KOEHLER RECEIVES VALOR AWARDS - At the Southern Peanut Grower’s Convention, the Valor Award was presented by Valent, USA and John Alton.  The definition of Valor means “Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.” The 2026 Valor Award recipient was Don Koehler, Senior Executive Director of the Georgia Peanut Commission. Don was recognized for nearly four decades of leadership on behalf of peanut growers and the U.S. peanut industry.

                   Don has been the leading advocate for peanut farmers through his work with the Georgia Peanut Commission, the Southern Peanut Growers, the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the U.S. Peanut Federation, and the American Peanut Council. His contributions have included leadership in agricultural policy, international trade, Farm Bill development, export promotion, and grower advocacy. Koehler has served on APC Board of Directors and chaired APC's Peanut Butter for the Hungry Task Force.

2026 PEANUT EFFICIENCY AWARDS -The Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Awards were presented to winners during the annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City Beach, FL  Awards are based on production efficiency, and honors growers who produce the highest yields by using their way to use inputs the best way.  Awards are presented to growers from the four major production regions.  Full details are in the July/August 2026 edition of FARM PRESS.

                 The 2026 winners were:

UPPER SOUTHEAST – Babb Farms of Windsor,  VA.  Three generations work together on the farm including Jimmy and sons Les and Bryan and their sons Jamie and Brendan.  They grow over 1,000 aces of Virginia type peanuts.  They pursue premium payments by growing certified seed peanuts for Birdsong Peanuts.  Family operation is diversified across seven companies growing cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and a cow-calf operation.  

LOWER SOUTHEAST – Barksdale Farms in Sylvester, GA.  Three generations orchestrate efficient peanut production throught precision and timing.  Jason Barksdale manages agronomic decisions with father Ronald, brother Will and his son Preston. Goals include a three to five year rotation for peanuts with winter cover crop, 6.5  pH, twin-rows with 8 seed per foot. Varieties are TifNV- High O/L and Georgia 09B, targeting 3 tons per acre.

DELTA – Lonnie Fortner of Port Gibson, Miss. Lonnie is one of the first to grow peanuts in this area of Mississippi.  By 2017, Ronnie and wife, Karen owned part of the ROCK Lake Planting Company and formed Bayou Pierre Farms with 50-50 operation.  He yields 5000-6000 pound per acre planting Georgia 06G on mostly un-irrigated acres. Ronnie has a diversified row-crop operation with peanuts, cotton, corn and soybeans. He represents Mississippi on National Peanut Board.

SOUTHWEST – Henry Froese, Gaines County, TX – Froese grows organic Spanish and conventional Virginia peanuts in the sandy soils of Gaines County, Texas.  He also produces cotton, sorghum, sunflowers, grapes, wheat, rye and sorghum sudan-grass.  A fittingly name for this farm is “Y Knot Farms” and the organic vineyard is “Y-Knot Vineyard.” Drought tolerance drives his production decisions and depends on a three or four year crop rotation. Henry averages about 3,500 lbs. per acre.

APRES ELECTS 2026-27 OFFICERS: AWARDS MEMBERS FOR DISTINGUISHED WORK - The American Peanut Research & Education Society (APRES) has elected new officers for the 2026-27 term and recognized some of its members with awards for their distinguished work.  Elections and award ceremony took place during the organization’s 58^th annual meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Officers elected include: 

President – Dr. Greg MacDonald, University of Florida

                President-elect – Shelly Nutt, Texas Peanut Producers Board

                Immediate Past President - Dr. Maria Balota, Virginia Tech University

New board members: APRES Graduate Student Organization president – Malarvishi Sathasivam, Clemson University

Members inducted as Fellows of the Society: Mark Burow- Texas Tech, Naveen Puppala – New Mexico State University, David Bertioli – University of Georgia, Josh Clevenger, Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology

                Bailey Award –Cristiane Pilon, Kelvin Awori, John Snider, Olavo Betiol, Soraya Leal-Bertioli and David Bertioli;                                 University Georgia for “Photosynthetic Quantum Efficiency of Wild-Derived and Cultivated Peanuts”

                Corteva Agriscience Award for Excellence in Research – Dr. Maria Balota, Virginia TechUniversity

                Corteva Agriscience Award for Excellence in Education – Dr. Cristiane Pilon, University of Georgia

                Coyt T. Wilson Award for Distinguished Service – Dr. Rebecca Bennett, USDA-ARS, Oklahoma

In addition, nearly 60 graduate students competed in the Joe Sugg Graduate Student Competition, sponsored by the North Carolina Peanut Association and National Peanut Board (NPB), and the NPB Graduate Student Poster Competition.

                Joe Sugg Awards :  PhD category: 1^st place – Ashmita Upadhyay, University of Georgia, 2^nd place – Daniel Matusinec, University of Georgia, 3^rd place – Alexi Dong, University of Georgia. Masters category: 1^st place –Gracie Roberson, Valdosta State University, 2^nd place – Jeret Royston, University of Georgia, 3^rd place – Muskan Tiwari, Texas Tech University

                Poster Competition: PhD category:1^st place – Gourav Chahal, Auburn University; 2^nd place – Ranadheer Vennam, Virginia Tech University.

                Masters category: 1^st place – Charles Naapoal, Texas Tech University; 2^nd place – Carlos Toruno, University of Florida

NEW INNOVATION AWARD WILL FIND NEW USES OF PEANUTS - The Georgia Peanut Commission announces a new award and cash prize for food entrepreneurs: The Georgia Peanut Innovation Award will recognize and reward the most unique and viable new product concept inspired by Georgia peanuts. The $10,000 cash prize will be awarded at the Sunbelt Ag Expo on Oct. 22, 2026. The contest is open to any new and unique application of peanuts, whether the product idea is in the prototype phase or has been on the market for less than a year. While the product must be food-related, it can be intended for either human or animal consumption.

                    Peanut product innovators can enter the contest by visiting gapeanuts.com and filling out an official entry form. Entries must be submitted by August 20, 2026. After an internal evaluation, five finalists will be presented to a panel of business professionals from the fields of agriculture, finance, education, retail and product/recipe development. The award and $10,000 cash prize will be presented to the winner by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and Donald Chase, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission, at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, Oct. 22, 2026, in Moultrie, Georgia.

GEORGIA FOUNDATION SEED ANNOUNCES POSITION - We are hiring a dedicated, hands-on GSD Foundation Production/Conditioning Manager. This position will oversee daily operations at our Foundation Peanut Center near Plains, Georgia. You will manage the movement of peanuts from the farm to the GSD plant, ensuring proper grading, drying, storage, shelling, and treating and providing similar activities for Foundation wheat, soybeans, and Bahia grass. You will also guide Foundation contract growers and lead the full-time and seasonal staff throughout the year.

                                For additional information visit our website at https://www.gsdc.com/   send your letter of interest regarding the position, resume, and the names, email addresses, and phone numbers and emails of three references to Mrs. Erin Montgomery (email - erin.montgomery@ gsdc.com).  Reviewing applications START Monday, August 10, 2026.