National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) projections show Southeast growers (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina) planted a total of 970,000 acres of peanuts this year, a 14 percent increase from 2009.

Georgia peanut farmers planted 560,000 acres, up 10 percent from last season.

Planted area in the Virginia-North Carolina region increased significantly over 2009, to 112,000 acres, up 42 percent.

Southwest peanut farmers (New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) planted an estimated 208,000 acres, up 12 percent from the previous year.

NASS attributes the increased acreage to the anticipation of higher contract prices.

email: rsmith@farmpress.com