Peanut Grower Meetings Set for Georgia and Florida; Taylor Arnold Named Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director
Peanut growers across Georgia and Florida are reminded of several important meetings scheduled for late February, along with leadership news from the Georgia Peanut Commission.
Upcoming Peanut Industry Meetings
The Crop Peanut Seed Short Course will take place February 24 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton. The meeting will focus on peanut seed quality and expectations for the upcoming growing season, providing valuable insight for producers preparing for spring planting.
On February 26, the Florida Peanut Producers Association will hold its annual meeting in Marianna, Florida. Two days later, on February 28, the Florida Peanut Federation will meet in Lake City, Florida. These meetings offer growers opportunities to hear industry updates, discuss policy and production issues, and connect with fellow peanut producers.
Georgia Peanut Commission Names New Executive Director
In additional news, the Georgia Peanut Commission has hired Taylor Arnold as its new Executive Director, succeeding longtime leader Don Koehler. Koehler will remain on board for approximately one year to assist with the transition and training.
Since 2017, Arnold has served as the County Extension Director of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Worth County, Georgia—one of the state’s largest cotton and peanut growing regions. His experience working directly with farmers in a major production area brings valuable perspective to the role.
Arnold has extensive knowledge of key farm programs, including the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), Risk Management and Risk Coverage programs, and the PLC (Price Loss Coverage) Program. He is also experienced with the Conservation Reserve Program and other federal agricultural initiatives that impact peanut growers.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mercer University, where he served as President and Vice President of his fraternity.
With strong ties to Georgia agriculture and hands-on experience in farm program administration, Arnold steps into the leadership role at a critical time for the peanut industry. Growers and industry stakeholders say they look forward to working with him as he leads the Georgia Peanut Commission into its next chapter.
Audio Reporting by Tyron Spearman for Southeast AgNet.