Farmers from Alabama to Texas planted more peanuts in 2015, responding to provisions in the Agricultural Act of 2014 and to the somewhat favorable market outlook for the crop compared to other options.

With USDA forecasting growers could harvest a billion more pounds of peanuts in 2015, the market outlook becomes even more critical. What will happen to all those peanuts and what might happen next year? Nathan B. Smith, staff director and Extension economist with the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development at the University of Georgia, will discuss those questions and provide an update on the 2014 farm bill during the next University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Food and Agribusiness Webinar.

To register for the webinar, which will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 24., click on the following link: https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/ee581737ebca74de7c24e00bf0acd2b8.

A veteran peanut market analyst based in Tifton, Ga., Dr. Smith will provide an update on the market outlook for peanuts and the potential for program payments to participants in the price loss coverage program in the new farm bill. He will also discuss payment limit issues under the new law.

Dr. Smith is a member of the UGA Peanut and Grains Teams where he collaborates with production specialists and researchers on the economics of peanut production. 

As part of the teams he produces crop budgets and developed the crop comparison tool shortly after coming to Georgia. He has developed a successful marketing education and outlook program for peanuts, feed grains and soybeans that leads to frequent requests as a speaker in Georgia, the Southeast and nationally.

He has also developed and conducted policy education programs since the beginning of the debate for the 2002 Farm Bill.

Dr. Smith was Extension marketing specialist for row crops at the University of Arkansas before coming to the University of Georgia.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University, Master of Science degree from Auburn University and PhD from the University of Kentucky, all in agricultural economics. He lives in Tifton with his wife, Kim, and two sons, Douglas and Daniel.