February 23, 2022
Coastal Growers Facility Opens In Atmore
Coastal Growers, a farmer-owned peanut-shelling facility in Atmore, held its grand opening Feb. 23.

The plant can shell 25 tons of peanuts an hour and helps farmers capture more profit from their crop.

From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan, Baldwin County farmer and Federation board member Mark Kaiser, Federation President Jimmy Parnell, Coastal Growers Director of Operations Anthony Daniels and Alabama Peanut Producers Association Executive Director Jacob Davis.
Farming Pioneers, Legends Honored In Auburn
Visionary leaders of the Alabama Farmers Federation were inducted into the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor Feb. 17, alongside legends in farming, agricultural research and conservation.

Posthumous inductees receiving the Pioneer Award were former Federation and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Edward A. O’Neal III; Federation founder and former Alabama Cooperative Extension System Director Luther Duncan; and legendary agronomist and researcher George Washington Carver.

The late William Rankin of Faunsdale was honored in the production category; conservationist Earl Norton was inducted for work in education and government; and livestock auctioneer Don Green was recognized for agribusiness.
New Historical Marker Recognizes Alfa Farmers
Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System celebrated the Alabama Farmers Federation’s recent centennial celebration by unveiling a historical marker Feb. 17.

The marker was erected at the Alfa Pavilion at Auburn’s Ag Heritage Park.
Williams To Serve Northeast Alabama Farmers
A Marshall County farmer and former farm loan officer has been named the Alabama Farmers Federation’s organization director for Area 3. Dan Williams of Boaz began his new duties Feb. 21.

Area 3 includes Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson and Marshall counties. Kyle Hayes, who retired in November, was the previous area organization director. 
Quick Clicks
Farmers who plant cover crops will be eligible for crop insurance premium subsidies worth $5 an acre for the second year in a row. Click here to read more about the U.S. Department of Agriculture program.

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore has delivered an official letter to Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack requesting an update on the Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index Endorsement. His request amends the program from an all-or-nothing system to a tiered system. Click here to read the letter.

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage enrollment closes March 15. Click here to learn more.

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol registration closes March 31. The program promotes more sustainable cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. Click here to learn more.

Financial assistance to reduce cogongrass is available. Administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Cogongrass Mitigation Program seeks to reduce the number of infested acres, eliminate cogongrass’s damaging effects on existing ecosystems and improve the productivity of impacted sites. Click here to read more.

College students majoring in a field related to forages or livestock can apply for the John E. Baylor Memorial Forage & Livestock Scholarship. Applications close April 1 for the program, sponsored by The Forage Foundation. Click here to learn more.
Events & Deadlines







Simply Southern Airs Weekly
Be sure to tune in for new episodes of Simply Southern. Programs air over the weekend on broadcast stations in Alabama. Click here for days and times in your area. The same episode then airs the following Wednesdays nationwide on RFD-TV.

Upcoming episodes include:

  • Feb. 26/27/March 2: GulfQuest Museum, glamping at the Destination Resort, living off the land, Smart Yards from Extension and a recipe for Mom’s Peach Cobbler from SouthernBite.com

  • March 5/6/9: Auburn University’s EAGLES Program, Turkeys From Heaven, winter farmers markets and a recipe for Instant Pot Boiled Peanuts from SouthernBite.com
In Memory