November 17, 2021
New County Presidents Amp Up Advocacy
New county presidents amped up advocacy and leadership skills during orientation in Montgomery Nov. 11-12. The annual orientation for Farmers Federation leaders helps them better serve farmers and members by providing Federation history and structure, details on accounting, FarmPAC information and more.

St. Clair County Farmers Federation President Matt Smith is pictured during media training with Alabama Farmers Federation Communications Department Director Jeff Helms.
Skeet Shoot Raises $36K For Ag Education
The Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation raised $36,000 for scholarships and agricultural education during the 2021 Skeet Shoot at Selwood Farm Nov. 5.

Forty teams and nearly 200 attendees and sponsors enjoyed the fifth annual event in Alpine. The Montgomery County Young Farmers team is pictured.
Teachers Can Share Farm-City Activities, Win
The Alabama Farm-City Committee is encouraging kindergarten-12th grade teachers to share on social media how they’re incorporating the Farm-City theme into lesson plans.

This year’s topic is “Down To Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama.” Farm-City Week is held the week leading up to Thanksgiving and celebrates the connection between rural and urban dwellers.
Ag In Action
Farmers who updated irrigation in 2021 could be eligible for irrigation tax credits. Established in 2018, the program allows taxpayers to claim an income tax credit for certain costs for irrigation equipment, fuel conversions and reservoirs. Applications are due Jan. 21. Click here to apply.

Alabama agritourism operations are encouraged to add their farms to the free American Farm Trail app. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture will launch the app in spring 2022 and is looking for orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and more to connect consumers to farm life. Click here to learn more.

As harvest draws to a close, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its Alabama Crop Production Report Nov. 8. Corn for grain is forecast at 55.1 million bushels, up 9% from 2020. Cotton is forecast at 755,000 bales, up 3% from last year. Peanut production is forecast at 619 million pounds, down 1% from 2020. Soybean production is forecast at 13.7 million bushels, up 22% from last year. Click here to read the report.

The Jr. Swine Expo website is live. Potential exhibitors can find rules, the show schedule and more for the March 19 event, sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation and held in Montgomery. Click here to learn more.
Events & Deadlines
  • Dec. 2 — Alabama Forage Conference in Russellville. Click here to register.

  • Dec. 2 — Alabama Catfish Industry Meeting in Greensboro. Email Mitt Walker at mwalker@alfafarmers.org to register.

  • Dec. 4 — Inaugural AgDash 5K in Montgomery benefiting the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation. Click here to reserve your spot.

  • Dec. 5-6 — Alabama Farmers Federation annual meeting and centennial celebration in Montgomery.

  • Dec. 14 — Alabama Ag Outlook Conference at the Alabama Farmers Federation Montgomery home office. Click here to register.

  • Jan. 18 — Alabama Soybean & Corn Association Meeting in Montgomery.

  • Jan. 18-19 — Row Crops Short Course, following the Soybean & Corn Meeting in Montgomery. Click here to register.
On The Move In Ag
Three Alabama Farmers Federation members and staff were appointed to committees and councils by Gov. Kay Ivey Nov. 12. They are:

  • Jake Harper of Wilcox County, Federation Southwest Area Vice President, Soil & Water Conservation Committee
  • Rickey Cornutt of Marshall County, Soil & Water Conservation Committee
  • John Allen Nichols, Federation Agriculture Counsel, Workforce Council

Gavin Rankins of Cusseta won the Auburn University Young Farmers Discussion Meet Nov. 4. He will represent Alabama in the national contest next spring.

Lydia Haynes of Cullman County, right below, represented Alabama at the American Farm Bureau Communications Boot Camp. The Alabama State Women's Leadership Committee vice chair joined 12 other ladies from across the U.S. in Washington, D.C., to learn about public speaking, working with the media and messaging.
Watch Simply Southern Wednesdays On RFD-TV
Be sure to tune into RFD-TV on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Central for Simply Southern TV, a production of the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Upcoming shows include:

  • Nov. 17 — Changes in agriculture with the Brady family of Perry County, fly fishing in Alabama, Hunt & Lovvorn Beef and Southern Bite’s recipe for Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Meringue Pie
  • Nov. 24 — Butterfly farmer, That’s My Child, Ask A Farmer with poultry farmer Corey Hill and a Southern Bite recipe for Old School Squash and Onions

Visit www.simplysoutherntv.net and click on “Where to Watch” to find the show on other stations near you!