U.S. Peanut Facts

U.S. Peanut Facts

Peanuts are thought to have originated in South America, where they thrive in tropical and subtropical climates (American Peanut Council, 2014).    (AGMRC)

The name “peanut” is misleading because it is not botanically a nut, but rather a legume (a member of the pea and bean family).  (AGMRC)

Processing peanuts is another way value can be added to your crop. Peanuts can be processed into multiple products:  roasted peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, peanut flour, and biodiesel.   (AGMRC)

The United States produced 6.13 billion pounds of peanuts in 2020, up 667.4 million pounds from the prior year.  

Georgia produced the most peanuts in the United States in 2020 followed by Alabama and Florida.

Georgia accounted for more than 53% of U.S. peanut production in 2020.

Alabama accounted for more than 10% of U.S. peanut production in 2020.

The most peanuts ever produced in the United States was 7.1 billion pounds in 2017.   It was the only year that the U.S. produced over 7 billion pounds.

The United States first produced 1 billion pounds of peanuts in 1931.    The United States first produced 5 billion pounds of peanuts in 2008.  

U.S. peanut farmers produced 700,217 pounds of peanut every hour and 195 pounds every second in 2020.

U.S. peanut production increased 257% from 1960 to 2020.

U.S. peanut farmers planted 1.66 million acres in 2020, up 231.5K acres from the prior year.   The most area planted for peanuts in the U.S. was 5.15 million acres in 1943.

The United States harvested 1.62 million acres in 2020, up 226.1K acres from the prior year.    Record high yields were estimated in Mississippi and Oklahoma.

The most area harvested for peanuts in the U.S. was 3.49 million acres in 1943.

The average yield in 2020 was estimated at 3,796 pounds per acre, down 138 pounds from the prior year.   The highest yield was 4,211 pounds per acre in 2012.