Case study: Producers Peanut optimizes peanut drying with moisture monitoring system

Producers Peanut, a buying point for Premium Peanut, is an innovative industry leader based in Bartow, Georgia. Founded 20 years ago by a group of local farmers seeking to more effectively move their peanut crops to market, Producers Peanut now dries more than 25,000 tons of peanuts in just three months during its peak season.

In 2023, the company transformed its process by installing WECO's PeanutTek active moisture monitoring system, which provides real-time, continuous in-shell moisture readings to maximize production efficiency, improve worker safety and enhance product quality.

"For decades, the peanut industry has relied on manual sampling to monitor moisture levels during drying, but it's been far from ideal. We had people using ladders to climb on top of trailers and get gallon-size samples, which was inconsistent and prone to errors. More importantly, we were wearing out our workers and safety was a tremendous concern,” said Ron Dozier, general manager at Producers Peanut. “The old approach was also inefficient — we had to collect samples several times per load, requiring constant attention and documentation."

“Producers Peanut has always been especially forward-thinking for our industry,” explained Dozier. “We saw other types of nut processors using sensor plates to monitor moisture during drying and we really understood the potential, so we knew we had to find someone who could turn that vision into reality for us. That’s what first led us to WECO. They have decades of experience with moisture monitoring, and we worked closely with them to adapt their technology specifically for peanuts.”

WECO's PeanutTek is an advanced active moisture monitoring system that utilizes a series of sensor plates installed in each semi-trailer or wagon to collect moisture data from a substantial sample size. These sensor plates continuously monitor the moisture content of the peanuts during the drying process, providing real-time data to a centralized computer. The system can be programmed to automatically turn off burners when the moisture of a load reaches a predetermined set point. This precise control ensures consistent drying across all loads, minimizing the risk of over drying or under drying. Additionally, PeanutTek provides up-to-date dryer temperatures, enabling fine-tuning of gas pressure to ensure all burners are operating at maximum efficiency and speed.

"PeanutTek has drastically improved our drying process,” said Dozier. “Now, we simply connect the load to the dryer and hook it up to the WECO system. No more climbing on trailers, collecting sample buckets and shelling the peanuts to determine the status. We get live moisture readings that I can monitor from my office, home or smart device, and I can even adjust settings remotely. Once the load reaches the desired moisture level, PeanutTek turns the dryer off instantly.”

"PeanutTek has been a gamechanger for us when it comes to employee safety. Now that workers can monitor moisture levels from ground level, we've significantly reduced the risk of accidents,” noted Dozier. “Not to mention, the less physically strenuous and chaotic protocol with PeanutTek has led to a dramatic boost in employee morale. We’ve experienced zero turnover in these positions thanks to this change, which further boosts our operational efficiencies.”

Producers Peanut has also seen enhancements to product quality since implementing its PeanutTek system. By sampling a wider zone consistently and turning dryers off at precisely the right time, it achieves a more reliable moisture reading and superior dry time compared to traditional, manual methods. This improved precision is especially valuable for Producers Peanut’s seed peanut products, which require especially specific moisture levels to preserve germination potential. “Plus, by optimizing the drying process, PeanutTek has helped us cut down on energy consumption, which reduces our operational costs and aligns with the market trend toward sustainability,” said Dozier.

PeanutTek’s software, AgTrack, facilitates its remote monitoring capabilities and data collection. By tracking crucial metrics such as drying time and moisture curves, AgTrack provides valuable insights that help Producers Peanut continually refine their processes and make more informed decisions.

“We are one of the first companies in the world to monitor peanuts with an active moisture monitoring system and were integral in the development of this technology,” concluded Dozier. “We don’t believe in taking shortcuts — we want to do things the best possible way, whether it’s documenting, trailer tracking and, now, controlling our drying process. State-of-the-art tools like PeanutTek are helping us set new standards for the peanut industry.”