Jan. 22, 2025

Alabama Legislative Session Starts Feb. 4

Education, state funding and health care are top priorities for the Alabama Farmers Federation heading into the 2025 legislative session that kicks off Feb. 4 in Montgomery.

Updates on issues impacting agriculture, landowners and rural Alabama will be sent in the Federation's Capitol Connection e-newsletter.

Read the Federation's legislative preview.

Federation Launches Alfa Health Plans Resource

The Alabama Farmers Federation recently launched AHealthyOption.org, an easy-to-use resource highlighting the need for affordable, convenient, quality Alfa Health Plans. The website houses stories and testimonials from real farmers and small-business owners who are championing cost-effective health care coverage.

Legislation that would allow creation of Alfa Health Plans will be introduced in the 2025 legislative session. Similar legislation in 10 states has lowered members’ health coverage costs anywhere from 30% to 60%.

Visit the website.

Chastain, Dees Step Into Leadership Roles

Rachel Chastain

Talladega County

State Women's Leadership

Committee Chair

Read Chastain's story.

Denzil Dees

Sumter County

State Young Farmers

Committee Chair

Read Dees' story.

Hear Chastain and Dees on the Alabama AgCast.

Beef

U.S. beef cattle markets continue to set record prices moving into 2025. Tighter supplies have driven prices higher for feeder calves, feeder cattle and fat cattle. Read more.

Submitted by Chris Prevatt

Catfish

Alabama catfish farmers will head to the polls Jan. 23 to decide if the state Catfish Checkoff program will continue for five more years at the current rate of $1 per ton of feed manufactured or sold in Alabama. All producers who purchased feed in Alabama during 2024 (not less than 30 days before the referendum) are eligible to vote. Learn more.

Submitted by William Green

Cotton

The National Cotton Council is surveying growers for this year's planting intentions. The survey is conducted each year to aid with industry planning and policy deliberations. Individual survey responses are confidential. Survey responses are due Jan. 31. Take the survey here.

Submitted by Carla Hornady

Peanuts

The annual meeting of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association is Thursday, Jan. 30 at 11:15 a.m. in the Volunteer Building at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan. It is held in conjunction with the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show. Learn more.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service Jan. 10 report, Alabama's 2024 peanut production totaled 564 million pounds, up 20% from 2023. Alabama farmers harvested 188,000 acres, and the peanut yield for 2024 was 3,000 pounds per acre.

Submitted by Kaye Lynn Hataway, APPA

Dairy

Fifteen more states joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Milk Testing Strategy, which monitors dairy herds for Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza through bulk milk surveillance. Now involving 28 states, the program covers about 65% of U.S. milk production and uses a five-stage testing process to enhance early detection and response. Newly added states include Alabama, Arizona and Iowa. Read more.

Dairy producers approved all amended federal milk marketing orders. Updates include changes to milk composition factors, price formulas and manufacturing allowances. These amendments aim to reduce uncertainty and adapt to regional needs. Further changes to regional marketing orders may occur through a streamlined hearing process. Read more.

Submitted by Colton Christjohn

Pork

High expected market hog profits, shifts in the U.S. pig crop and reduced feeder pig imports from Canada are causing the feeder pig market to thrive. Prices for 10-12 pound pigs have more than doubled compared to last year, driven by supply constraints and profitability expectations. While record-high litter rates contrast with disease pressure concerns, trade chatter suggests health challenges may impact volumes. Lower Canadian imports further support elevated prices, indicating the hot market is likely to persist. Click here to learn more.

Submitted by Colton Christjohn

Poultry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a third rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act, focusing on fairness and transparency in poultry farming. It mandates clear payment terms and requirements for capital improvements. Supporters view it as a victory for farmers seeking greater protections. The rule takes effect July 1, 2026. Click here to learn more.

Submitted by Colton Christjohn

Enrollment Periods Announced for Crop, Dairy Safety-Net Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs — Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), as well as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC).

Farmers can submit applications for 2025 to USDA’s Farm Service Agency for ARC and PLC until April 15. DMC applications open Jan. 29 and close March 31.

ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms. DMC provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences.

Learn more.

Forestry Commission Launches Rural Bridge Grant Initiative

The Alabama Forestry Commission recently launched its Rural Bridge Grant initiative.

The program, established through Alabama Legislature’s Rural Logging Efficiency Act of 2023, is dedicated to upgrading infrastructure and easing costly transportation challenges caused by the need to route loaded trucks around statutorily limited bridges in rural areas.

The initiative invites county commissions to submit applications for funding to address rural, county-maintained bridges that are weight-restricted or otherwise hinder the efficient transportation of timber to sawmills and manufacturing facilities. Eligible projects include the maintenance, repair, replacement and construction of rural public bridges. Counties are encouraged to apply for grants up to $400,000, complemented by local matching funds, to facilitate projects that ensure safe and unrestricted transportation routes for timber.

Learn more from AFC.

View grant application.

Wambles to Serve on USDA Advisory Committee

Don Wambles of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) was recently appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.

Wambles is ADAI's agriculture promotions and Farmers Market Authority Division director. He will join 24 industry representatives from across the nation in making recommendations to the U.S. secretary of agriculture.

USDA to Host Hurricane Insurance Webinar

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency (RMA) is hosting a webinar Feb. 13 to help producers and agents better understand important crop insurance products such as the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement and Tropical Storm Option (TS).

Five hurricanes caused devastating damage across the Southeast last year. Through the HIP-WI endorsement and TS, RMA paid $1.1 billion in indemnities to farmers for hurricane-related losses.

Learn more.

ADEM Director Visits Federation State Board

The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance welcomed retiring Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Director Lance R. LeFleur to a state board of directors meeting Jan. 20 in Montgomery.

Federation and Alfa Insurance President Jimmy Parnell praised LeFleur’s communication and collaboration with farmers and forest landowners during his 15-year tenure as ADEM’s chief.

LeFleur is set to retire May 1. The Alabama Environmental Management Commission is seeking applications through March 14 to fill the post.

Farmers to Advocate on Capitol Hill in March

The Alabama Farmers Federation's Washington Legislative Conference is March 4-7 in Washington, D.C.

Attendees will visit with members of Alabama's Congressional delegation, participate in small group meetings and attend the Federation's annual Congressional Barbecue.

Events and Deadlines

Jan. 30 - Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show in Dothan

Jan. 30 - Annual Meeting of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association in Dothan

Feb. 4 - Alabama Legislative Session begins in Montgomery

Feb. 5-7 - Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Conference in Gulf Shores

Feb. 14-16 - Young Farmers Conference in Muscle Shoals

Feb. 28 - Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor Banquet in Auburn

March 4-7 - Washington Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Registration ends Feb. 10.

March 23-26 - Alabama Extension's Spray Drone End-User Conference in Mobile. Registration is required by Jan. 31.

April 16-18 - Women's Leadership Conference in Auburn. Registration ends March 7.

Simply Southern TV Continues Season 11

Enjoy more new episodes of Simply Southern TV during the shows 11th season!

Jan. 26 and 29: The generations of Driskell Family Farm in Mobile County, the Alabama Composers Project with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture 2024 winners Will and Ali Gotcher of Colbert County and a Southern Bite recipe for Aunt Mary’s Pepper Sauce Coleslaw.

Feb. 2 and 5: Revisiting the Kentuck Festival of the Arts with its move to Tuscaloosa, equipment safety with Myron Johnson of Henry County, What’s in Season for February with Sweet Grown Alabama and a Southern Bite recipe for Cheesy Sausage Dip.

*Reminder: In the Montgomery TV market, Simply Southern TV now airs Sunday mornings at 5:30 a.m. on WAKA CBS 8 and at 10:30 a.m. on WNCF ABC 32.

Follow Simply Southern on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest news about the show.

Watch Simply Southern TV on YouTube.

Alabama AgCast Previews 119th Congress

Listen here.

In Memory