The 2011 Peanut Bus Tour of South Georgia, sponsored by the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peanuts, begins in Bainbridge on Tuesday, Sept. 27, with an early bird session at 3 p.m. on hot topics on peanuts presented at the Holiday Inn Express in Bainbridge.

Presentations will include economic and food issues by University of Georgia faculty and U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists on U.S. peanut program and policy, processing, quality, nutrition and uniform peanut performance tests. A reception follows at 6 p.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 at the Holiday Inn Express.

Tour highlights include production research at the Attapulgus Research farm, on-farm demonstrations, equipment manufacturing, peanut handling, grading and shelling, and product processing facilities.

Lunch will be at the Cloud Livestock Pavilion and a low country boil will be held at 7 p.m. at the Earle May Boat Basin.

The agenda for Thursday includes lunch in Blakely, a 6 p.m. reception at Cotton Hall in Colquitt, with dinner and theater presentation of Swamp Gravy. Bus seats will be reserved on a first-come basis, with international visitors being given priority.

For more information, contact Rebecca Whitehead, P.O. Box 967, Tifton, GA 31793, or call (229) 386-3470; e-mail: rebecca@gapeanuts.com.