Rep. Jimmy Pruett Praises Peanut Farmers | Best Of

Peanuts are back at the head of the pack in successful crops in Georgia this year as farmers are expected to bring in two-thirds more peanuts overall than was reported in 2011.

State Rep. Jimmy Pruett said, “This year's crop has been reported to be excellent, and our farmers should be credited for their careful planning and planting.”

He continued, “Don Koehler with the Georgia Peanut Commission said that this year is by far the best crop that he has seen in the 26 years that he has been the executive director of the GPC.”

According to reports from the GPC. Pruett said, “We have been told that this is to be a record-high yield this year … in spite of the drought we have experienced.”

Last year, Georgia peanut farmers reportedly had the third highest yield on record – around 3,600 pounds per acre. Farmers this year planted more than 720,000 acres of peanuts this year – where last year it was estimated that 470,000 acres were planted.

Rep. Pruett said, “Growers took a chance in planting more of their crop as they realized that this crop is very important to the economic development of our state, and in our rural communities, it is going to be very important.”

He concluded, “And I for one am thankful for their efforts.”