Hay farmers, livestock producers, and anyone interested in learning about growing perennial peanut are invited to participate in the 2026 Perennial Peanut Producers Association (PPPA) Field Day, on Friday, June 5, 2026. UF/IFAS Extension will host the event in Quincy, Florida, at the University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) – 155 Research Rd, Quincy, FL. Registration and networking are set to begin at 8:30 AM Eastern (7:30 AM Central). The event offers a blend of a successful farm tour and educational presentations. For those that are not able to attend in person, there is an option to hear the educational presentations via Zoom (~11:30 AM). Passcode is PPFD2026.
The program will begin 9:00 AM EDT with a brief welcome and PPPA business meeting, followed by a tour of Robert Harrsion’s Perennial Peanut Hay Farm. Following the tour, educational presentations will begin at approximately 11:30 AM. Topics to be discussed include: the IR-4 herbicide registration process, use of perennial peanut for ornamental and wildlife plantings, a needs assessment discussion for perennial peanut growers, rhizome quality testing prior to planting, and an update on the forage pellet plant under construction near Madison. The event concludes with a discussion of perennial peanut sensitivity to Corteva’s herbicide product called NovaGraz.
Lunch is included with the $15 per person registration and will be provided to all participants. Please use the RSVP link below to reserve seats and meals for your party. Payment will be made at the event by cash or checks made out to the PPPA.
RSVP by June 1 @ https://go.ufl.edu/pppa2026
–
Agenda (times are approximate after returning from the farm tour)
8:30 – 9:00 PPPA Board Meeting
8:30 Registration & Networking
9:00 – 9:25 Welcome & PPPA Business Meeting – Tyler Putnal, President PPPA
10:00 – 11:00 On-farm Tour: Robert Harrison, Gadsden County perennial peanut hay producer
11:30 – 12:00 The Ins and Outs of Herbicide Approvals – Kristen Searer-Jones, IR-4 Southern Region, UF Food & Env. Toxicology Lab, Gainesville
(The Southern Region IR-4 Project coordinates research to assist the registration of pest management tools for specialty crops and minor uses.)
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch and Sponsor Acknowledgements
1:00 – 1:30 Perennial Peanut Plantings: Ornamental and Wildlife Value – Dr. Leynar Leyton, Ornamental Plant Breeder; Dr. Carolina Baruzzi, Wildlife Ecologist, NFREC, Quincy, FL
1:30 – 2:00 Commodity Group Needs Assessment with Audience Participation – Dr. Marcelo Wallau, State Forage Specialist, UF/IFAS, Gainesville, FL; Mr. Doug Mayo, Jackson County CED, Marianna, FL
2:00 – 2:15 Brief Updates: Doug Mayo – Rhizome quality testing); Jesse Cone – Pellet Plant progress
2:15 – 3:00 Discussion of Perennial Peanut Sensitivity to NovaGraz herbicide on perennial peanuts – Mark Mauldin, UF/IFAS Extension Washington County
Download a printer friendly version of the event flyer and agenda: 2026 PPPA Field Day Flyer and Agenda
–
For more information, contact:
UF/IFAS Extension Educational Program Chair
Dr. Cheryl Mackowiak
(850) 875-7126
echo13@ufl.edu
Perennial Peanut Producers Association Field Day Chair
Lindy Cone, PPPA Secretary
850-973-2339
pppa@perennialpeanuthay.org
–
An Equal Opportunity Institution
The University of Florida is committed to providing universal access to all events. For disability accommodations, such language interpreters and listening devices, please contact Cheryl Mackowiak: (850) 875-7126 or echo13@ufl.edu at least 1 week in advance. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
0
