PEANUT MARKETING NEWS – October 2, 2020 – Tyron Spearman, Editor (136)

FINALLY SOME SUNSHINE AND GOOD DRYING CONDITIONS – Southeast and VC peanut farmers are breathing a sigh of
relief as the skies cleared and out came the sunshine. Although the weather is cooler(50’s), which will slow maturity of the peanuts,
the peanuts can cure under the sunshine and prepare for combining (reduce moisture of the peanuts). Farmers were sharing peanut
machines (vine lifters) to pick-up the peanuts already dug so drying could occur. Mechanical dryers are in full blast around the clock
as peanuts arrive at the buying points. When moisture is reduced to 10% or less, the peanuts are stored in a peanut warehouse.
The good news is that the dry conditions are predicted to prevail the next 5-7days and that will give farmers time to catch up
and haul combined peanuts to the buying points for grading. Reports from buying points indicate an average crop and not the super
yielding crop that some expected.
The bad news is that another low pressure is brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. Development and path of the storm is unknown.
COVID RULES BEING IMPLEMENTED - Inspection services are taking every precaution to provide a safe and sanitary
workplace for inspectors. Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service will be taking these steps at local buying points:
• Following current guidelines set in place by the CDC& DPH
• Providing additional training to all inspectors including proper handwashing techniques
• Encouraging social distancing by remaining 6 feet apart where possible and limiting interaction with buying point personnel
• Requiring employees to wear masks where applicable
• Sanitizing the grade rooms regularly and performing daily checks using a questionnaire covering symptoms and checking
individual temperatures.
BUYING POINTS GET READY FOR SAFETY - Buying point managers are uniting with the inspection services to provide safe
and clean facilities to prevent the spread of the virus. Should inspectors show up for work with a temperature, they are
dismissed and standby personnel are assigned to that buying point. Georgia has an entire team ready to move in should an
outbreak of COVID occur.
• Providing hand-washing stations in close proximity of the grade room
• Hand-washing areas should remain supplied with soap and paper towels
• Restrooms should follow regular and frequent cleaning and sanitizing practices
• Adding partitions to separate GAFSIS employees from buying point personnel where feasible
• Request all buying point personnel to limit interaction with GAFSIS employees and other state employees
FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER TURNS 96 – We visited Plains on Thursday to say “Happy Birthday” to President
Jimmy Carter. Lots of peanut friends showed up for a drive by parade (50 units) at the Carter Compound. The son of a
Georgia peanut farmer became America's 39th president. He's the oldest living former US president -- and he's outlived every
other occupant of the Oval Office. He also advises everyone “If you want to have a long life, eat peanuts every day!”
At 96, the Nobel Peace Prize winner remains the longest-living president in US history, surpassing George H. W. Bush,
who died in 2018 at 94. Carter's kept busy since his last birthday. He was hospitalized for much of the latter half of 2019 to recover
from brain surgery, infections and two falls. His health woes forced him to stop teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church
in Plains, Georgia, a tradition he took up after leaving office in 1981. Due to the pandemic, the Plains Peanut Festival was cancelled
this year.
HEALTH & WELLNESS SALUTES PEANUTS - The Peanut Institute hosted its annual Health & Wellness meeting virtually on
Tuesday, September 29th. This meeting is held each year for manufacturers and industry representatives to provide an overview of
TPI’s marketing and research activities and to include guest speakers on topics of interest to the manufacturing segment. There were
over 50 participants in the meeting including representatives from all the major peanut and peanut butter manufacturers.
Miriam Crosby, TPI Marketing & Communications Director gave a presentation on TPI’s communications messaging during
the pandemic and plans to promote upcoming research study releases. TPI’s Research Director, Dr. Samara Sterling gave an
overview of ongoing research projects, the process of selecting TPI funded research and TPI’s involvement in nutrition
policy. Sherry Coleman-Collins, RD with the National Peanut Board gave the latest updates on peanut allergy prevention and
treatment.
ACTIVITIES OF AMERICAN PEANUT COUNCIL - APC continued its Growing Together webinar series with Amy Philpott of
Watson Greene LLC speaking about how to handle crisis management and communications during the pandemic.
October speaker will be Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, APC’s trade policy advisor, who is the former Assistant U.S. Trade
Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office the
President. APC worked with AMS and Aflatoxin Task Force to finalize U.S. response to EU audit recommendations. Join APC and
get involved on world peanut issues. Visit www.peanutsusa.com.