Recall to hit Southeast hard

Recall could have $1 billion impact on rural peanut producers

Don Koehler, the head of the Georgia Peanut Commission, will speak to the U.S. House Committee on Small Business today. Koehler plans to say that the recalls, prompted by a salmonella outbreak tied to peanut butter, have severely hurt the nation's peanut producers, weakening pricing and limiting their ability to sell their products. He was also speaking on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, which represents peanut farmers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, who make up about three-fourths of the nation's peanut production.

"Farmers, as small businesses, have felt the real economic impact of this recall," he said. "Because farmers do business with other small businesses who supply them their inputs, the ripple will not likely stop at the farmer."

683 people in 46 states have been sickened by the salmonella outbreak according to the CDC.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Bill generates quarrel about Alabama Ethics Commission

ARKANSAS: Rice tax bill fails after hours of debate

FLORIDA: Oil and gas drilling tax break approved by Senate panel

GEORGIA: New GreenTech Manufacturing plant in Douglas to use 95% recycled materials to make products

KENTUCKY: Legislative panel deadlocks on abortion bill, meaning no chance this year

LOUISIANA: January job figures to be released today

MISSISSIPPI: House passes bill to ban some teens from texting while driving

NORTH CAROLINA: Attorney General gets list of 2,100 sex offenders from MySpace

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's mental health grade drops from B to D

TENNESSEE: Farmers note decrease of acreage in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia

VIRGINIA: State considers closing 25 of 41 rest stops in the state as budget saver

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to: info@bettersouth.org