October 11, 2023

Landowners Plant Seeds for Success at Annual Conference 

Landowners and natural resource professionals stepped onto the soil of the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana ready to learn during the annual Alabama Landowners Conference Oct. 3-4. 

The conference is a joint meeting of the Alabama TREASURE Forest Association (ATFA), Alabama Tree Farm Committee and Alabama Natural Resources Council (ANRC). ATFA is a partner organization of the Alabama Farmers Federation.

ATFA President Jamestican Parham said event participants discover how to be more successful landowners. 

“Whether it is dealing with timber harvest or the price of timber, any forestry-related questions you have can be answered here at the conference,” said Parham, who owns an Alabama TREASURE Forest in Wilcox County with wife Angela. “It is always important to get a group of people together to share information and get different ideas.”

Sunbelt Ag Expo to Feature a Road Trip through Sweet Grown Alabama

Thousands of people from across the country who attend the annual Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, will experience a tasty road trip through Sweet Grown Alabama.

For 2023, Alabama is the expo’s Spotlight State. This brings with it recognition during the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Luncheon Oct. 17, as well as nearly 3,000 square feet of exhibit space to tell the story of Alabama agriculture over the expo’s three days Oct. 17-19.

“Alabama agriculture is truly diverse,” said Sweet Grown Alabama Director Ellie Watson. “Our farmers grow everything from fruits, vegetables, peanuts and cotton to cattle, poultry and catfish and everything in between. We’re looking forward to a fun-filled three days at Sunbelt. It takes a village to tackle a project of this scale, and there’s no better village than Alabama’s agricultural community. We’re thankful to work with so many friends from other organizations to bring this ‘Road Trip through Sweet Grown Alabama’ to life.”

Commodity Corner

Fruit & Vegetable

Alabama pecan producers could benefit from S.2786, which U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., introduced to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2022. If passed, this will allow pecans and other common tree nuts to be purchased using Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons at farmers markets, farm stands and community-supported agriculture boxes. Click here to learn more.

Hay & Forage

Due to ongoing drought, the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries has consulted with the Alabama Department of Transportation to waive the hay hauling permit fee. Haulers still must apply for a permit and comply with requirements. Permits are available for loads up to 12 feet wide and 14 feet high with up to 80,000 pounds on five axles. This is a temporary waiver and will expire once weather improves. Click here to learn more.

Poultry

As fall approaches, seasonal bird migration increases the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the U.S. Click here to learn more.

Meanwhile, new commercial poultry breeding houses are suffering economic stress as there are fewer chicks hatched per broiler-breeder than hens placed. Click here to learn more.

Row Crops

The Environmental Protection Agency currently is accepting public comments on the herbicide strategy that would require significant use restrictions and mitigations on most all agricultural herbicide uses in the U.S. The Alabama Farmers Federation urges all producers to sign the petition that outlines the devastating impacts this herbicide strategy will have on agriculture. Click here to sign the petition by Oct. 20.

Haynes Farms is Sweet Grown Alabama

When Sweet Grown Alabama is spotlighted at the Sunbelt Ag Expo next week, there could be no better embodiment of the theme than Haynes Farms of Cullman County. 

The seven-generation beef cattle and grain operation spans three Alabama Century Farms with combined agricultural heritage of 377 years. On Oct. 17, Darrel Haynes — part of the fifth generation — will compete with peak producers from nine neighboring states for the title of Southeastern Farmer of the Year. 

The family earned the chance to represent Alabama at Sunbelt when their operation was named the Alabama Farm-City Committee’s Farm of Distinction. The honor came with an engraved farm sign from Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator from TriGreen and SunSouth dealers; and $1,000 each from Alabama Farmers Cooperative and First South Farm Credit.

Peanut Producers Host Tour for Influencers

A group of Alabama culinary educators and a food blogger became students for week as they joined the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) for the 2023 Alabama Farm to Table Peanut Harvest Tour Sept. 24-26.

The goal was to educate participants so they can use their platform to share newfound knowledge with students and viewers. The three-day immersive experience included building personal relationships with peanut farmers, learning about technology and research, and hearing from industry professionals. 

Federation CFO Earns "Top 25" Honor

Alabama Farmers Federation CFO Phillip Johns was recently recognized for making the list of Top 25 CFOs in Alabama. "Finance and Investing" made the announcement.

Johns joined the Federation in 2015 as an accounting manager. He became CFO in 2018 and has implemented strategies to improve operations and streamline accounting. He is also a graduate of the Alfa Leadership Academy, Alfa Insurance's in-house leadership training program.

Johns worked five years with Jackson Thornton, where he served on the team auditing the Federation and progressed from associate to senior associate to supervisor. Johns earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner.

USDA Launches Farm Labor Grant Program

Farmers can apply for farm labor grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program. The program will award up to $65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to provide support for agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards to promote a safe, healthy work environment for both U.S. workers and workers hired from northern Central American countries under the seasonal H-2A visa program. 

The program is funded by the Farm Service Agency and will be administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center.

The funds can be used for:

• Costs related to hiring and onboarding U.S. and H-2A workers including, but not limited to recruitment, applications, attorneys and other consulting fees.
• Costs in regard to operations related to labor costs, such as but not limited to wages, business and administrative costs related to compliance with program commitments, etc.
• Housing maintenance plan costs 
• Contractor/consultant employee costs/rates that do not exceed the salary of a GS-15 step 10 federal employee in the area, plus travel that is reasonable and necessary.

Applications are due Nov. 28. Click here for more information.

Simply Southern TV Features New Episodes

Tune in to Simply Southern for stories about agriculture, rural living and the good things going on in Alabama!

Oct. 14/15/18: Alabama legislators in the livestock show ring, a barrel racing champion, an Alabama Farm Credit profile on Sammy Jackson, an Extension piece on the National Poultry Technology Center and a Southern Bite recipe for Southern Ambrosia sponsored by Priester’s Pecans.

*Note to WAFF viewers: This episode will air at a special time of 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Oct. 21/22/25: Monroeville Main Street, Mark’s Mart, a new Rural Roundup of agricultural news, a Sweet Grown Alabama feature on growing sod at Dixie Sod Farm in St. Clair County and a Southern Bite recipe for Mom’s Secret Ingredient Mashed Potatoes.

To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”

Alabama AgCast

In Memory

• James William Bray, Franklin County