Based on recommendations from the Peanut Standards Board, USDA published a final rule Oct. 20 to revise the minimum quality and handling standards for domestic and imported peanuts marketed in the United States

This rule implements a recommendation to raise the grading score used to classify farmer stock peanuts as Segregation 2 from 2.49 percent to 3.49 percent. The rule will be effective Feb. 1, 2018.

“I applaud efforts by USDA to update the peanut standards and raise the grading score. A farmer having a majority of their crop graded as Segregation 2 is an economic devastation, which could lead to bankruptcy while the true value seems to be significantly higher,” said Armond Morris, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “This change will greatly reduce the burden on peanut growers. A similar action was granted to the peanut processors last year on outgoing regulations so it only makes sense growers should be afforded the same revision in the rules.”

The revisions are necessary due to the changes made in the 2002 Farm Bill’s peanut provisions. There were significant changes made in moving from the old quota program to the current peanut program but the definitions of Segregation 1, Segregation 2 and Segregation 3 for farmer stock peanuts were not changed. However, the definition for what farmer stock peanuts could be used in the domestic edible channel was changed, according to a statement from the Georgia Peanut Commission

The Peanut Standards Board, authorized under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, consists of 18 members representing the peanut growing regions of the U.S.

From a nationwide perspective, Segregation 2 peanuts usually constitute less than 1 percent of the entire U.S. crop. Peanut growers, however, have experienced some very challenging weather conditions in recent years, especially with rain at harvest time, which has increased the percentage of peanuts being graded as Segregation 2s. This adjustment to the grading score will not affect the quality of peanuts being delivered to the market, the GPC statement says.