September 6. Mark it down. That is the date in 2012 of the Peanut Field Day at the Peanut Belt Research Station in Lewiston-Woodville, N.C. One particularly notable aspect this year is that it will be 60th annual event for the field day.
It is remarkable, really. For 60 years growers have been coming to this meeting and for 60 years researchers have been planting field plots and using this occasion to let growers see what they've been up to over the previous year. The growers see the new varieties, the new products, whatever the researchers have been working on – and they get to see what they, themselves, will probably be working with in the future.
HANGING OUT: Peanut breeder Tom Isleib gets down with some of his favorite varieties, including Bailey and Perry, as labeled, on either of his sides. Behind him the signs indicate CHAMPS, Sugg, VA 98R and Florida Fancy.
This is one day a year when peanut growers get to really pack in the knowledge.
On one hand there is the field day side of the event. On the other, this is the Annual Meeting of the N.C. Peanut Growers Association where growers will get the "heads up" from people like Bob Sutter, chief executive officer of the N.C. Peanut Growers Association who will fill them in on what is going on in the industry, particularly in Washington, D.C. Perhaps one of the speakers will also be able to give them some idea what they might be able to expect for a peanut price in the coming year, too. And there are often industry experts who can speak on topics related to promotion efforts and mill technology improvements.
With glyphosate-resistant weeds in the spotlight in recent years, research on new crop protection chemicals is important. Some of the first indications of resistance to glyphosate by Palmer amaranth were originally announced during this field day.
And, of course, there are the new varieties. Perhaps this is the most important aspect of new technology of all. Growers have the chance to visit and see the recent work of NCSU's Tom Isleib, crop scientist and peanut breeder. Isleib has worked diligently over many years to test the traits of varieties like the early-maturing Bailey, Brantley with its large pods, and Champs, which many would say is the current "champ" among Virginia-type peanuts.
If you grow peanuts, don't miss this one!
HEAD OUT:
Growers and others with interests in the Virginia-Carolina peanut industry load up on one of the tractor-pulled trolleys to get a comfortable, if bumpy, ride out to research plots. It's a good time for networking on the trolleys, too.
CLOSER LOOK:
Rick Morgan of Cypress Glade Farms, Corapeake, N.C., checks out some of the field trials on crop protection products.
KEEPING A CHECK:
Leafspot disease jumped onto some of these plots, particularly in the research check.
A LITTLE BIT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE:
Rick Brandenburg, NCSU entomologist, looks at some of his research work into how effectively various crop protection products safeguard peanuts.
DIFFERENT STROKES, DIFFERENT FOLKS:
Peanut breeder Tom Isleib explains to field day attendees some of the differences between various peanut varieties. NCSU research has developed any number of peanut varieties over the years that have proven themselves critically important to growers' bottom lines.
PODS PAY:
NCSU peanut specialist David Jordan checks out pods in research plots. The pods add up penny by penny in growers' pockets.
HANGING OUT:
Peanut breeder Tom Isleib gets down with some of his favorite varieties, including Bailey and Perry, as labeled, on either of his sides. Behind him the signs indicate CHAMPS, Sugg, VA 98R and Florida Fancy.
SMITH'S LAST ROUNDUP?:
David Smith, dean of NCSU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences who also serves as director of the N.C. Agricultural Research Service, is retiring in September.
DIVINING THE SIGNS:
Dell Cotton, executive director of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association, attends the field day each year to let growers in the Tarheel State, as well as his home state, know how things are faring for the industry from his point of view.
HOME IS WHERE THE PEANUTS ARE:
David Sutter is always right in the midst of whatever is going on in the peanut industry, whether it is in a peanut field or in the marble halls in Washington.
PEANUT PROMOTION'S NEW DIRECTOR:
Marianne Copelan is the new executive director of Virginia-Carolinas Peanut Promotions, a marketing and promotional arm of the industry. Copelan replaced Betsy Owens last year, who resigned to concentrate on her peanut retail business, America's Best Nut Co. Learn more about Owens' retail business at http://americasbestnutco.com. Learn more about Virginia-Carolinas Peanut Promotions at www.aboutpeanuts.com.