The eighth annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference is scheduled for July 16-18, at the Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Fla. This year’s conference offers farmers an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming farm bill, peanut research and promotions.

In addition to the conference sessions, the event focuses on the family by offering a kids’ program and a ladies’ program. These programs will be similar to previous conferences. There will also be a golf tournament on Tuesday afternoon.

Registration for the meeting will begin on Sunday, July 17, at 1 p.m., lasting until 7:30 p.m. at the Edgewater Beach Resort Conference Center. During registration, the National Peanut Buying Points Association will provide grilled peanut, butter and jelly sandwiches. A welcoming reception hosted by Bayer CropScience will be held from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.

On Monday, July 17, beginning at 6:45 a.m., the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation will host a prayer breakfast.

General Session I — Peanuts & Politics: The Farm Bill, begins at 8 a.m. on Monday. Presentations and speakers include Legislation & the 2007 Farm Bill: Congressmen Terry Everett and Lynn Westmoreland; and Agriculture & Trade Policy, Evans Plowden, American Peanut Shellers Association.

General Session II — Grower & Industry Views on the Farm Bill — will begin at 10:15 a.m. A panel will be announced later.

Following a lunch buffet at noon and the presentation of the Valent Valor Award will be three research breakout sessions presented at 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.

Topics and speakers include Herbicide Resistance in Weeds, Eric Prostko, University of Georgia, and Jay Ferrell, University of Florida; Disease Management & the Risk Index, Bob Kemerait, University of Georgia, and Austin Hagan, Auburn University; and Pest Management, Steve Brown, University of Georgia, Ron Weeks, Auburn University, and Diane Rowland, USDA/ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory.

The Southern Peanut Growers Conference continues on Tuesday, July 18, with the Farm Press Peanut Profitability Awards Breakfast and Grower Panel, set for 7 a.m. The awards will be presented this year to Andrew Collins, Southeast Region; Jim Davis, Southwest Region; and Hugh and Landy Weathers, Virginia-Carolina Region. Sponsors of this year’s awards include Golden Peanut Company, U.S. Borax, Inc., Bayer CropScience, John Deere, SIPCAM AGRO USA, INC., Syngenta, the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the Texas Peanut Producers Board.

This will be followed at 8:30 a.m. with the third general session, Biodiesel & Peanut Varieties. Presentations and speakers include the following: A National Overview of Bioenergy, Phillip Badger, General Bioenergy; Peanuts & Biodiesel, Daniel Geller, University of Georgia; and The Future Development of Peanut Varieties in the Southeast, featuring peanut breeders from throughout the Southeast.

The fourth and final general session — Sound Farm Finances — will begin at 10:30 a.m. Presentations and speakers include Tax Planning, Tracy Knowles, The Parsons Group; Building on Farm Operating/Retirement Account; Estate Planning for the Future, Paul Turner, attorney; Family Trust & Choosing A Trustee; and Legal Concerns & Pitfalls, Paul Turner, attorney.

Lunch will be on your own on Tuesday, with the afternoon free. A golf tournament will be held from 12:30 until 6 p.m. at the Hombre Golf Course. A reception will be held at 7 p.m. with dinner and entertainment hosted by Syngenta beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Room reservations for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference can be made by contacting the Edgewater Beach Resort at 1-800-874-8686. When making hotel reservations, ask for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference rate.

For more information about the conference, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association at 334-792-6482 or the Florida Peanut Producers Association at 850-526-2590.