AFVGA Grows In Gulf Shores |
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When Seth and Kaylee Hubert arrived in Gulf Shores Feb. 8, they shifted their Madison County row crop farmer mindset toward agritourism, a key component of the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Annual Conference.
“One reason we joined AFVGA was for networking opportunities like these,” Kaylee said. “We get to learn from farmers who have been growing specialty crops their entire lives. We are very new to this industry.”
The Huberts and 250 fellow farmers gathered at The Lodge at Gulf State Park Feb. 8-10 for workshops, seminars and a trade show, where attendees talked with industry experts on ways to improve their operations.
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Farm Leaders Appointed To Forever Wild Board |
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Farmer-leaders Jimmy Parnell of Chilton County and Jake Harper of Wilcox County have been appointed to the Forever Wild Land Trust board, where they’ll serve the Central and Southern districts, respectively.
Forever Wild was established in 1992 and has secured more than 270,000 acres across Alabama for public use. Parnell, Harper and their 13 fellow board members help oversee the trust and its acquisitions.
In addition to key roles on their family farms, Parnell and Harper are leaders in the Alabama Farmers Federation, the state’s largest farm organization with over 345,000 member families. Parnell is president, while Harper is Southwest Area vice president.
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Alabama Farmers Federation President
Jimmy Parnell
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Alabama Farmers Federation Southwest Area Vice President
Jake Harper
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Industry Leaders Inducted Into Ag Hall Of Honor |
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From left are Auburn Agriculture Alumni Club President Brian Hardin and Hall of Honor inductees Billy Maples, Davis Lee and Ray Hilburn. |
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Three cattle and poultry trailblazers were inducted into the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor Feb. 3, while two influential leaders posthumously received Pioneer Awards.
Longtime Alabama Farmers Federation visionary and cattleman Billy Maples was honored for work in production agriculture, while poultry leaders Ray Hilburn and Davis Lee received the Hall of Honor’s education/government and agribusiness category awards, respectively.
The annual awards program, hosted by the Auburn Agriculture Alumni Club honors leaders for dedicating their lives to industry-changing work,
said club President Brian Hardin.
“Our honorees made a real, tangible impact on agriculture in Alabama,” said Hardin, also the Federation’s External Affairs Department director. “These are humble, honest, hard-working men. Visiting with them and hearing their incredible stories of leadership and good, old-fashioned hard work is one of the highlights of my year. It’s an honor to know them and their families.”
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Calhoun County Farmers Federation Hosts Legislative Breakfast |
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The Calhoun County Farmers Federation held its Legislative Breakfast Feb. 13 in Anniston, where leaders visited with:
The celebration also continued for Daniel and Carla Trantham. The Calhoun County farmers and American Farm Bureau Federation Achievement Award winners were presented a proclamation on behalf of Gov. Kay Ivey.
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Alabama Farmers Federation Endorses Judicial Incumbents |
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Alabama Farmers Federation’s political action committee, Alabama FarmPAC, has endorsed eight incumbent justices and judges seeking re-election in 2024 appellate court races.
Alabama FarmPAC’s endorsements are:
- Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell (R)
- Supreme Court Justice Tommy Bryan (R)
- Supreme Court Justice Will Sellers (R)
- Court of Civil Appeals Judge Terry Moore (R)
- Court of Civil Appeals Judge Chad Hanson (R)
- Court of Civil Appeals Judge Christy Edwards (R)
- Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Richard Minor (R)
- Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Bill Cole (R)
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State Young Farmers Committee Meets In Montgomery |
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The Alabama Farmers Federation State Young Farmers Committee met Feb. 1 at the Federation home office in Montgomery.
Committee members discussed business and planned events for young farmers across the state. They heard from Federation President Jimmy Parnell and Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan.
Members of the 2023 State Young Farmers Committee include:
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Jonathan Edgar: Chair, District 6
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Dillion Turk: Vice Chair, District 8
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Ben Johnson: Secretary, District 3
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James Hereford: District 1
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Natalie Lee: District 2
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Cal Logan: District 4
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Denzil Dees: District 5
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Emmanuel Bankston: District 7
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Landon Marks: North At-Large
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Bart Williams: South At-Large
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Daniel & Carla Trantham: OYFF Winners, Ex-Officio
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Jonathan Sanders: American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee
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The Moore You Know Agriculture Update |
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Alabama farmers are encouraged to fill out a survey to help U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., best serve the state’s interests during farm bill discussions. Click here to access the survey.
Moore’s office said direct input from stakeholders, producers and consumers is instrumental in making sure the farm bill, up for evaluation this year, works for Alabama. The congressman will have an ag-focused virtual town hall Feb. 28 to gather more farmer thoughts.
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Cherokee County's Nick McMichen has been tapped to serve on The Cotton Board by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He will serve a three-year term that will end Dec. 31, 2025. Read more here.
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The Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed three River Region natives to its staff Feb. 6. Anna Britton, Shan Julian and Emily Perry will serve the organization’s 345,000 members through event planning and health insurance sales. Click here to read more.
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Extension Offers Additional Natural Resources Webinars in 2023 |
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The Alabama Treasure Forest Association is sponsoring the award-winning Natural Resources Webinar Series from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Throughout 2023, a new webinar will be available every other Wednesday.
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The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) held its annual meeting Feb. 2 in conjunction with the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show in Dothan. Click here to read more.
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Peanut growers from Alabama and Florida were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show Feb. 2 at the National Peanut Festival fairgrounds in Dothan. The trade show was hosted by APPA and Florida Peanut Producers Association and sponsored by National Peanut Board. Click here to read more.
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The Alabama Agribusiness Council Foundation is accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. Click here to apply.
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Financial relief will soon be available to assist Alabama landowners adversely affected by the non-native, invasive noxious weed, - cogongrass. Administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission, Cogongrass Mitigation Program application closes March 30. Click here to learn more.
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U.S. catfish farmers had sales of $447 million during 2022, up 5% from $427 million the previous year. Alabama ranks in the Top 4 and had foodsize fish sales of $102 million, down 2% from the previous year. Click here to learn more.
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Inventory of all cattle and calves in the U.S., as of Jan. 1, 2023, totaled 89.3 million head, down 3% from the 92.1 million head on Jan. 1, 2022. Alabama cattle and calves totaled 1.25 million head,1% lower than Jan. 1, 2022. Click here to read the total report.
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The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) is now accepting grant applications for specialty crops. Click here to read more.
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As the 2023 crop production season begins, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service is contacting producers nationwide to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season. Click here for more information.
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March 7 - Legislative Session begins
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Simply Southern TV Season 9 |
New episodes of Simply Southern season 9 continue. Be sure to tune in!
Feb. 18/19/22: Raising backyard chickens, the Quirky Mac, Rural Roundup, the Catfish Trail and a Southern Bite recipe for Pineapple Cheese Casserole
Feb. 25/26 + March 1: A life-saving farmer featuring St. Clair County’s Matt Smith and Talladega County’s Justin Lackey; Big Dog Rescue Ranch; Marty’s Stew Shack courtesy of Alabama Farm Credit; Extension Farm and Outdoors segment on backyard birding; and a Southern Bite recipe for Nana’s Best Blueberry Muffins
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.”
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Pork Checkoff Supports American Heart Month |
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The Alabama Pork Checkoff is proud to support educational campaigns like this. Visit pork.org to learn more.
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