TPPB visits Japan to strengthen export opportunities

Otis Lee Johnson and Shelly Nutt in Japan.

 Members from the Texas Peanut Producers Board (TPPB) and the American Peanut Council (APC) traveled oversees last week to meet with the Japan Nut Association and U.S. Embassy trade officials to look for ways to promote and increase imports of American peanuts into Japan. 

For many years, Japan imported Chinese peanuts until the pesticide residue levels became unacceptable. Over the past two years Japan has been looking for more stable and reliable markets. Shelly Nutt, TPPB executive director, said the trip was very successful and there are hopes to fill the potential market. “In order to increase our exports we need to build our relationship with the Japanese,” Nutt said. “This trip opened dialogue and built trust in our peanut crop and with us as individuals.”

 

Seminole, Texas peanut farmers Otis Lee Johnson (TPPB chairman) and Roger Neitch (National Peanut Board President) examine a peanut plant in Japan.

America has built a strong relationship with Canada over the years, exporting peanuts valued at over $60 million annually. The APC hopes to build relations with Japan to continue the rise in market exports America already has with Japan. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, peanut exports to Japan from the U.S. are currently at $12.2 million, up 148 percent from 2007.

 

 

American peanut representatives were given a tour of some of Japan's peanut processing facilities.

Seminole, Texas peanut farmer Otis Lee Johnson, who is the chairman of both the APC Exports committee and TPPB, gave a presentation to members of the Japan Nut Association describing every aspect of America’s traditional peanut growing process, including peanut processing and shelling. Johnson also discussed the high quality of American peanuts with the Japanese representatives, promoting their value as an export product.

Stephanie Grunenfelder (APC) and Shelly Nutt (TPPB)

 

To help build a relationship with the Japanese, Nutt and Johnson, along with National Peanut Board Chairman Roger Neitsch of Seminole, APC Director of International Marketing Stephanie Grunenfelder, and Bob Coyle of Lawler Ballard Van Duran in Atlanta, Ga., spent their time touring manufacturing facilities and peanut farms.

The five American representatives toured the Tabata and Ikenobe factories where they roast, chop and manufacture a variety of peanut products, including whole, shelled and peanut powder. Nutt said the businesses were much smaller than American factories, but were just as efficient, using every amount of space available for stacking, storing and processing.

Although the Japanese peanut farms toured are smaller than typical American fields, the Japanese plants are higher yielding and produce great crops. Nutt said the farming techniques are also different from those used in America. The Japanese plant peanuts mechanically, but harvest by hand, whereas the entire production process in America is done mechanically and average around 3,500 pounds per acre.

Texas Peanut Harvest

Peanut harvest is in full swing in West Texas, and most peanut producers couldn't be happier to move on from 2009. The challenges of the year ranged anywhere from drought to a surplus in the market from last year's crop to a salmonella outbreak caused by one bad egg in the industry.

The 2008 harvest in Texas yielded over 860 million pounds of peanuts - the state's largest peanut harvest. The crop was valued at over $185 million, a reflection of the impact the Texas peanut industry has on the state's economy. According the the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Texas peanut farmers have produced 544 million pounds of peanuts to date in 2009. Fewer acres were planted this year to offset the surplus from last year's crop, and consequently, in response to the drop in demand from the salmonella scare at the beginning of the year.

The good news is the good reputation of the nation's peanut industry and its peanut products has helped restore consumer confidence, and sales of peanut butter are up dramatically since February of this year. Like this little rattlesnake found in one West Texas peanut farmer's field, one company's careless mistakes can not destroy an industry built on quality, honesty and safety.

The resilience of our farmers, processors, shellers and manufacturers have helped restore the industry. Former TPPB director Ted Higginbottom said it best when he said, "It’s unfortunate peanut growers in Texas can do everything right to produce a healthy and safe product to feed both their families and the nation, and then have to carry the burden for something they could not control." To read more about TPPB's communications during the salmonella outbreak, click here.

 

 

 

 

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Peanut Research in West Texas

Agriculture is full of great individuals who are sincerely passionate about what they do. Delwin Morrow is that kind of person.

Delwin is a peanut farmer from Brownfield, Texas who loves growing peanuts! Even greater than his love for growing a good peanut is his love for peanut research.

Over the past few years, Delwin has leased some of his peanut acreage for research purposes. Dr. Ernest Harvey, one of the world's leading peanut breeders from the USDA’s National Peanut Research Lab in Georgia, has led a team of researchers at Delwin's farm over the past several years as he attempts to develop a more drought tolerant, early maturing peanut.

Raising crops in West Texas has many unique challenges when compared to other parts of the country. Little rainfall, strong winds and cool evening temperatures are just a few of the issues West Texas farmers deal with every year. So, what better place than West Texas to test drought tolerant peanut varieties?

Dr. Harvey's research is aimed at developing a peanut that can mature quicker, which would help producers minimize their risks. An earlier harvest could mean fewer irrigations - saving thousands of dollars for producers. Early maturing peanuts could also reduce the risk of having peanuts in the ground when the first frost occurs.

This year's test plot, like most of peanut production on the South Plains, experienced little rainfall. Delwin said between the time this same plot was harvested last year and this year's harvest, the plot received just 5 inches of rain. 

While that meant hardships for producers, the lack of rain did allow researchers to put their tested varieties through the exact harsh conditions they are being designed to withstand. 

Over half of the TPPB's budget is allocated to research to help scientists develop better peanuts for better production effeciency. 

Check back later for more about Texas peanut research and updates on how the Texas peanut harvest is going. Don't forget to subscribe to the TPPB blog to keep up with what's going on with the Texas Peanut Producers Board.

Welcome

Thanks for stopping by the new blog of the Texas Peanut Producers Board (TPPB).

TPPB is a statewide board funded by a $2 per ton voluntary checkoff from Texas peanut producers. Checkoff dollars are used for peanut production research, to promote Texas peanuts, and to educate others about the high energy and nutrition value of peanuts.

Over half of TPPB's annual budget is used to fund research projects aimed at improving peanut production in Texas. Research is mostly focused on producing a more drought tolerant, disease resistant peanut that is better suited for the varying Texas growing conditions. Stayed tuned for future blog posts that will highlight different research projects and results given at peanut field days.

TPPB is also very involved in promoting peanut butter donations to the hungry. In 2008 following the devasting hurricane season on the Texas Gulf Coast, TPPB along with the Western Peanut Growers Association and the Seminole Chamber of Commerce, helped gather over 15,000 pounds of peanut butter to donate to the desperate food banks in South Texas. Since then, TPPB has been involved in several peanut butter food drives in an effort to promote the donation of peanut butter to the state's food banks. Peanut butter makes the perfect donation production because it is nutritious, packed with energy and has a long shelf life.

Building and maintaining relationships with foriegn manufacturers of Texas peanuts is also a focus for TPPB. The board, along with the American Peanut Council, hosts regular tours for manufactures from Mexico, Japan and Italy to allow them to see how peanuts are produced and processed in Texas.

Visit us again to learn more about Texas peanut production and the activities of the Texas Peanut Producers Board!