Gov. Kay Ivey Signs Legislation Reducing Checkoff Costs |
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Alabama peanut growers joined Gov. Kay Ivey and bill sponsors Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, and Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope, April 27 for a ceremonial signing of legislation which will allow more farmer-funded checkoff money to be used for research, education and promotion.
For peanuts, the new law eliminates the requirement of newspaper notification for each referendum; increases the time between producer votes from three to five years; and reduces the amount deducted by the Department of Agriculture and Industries for administrative costs from 5% to 3%. Sheep and goat producers will benefit from an extension in the frequency of costly audits from every two years to every five years.
Also on hand for the bill signing were members of the Lee County Farmers Federation Women's Leadership Committee, who visited Montgomery to tour the Capitol and State House and to meet with their legislators.
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Alfa Supports Technology In Rural Health Care |
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Partners from Auburn University (AU), Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), Alfa and Chambers County gathered in LaFayette April 21 to dedicate one of four OnMed Care Stations in the United States. The walk-up telemedicine booth promises to give rural residents access to health care, without traveling to the next county.
The technology in the OnMed Care Station, which changes the way patients visit doctors, will benefit thousands of rural citizens in Chambers County and surrounding areas.
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Poultry Workshop Held In Auburn |
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Attendees engaged in discussions about hot weather troubleshooting, poultry house lights, innovations in poultry technology, drinker maintenance in houses and heard a composting update from Jason Gardener from Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Poultry producers are key to Alabama agriculture. The Federation is grateful our farmers have opportunities to learn important skills and techniques to take back to their operations.
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Sumter County Farm Day Puts Learning In Students' Hands |
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Third graders from University Charter School (UCS) huddled under a sprawling oak tree at Micky and Lolita Smith’s Sumter County farm April 21 for the Sumter County Farm Day.
Hands-on learning was a big focus for the day as the Sumter County Farmers Federation planned activities to get the kids moving and, most importantly, learning about agriculture.
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Alabama Fertilizer Company Earns Grant To Increase Production |
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Alabama-based Pursell Agri-Tech’s innovative controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) has received a highly sought U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant to increase American-made fertilizer production.
Pursell, headquartered in Sylacauga, was granted a $4.9 million match from the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program to help increase its production volume by 40,000 tons annually.
“We already had the infrastructure in place and had enhanced our efficiency in the last couple of years,” said Pursell Chief Financial Officer Joe Brady. “As we use these funds, we’re going to build product availability for farmers.”
By minimizing losses of valuable nutrients, Pursell’s uniformly coated CRF greatly extends the nutrient benefit of each ton of fertilizer, said Brady, saving farmers money and trips across the field.
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Answering The Call: Research Seeks Solution To Turkey Population Decline |
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A cooperative wild turkey research project is answering Alabama landowners’ call to reverse the state’s downward-trending turkey population.
In 2006, hunters harvested a state record 65,000 turkeys. That number was slashed in half just over a decade later.
“That was a high harvest, in the Top 3 of any state; since then, the population has trended down,” said Auburn University’s Dr. Will Gulsby. “That’s happening range-wide for Eastern wild turkeys.”
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Farmers Encouraged To Nominate Experts For Annual Awards |
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Alabama farmers are encouraged to nominate research and Alabama Cooperative Extension System personnel whose work tangibly impacted their farms for two awards from the Alabama Farmers Federation.
- The Rittenour Award for Production Agriculture & Forestry Research will recognize Auburn University faculty for creative and original research.
- The Duncan Award for Excellence in Production Agriculture & Forestry Extension will honor Alabama Extension staff who develop or implement solutions for stakeholder-identified problems.
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H-2A Wages Become A Bit More Clear With Newly Released Data |
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On April 25, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released results of the May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (OEWS). Under the new Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) final rule that went into effect March 30, the OEWS data is now the basis for the single-Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) H-2A AEWRs, which are the wage rates paid to H2-A visa holders with specific jobs outside the primary farm occupations — unless the six SOC code AEWR is higher. Then it must be paid. In accordance with the final rule, the single-SOC AEWRs based on the newly released OEWS data will be announced in a Federal Register notice and become effective on or about July 1. The single-SOC OEWS-based AEWRs will apply from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. |
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Alabama Crop And Condition Report |
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This U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service
Alabama Crop Progress and Condition Report is released weekly during the growing season. The report provides data from Alabamians who collect information from farmers and take visual observations as part of their daily jobs.
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Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). In a referendum conducted April 20, an unofficial but complete vote, 91% said “yes” to continuing APPA’s programs in education, promotion and research. Growers who produced peanuts in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were eligible to vote. Click here to read more.
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Bunge North America Inc.’s Decatur plant will a begin a $28.6 million expansion this month. The project will improve the plant’s unloading and distribution capabilities by upgrading existing buildings and adding a new building and equipment. Construction should be complete by December. Click here to read more.
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The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. The map uses 5 classifications: abnormally dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4). This map is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trigger some disaster declarations and loan eligibility. Click here to view the map.
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A new project from American Farm Bureau Federation — Ag ConnectHER’s — was created to inspire and equip women in agriculture to succeed in leadership. This program will elevate and celebrate dynamic and successful women leaders in agriculture by showcasing their leadership journeys, connecting them through a quarterly on-line event with Farm Bureau women from across the country, and inspiring women in agriculture to discover their potential and succeed in leadership. An RSVP is required. Click here to view upcoming session dates.
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May 19 - Young Farmers Committee Chair Workshop in Montgomery. Contact Hunter McBrayer for more information.
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June 5 - Young Farmers of Alabama Golf Tournament in Montgomery
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June 28-29 - GNS Tour in north Alabama and central Tennessee
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Simply Southern TV Reruns Feature New Segments |
Farms, agricultural issues and easy- to-make recipes are all featured in upcoming episodes of Simply Southern TV. Be sure to tune in!
May 6/7/10: Rural veterinarians; the Lunch Box Museum; What’s In Season with Sweet Grown Alabama; fresh flowers from Deana Sublett at The Flowering Ranch in Toney; and a Southern Bite recipe for Dill Pickle Deviled Eggs, sponsored by the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association.
May 13/14/17: Gilmer Dairy transitioning to beef cattle; the Trumbauer Theatre Festival; an interview with Alabama Speaker of the House Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter; Extension’s feature on water wells; and a Southern Bite recipe for Pulled Pork and Collard Green Eggrolls with White BBQ Sauce, sponsored by the Alabama Pork Producers.
To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”
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Alabama AgCast Goes To The State Capitol |
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Tune into this latest edition of Alabama AgCast for in-depth information from the current legislative session, including:
- Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, and Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope, who discuss the ceremonial bill signing for their legislation to reduce costs associated with administering the peanut and sheep and goat checkoffs.
- Alabama Peanut Producers Association Treasurer Jerry Byrd of Dale County
- Rep. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, who talks about recent impacts of legislation passed two years ago limiting municipal regulations in police jurisdictions.
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