by Barbara J. Wood
PEANUT FARMERS
Peanut Farmers in the 1930s
There were 152 peanut farmers in Wilson County ... in the 1930s. In 2019, only two farmers are actively farming peanuts. Joe T. Sheehy of Sutherland Springs Texas introduced the Spanish peanut crop to the area and farming took off throughout the county.
Some of the names of families include Lothringer, McCloskey, Pavliska, Pfeil, Roemer, Rodriguez, Schellhase, and Sheehy.
In 2019, to celebrate Wilson County's roots and honor farmers, the Floresville Peanut Festival chose "Peanut Farmers Past and Present" as the grand marshal of the 75th anniversary parade.
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COURTESY / Wilson County News https://www.wilsoncountynews.com/articles/celebrating-the-peanut-farmers/
Farmers in the Labatt community
Farmers in the Labatt community.... in Wilson County Texas harvest peanuts in the late 1940s, in this photo shared by Peggy Rodriguez. Note the lack of tractors or vehicles to haul the wagons. Can you identify any of the men pictured? Peanuts were a major crop in the county in the first half of the 20th century; the crop's prominence sparked an annual celebration — ultimately becoming the Floresville Peanut Festival! Wilson County families connected to the peanut industry include Roemer, McCloskey, Rodriguez, Schellhase, Freeman, Pfeil, and Pavliska, among others.
COURTESY/ Wilson County News September 17, 2019
COURTESY/ Wilson County News September 17, 2019
Peanut farming, 1940
COURTESY/ Wilson County News October 08, 2019
Peanuts: The rise and fall of the goober in Wilson County
At the height of the peanut industry in Wilson County, Floresville was known as the "Peanut Capital of Texas."
The peanut — also known as the goober or groundnut — is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. In the early years, it was also used for hay, and peanut oil, for its "medicinal" virtues.
The first commercial production of peanuts began in Texas about 1906, and, according to written records, in Wilson County in 1909.
At that time, only one peanut-oil mill existed in the county, the Floresville Oil and Manufacturing Co.
Soon, peanuts came into prominence as a food source.
In the early 1900s, the yield was estimated at 50 to 100 bushels per acre, or an average of 1,150 to 2,300 pounds per acre.
Two types of peanut farmers emerged in the peanut industry from 1910 through 1914: those who baled the peanuts and vines for hay for livestock, and those who plowed the crop, sending only the nuts to the factory.
Yes, peanuts are legumes ... freshly dug Florunner peanuts will be ready for harvest later this month.
Yes, peanuts are legumes ... freshly dug Florunner peanuts will be ready for harvest later this month.
In 1972, about 12,500 growers in 117 Texas counties planted 300,000 acres of peanuts, making Texas the No. 2 state in the nation for peanut production. Wilson and Atascosa counties were among the 10 leading counties, with the peanut industry valued in excess of $65.5 million.
In 2017, Texas producers planted 275,000 acres and produced 936 million pounds of peanuts — an average of 3,600 pounds per acre.
Wilson County farmers in 1978 planted 15,000 acres. In 2008, that number had dwindled to just 1,000 acres. This was due to several factors — including drought, the 2002 Farm Bill, and fuel and other overhead costs.
Farmers battled droughts in 1996 and 1998. The dry period returned in 2005, followed by the droughts of 2008-09 and 2010-15.
The 2002 Farm Bill ended the two-tiered price system for peanut quotas and introduced the new market/loan system. No distinction between peanuts for the domestic and export markets existed.
Prior to the 2002 changes, peanut producers once received $610 a ton for those with peanut quotas; now the marketing loan rate is set at $350 a ton, or a 40-percent reduction in prices.
Since 2002, the national posted price has been above the marketing loan rate, with prices peaking at $1,200 per ton in 2011, but that price was short-lived.
The current estimated price is comparable to the prices paid in the 1960s and 1970s.
Another factor that contributed to the local decline in peanut production was the closing of Birdsong Peanuts — a peanut-drying business in Stockdale. The business closed its doors in January 2006.
A fourth factor contributing to the decline in the peanut industry was the increasing price of fuel. As the nation struggled with high fuel prices last year, farmers had already felt the increase in fuel prices. In 2002, farmers paid 91 cents per gallon for offroad diesel fuel. By 2005, the price of off-road diesel fuel had increased to $2.75 per gallon.
To survive, farmers had to change their methods of planting and growing peanuts. Meet one of the families who survived the decline and remains in production on page 1D.
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COURTESY/Wilson County News (written by Pat Kopecki)
Harvesting peanuts – Labatt community
... In years past, mules and wagons with wheels of wood were used for farming peanuts in Wilson County Texas during harvest time. After five months of hard work and worry, a good harvest was celebrated. This is why the Floresville Peanut Festival is held. ...
... Farmers in the Labatt community in Wilson County Texas ... harvest peanuts in the late 1940s, in this photo shared by Peggy Rodriguez.
Note the lack of tractors or vehicles to haul the wagons. Can you identify any of the men pictured? Peanuts were a major crop in the county in the first half of the 20th century; the crop's prominence sparked an annual celebration — ultimately becoming the Floresville Peanut Festival!
Wilson County families connected to the peanut industry include Roemer, McCloskey, Rodriguez, Schellhase, Zook, Freeman, Pfeil, Pavliska, Lothringer, Lowak, Richardson, Janek, Yeager, Tackitt and Sheehy among others.
... Farmers in the Labatt community in Wilson County Texas ... harvest peanuts in the late 1940s, in this photo shared by Peggy Rodriguez.
Note the lack of tractors or vehicles to haul the wagons. Can you identify any of the men pictured? Peanuts were a major crop in the county in the first half of the 20th century; the crop's prominence sparked an annual celebration — ultimately becoming the Floresville Peanut Festival!
Wilson County families connected to the peanut industry include Roemer, McCloskey, Rodriguez, Schellhase, Zook, Freeman, Pfeil, Pavliska, Lothringer, Lowak, Richardson, Janek, Yeager, Tackitt and Sheehy among others.
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COURTESY / Wilson County News
Peanut farmer Frank Gaertner
Wilson County Peanut farmer Frank Gaertner with a wagon of peanuts, circa 1940.
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COURTESY/ Wilson County News
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PEGGY RODRIGUEZ
1940 peanut farmers
Wilson County Texas farmers bagging the peanuts, circa 1940.
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COURTESY/ Wilson County News
Thrashing and bagging peanuts
Thrashing and bagging peanuts were only part of the hard labor that was required of Wilson County Texas farmers that depended on peanuts for an income. Can you identify the peanut farmer pictured?
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Courtesy/ Wilson County News /Terrell Schellhase