Last month, the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors met and approved research funding for the 2019-20 budget year. The budget increased to $653,901, as the board approved 35 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
The research programs primarily focus on peanut breeding, conservation methods, irrigation and water management, along with pest, weed and disease management. Peanut growers in Georgia invest $2 per ton annually toward GPC programs that include research, but also involve promotion and education.
In addition, the GPC manages funding for the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative. This includes a research funding budget of $1,239,098 for projects in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. These projects are funded through the National Peanut Board checkoff dollars from farmers.
For more information and a complete list of the research projects funded by the GPC, visit gapeanuts.com.