By Clint Thompson
The timing of Thursday’s Georgia Peanut Farm Show allowed a moment of reflection for Georgia producers for the 2024 season and what they can expect with next year’s planting season on the horizon.
Maddie Frost, project coordinator-farm and field services for the Georgia Peanut Commission, discussed the show which attracted hundreds of producers and industry leaders, along with nearly 100 exhibitors.
“We’re coming off harvest and about to go into planting before too long, so this is a brief moment for the farmers to take pause and reflect on what happened this past year and what’s coming in the next year,” Frost said.
“I think the Farm Show has a lot to offer, because we have the (educational) seminars which covered a lot of what happened in the previous season and what to expect in the 2025 planting season. It covered a variety of topics, including pests that may be an issue. That’s a good way for them to wrap up their reflection on the previous year and start to think forward on what’s to come this upcoming season.”
Educational Seminars
Weather significantly impacted production last year. What can growers expect in ’25? It was a topic discussed in the University of Georgia (UGA) Seminar Thursday morning by UGA Extension Peanut Agronomist Scott Monfort. He was followed by UGA Extension Peanut Agronomist Mark Abney, who discussed southern rootworm management for the upcoming season.
Members of the University of Georgia Peanut Team led the seminar, which was followed by the Industry Seed Seminar. It featured peanut varieties that will be available in the future. Growers attained knowledge that will help them in 2025 and beyond.
“The Seed Seminar touches on varieties that are in the works. That could not just be this year but future years as well,” Frost said.
The Seed Seminar was sponsored by the American Peanut Shellers Association, the Georgia Peanut Commission, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the U.S. Peanut Federation.