Patrick Sison / Associated Press
Georgia peanut growers are expecting what may be a record-breaking harvest this year.
Georgia is the nation’s top producer of peanuts. If projections hold, the Georgia Peanut Commission’s Don Koehler expects a bonanza.
“I’ve been executive director for 31 years at the Peanut Commission, and, up until this point, the crop has looked as good, really, as any I remember in that 31 years,” Koehler said.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agronomist Scott Monfort says peanut growers are still watching the weather closely. If it gets too dry, that could decrease the yield.
“There’s a fine line on what the weather does here for the next three weeks of whether or not we have a tremendous crop versus just an above-average one,” Monfort said.
A bumper crop could mean excess peanuts.
“The export market is what’s come in and helped us out. All we can hope is that continues,” Monfort said.
Peanut harvesting in Georgia starts around Labor Day and continues until November. The peanut industry contributes more than 50,000 jobs in the state, according to the Georgia Peanut Commission.
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