TIFTON, Ga. - The Georgia Peanut Commission, on behalf of Georgia’s 4,500 peanut farmers, awards $1 million this year to peanut research facilities in the state on March 19, 2009 at the Georgia Peanut Commission monthly board meeting. This effort funds over 50 research projects, 45 state and 7 federal projects. These programs primarily focus on: economics; conservation methods; irrigation and water management; peanut breeding for higher yield and improved quality; pests, weed and disease management; and allergen free peanuts.

Macon County farmer and chairman of the Research Com¬mittee of the Georgia Peanut Commission Donald Chase, with assistance from Tift County farmer Wes Shannon, research chairman for the National Peanut Board, presented a check for $101,000 to Tim Strickland, location coordinator for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Tifton, and a check for $959,000 to Scott Angle, dean of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“We are proud of our close relationship and partnership with our research institutions in the state,” Chase says. He explains that the money comes to the Georgia Peanut Commission through the state’s $2 per ton farmer assessment and this research support is combined with funding from the National Peanut Board also assessing Georgia peanut farmers for funds earmarked for research project management by the Georgia Peanut Commission.

“Peanut growers are pleased to provide this money to support the research and education that has continued to demonstrate a return on our investment,” Chase says.

Since, 1962 Georgia growers have spent over $17 million in research with nearly $10 million of that amount coming in the last twelve years. “We have seen over a ten-fold return on this investment,” Chase says. “Four of the last five years have seen the highest yields in Georgia of the past twenty years.”

Georgia peanut production yields are consistently higher than other states on nearly half of the U.S. production while maintaining and improving quality. “This is a testament to our research and education efforts. The new high yielding and disease resistant varieties we are developing are also available to all the other states but Georgia farmers simply do an excellent job of controlling weeds, insects and disease, and managing cultural practices and resources.” Shannon says.

Chase points out that more research needs to be conducted on the physiology of the peanut plant and how it reacts in all of these management systems. Shannon says growers need to continue to learn more about how to manage their peanuts so that the cost of production is kept as low as possible.

“Past research and technological advancements have been the silver lining that kept us ahead of the curve in maintaining superior quality, a competitive position, and increased consumption in the world’s marketplace,” Chase says. “Much technological advancement is on the horizon and we embrace the future with excitement and confidence.”