Adapted from original written by: David L. Jordan Extension Specialist—Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and Ashley Collins Chief Executive Officer—North Carolina Peanut Growers Association Inc.
For many years the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, in cooperation
with NC State Extension, has supported a peanut production contest at county
and state levels and a luncheon to recognize farmers producing an average of at
least 5,000 pounds per acre on all of their production. Table 8-1 shows the average
yield of the 5,000 Pound Club members from 2014 to 2021 in contrast with state
averages and growers attending county production meetings. Entries had to be sent to Ashley Collins ashley.collins@aboutpeanuts.com and David Jordan david_jordan@ncsu.edu by January 25 to be eligible.
Growers with a point total of 60 or more will also be recognized as a member of The Group of Sixty. Achieving 60 points is truly remarkable. In 2021, one farming operation had yields and acres that led to more than 70 points. We decided to create a new category in referring to this winner as The Board of Seventy. The Group of Sixty will be recognized with a certificate. The Board of Seventy will be recognized with a wooden plaque.
A luncheon was held in March 2023 for The Group of Sixty and The Board of Seventy Farmers with at least 5,000 pounds per acre on their total production will be recognized with a certificate at the county peanut production meetings. Please note that the purpose of this contest and the recognition that comes along with the awards are focused on the person(s) or enterprise that is involved directly in the production and management of the peanut crop in the field. We fully realize that there are many types of arrangements and in some cases silent partners who support or have financial interests in the farming operation that meets the criteria described. Those relationships are certainly important to the farming operation. However, our goal with these awards is recognition of the farmer who is actively engaged in the day-to-day decision-making process and implementation of those decisions on the farm. Though we fully realize the importance of financial partners that enable farming operations to function, the goal of this contest is to recognize the actual grower.
The North Carolina Peanut Production Contest involves a combination of yield per-acre and additional points based on total acreage.
The 2022 Chowan County Champion Peanut Producer contest Winner was Parrish Farms Inc. with 315 Acres that harvested 5,229.20 Lbs./Acre. We want to congratulate Mike Parrish, from Parrish Farms Inc. for winning this year's contest and representing the strong Peanut growers of Chowan County. This Trophy was awarded by Ashley Collins of N.C. Peanut Growers Association, Inc. on January 20, 2023, at the Chowan/Gates/Perquimans Peanut Production Meeting held at the Chowan County Ag. Building, 730 N. Granville St. Edenton NC 27932.
For more information on Agriculture visit the Chowan County website or call 252-482-6585.
