Updates for Alabama Farmers

June 18, 2026

Federation Celebrates Runoff Victories

Alabama Farmers Federation is calling Tuesday night’s wins by Alabama FarmPAC-endorsed candidates a victory for homegrown values and grassroots advocacy.

“The value of an Alabama FarmPAC endorsement is our people,” said Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell. “Our members are leaders in their communities. They understand the issues that impact their neighbors’ daily lives, so people listen to their opinions. Candidates the Federation supported are those who invested time with these local leaders and earned their trust.”

Parnell said the Federation’s network of 1,200 county board members plus local Young Farmers, Women’s Leadership Committee members and commodity leaders make the Federation a formidable force in Alabama politics. He noted Alabama FarmPAC is a true membership PAC, with every penny coming from member contributions.

Alabama FarmPAC candidates earning their party’s nomination in the primary runoff elections were:

• Katherine Robertson, Attorney General (R)

• Corey Hill, Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries (R)

• Barry Moore, U.S. Senate (R)

• Jeff Monroe, House District 37 (R)

• Pebblin Warren, House District 82 (D)

• Emily Jones, State School Board, District 8 (R)

Federation Endorses Marques for Congress, Reminds Members to Vote Aug. 11

Alabama Farmers Federation today announced its endorsement of Rhett Marques for Alabama Congressional District (CD) 2.

“We are pleased to endorse Rhett Marques for the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Federation President Jimmy Parnell. “As a former small business owner and state representative since 2018, he understands the challenges facing farmers, families and businesses in the Wiregrass and surrounding area. Rhett shares many of the same Christian values as our members and has worked hard to earn the support of county Farmers Federations across the district.”

In making the endorsement, Parnell emphasized the importance of voters turning out Tuesday, Aug. 11. The special election was called by Gov. Kay Ivey following a U.S. Supreme Court decision, which cleared the way for Alabama to use the Congressional map developed by the Alabama Legislature in 2023 rather than a court-drawn map used in the 2024 elections.

“It’s critical voters in Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 show up to polls Aug. 11,” Parnell said. “Even if you voted for a Congressional candidate in these districts in May, you will need to vote again Aug. 11. It’s important to note there will not be a runoff following the special primary election, so whoever gets the most votes will be their party’s nominee in the November general election.”

The Federation has endorsed the following candidates for the Aug. 11 Republican special primary election:

• Jerry Carl, U.S. Congress, District 1

• Rhett Marques, U.S. Congress, District 2

• Gary Palmer, U.S. Congress, District 6

Farm-Raised Fish Faces Growing Pressures

Alabama catfish farmers are navigating a challenging economic climate marked by rising production costs, import competition and environmental pressures.

A recent American Farm Bureau Federation Market Intel highlights growing concerns about profitability and the future of the nation's largest aquaculture industry.

Key takeaways:

Many U.S. catfish farms operate with little margin for error, as rising feed, labor, fingerling and fuel costs push production costs close to market prices – before accounting for disease, bird predation or weather losses.
Imported Vietnamese swai has grown from virtually no U.S. market presence in the 1990s to a $330 million competitor today, with retail prices roughly $2 per pound below comparable U.S. catfish products.
Fish-eating birds, disease and weather can quickly turn profitable production into losses.
Despite major advances in genetics, aeration and production technology, U.S. catfish acreage has fallen by roughly 75% since its peak, and the number of farms has declined from more than 1,300 to fewer than 400.
Continued industry contraction threatens processors, hatcheries, feed mills and rural communities across the Southeast that depend on catfish.

Teachers Dig Into Agriculture During Conference

Summer smiles stretched wide as teachers came together for Alabama Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Summer Institute June 10-12 in Prattville.

Through hands-on activities, fun-filled farm tours and classroom workshops, educators spent three days learning new ways to incorporate agriculture into their classrooms. Teachers also forged connections with farmers across the River Region during tours.

One stop was Poague’s Tree Farm & Nursery, full of beautiful greenery and blooming flowers in Elmore County.

Farmer Scott Poague is also an agriscience teacher at Elmore County High School and said he was excited to welcome Alabama teachers to his farm. He emphasized the importance of AITC and the benefit of educators implementing agricultural skills.

Teachers also visited Blue Ribbon Dairy in Elmore County to learn about milk; enjoyed lunch at the Alabama Wildlife Federation NaturePlex in Millbrook; and stopped by Priester’s Pecans in Lowndes County to see pecan production from tree to treat.

In addition to meaningful connections, new memories and fresh ideas, teachers headed home with over $450 each in classroom resources, which included books, lesson plans and more. A handful of educators received incubators, too.

Alabama Farmers Attend ACE Summit in D.C.

Two Alabama farmers joined more than 500 women in Washington, D.C., June 1-3 for the biennial American Farm Bureau Federation's Advocate Cultivate Empower (ACE) summit.

Held in celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the three-day event allowed ladies from around the world to learn, network and make valuable connections.

Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee Secretary Amy Belcher of Montgomery County and committee member Shelley East of Cherokee County attended the conference.

“The ACE conference was an amazing way to connect with ladies in agriculture,” Belcher said. “My dad instilled a confidence in me that women could do anything, and that was the sentiment of this conference — farm women who get things done.”

The experience also left a lasting impression on East, who said the relationships and conversations with lawmakers made for a meaningful trip.

“Through this summit, I made some lifelong connections to women in agriculture across the world,” East said. “Having the opportunity to personally meet with our Congressmen on Capitol Hill to discuss current issues and share information about our farm was the highlight of this trip.”

Learn more.

Alabama FFA United for 98th State Convention

Hushed tones settled through the room as a countdown clock created an air of anticipation over a sea of national blue and corn gold corduroy jackets during the 98th State FFA Convention.

More than 2,000 Alabama FFA members and guests gathered June 10-12 in the Capital City to celebrate the past year’s successes while growing closer through the theme “United.”

Sessions showcasing achievements and proficiencies allowed students from across the state to honor their peers. In the nearby trade show, Alabama Farmers Federation Ag Leadership Director Hunter McBrayer introduced students to the breadth of ag careers beyond farming.

“Alabama FFA goes beyond farmers and classrooms to show students the never-ending careers in agriculture,” McBrayer said. “We partnered with the Alabama Community College System to bring simulators of excavators, skid steers and semi-trucks to show young people those job possibilities. FFA unites farmers, welders, machinists, technicians and a world of other careers for the common cause of agriculture. We wanted to unlock that door during convention.”

Additionally, the 2026-2027 Alabama FFA state officer team was elected. Students selected to serve were:

- President: Adriana Rasberry, Billingsley

- Vice President: Mason Smith, Arab

- Secretary: Callie Rae Childers, A.P. Brewer

- Treasurer: KateLynn Dummar, Weaver

- Reporter: Ella Ruth Coghlan, McKenzie

- Sentinel: Ellie Grace Olson, G.W. Long

The Alabama FFA Foundation hosted its annual Wall of Honor during convention. Nominees must be recognized for their outstanding contributions and have at least $1,000 raised in their honor to benefit the Alabama FFA Foundation. Honorees included:

- Charlie Jones, posthumous

- Connie McLean, posthumous

- H. B. Pete Thompson, posthumous

- Tony Watkins, posthumous

- David Benefield

- Keith Lee Gunter

- William Holloman

- Franky Jackson

All Commodities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced eligible landowners have until Aug. 31 to review and consider base acre increases on farms enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, as authorized by provisions included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Learn more.

Dairy

The Alabama Farmers Federation State Dairy Committee will host an educational workshop for Alabama dairy farmers July 16 at DarLin Farms in Chambers County. Email Colton Christjohn at CChristjohn@alfafarmers.org by July 6 to RSVP. The agenda includes a warm-season annual forage demonstration trial led by GreenPoint Ag's Perry Mobley. The event is free to attend, and lunch will be provided.

Fruit & Vegetable

Alabama specialty crop farmers are invited to the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Regional Meeting June 25 at 4 p.m. in Cullman County. The networking event and farm tour will be at J. Calvert Farms. Dinner will be provided, thanks to the sponsorship of Alabama Farmers Cooperative. Register by June 22.

Poultry

Alabama commercial poultry growers can learn more about mortality disposal methods thanks to research from Alabama Extension. Mortality disposal management is a significant consideration for contract poultry producers. Every form of disposal has costs associated with it, and many are less than obvious. Growers seeking to make the best business decision for their farm should consider the pros and cons of a method and how those apply to their farm's unique situation. Learn more.

Wheat & Feed Grains

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is pursuing recovery of a surety bond to help compensate Alabama grain producers who have not received payment for grain sold to Hansen-Mueller Co. last year. ADAI is encouraging affected producers to submit a claim for review to hmclaims@agi.alabama.gov by June 23. Learn more.

Peanut Referendum is June 24

Alabama peanut growers are encouraged to vote in the 2026 Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) referendum to determine whether the current assessment of 12.5 cents per 100 pounds of peanuts marketed in Alabama will continue.

As authorized under Alabama law, APPA is designated by the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries to conduct the referendum on behalf of the state’s peanut producers.

If approved by a majority of voting producers, the assessment will continue to be collected from peanuts marketed in Alabama through peanut purchasers, as directed by the Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries.

Funds generated through the assessment are administered by APPA and support programs that strengthen Alabama’s peanut industry, including research; education; promotion and marketing; peanut consumption initiatives and programs that support the well-being of Alabama peanut producers.

Farmers' votes help shape the future of Alabama’s peanut industry.