Farmers in 51 Alabama Counties Eligible for Disaster Assistance Following March Freeze |
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Specialty crop farmers who suffered significant losses due to freezing March temperatures are now eligible for disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has included 51 Alabama counties in its recent Crop Production Loss Disaster Declaration, thanks to urging from the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.
Primary affected areas include Baldwin, Blount, Chilton, Clarke, Cullman, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Henry, Houston, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Russell, Tallapoosa and Washington counties.
Contiguous counties are Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Choctaw, Clay, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Geneva, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, Walker, Wilcox and Winston.
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Supreme Court Limits Federal Power Over Wetlands in WOTUS Case |
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Farmers and property owners received a major win May 25 when the Supreme Court significantly reduced the scope of the Clean Water Act in the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) case.
All nine justices agreed EPA’s “significant nexus” test — the agency’s tool to assert more authority over private land — was an overreach.
The Alabama Farmers Federation and farm groups across the country have sought clear, concise water regulation for years. Rules set in 2015 and 2023 created vague boundaries allowing federal regulation over vast areas of land as “water.”
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Commodity-Specific Educational Tracks New to Farm & Land Expo |
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In addition to the annual Friday farm tours, commodity-specific educational sessions will take place Saturday, Aug. 12.
Three rounds of seminars will focus on:
- Livestock & Forage
- Filling in the forage gaps
- Bull selection
- Implementing a seven-day fixed time Al protocol
- Poultry
- Georgia Poultry Producer Services
- Mortality disposal programs
- American Farm Bureau Federation updates
- Row Crops
- Profitability of controlled release fertilizer in modern and sustainable agriculture
- Exploring emerging carbon markets
- Drone applications
- Forestry & Natural Resources
- Deer population ecology and management
- Mapping tools
- Rural development and the forest products industry
- Specialty Crops
- Options for diversification into vegetables
- State-of-the-art mechanization and automation in horticulture
- Commercial beekeeping and pollination services
To learn more details about the commodity workshops, click here.
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Oak Mountain Middle’s Norris Will Traverse State in New Chevy Traverse Courtesy of Alfa |
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Oak Mountain Middle School students and staff added one more activity to their busy May schedules — celebrating teacher Jeffrey Norris as he received the year’s use of a car from Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation.
A sixth grade math teacher, Norris received a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse May 19 after a school assembly honoring his selection as Alabama’s 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year.
This marks the 27th year Alfa has provided a car for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year.
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Young Farmers Gather for Leadership Workshop |
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The Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed county Federation Young Farmers to the home office May 19. Young Farmers stepped away from the farm to network, learn new tools to increase engagement within county programs and participate in roundtable discussions. |
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Florida Congresswoman, House Ag Committee Member Visits Alabama Farmers |
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Thanks to relationships and connections formed at the American Farm Bureau Federation Fusion Conference this past March, Daniel and Carla Trantham welcomed U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida, to Calhoun County May 20.
Cammack toured Trantham Farms, which included learning about the family's trucking, row crop and feed operation. She also visited with Clay County farmers Chris and Jordyn Upchurch of Rockin’ U Farm and Tallapoosa County farmers Steven and Whitney Blackmon.
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Federation Communications Department Receives National Awards |
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The Alabama Farmers Federation had great success at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Communications Awards Program May 25.
The Communications Department was awarded the Anne Marie Moss Team Effort Award for department efforts in the Down to Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama campaign. Publications Director Marlee Jackson was awarded the best Agriculture Story for “Then & Now: Farmers Face Challenging Ag Economy.”
Jackson and Ag Communications Specialist Maggie Edwards accepted awards during the AFBF Communications Conference in Savannah, Georgia.
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Tune in to this week's episode of the Alabama AgCast to learn more about AFBF Communications Conference. |
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The Alabama Cooperative Extension System crops team will host the 64th annual Cotton and Soybean Scouting School in June in four locations throughout the state. Click here for more information.
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The annual Hall of Honor and Pioneer Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of agriculture in Alabama through their work and personal lives. Three will be selected to join the Hall of Honor – one each for production agriculture, agribusiness and ag education/government. Two names will be selected for the Pioneer Award, which posthumously honors leaders. Nominations are due June 10. Click here to learn more.
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June 28-29 - GNS Tour in north Alabama and central Tennessee.
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Simply Southern TV Reruns Feature New Segments |
Farms, agricultural issues and easy-to-make recipes are all featured in upcoming episodes of Simply Southern TV. Be sure to tune in!
June 4/5/8: Drugstore benefactor Hody Childress, saddle maker Jimmy Hagood, an interview with American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall and a Southern Bite recipe for Garlic Soy Cucumber Salad, sponsored by Alabama Peanut Producers Association
June 10/11/14: Main Street Atmore, Red’s Little Schoolhouse Restaurant, What’s In Season with Sweet Grown Alabama and a Southern Bite recipe for Summer Succotash sponsored by Sweet Grown Alabama
To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”
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