By Clint Thompson
The Georgia Peanut Commission and other members of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation remind growers and industry specialists about this year’s 27th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference, scheduled for July 21-23 at the Edgewater Beach Resort Conference Center in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Online registration will close on July 15. After July 15, registration will be available on-site only. On-site registration is an additional $100 per family.
This year’s conference will begin on Tuesday, July 21 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with conference registration. A welcoming reception will follow at 6:30 p.m. followed by a welcoming dinner at 7 p.m. The general sessions will start at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22. Two sessions will be held on July 22 and one more on July 23, highlighted by a legislative discussion with Bob Redding, The Redding Firm, and a panel discussion with young farmers from various states.
Personal Perspective
Libbie Johnson, executive director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, talked about the conference’s importance.
“It is very valuable for growers to come and attend. We have a lot of interesting speakers that are going to be sharing information about the peanut industry as it stands currently, but what we can expect hopefully in the future with it,” Johnson said. “Of course, we have some awesome speakers like usual, and I can’t wait for people to hear them, what they have to say.
“Some of our speakers that we’re going to have, people have heard before, but they always have updated information. One of the people that we’re going to hear from that always provides some technical information for growers, that cuts into their bottom line or gives more information about their economics is going to be Marshall Lamb.
“We have an extremely interesting panel of young farmers. They’re going to be there to talk about their experiences as being younger farmers and getting started in the peanut industry in such a complicated time. So, I think that’ll be valuable for young and more mature farmers to hear and maybe kind of give feedback to them and other growers.”
Besides the Georgia Peanut Commission, other state members include the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association and the South Carolina Peanut Board.