The hot topics session has begun and the first speaker is Scott Angle, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia.
His message is not one which is pleasant. Discussion of selling research farms, reduction in the local Cooperative Extension Staff, all of the changes will be noticeable. The budget has dictated these changes and we will likely not again see those programs restored. They have to deal with record enrollment and maintaining the teaching programs.
Georgia Agriculture actually needs trained employees.
Another factor in academia is that we cannot be everything to everyone anymore. This is going to be across the nation and not just in Georgia. There will have to be cooperation with the other Land Grant Universities to maximize resources.
Use of technology will have to be used more.
The UGA College of Ag budget has been cut 25% but other Universities have taken even deeper cuts.
The mission remains the same but the delivery may be quite different.
Another change which will have a profound impact on the peanut industry is the hiring of, with the help of the University of Georgia Research Foundation, a legume geneticist who will assist in genetic mapping, marker assisted selection to assist our breeding programs.
Georgia may become the leadeer in this area and has a great program for public breeding and the inclusion of this position will serve to super charge this effort.
UGA will be in the peanut breeding program for the long term.
The economy is currently having a negative impact at the federal level but the State budget seems to be improving a bit.
Earmarks are necessary for ag research when there is noone else will fund the research. These are the core programs on which everything else is developed. Many of the earmarks go toward research which developes sustainable methods of producing. Companies don't always want to fund research which will reduce their business. Peanut farmers have benefitted from earmarks and therefore the peanut industry has benefitted through a continued stable supply.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Crop Conditions
I know it has been a while since I have been on but sometimes you just don't have much to say.
Today I have something to say. Frank McGill who was the peanut expert in Georgia for decades and is still respected once told me it was foolish to predict a peanut crop on the 4th of July. Now we plant a bit later and so the same may be true even for the 4th of August. A lot can still happen between now and harvest.
June and July were among the hottest on record and currently Albany, Georgia which is in the heart of the peanut belt of Georgia is running a ten inch rainfall deficit. It seems that rains have been very irregular and for some reason the place which gets rain today also gets it tomorrow. It is a bit feast and famine.
One thing I can say for certain if this weather does not change the peanut crop and crops in general are going to be hurt pretty bad.
Last week on my travels through south Georgia I saw cotton which was about 8 inches tall blooming out the top (not a good situation), I saw cotton which was wilted, I saw soybeans which had drawn up from the heat and drought. I also saw several fields of peanuts which were not yet lapping and the worst, the plants were only about 8 inches wide in the row.
I am not sure non-farm folks could understand my next statement but I am actually praying for a tropical storm with lots of rain and no wind. The folks who are harvesting corn may not agree with me on this but we need a good soaking rain and for temperatures to moderate a bit, especially the nighttime temps which also hurt peanut yield and lead to lessened quality as well due to the potential for A flaavus contamination.
And for irrigated producers it just means cost is going up.
Well, just keep the faith and keep the prayers coming.
Today I have something to say. Frank McGill who was the peanut expert in Georgia for decades and is still respected once told me it was foolish to predict a peanut crop on the 4th of July. Now we plant a bit later and so the same may be true even for the 4th of August. A lot can still happen between now and harvest.
June and July were among the hottest on record and currently Albany, Georgia which is in the heart of the peanut belt of Georgia is running a ten inch rainfall deficit. It seems that rains have been very irregular and for some reason the place which gets rain today also gets it tomorrow. It is a bit feast and famine.
One thing I can say for certain if this weather does not change the peanut crop and crops in general are going to be hurt pretty bad.
Last week on my travels through south Georgia I saw cotton which was about 8 inches tall blooming out the top (not a good situation), I saw cotton which was wilted, I saw soybeans which had drawn up from the heat and drought. I also saw several fields of peanuts which were not yet lapping and the worst, the plants were only about 8 inches wide in the row.
I am not sure non-farm folks could understand my next statement but I am actually praying for a tropical storm with lots of rain and no wind. The folks who are harvesting corn may not agree with me on this but we need a good soaking rain and for temperatures to moderate a bit, especially the nighttime temps which also hurt peanut yield and lead to lessened quality as well due to the potential for A flaavus contamination.
And for irrigated producers it just means cost is going up.
Well, just keep the faith and keep the prayers coming.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Peanut Planting Coming to a Close
Peanut planting is coming to a close and I am pretty certain we did not plant what the earlier planting intentions said. I will really be a bit surprised if we increased much at all over last year's acreage. The National Center for Peanut Competitiveness told us early on to compete fully with cotton acres we would have to have a $475 contract and contracts never really made it there except for some sweetheart deals.
With cotton seeming to remain strong and the fact that all predictions seem to say cotton will be even stronger next year it will be interesting to see where the 2011 contracts finally end up.
Since we were forced in to the marketing loan program in 2002 we have certainly ridden a roller coaster in the market place.
As far as the crop conditions we look really good at this point, maybe the best start on a crop in years. High temps this week are going to zap the dryland pretty quickly. That is not bad at this point because we have yet to stress the crop and it has been my observation the best peanut crops are stressed early and get rain during podset.
With cotton seeming to remain strong and the fact that all predictions seem to say cotton will be even stronger next year it will be interesting to see where the 2011 contracts finally end up.
Since we were forced in to the marketing loan program in 2002 we have certainly ridden a roller coaster in the market place.
As far as the crop conditions we look really good at this point, maybe the best start on a crop in years. High temps this week are going to zap the dryland pretty quickly. That is not bad at this point because we have yet to stress the crop and it has been my observation the best peanut crops are stressed early and get rain during podset.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tortellini with Creamy Peanut Sauce
2 - 9 oz. Buitoni Spinach Cheese Tortellini
1 - 12 oz. can evaporated milk
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
¼ tsp. salt
1/3 cup Finely shredded Italian Blend Cheese (mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, romano, fontina, and Asiago)
1 Tbsp. all purpose flour
½ of an 8 oz. jar of Mezzetta sun-ripened, dried tomatoes
Cocktail peanuts to chop for garnishing
Peanut oil
On a cutting board liner chop a handful of cocktail peanuts to use as a garnish and put them in a dish.
On the same liner take half of the jar of tomatoes and dice them up. Put the tomatoes in a large glass mixing bowl.
Cook the tortellini according to directions.
While the pasta is cooking begin your sauce.
Over low heat in a sauce pan, with a wire whisk blend the evaporated milk, the peanut butter, the Italian seasoning, and the salt until blended. Sprinkle in the flour gently and slowly as you continue to whisk the sauce. Continue whisking while adding the Italian blend cheese and whisk until the cheese is melted and fully mixed in to make a creamy sauce.
When the pasta is done drain it and put it in the bowl with the tomatoes and toss it all together. Then pour the sauce in the bowl and continue to toss until everything is mixed together.
Serve in a bowl and garnish with the chopped peanuts and a sprinkling of the shredded Italian cheese.
2 - 9 oz. Buitoni Spinach Cheese Tortellini
1 - 12 oz. can evaporated milk
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
¼ tsp. salt
1/3 cup Finely shredded Italian Blend Cheese (mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, romano, fontina, and Asiago)
1 Tbsp. all purpose flour
½ of an 8 oz. jar of Mezzetta sun-ripened, dried tomatoes
Cocktail peanuts to chop for garnishing
Peanut oil
On a cutting board liner chop a handful of cocktail peanuts to use as a garnish and put them in a dish.
On the same liner take half of the jar of tomatoes and dice them up. Put the tomatoes in a large glass mixing bowl.
Cook the tortellini according to directions.
While the pasta is cooking begin your sauce.
Over low heat in a sauce pan, with a wire whisk blend the evaporated milk, the peanut butter, the Italian seasoning, and the salt until blended. Sprinkle in the flour gently and slowly as you continue to whisk the sauce. Continue whisking while adding the Italian blend cheese and whisk until the cheese is melted and fully mixed in to make a creamy sauce.
When the pasta is done drain it and put it in the bowl with the tomatoes and toss it all together. Then pour the sauce in the bowl and continue to toss until everything is mixed together.
Serve in a bowl and garnish with the chopped peanuts and a sprinkling of the shredded Italian cheese.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Rainfall Deficit
Well now, yesterday was the first day since Halloween that the mercury got to 80 degrees.
We are also about three inches below normal on rainfall for 2010.
Corn is certainly having a bit of a time getting up to a stand, the sub-surface moisture is still adequate, some spots are even boggy, there is cotton still being picked from last year's crop, and to say that the situation is a bit odd is an understatement.
I heard a climatologist last week explain this as a part of the El Nino cooling in the Pacific.
On another note cotton prices seem to be poised to rise if there is no major world economic failure. This from a cotton market expert who said stocks are low and the only thing that can cause a problem is the general economy having a major downturn.
I would say this could make for a very interesting peanut market at the end of 2010.
We are also about three inches below normal on rainfall for 2010.
Corn is certainly having a bit of a time getting up to a stand, the sub-surface moisture is still adequate, some spots are even boggy, there is cotton still being picked from last year's crop, and to say that the situation is a bit odd is an understatement.
I heard a climatologist last week explain this as a part of the El Nino cooling in the Pacific.
On another note cotton prices seem to be poised to rise if there is no major world economic failure. This from a cotton market expert who said stocks are low and the only thing that can cause a problem is the general economy having a major downturn.
I would say this could make for a very interesting peanut market at the end of 2010.
Friday, March 5, 2010
President Adams' Budget
I along with about 100 percent of the folks in Georgia Agriculture were appalled by the budget cuts proposed for the University of Georgia. Essentially a fourth of the cuts came, disproportionately, out of the College of Agriculture.
The biggest uprising came from his suggestion to do away with 4-H and sell the camps at Rock Eagle and Jekyll Island. That is expected when you look at the number of children currently in the 4-H program and also the fact that there are many more of us who are products of 4-H.
I hope we will not lose sight of the other cuts he proposed. Eliminating half of the County Extension offices in the state would have far reaching impact and it would not be good. Margins on our farms today are as small as they have been in decades. Farmers are struggling to meet their cash flow and seldom are we able to build any equity...in fact many farmers find themselves in the unfortunate situation of farming up their equity.
Farmers need to have ready access to the results of research which will help them find opportunities to earn a profit. The County Agent is the one who can get them this information. To eliminate County Agents creates other hardships within the system. Specialists who provide the information to the County Agents and do applied research will become nothing more than area agents and they will not have the time to do the applied research which proves core research and its use on the farm. Also, last year the Peanut Commission funded local research plots with a dozen county agents in Georgia. This allows farmers to see various research trials and the results locally. I hope you get the picture on why eliminating half the County Agents in this state is a bad idea.
Let's then shift to the closing of critical research stations. Let me use Atapulgus as an example. The research station at Atapulgus has a long and sordid history. Researchers have done everything they can wrong there to build up disease, weed, nematode, and other pest pressures. Sounds terrible doesn't it? We should close it and sell it, Right???
Absolutely not! We need that facility to test the results of research findings, to do variety trials of new varieties so we can understand how they respond under the worst of conditions. Growing peanuts in a greenhouse can be pretty simple once you learn the technique. Growing peanuts with everything Mother Nature can throw at you like at Atapulgus is where the rubber hits the road.
I know we seem to be being used as a pawn in a chess game between the UGA and the Legislature but frankly agriculture in Georgia is way to important to be playing games with.
I hope this fact is not lost on the leaders of this state.
The biggest uprising came from his suggestion to do away with 4-H and sell the camps at Rock Eagle and Jekyll Island. That is expected when you look at the number of children currently in the 4-H program and also the fact that there are many more of us who are products of 4-H.
I hope we will not lose sight of the other cuts he proposed. Eliminating half of the County Extension offices in the state would have far reaching impact and it would not be good. Margins on our farms today are as small as they have been in decades. Farmers are struggling to meet their cash flow and seldom are we able to build any equity...in fact many farmers find themselves in the unfortunate situation of farming up their equity.
Farmers need to have ready access to the results of research which will help them find opportunities to earn a profit. The County Agent is the one who can get them this information. To eliminate County Agents creates other hardships within the system. Specialists who provide the information to the County Agents and do applied research will become nothing more than area agents and they will not have the time to do the applied research which proves core research and its use on the farm. Also, last year the Peanut Commission funded local research plots with a dozen county agents in Georgia. This allows farmers to see various research trials and the results locally. I hope you get the picture on why eliminating half the County Agents in this state is a bad idea.
Let's then shift to the closing of critical research stations. Let me use Atapulgus as an example. The research station at Atapulgus has a long and sordid history. Researchers have done everything they can wrong there to build up disease, weed, nematode, and other pest pressures. Sounds terrible doesn't it? We should close it and sell it, Right???
Absolutely not! We need that facility to test the results of research findings, to do variety trials of new varieties so we can understand how they respond under the worst of conditions. Growing peanuts in a greenhouse can be pretty simple once you learn the technique. Growing peanuts with everything Mother Nature can throw at you like at Atapulgus is where the rubber hits the road.
I know we seem to be being used as a pawn in a chess game between the UGA and the Legislature but frankly agriculture in Georgia is way to important to be playing games with.
I hope this fact is not lost on the leaders of this state.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Winter Meeting Season
We have been in the midst of Winter Meeting Season so I have done a pretty poor job of updating my post.
March is pretty full yet. I have five work days in which to schedule anything and know I have at least one meeting to schedule yet in the month.
Next Sunday we will be at the Atlanta Motor Speedway doing a promotion again this year. Last year we had a great day at the race and this year we are ready for a repeat.
Peanut farmers and their families can get a discounted ticket. Contact the Peanut Commission for the information you need to do this.
March is pretty full yet. I have five work days in which to schedule anything and know I have at least one meeting to schedule yet in the month.
Next Sunday we will be at the Atlanta Motor Speedway doing a promotion again this year. Last year we had a great day at the race and this year we are ready for a repeat.
Peanut farmers and their families can get a discounted ticket. Contact the Peanut Commission for the information you need to do this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)