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NPRL History
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The need for a laboratory to carry on research in all phases of peanut production, harvesting, picking, curing, marketing, storing, and processing was first proposed in 1960. A committee of growers, shellers, manufactureres, and brokers was established later that same year. Through the work of the Lab Planning Committee, the National Peanut Council, and Sen. Richard B. Russell, the Department of Agriculture selected Dawson, GA as the proposed site for the new lab in 1961. Construction began in 1968 with the National Peanut Research Laboratory (NPRL) dedication in November 1969.

The NPRL is the only USDA, ARS research facility dedicated soley to scientific research on various aspects of peanuts. We are currently performing research in the following areas ...

Mycotoxins
Plant Physiology
Post-harvest
Expert Systems
Irrigation
Production Research at the NPRL
Economics
Quality

The entire lab works together as a multidisciplined team, in collaboration with selected outside scientists, addressing the major peanut problems facing the industry so that high quality peanuts are produced for the consumer.