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Research at Work: Peanuts

About 90 percent of Georgia-grown runner peanuts are made into peanut butter each year. The disease- and pest-resistant peanuts developed at the University of Georgia help farmers boost yields while maintaining quality. Over 70 percent of peanuts produced in the U.S. are UGA varieties. Our research helps the food industry turn Georgia crops into the nutritious and safe products you use every day, like peanut butter.

 


Ideal varieties boost production 

Sustainability of the Georgia peanut crop depends largely on the consistency of a variety to produce across many different micro climates throughout Georgia. Currently 95 percent of the peanut acres grown in Georgia are in Georgia-06G due to its ability to maximize yield and grade in a majority of the growing regions. Unfortunately, growing one variety across a majority of the acres is not a sustainable practice as diseases can overcome some disease resistance traits of a select variety.

Statewide Peanut Variety trials conducted by UGA scientists provide growers with the disease resistance traits, growth and vigor characteristics, and yield and grade potential of all commercially available peanut runner varieties. Data from these trails provide growers with the needed information about the performance of a select variety in a select region as well as across the state. Results and recommendations are provided to UGA Extension agents in each county who educate growers on which varieties perform best. Using superior tested varieties resulted in an increase of nearly $78 million in income from peanuts.

 


Peanut News

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins (center) joins Georgia agricultural leaders, producers and UGA CAES leadership at the college's Iron Horse Farm for a listening session on key industry challenges, including disaster relief, trade markets and the future of American farming. (Photo by Georgia Department of Agriculture) CAES News
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visits CAES for farmer listening session
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins visited UGA’s Iron Horse Farm for a listening session with Georgia agricultural leaders. Producers and commodity representatives shared concerns on disaster relief, labor shortages, trade and the future of farming. They also highlighted the vital role of CAES researchers and UGA Cooperative Extension in boosting efficiency, yields, and food safety, strengthening Georgia’s agricultural economy.
UGA professor and peanut breeder William “Bill” D. Branch has developed more than 30 novel, licensed peanut varieties. (CAES) CAES News
Branch named National Academy of Inventors Fellow news.uga.edu
William “Bill” D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been elected as Fellow for the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Branch is the 17th UGA faculty member to receive this honor, which recognizes inventors whose innovations have had a significant impact on society, economic development and quality of life.
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