December 9, 2022

Continuing The Legacy: Farmers Federation Celebrates A New Century

Passion for preserving agricultural strength emanated from nearly 1,200 Alabama Farmers Federation members as they filled the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center in Montgomery Dec. 4-5. During the organization’s 101st annual meeting, farmers from all 67 counties elected leaders, heard from officials, celebrated award winners and voted on policy recommendations.

Read more about annual meeting.

Leaders Elected To Serve Alabama Farmers Federation

Four hundred seventy voting delegates unanimously reelected Jimmy Parnell to his sixth two-year term as Alabama Farmers Federation president Dec. 5. Rex Vaughn of Madison County and George Jeffcoat of Houston County were reelected to their sixth two-year terms as North Area and Southeast Area vice presidents, respectively. Four district directors were also elected to three-year terms. They are: District 2 - Jeff Peek, Limestone County District 5 - Joe Anders, Tuscaloosa Country (reelected) District 8 - Tommy Martin, Hale County District 11 - Mark Kaiser, Baldwin County (reelected) Ann Whatley of Lee County and Jonathan Edgar of Elmore County will serve one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board. The two were elected chairs of the State Women’s Leadership Committee and State Young Farmers Committee, respectively.

Read about board members here.

Leaders Elected To State Women’s Leadership, Young Farmers Committees

Ann Whatley of Lee County and Jonathan Edgar of Elmore County were elected to lead the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) and State Young Farmers Committee during the organization’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 4-5. On the WLC, Debbie Dunn of Geneva County was elected vice chairman, while Rachel Chastain of Talladega County was elected secretary. For the Young Farmers, Dillion Turk from Mobile County was elected vice chair and Ben Johnson of Randolph County was elected secretary.  The committees also elected and reelected individuals to lead their respective regions and districts.

Read about committee leaders here.

Federation Honors Wysner For Service To Agriculture

The Service To Agriculture Award was presented to Dean Wysner of Randolph County during the 101st annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5. This is the organization's highest honor.  Wysner, a poultry and cattle farmer, was first elected Central Area vice president in 1999. Wysner took a hands-on approach to the role, making it a priority to visit each of his 17 counties at least three times annually to provide in-depth reports on Alfa Insurance, political races and pressing agricultural issues. He currently serves as Randolph County Farmers Federation president.

Read more about Wysner.

Federation Honors Bolin With Cultivator Award

The Cultivator Award was presented to Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael F. Bolin during the organization’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5. The Cultivator Award honors leaders who foster relationships to benefit farmers, Federation members and rural communities.

Read more about Justice Bolin.

Young Farmer Champions Reap Rewards Of Hard Work

Young Farmers from three Alabama counties left the Alabama Farmers Federation 101st annual meeting Dec. 5 with extensive prize packages, courtesy of generous sponsors. Outstanding Young Farm Family: Daniel & Carla Trantham, Calhoun County Discussion Meet: Garrett Dixon, Lee County Excellence in Agriculture: Josh Melson, Morgan County All winners will represent Alabama at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention in Puerto Rico.

Calhoun County’s Daniel and Carla Trantham were honored as Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family. The Tranthams are pictured with Federation and Alfa Insurance President Jimmy Parnell, Alabama Ag Credit President Doug Thiessen and Alabama Farm Credit President Mel Koller.

Lee County’s Garrett Dixon triumphed in the Alabama Farmers Federation Discussion Meet Final Four. From left are First South Farm Credit’s Keith McCurdy, Dixon, Federation President Jimmy Parnell and First South Farm Credit’s John Sport.

Morgan County’s Josh Melson was honored as the Excellence in Agriculture contest winner. From left are Federation President Jimmy Parnell, Melson and Corteva’s Jacee May.

Learn more about the winners.

Farmers Tapped To Serve State Commodity Committees

For the second year, Alabama Farmers Federation voting delegates elected grassroots commodity committee leaders during the organization’s annual meeting. Elections were Dec. 4 in Montgomery. With help from the committees, the Federation develops and reviews individual policies and issues that impact each of the Federation’s 17 commodities – bee & honey; beef; catfish; cotton; dairy; equine; forestry; greenhouse, nursery & sod; hay & forage; fruit & vegetables; peanuts; pork; poultry; sheep & goat; soybean; wheat & feed grain; and wildlife.  Read more about commodity committees.

Elite Leadership Program Culminates For Up-And-Coming Agriculturalists

From visiting decision-makers in Washington, D.C., to learning how the Federation works, Agricultural Leaders For Alabama (A.L.F.A. Leaders) has transformed the lives of 16 program participants. A.L.F.A. Leaders Class V culminated its journey during the Federation’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5. The class was announced in December 2019.

Read about A.L.F.A. Leaders here.

Join AFVGA in Gulf Shores

Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) will hold its annual conference & trade show in Gulf Shores Feb. 9-10. Registration:  Includes all planned meal functions, breaks, breakouts and general sessions  Early bird ends Dec. 31 - $125  Regular registration ends Jan.23 - $175  Conference Highlights Access to educational tracks Tree fruit Small fruits Vegetable production Marketing and farm management  Workshops  Sweet Potato Growers Association annual conference  sponsored by Alabama Farm Credit So You Want To Grow Pecans?  sponsored by Irrigation Mart The Alabama Variety Trial Showcase  Sponsored by Wickles Pickles

More information here.

Yeager Touts Soybean Sustainability At International Expo

Learn more about Wendy.

Dallas County farmer Wendy Yeager represented the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) at an international retail and consumer food show in Paris in October. The show drew more than 265,000 retail and food industry participants from around the world. This was USSEC’s first year hosting a booth, where Yeager joined Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Matt Lohr and USSEC Regional Director for Europe and Middle East/North Africa Brent Babb to share insights about sustainability, innovations and the future of soy farming. Yeager serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation State Soybean Committee.

Farm-City Shines Light On Importance Of Agriculture

Farm-City is a state and national program that focuses on bridging the gap between rural and urban workers. The year’s theme for Alabama Farm-City was Sustaining For The Future, a play on the yearlong Down To Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama conservation awareness campaign. Farm-City week is celebrated Nov. 18-24. Aside from farm days, media events, banquets and other local activities, students of all ages participate in contests showing their artistic skills in drawing, writing and video production. All creative projects must be centered around the theme, allowing students to cultivate their own research of agricultural life. Celebrations took place across the state this fall and culminated during Farm-City Week. County committees and statewide contest winners will be recognized during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Program April 13 in Birmingham.

Read more about Farm-City.

Get Ag-tive

The Alabama Extension Agricultural Outlook Conference is Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alabama Farmers Federation home office in Montgomery. Registration is free. More information here.

Registration is now open for Alabama Farmers Federation livestock shows at the 2023 SLE Rodeo. Register here.

The Alfa Foundation Scholarship and the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation Scholarship applications opened Nov. 1 and close Feb. 1, 2023. Apply here.

Quick Clicks

Alabama Wheat and Feed Grain Producers and Alabama Soybean Producers are sponsoring a farm risk management workshop in conjunction with the 2023 Alabama Soybean & Corn Association Annual Meeting in Montgomery Jan. 17, 2023. Click here for the agenda. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Lawrence County, Alabama. Click here to read more. Alabama farmers are encouraged to complete the 2022 Census of Agriculture surveys, sent out Nov.22 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Ag Census, which is conducted every five years, provides detailed data on U.S. agriculture down to the county level. All farm operations with sales of at least $1,000 in agricultural products in 2022 are included in the census. Click here to learn more. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released the semi-annual Farm Labor Report. The report includes quarterly estimates of number of hired workers, average hours worked per worker and average hourly wage rates. Click here to read American Farm Bureau Federation's full report. As policymakers and farmers begin work on a new farm bill, one issue is the need to analyze protections for speciality crops. The latest Census of Agriculture from 2017 found the value of farm level sales of fruits, vegetables, nuts and nursery crops, broadly known as specialty crops, totaled $64.7 billion or about 17% of total U.S. agricultural sales and 30% of total U.S. crop sales. This vital segment of the agricultural economy supports over 220,000 farms and provides nutritious, fresh foods for consumers around the globe. Click here to read more of the American Farm Bureau Federation article on speciality crop considerations.

Events & Deadlines Dec. 13-14 - Alabama Row Crops Short Course in Auburn Jan. 6-11, 2023 - American Farm Bureau Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico Jan. 17, 2023 - 2023 Alabama Soybean & Corn Association Annual Meeting in Montgomery Jan. 23, 2023 - Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Annual Conference & Trade Show registration closes. The conference is Feb. 9-10 in Gulf Shores. Jan. 27, 2023 - Federation Beef Cattle and Forage Summit in Montgomery. More information coming soon. Feb. 2, 2023 - Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show in Dothan Feb. 3, 2023 - Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor banquet in Auburn Feb. 24-26, 2023 - Young Farmers Conference in Birmingham. More information to come. Simply Southern TV Season 8 Enjoy rewatching favorite moments from the second half of Simply Southern’s Season 8. Shows air over the weekend on six broadcast stations and on Wednesdays on national cable network RFD-TV. To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”

Watch Simply Southern here.

This Week On Alabama AgCast

On this week's Alabama AgCast, hear an update on the poultry, pork and dairy commodities from Federation Commodity Director Colton Christjohn.

Listen here.

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