By Clint Thompson
Peanut producers from the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation are meeting this weekend for the annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The four-state alliance is using this event in Panama City Beach, Florida to learn about different topics vital to the industry’s future, says Jacob Davis, executive director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association.
“It’s always great to have the opportunity to get peanut farmers and the whole peanut industry together at an event like this,” Davis said. “This event is tailor-made for our four-state alliance. We have the state grower associations for Florida , Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi that partner on this grower conference and some other advocacy efforts and things that we do.
“It’s just a good time to bring everybody together and for them to see one another and introduce the latest and greatest trends that are going on in the industry.”
Friday’s educational sessions will highlight farm automation in the future and peanuts’ role in feeding the world. U.S. Senator John Boozman of Arkansas, along with industry leaders from all four states, will address the state of U.S. peanut policy on Saturday and discuss the upcoming farm bill.