Clemson announces S.C. Peanut Growers Meeting

Precision agriculture, genetic improvements, sustainability and economics are just a few topics on the agenda for the 44th South Carolina Peanut Growers meeting.

The meeting is slated for Jan. 25, 2024, at the Santee Conference Center, 1737 Bass Drive, Santee, South Carolina, 29142. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The meeting opens with a welcome from Richard Rentz, chairman of the South Carolina Peanut Board, at 9:40 a.m.

The morning session includes a peanut market update from Dell Cotton, manager of the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association, an update from Hugh Weathers, South Carolina commissioner of agriculture, and an economic outlook from Nathan Smith, Clemson Cooperative Extension Service economist.

Kendall Kirk, Clemson Extension precision agriculture engineer, will give an update on using precision agriculture in peanut research. Allison Randell, American Peanut Council sustainability director, will talk about The Sustainable U.S. Peanut Initiative.

The morning session ends with a presentation by Jeff Dunne, North Carolina State University peanut breeder, addressing phenotyping for genetic improvements in peanut.

Peanut yield contest awards will be announced during lunch. Prize drawings will be held immediately following lunch before the afternoon session starts. The KMC Grand Prize is a $5,000 voucher to be used towards a piece of equipment or parts – growers must visit the Kelley Manufacturing Company booth for entry and be certified as a peanut grower with an Farm Service Agency farm number.

Grand Prize from Amadas is the use of a new 4-row or 6-row Amadas Peanut Digger/Inverter for the 2024 harvest season or $10,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas Self-Propelled Peanut Combine or $5,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas 4-row or 6-row Pull-Type Peanut Combine. To be eligible, growers must be 2023 commercial peanut growers who intend to plant peanuts in 2024. Growers must be present to win.

Following lunch, attendees will get an update from the National Peanut Board. Dan Anco, Clemson Extension peanut specialist, will give a peanut variety and management update. The meeting will end at about 2 p.m.

Continuing education and pesticide credits will be available, as will newly updated copies of the Peanut Money-Maker 2024 Production Guide. For more information, contact Dan Anco, Clemson Extension peanut specialist at (630) 207-4926 (cell) or email, danco@clemson.edu.

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