[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11195]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AUSTIN SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2012

  Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, with the discussion of a 
new farm bill heating up, I would like to pay special recognition to 
the Georgia Peanut Commission. In August, the Commission will be 
celebrating their 50th anniversary. Since 1961, they have successfully 
improved the profitability of peanuts and peanut products through 
research, promotion, and education, creating a better market for 
Georgia peanut farmers.
  When the Georgia Peanut Commission began, farmers who harvested 
475,000 acres of peanuts averaged yields of 1,200 pounds per acre. Last 
year, farmers who harvested the same 475,000 acres averaged over 3,500 
pounds per acre, an increase of 350 percent. Due to their efforts, 
Georgia peanut yields are consistently higher than other states; 
possess superior quality, and contribute an estimated 2 billion dollars 
to the Georgia economy.
  In fact, Georgia is number 1 in the national production of peanuts 
with nearly 50 percent of the annual crop.
  And no one can miss those small red packs of peanuts. The Georgia 
Peanut Commission is recognized throughout the world by their red 
packages of Georgia peanuts. Annually, the Commission distributes 2 
million of those little red packs, demonstrating their commitment to 
the peanut industry.
  In addition, with farmers and ranchers being the true 
conservationists of America, the Commission, on August 1st, will open a 
net-zero energy building, which will serve as their new headquarters. 
During the construction of this new building, only local contractors 
and businesses were used and no government funding was provided, 
further showing their commitment to Georgia's agricultural future.
  Mr. Speaker, with agriculture being one of the economic pillars of 
this great country, it is with pride that I congratulate the Georgia 
Peanut Commission on its 50th anniversary, and I look forward to 
working with the Commission for another 50 years.

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