House and Senate Make Moves on Farm Bill | |
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U.S. House and Senate Agriculture committees published documents outlining 2024 Farm Bill proposals May 1.
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson, R-Pa., released the following statement after sharing a title-by-title overview of bipartisan policies and priorities included in the bill.
"This bill is a product of an extensive and transparent process, which included soliciting feedback from members of both political parties, stakeholder input from across the nation and some tough conversations," Thompson said. "Each title of this farm bill reflects a commitment to the American farmer and viable pathways to funding those commitments and is equally responsive to the politics of the 118th Congress. The Committee on Agriculture will mark up this bill on May 23, and I hope for unanimous support in this endeavor to bring stability to producers, protect our nation’s food security and revitalize rural America."
U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., unveiled the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, which contains more than 100 bipartisan bills.
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Forestry Commission Continues Centennial Celebrations | |
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The Alabama Farmers Federation celebrated the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) during its Centennial Reception at the Alabama Governor's Mansion in Montgomery April 17.
Gov. Kay Ivey applauded the forestry industry for its economic impact, noting Alabama's 23.1 million acres of forest land.
AFC's mission is to protect forests; help landowners carry out responsible forest management; and educate the public about the value of forests.
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Gov. Kay Ivey is pictured with Chambers County Farmers Federation board member Chris Langley. Langley chairs the AFC Board of Commissioners. | |
Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan spoke to the crowd during the reception April 17. | |
A beautiful depiction of the tower at Flagg Mountain, painted by Timothy Joe, was presented to Gov. Ivey. | |
Caroleene Dobson, Alabama FarmPAC-endorsed candidate for Congressional District 2, serves as an AFC commissioner. | |
USDA Requires Farmers to Take Action to Protect Livestock from Avian Influenza | |
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Though no cases have been confirmed in Alabama herds, farmers are encouraged to review a Federal Order recently established to protect livestock from Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (HPAI).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture order went into effect April 29 following HPAI’s detection in other states’ dairy herds. Alabama Farmers Federation Commodity Director Colton Christjohn hailed the precaution.
“We want to be ready to take action if needed,” said Christjohn who leads the dairy, pork and poultry divisions at the Federation. “The Federation is continuing to work with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to monitor this issue.”
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its final rule to require certain cattle and bison to have electronic identification (EID) eartags if moved across state lines. The final rule applies to all sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older; all dairy cattle, cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreation events; and cattle or bison of any age used for shows or exhibitions. The rule will be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks and will be effective 180 days after publication. View the advanced rule copy here.
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S and K Packaging has developed a cotton wrap that meets the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers approved round module wrap standard. The wrap is identified as SK COTTON WRAP Premium Blue. This SK wrap now joins TamaWrap Yellow and Pink Premium as approved wraps. Click here for more details.
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The Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed interim review of the pesticide Acephate April 30. Acephate is an important organophosphate that targets early season thrips with later applications targeting stink bugs and plant bugs. Up to 90% of cotton acres and 75% of soybean acres are treated with Acephate. Read more here.
Submitted by Carla Hornady
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Alabama's dairy industry maintains a modest presence in the Southeast with a stable inventory of milk cows compared to 2023. While the state's dairy sector doesn't match the scale of larger states in the region, its contribution to the Southeast's overall milk supply highlights its significance within the regional dairy landscape. Strategies aimed at improving milk production per cow and supporting the sustainability of Alabama's dairy farms could further bolster the state's role in the broader context of U.S. milk production dynamics. Read more here.
Submitted by Colton Christjohn
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U.S. Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., recently introduced the bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act to promote mass timber in federal building projects and military construction. The bill builds on mass timber products' potential to create jobs in rural and urban communities, reduce wildfire risk and increase forest resiliency. Read more here.
Submitted by William Green
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Alabama peanut farmers are encouraged to refer to the Peanut Rx during the 2024 peanut planting season. View it here.
Submitted by Kaye Lynn Hataway, Alabama Peanut Producers Association
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DOL Announces New Ag Labor Rules | |
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Alabama farmers are disappointed in the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) recent rule, which disregard privacy concerns for farmers and their employers.
With this addition, DOL sets itself apart as the agency most committed to burying farmers and other H-2A employers in a mountain of regulations, said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
“Farmers appreciate the men and women who work on their farms, and we don’t take lightly the responsibility to ensure their safety and protection," Duvall said. "We wholeheartedly support clamping down on labor abuses, but this rule instead assumes all farmers are guilty until proven innocent, and that’s not right.
“With this 600-page rule, the DOL has issued a stunning 3,000 pages of new regulations in just 18 months, which farmers are somehow supposed to navigate. Impossible.
“In truth, the workers most supported by DOL are the lawyers needed to interpret the tsunami of new rules that keep moving the goalposts for farmers.”
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Highlights of DOL's rule include:
- Updated adverse effect wage rates will be effective on the day of publication in the Federal Register
- A five-part criteria established for terminating an employee for cause
- An explicit right for H-2A employees to accept and invite guests to employer-furnished housing
- Seatbelt requirement for employee transportation
- New disclosure requirements on recruiter information, as well as the name, location and contact information of workplace owners, operators and managers.
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Prospective Planting Report Calls for More Cotton, Less Corn | | |
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Alabama row crop fields could see an increase in cotton-covered acres this spring.
The Cotton State is projected to plant 430,000 acres of the fiber, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) Prospective Planting Report released March 28.
The report is an estimate based on farmer conversations and interviews. Cotton acreage is forecast to jump 13% from 2023 and follows a national trend. U.S. cotton acres are predicted to be up 4%.
Take DeKalb County’s Ben Johnson. He decided in February to switch most of his farm’s corn acreage to cotton.
“I continually run numbers,” said Johnson, who serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation State Soybean Committee. “Looking at revenue protection from insurance and county yields, it’s a no brainer for us. We must use the best protection we can get to guarantee we can do this again next year.”
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Farmers Encouraged to Nominate Experts for Annual Awards | |
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Alabama farmers are encouraged to nominate research and Extension personnel whose work tangibly impacted their farms for two awards from the Alabama Farmers Federation. Nominations are due June 7.
The Rittenour Award for Production Agriculture & Forestry Research will recognize Auburn University faculty for creative and original research. The winner receives up to $10,000 in program support, which can fund graduate students or research operations.
The Duncan Award for Excellence in Production Agriculture & Forestry Extension will honor Alabama Extension staff developing or implementing solutions for stakeholder-identified problems. The winner receives up to $5,000 for programming costs.
Winners will be recognized in August during the Federation’s Farm & Land Conference in Montgomery.
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Conecuh County’s Smith Joins Alabama Farmers Federation Field Staff | |
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Conecuh County young farmer Cameron Smith joined the Alabama Farmers Federation field staff April 29. As Area 9 organization director, Smith will serve farmers in Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Marengo, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox counties.
Smith was raised in Cullman County’s Vinemont community, where he cultivated a love for agriculture by working for local farmers. He’s called Castleberry in south Alabama home since marrying Christin, his wife of nine years. An avid hunter, Smith is raising sons Booker, Briggs and Brier Klay to appreciate the great outdoors at Booker Farms, his in-laws’ cattle operation.
The Smiths honed their agricultural advocacy efforts through the Conecuh County Farmers Federation and local Young Farmers Committee. Since graduating from Auburn University with a bachelor’s in agricultural business and economics, Smith has continued to build a network of farmer-friends across the state.
His Area 9 formerly included Crenshaw County, now served by Area 8 Organization Director Jacob Davis.
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Alfa Farmers Market Provides Farm-Fresh Produce to Employees | | |
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Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance held a pop-up farmers market April 25 at the home office in Montgomery.
The market allowed employees to connect with local farmers as the spring and summer produce comes in.
Farms included:
- Boozer Farms, Chilton County
- Pleasant Pastures, Covington County
- Blue Ribbon Dairy, Elmore County
- Hornsby Farms, Lee County
- Extreme Green Farms, Lee County
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Voice of Beef Show Hangs up Microphone after Three Decades | | |
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After more than three decades emceeing the state beef cattle show, Galen Grace hung up his microphone following the Alabama Farmers Federation Jr. Livestock Expo (JLE) this spring.
“Since I decided to step away from announcing, I’ve been trying to explain it without getting emotional,” Grace said. “This has kept me young. I knew I could never repay the people who helped me along the way, so volunteering at livestock shows was my way of giving back.”
Grace’s journey culminated March 16 in the Ed Teague Arena. The room roared with applause as Grace humbly tipped his hat to the crowd in thanks. Retirement allows Grace to step into more leadership roles with the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE). He’s currently vice president of the Montgomery-based rodeo.
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Congressman Carl Commends Farm of Distinction | | |
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U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Ala., recognized Sirmon Farms as the 2024 Alabama Farm of Distinction April 17 on the House floor.
Joel and Patti Sirmon grow cotton, corn, peanuts and sweet potatoes in Baldwin County. They will represent Alabama during Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest at the Sunbelt Ag Expo this fall.
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The Alabama Farmers Federation State Women's Leadership Committee is hosting a communications workshop May 21 at the Federation home office in Montgomery.
Topics include media relations, social media, speaking to legislators and more.
The workshop is free, but registration is required. Email Federation Women's Division Director Kim Earwood to reserve a spot by May 10.
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The Young Farmers of Alabama Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet competitions will be Aug. 3 during the organization's Farm & Land Conference in Montgomery.
Applications to compete can be found here. The deadline to enter is June 1.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an update on the Herbicide Strategy process April 16. After listening to feedback, the EPA will make the strategy easier to understand, increase flexibility for growers to implement mitigation measures and reduce the amount of mitigation that may be needed. The final strategy will be published Aug. 30. Click here to view EPA's update.
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The Alabama Agricultural Development Authority is accepting applications for a second round of its Alabama Meat Processing Program loans. Applications close June 14. Click here to read more.
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Longtime Auburn University Professor Dr. Beth Guertal was elected as a fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Guertal is one of 502 individuals selected to the 2023 class of AAAS Fellows. Click here to read more.
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Simply Southern’s 10th anniversary season continues. Be sure to tune in for these great episodes!
May 4/5/8: Deadhead Logging; the Smith Bird Tea Room; a brand new Rural Roundup of agricultural news; Discover Extension’s segment on Grow More, Give More; and a Southern Bite recipe for a Ranch Chicken Cheese Ball.
May 11/12/15: The Mill at Prattville; Joyce’s Cheese Straws; Boydston Farms; U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish at Batter Up Restaurant; and a Southern Bite recipe for Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Pecan Cookies, sponsored by Priester's Pecans.
To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”
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Recently on the Alabama AgCast | Alabama AgCast Travels to Choctaw County | |
Alabama AgCast host Mike Moody joined over 100 sixth graders in April for a fun-filled day at Plant Hill Farms in Choctaw County. Stations included catfish, technology in agriculture, plant science, livestock, wildlife and team building activities.
Jena Owens, Southern Choctaw High School agriscience educator and event organizer, discussed details of their Ag Day on a recent episode of the Alabama AgCast.
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Ag Economics with Dr. Mykel Taylor | |
Alfa Endowed Eminent Scholar and Auburn University Professor Dr. Mykel Taylor discussed a research project that focuses on how stress affects some farmers. She also spoke the latest news and thinking regarding agricultural economics. | |
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May 20 - Last possible day of 2024 Legislative Session
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May 21 - Women's Ag Communications 101 Workshop in Montgomery
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