Feasibility of Purchasing Screened Farmer Stock Peanuts: The Sheller's Perspective

Abstract

Abstract Mechanical screening to separate foreign material, loose shelled kernels (LSK), and smaller, lower value pods (thrus) from larger, higher value pods (overs) increased the value of peanut lots compared to unscreened lots. The average value of overs was $29.15 per Mg higher than unscreened peanuts. Marketing overs translates into higher purchase cost to shellers. The percentage of LSK in unscreened peanuts was a key factor in whether shellers would prefer to purchase screened lots because, as LSK of unscreened lots increases, the value per Mg of farmer stock (FS) peanuts decrease. The value of unscreened lots with 1% LSK was $12.33 per Mg less (not significant) than the resulting value of lots after screening, while the value of unscreened lots with 10% LSK was $57.57 per Mg less (P = 0.01) than the resulting value of lots after screening. LSK in screened lots were generally reduced to less than 1% limiting the availability of LSK for shellers to recover and use in edible channels. However, removal of high risk components (LSK and small kernels) should reduce aflatoxin levels in overs lots compared to unscreened lots. Significant increases in jumbo and medium outturn and decreases in No. 1 outturn were associated with shelling screened lots. Gross shelled stock value increased $32.37 per Mg for screened lots with no LSK recovery and $10.82 per Mg for unscreened lots with total LSK recovery. The differences in dollar returns from purchasing and shelling screened lots were compared to unscreened lots for different levels of LSK in unscreened lots and varying LSK recovery levels into edible channels.