The peanut R&P program operates as the National Peanut Board. The program's purpose is to maintain and expand existing markets and develop new markets for peanuts and peanut products. The program is administered under AMS oversight by the National Peanut Board. The Board is authorized to collect assessments from domestic producers. The funds collected support promotion, research, and consumer and producer information activities to strengthen peanuts’ position in the marketplace.
Under the program, all peanut producers pay an assessment on all farmers stock peanuts sold at a rate of $3.55 per ton for Segregation 1 peanuts and $1.25 per ton for Segregation 2 and 3 peanuts. The assessments are remitted to the Board by handlers and, for peanuts under loan, by the Commodity Credit Corporation. The Board reimburses AMS and USDA’s Office of the General Counsel for expenses incurred in administering the program.
In July 2000, AMS issued the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order, which created the program under the authority of the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (pdf).View the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order Federal Register History
Organizational Structure
The Board is composed of 12 producer members and their alternates: one member and alternate from each primary peanut producing state (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia) and one at-large member and alternate collectively from the minor peanut producing States. The members and alternates are nominated by producers or producer groups.
The Board has eight full-time employees and the office is located in Atlanta, Georgia. You can access a listing of current Board members and alternates on the National Peanut Board roster.
AMS Policy on Board Diversity: AMS policy is that the diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
Visit the National Peanut Board’s website >
Organic Assessment Exemption
R&P programs allow persons that produce, handle, market, process, manufacture, feed or import “organic” and “100 percent organic” products to be exempt from paying assessments regardless of whether they are a “split” operation.
Contacts
Director: Michelle Sharrow
Email: Michelle.Sharrow@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-8085
Deputy Director: Sue Coleman
Email: Sue.Coleman@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 378-2569
Branch Chief: Alexandra Caryl
Email: Alexandra.Caryl@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-8085