partnered with Peanut Proud, the industry’s humanitarian relief organization, to...

Farm Bill Hearings Begin  The U.S. House Agriculture Committee kicked off discussions over the most basic topics of the upcoming Farm Bill. Producers are facing higher costs for fuel, seed, fertilizer and other inputs amid supply chain backlogs and inflation.  Representatives...

In Brief ⇒ Economic improvements will come, but after this season. ⇒ Georgia association reports 7,000 fewer acres of certified seed in 2021. ⇒ Boddiford elected GPC chairman after Morris retires. ⇒ NPB seeks board members from Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. ⇒ APC selects...

In Brief ⇒ Transportation leaders hear about rising peanut input costs, supply chain issues. ⇒ A surprising 300,000 tons needing re-grading by Georgia inspectors.  ⇒ Peanut Proud sends truckloads of PB to Kentucky.  ⇒ Congressman Bishop includes funding for aflatoxin research in ag budget. ⇒...

Going After Aflatoxin Aspergillus flavus presents a significant threat to the U.S. peanut industry. The expression of A. flavus, aflatoxin, impacts every aspect of the peanut supply chain. Even in a low-aflatoxin year, such as 2020, costs range into the...

Letter Asks For Help With EU In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the U.S. Peanut Federation together with Reps. David Scott, D-Ga., and Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., requested help in restoring trade with the European Union. The letter read...

Testing A New Grading System The Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service has been working with an industry committee to modernize the peanut grading system. The peanut program requires that all peanuts be inspected by a third party to determine quality, and...

Recapping 2020 Exports: A Banner Year The American Peanut Council reported that for calendar year 2020, peanut exports totaled 910,101 farmer-stock tons valued at $759.6 million, up 20% by volume and 12% by value compared to the previous year. The APC...

Additional CFAP Aid The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the release of billions of dollars in aid to both crop and livestock producers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. It will also open an additional $6 billion in aid...

2020 Crop Value According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, peanuts averaged about 21 cents per pound or $414 per ton last season, 1% higher than 2019. The value of the crop at the farm level...

Storage Space Growing The U.S. Warehouse Act is one of the oldest federal agricultural laws dating back to 1916. The act authorizes the secretary of agriculture to license warehouse operators who store agricultural products. Warehouse operators that apply must meet...

Crop Quality Loss Payments The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency recently announced signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment program. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible...

2020 Crop Estimate Peanut production is forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 6.64 billion pounds, down 1% from the previous forecast but up 22% from the revised 2019 total of 5.47 billion pounds. Harvested area is expected to total...

United Voice On Legislation Peanut growers, shellers and buying points have formed the United States Peanut Federation to serve as a unified voice in Washington, D.C., and advocate for strong agricultural policy. USPF’s mission is to protect, promote and improve business...

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program By the first week of June, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program had distributed more than 5 million food boxes in support of...