By Denise Attaway
Technological advances, precision agriculture, sustainability and economics are among the topics on the agenda for the 45th South Carolina Peanut Growers Meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 30 at the Santee Conference Center, 1737 Bass Drive, Santee, South Carolina, 29142. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
The morning session includes a welcome from Richard Rentz, chairman of the South Carolina Peanut Board, and an update from Hugh Weathers, South Carolina’s commissioner of agriculture.
Josey Peele of AMADAS Industries will discuss technological advances in peanut harvesting and Eric Streepy of the Kelley Manufacturing Company (KMC) will present on combine setup and maintenance.
Kendall Kirk, Clemson Extension precision agriculture engineer, will provide an update on using precision agriculture in peanut research. Allison Randell, sustainability director for the American Peanut Council, will present on the Sustainable U.S. Peanut Initiative.
The morning session concludes with a presentation by Clay Pirkle, director of operations for the Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service, on using improved probe technology for the buying point.
Peanut yield contest awards will be announced during lunch, followed by prize drawings before the afternoon session begins. The KMC Grand Prize is a $5,000 voucher to be used towards a piece of equipment or parts. To be eligible, growers must visit the Kelley Manufacturing Company booth for entry and be certified as a peanut grower with a 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 2025 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 2024 commercial peanut growers who intend to plant peanuts in 2025. Growers must be present to win.
The afternoon program includes a cost and returns outlook from Nathan Smith, Clemson Extension economist. Cody Simpson, agricultural advisor to Gov. Henry McMaster, will discuss programs benefiting farmers.
Other speakers include Riley Godwin of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Region 3 Law Enforcement Division, who will address the proper use of depredation permits for wildlife management.
Michael Marshall, Clemson Extension agronomic weed specialist, will provide a weed control update. Dan Anco, Clemson Extension peanut specialist, will discuss twin row and growth regulator effects on maturity and pod distribution.
The meeting is expected to conclude at approximately 3 p.m.
Source : clemson.edu