The Annual South Carolina State Peanut Growers’ Meeting will be held on January 28th at the Santee Conference Center.

Speakers will include Dell Cotton, Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association Manager; Wesley Porter, UGA Extension Precision Agriculture and Irrigation Specialist; Tyron Spearman, Editor of Peanut Farm Market News and Executive Director of the National Peanut Buying Points Association; Marianne Copelan, South Carolina Department of Agriculture Marketing Specialist; Ryan Lepicier, National Peanut Board; Patrick Archer, President of American Peanut Council; and Clemson University Extension and researchers.

Registration and industry exhibits begin at 8:30 am. The annual meeting is a great source for peanut production and market updates. Please contact Dan Anco (803-284-3343 x261, danco@clemson.edu) if you have questions about the meeting or would like to be a sponsor.

The Santee Conference Center is located at 1737 Bass Drive/SC-15, Santee, SC 29142.

Grower prizes will be drawn throughout the meeting. Prize eligibility: 2015 commercial peanut growers who intend to plant peanuts in 2016. Growers must be present to win.

The Grand Prize from KMC will be the use of a new 6-row Peanut Combine on the winner's farm for the 2016 harvesting season (valued at $15,000), with the option of purchasing the combine through an authorized KMC dealer with $15,000 off the list price. In lieu of the 6-row Combine, the winner can choose the use of another KMC Peanut Harvest Implement with a 10% discount off the list price for purchase. The winner must be certified as a peanut grower with an FSA farm number, and must be present to win.

Grower Prize from Amadas is a certificate good for the use of a new 4-row or 6-row Amadas Peanut Digger/Inverter for the 2016 harvest season OR $10,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas Self-Propelled Peanut Combine OR $5,000 towards the purchase of a new Amadas 4-row or 6-row Pull-Type Peanut Combine. Winner must be certified as a peanut grower with an FSA farm number.

Grower Prize from Colombo North America is $10,000 toward the purchase of a new Colombo Combine.