The 2023 Farm Press Peanut Efficiency Award nominations are underway. Annually, Farm Press seeks to recognize producers throughout the Peanut Belt who are using regenerative practices to achieve high peanut yields and grades.

PEA winners are selected from the Lower Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida; the Upper Southeast, including Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; the Southwest, including Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico; and the Delta, including Mississippi, Arkansas and Mississippi.

“The award is based on production proficiency, honoring growers who produce the highest yields by using inputs wisely,” says Farm Progress Senior Content Director Brad Haire. "The awards are determined based on the producer’s entire peanut operation rather than an individual farm or small plots, and the data submitted is kept confidential."

Production costs are considered in the nomination application as well.

“The elements of production cost and price are equally important factors in our evaluation of nominees. Marketing expertise definitely has given an edge to recent winners of the award,” says Marshall Lamb, research director for the National Peanut Research Laboratory and primary advisor of the PEA program.

Education is a major component of the Peanut Efficiency Award. “Southeast Farm Press, Delta Farm Press and Southwest Farm Press support the education element by publishing articles throughout the year focusing on peanut production efficiency,” Haire says. “Each PEA winner and their management practices will also be featured in each of the publications, highlighting their keys to success. Our hope is that this will be information that will also be beneficial to other peanut producers.”

Winners of the 2023 awards will receive an expense-paid trip for two to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 27-29, at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort. Farm Press will recognize each honoree at its annual PEA Breakfast, July 29.

Nomination forms

Nomination forms are available online, https://www.farmprogress.com/peanut-efficiency-award, and can be emailed to Lamb at [email protected]. The deadline is April 15, 2023.

The 2022 honorees were Ben Cowin, Williamston, N.C., Upper Southeastern states; Wayne Hobbs, Irwin County, Ga., Lower Southeastern states; Mitchell Rogers, Covington County, Miss.; Delta region; and Karl Stutzman, Weatherford, Okla., Southwest region. Follow the links to learn more!