TIFTON, Ga. - Georgia’s peanut farmers are facing unprecedented challenges as the industry deals with an oversupply of peanuts from last year’s record crop and market disruption caused by the recent salmonella outbreak linked to the Peanut Corporation of America. The Georgia Peanut Commission is working to address these challenges and will represent grower interests in the food safety debate. Proposed food safety laws have the potential to impact growers as well as the entire industry. The commission continues to coordinate research, education and promotion programs and serve as an advocate for peanut growers in Washington, D.C.

The Georgia Peanut Commission will hold a referendum March 15 through April 15 giving peanut producers an opportunity to vote on reaffirming the commission. State law mandates that 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 2006 passed with an 82 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 Irwin County peanut farmer Armond Morris, who serves as chairman of the GPC board. “These next couple of years we will have to put added emphasis on legislation in Washington, the farm bill, and the impacts of world trade talks.”

GPC will also work to enhance government purchases of peanut butter and peanut products in feeding and food aid programs.

GPC Executive Director Don Koehler urges producers to contact him by email at don@gapeanuts.com or toll free at 1-800-346-4993 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.