In the southeast, the drought continues in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. There has now been wildfires that have expanded, causing evacuations, especially near the Georgia-Florida line. Peanut farmers have been able to get into the fields of plant, hoping that some moisture can come with the rain as quick as possible. The Peanut Commission in Georgia has approved some research projects. They invest $2 …
Garst & Hybrid Corn: From Iowa to the Cold War
The Birth of a Seed Revolution In 1931, Roswell Garst and Charlie Thomas founded the Garst and Thomas Hybrid Corn Company in Coon Rapids. Their work came at a time when American agriculture was rapidly evolving, and innovation was essential for improving crop production. The company became a major force in promoting hybrid corn—an agricultural breakthrough that offered higher yields, …
Georgia Peanut Commission Approves Research Project Funding
The Georgia Peanut Commission, based in Tifton, has approved $764,000 in research project funding for the 2025-26 research budget year. This action was taken during the Commission’s March board meeting. The research projects approved included 40 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and USDA’s Ag Research Service. According to Joe Botifer, the chairman of that research committee, our …
USDA Provides Updated Progress of Corn and Soybean Planting
While drought conditions are keeping some growers out of the fields, growers in other parts of the country have made progress on this year’s planting. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey provides an update on corn planting so far this season. “Getting into the state numbers, Tennessee is showing some remarkable progress again this week. 64 percent of the corn acreage planted, …
Impacts of the Drought on Southeast Peanut Production
The drought continues in the southeast, especially in Georgia, South Georgia, northern Florida, and lower Alabama. The drought has closed all peanut operations, just about it, and nobody can get the peanuts planted in the ground, and that’s going to delay everything moving into the 2026 crop. USCA predicted from last year’s crop an 11% increase. That’s also keeping the market down as far as increases, …
Struggles Ahead For Grain Producers
A longtime axiom in the grain trade is follow oats. Oats knows. Well, if that’s true, there are struggles ahead for all grain producers. USDA’s March acreage report showed oat acres to be the third lowest on record, just 2.4 million acres. It would seem to follow them, fewer acres, reduced supply, that prices would be improving. July oat futures have been range …
Export Promotion Program Grant Awarded for Peanuts
It looks like the peanut industry is going to get a three million dollar grant. It’s a two-year implementation window and because of export promotion program. The Trump administration announced this week the recipients of the America First trade promotion program. The grant was 285 million dollars but only 165 million was awarded at this time. And they said the peanut industry and …
Producers Share Drought Condition Reports Across the Southeast
The drought in the southeast and especially South Georgia continues. Rain maybe next weekend, but that’s what farmers are hoping. At the Georgia Peanut Commission this week, a lot of discussion about what is happening in the various areas. One farmer said, lots of corn in my area, we’re having to irrigate it continuously because it’s so dry. With the rising cost of …
Planting Considerations For Peanut Producers
Peanut specialists across the tri-state area are warning farmers to make some special precautions as they make plans to plant their peanuts. A lot of the specialists are worried about the tomato spotted wilt virus that usually affects the planting of peanuts, and there are some decisions that can be made to help control that. One is planting date. Another one is some varieties. …
Popcorn Through the Ages: From Ancient Origins to American Staple
Popcorn’s story stretches back thousands of years, with origins dating over 9,000 years to what is now Central America. Archaeological evidence shows that early civilizations cultivated maize and discovered that certain kernels would expand and “pop” when exposed to heat. This natural phenomenon made popcorn one of the earliest snack foods in human history, enjoyed long before modern agriculture took …










