Posted 8/09/2005 05:11:00 PM by Douglas

Looks like another year of a massive peanut surplus. Bad new for peanut farmers and taxpayers alike, but good news for SouthWest Airlines.

Despite recent growth in peanut consumption, Americans use only about 1.6 million tons a year and another 300,000 to 400,000 tons are exported.

That leaves a surplus of about 485,000 tons.

Farmers won't lose because their government crop program guarantees them $355 per ton. The losers could be federal taxpayers who pay the difference between the guaranteed price and the actual market value of the peanuts.

Low peanut prices increase government costs, while higher prices reduce government costs.

Last year's 2.1 million ton crop peanut crop has already cost the government $320 million, said Spearman, who spoke Friday at the Georgia Peanut Producers Association's annual buying point meeting. The 416 buying points stretching from New Mexico to Virginia buy peanuts from the farmer and grade them before shipping them to shelling plants or storage warehouses.

No one's gonna win as long as the government is paying people to produce things they can't sell. Farmers are no different.

Chambliss, noting that he'd been given a golf shirt made from corn the day before in Minnesota, urged the industry to "get creative" and increase peanut demand.

Then, reflecting on potential uses of peanuts, he said, "I don't know if we can make golf shirts out of it."

I don't know, I think a peanut shirt would be kinda cool. Sounds like someone needs to summon the spirit of Mr. Carver.

In other peanut-related news, if you're teetering on the brink of suicide, listen to this song for 15 seconds and see if it doesn't put you over the edge.