Updates for Alabama Farmers

Aug. 6, 2025

Young Farm Families Vie for Top Title

Three hard-working families are in the running to earn the Alabama Farmers Federation’s top title for young farmers.

Finalists in the Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest are Drew and Lauren Wendland, Autauga County; Jacob and Misty Porter, Clay County; and Garrett and Robin Dixon, Lee County.

OYFF competitors are between the ages of 18 and 35 and earn more than half their income from production agriculture. Contestant scores are based on farm growth, Federation involvement and civic service.

The Wendlands, Porters and Dixons were chosen from their applications and interviews during the Young Farmers Conference in February. The OYFF will be named Aug. 16 during the Federation’s Farm & Land Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The OYFF prize package is worth more than $80,000. It includes $40,000 toward a Ford vehicle courtesy of Alfa Insurance and the Federation; a John Deere Gator from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor from John Deere, SunSouth and TriGreen.

The first runner-up family will receive a 250-hour lease on a Kubota tractor from Kubota. Corteva Agriscience will provide a custom chemical package for the second runner-up family.

The OYFF will represent Alabama in Anaheim, California this January at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

The Wendlands

Autauga County

The Porters

Clay County

The Dixons

Lee County

Hunter Talks Ag Labor Needs on AFBF Newsline

Alabama Farmers Federation District 6 Director Phillip Hunter joined the American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) Newsline Aug. 5 to discuss the need for a more efficient farm labor program.

Hunter serves as the AFBF Agricultural Labor Issue Advisory Committee chairman and is a strong advocate for the guest worker program.

"We've been advocating three different approaches: executive actions of the Trump Administration; legislative action through our congressmen; and then action through agencies like the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Agriculture," Hunter said.

Listen here.

Nominate Farmers for AFVGA Annual Awards, Apply for New Innovation Challenge

The Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) is seeking nominations for its annual awards program, while accepting applications for an inaugural innovation contest.

Award nominations and contest applications are due Nov. 1. Winners will be honored in February during the AFVGA Annual Conference in Gulf Shores.

Annual awards include:

AFVGA Partner of the Year
AFVGA Service to Horticulture
AFVGA Exceptional Achievement

New this year is the Grow Forward Award sponsored by First South Farm Credit.

Competition finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas live in a dynamic, Shark Tank-style session at the AFVGA Annual Conference. A panel of industry judges will select the recipient based on the strength of their vision, execution and potential for positive change. The winner will receive $5,000.

Learn more.

View award applications.

Cotton & Soybeans

Over-the-top dicamba labels are proposed to be re-registered for use on cotton and soybeans by the Environmental Protection Agency. Comments are due Aug. 22. Learn more.

Submitted by Carla Hornady

Forestry

Southeast Alabama is advancing its forestry innovation ecosystem with a new Alabama Forestry Accelerator in Dothan. This is a collaborative effort among Grow Southeast Alabama, gener8tor, the City of Dothan and Innovate Alabama. The program aims to nurture forestry-focused startups and drive sustainable economic growth. Learn more.

Submitted by William Green

Poultry

The Trump Administration reignited the legal fight over farm animal confinement laws by filing a new lawsuit challenging California’s egg-related regulations. The complaint argues that California’s laws are invalidated by the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA). The U.S. Department of Justice claims California’s laws are preempted by the EPIA. The EPIA authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set national standards for egg grading, sanitation, labeling and packaging. Read more.

Submitted by Colton Christjohn

Career Opportunity to Serve Peanut Farmers

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association is hiring a project coordinator to oversee promotions and marketing. Applications close Aug. 29.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to libbiej@alpeanuts.com.

Learn more.

Help Make the Pollinator Census Count

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is joining neighboring states in conducting the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Aug. 22-23.

The Census is a hands-on way for people to contribute to scientific research by identifying and counting pollinators in their backyards and communities.

Participants will count and report the pollinators observed in backyards, gardens, schools and community spaces. Learn how to count here.

Learn more.

Apply for Century, Heritage, Bicentennial Farm Designations

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is accepting applications for its annual Century & Heritage Farm and Bicentennial Farm programs until Aug. 29.

Learn more.

Enter the Farming Feeds Alabama Photo Contest

The Alabama Farmers Federation is searching for a bumper crop of snapshots displaying forestry and agriculture through the Farming Feeds Alabama Photo Contest.

Online submissions will be accepted through Sept. 15.

View rules and submit entries.

Farmers Can Report Drought Conditions

Farmers and landowners can report local drought conditions through Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR).

The data, which is collected nationwide, is used to determine drought conditions and evaluate areas of concern.

CMOR information is just one element promoted by Alabama Drought Reach, a collaborative effort by the Auburn University Water Resources Center, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Alabama Extension and the Alabama State Climatologist.