UGA Peanut Breeding Program • Coastal Plain Experiment Station • Tifton, Georgia
The Georgia Peanut Breeding Program is one of the longest-running publicly funded crop improvement programs in the United States. Established in 1931 at the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia, the program has advanced peanut science for nearly a century — and its impact is felt in fields across the Southeast and beyond.
~100%
of continuous peanut breeding at UGA
>70%
of U.S. peanuts are planted with UGA varieties
$600M+
annual farm gate value of Georgia’s peanut crop
The Early Years (1931–1977)
Georgia’s first state peanut breeder, Dr. B. B. Higgins, established the program in 1931, focusing on organizing and improving the diverse peanut varieties grown across the state. From 1954 to 1984, USDA-ARS scientist Dr. Ray O. Hammons led federal breeding efforts at Tifton, advancing hybridization-based methods and releasing several key varieties. A landmark moment for the entire industry came in 1969 with the University of Florida’s release of Florunner, which dominated Southeast peanut acreage for nearly two decades.
Building on the Foundation (1978–Present)
In 1978, Dr. William D. Branch joined the UGA program, becoming Georgia’s state peanut breeder upon Dr. Hammons’s retirement in 1984. When tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) devastated peanut fields across the Southeast in the late 1980s, the program responded with new disease-resistant varieties. The 1996 release of Georgia Green stabilized the industry, and the 2006 release of Georgia-06G — offering superior yield, grade, and disease resistance — quickly became the dominant peanut variety in the U.S., accounting for more than 82% of certified peanut acres in Georgia. Over the program’s history, peanut yields have increased by more than 3,500 pounds per acre since 1947.
Looking Forward
Today, the program continues under the leadership of Dr. Nino Brown, Assistant Professor and Peanut Breeder in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Dr. Brown integrates cutting-edge tools — including drones, high-throughput phenotyping, high-speed seed sorting, and marker-assisted selection — with proven breeding methods to keep pace with evolving challenges. New cultivars are in development targeting high-oleic content, multi-pest resistance, drought tolerance, and continued yield gains.
Dr. William D. Branch remains an active faculty member and collaborator, continuing to contribute his decades of expertise alongside Dr. Brown. Together, they represent both the deep institutional knowledge that has defined the program and the innovative approaches that will carry it forward.
The mission remains the same as it has always been: developing peanut varieties that deliver real, measurable value for growers, processors, and consumers across the Southeast and beyond.
Historical Timeline
| 1931 | Georgia Peanut Breeding Program established. Dr. B. B. Higgins becomes the first state peanut breeder. |
| 1954 | Dr. Ray O. Hammons (USDA-ARS) leads federal peanut breeding at Tifton, advancing hybridization methods. |
| 1969 | University of Florida releases Florunner, which dominates Southeast peanut acreage for nearly two decades. |
| 1978 | Dr. William D. Branch joins UGA; named state peanut breeder upon Dr. Hammons’s retirement in 1984. |
| 1996 | Dr. Branch releases Georgia Green — providing TSWV resistance and stabilizing the industry. |
| 2006 | Dr. Branch releases Georgia-06G — superior yield, grade, and TSWV resistance. Becomes the dominant U.S. peanut variety. |
| 2009+ | High-oleic variety pipeline begins: Georgia-09B, Georgia-16HO, Georgia-20VHO, Georgia-22MPR, Georgia-24NHO. |
| 2019 | Georgia-06G re-introduced from cold-stored breeder seed stock to ensure continued availability. |
| 2024 | Dr. Branch inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame; elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. |
| 2025–26 | Release of Georgia-25NV — high yield, high grade, TSWV and RKN resistance via marker-assisted selection. |