“Now is a pretty exciting time to be growing peanuts,” Mississippi Peanut Growers Association President Joe Morgan told growers and industry representatives attending the group's annual meeting at Mississippi State University. “Consumption is going up, exports are going up, and contract prices being offered to growers are much better than this time a year ago. We’ve got one of the best research teams in the country in Dr. Jason Sarver, MSU Extension peanut specialist, and his enthusiastic graduate students.”

Morgan, who is currently serving as Mississippi's representative to the National Peanut Board, was re-nominated for that position in balloting conducted at the meeting. His nomination has been submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture for confirmation.

“We’re pleased to have Joe Morgan nominated to continue representing Mississippi growers on the National Peanut Board and as president of our state association,” says Malcolm Broome, executive vice president of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association. “His years of experience in peanut production, and knowledge of peanut issues, have helped to make Mississippi an important player in the peanut industry.

“With the support of an outstanding slate of officers and directors, we look forward to continuing advancements in Extension, research, technology, and education to keep Mississippi in the forefront of peanut production.”

In 2011, Mississippi had the highest average yield of any peanut-producing state in the nation.

Today, Broome says, the association’s top priority is to increase the economic impact peanuts have on the overall economy of Mississippi over the next three to five years, to expand promotion efforts, and education related to the health benefits of peanuts, including an allergy management plan for Mississippi schools.