The Georgia Peanut Commission has granted $256,280 to the University of Georgia for various peanut-related research projects in 2015.

Peanuts are Georgia's second most valuable row crop with farmers growing $891,855,186 worth in 2012. In addition to being a major economic driver in the Southeast, the legume is also crucial to the diets and livelihoods of millions of small farmers in Asia and Africa.

"We're very thankful to the Georgia Peanut Commission for the $256,280 in support of our research and extension peanut team," said Robert Shulstad, associated dean for research at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. 

"Everything from breeding to weed control to pest management to marketing and policy is addressed by members of our peanut team to support the peanut industry in the state."

The peanut commission funds will be used for 26 projects by researchers from UGA Extension and UGA's departments of crop and soil sciences, entomology, plant pathology, agricultural and applied economics and food science.

About $89,000 will go to UGA's peanut breeding programs, which develop peanut varieties that are hardier, more sustainable and disease-resistant. Much of this work leverages UGA's recent research with the International Peanut Initiative, which released the first publicly available peanut genome sequence.

The remainder of the funds will be used to help farmers battle common peanut diseases and pests, improve cultivation strategies, better market peanuts and adopt the latest in peanut research to improve their crops.

Georgia's peanut growers invest $2 per ton annually toward Georgia Peanut Commission programs, which include research, promotion and education. Research comprises 22 percent of available funds in the commission's budget.

"Growers have improved cultivars, technologies and better access to information, allowing them to be more efficient due to research," said Jamison Cruce, the commission's director of research and education. "With ever-increasing production and input costs, we must continue our funding trend to ensure the future of the peanut farming in Georgia remains viable and economical."

VIDEO: Tifton's Austin French: "Georgia on My Mind" - Rising Star 2014

 

Tifton -- and a nationwide audience -- saw Austin French advance to the next level last Sunday on ABC-TV's new show, "Rising Star."

French, 20, who is worship pastor at Tifton's Journey Church, wowed the audience with his rendition of "Georgia On My Mind." He received an audience score of 87 percent, ensuring that he will continue to compete on the show in the coming weeks. 

Watch his performance in the video above.