Farmers Federation Announces New Class of A.L.F.A. Leaders |
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The sixth class of the Agricultural Leaders for Alabama (A.L.F.A. Leaders) program was recently announced after a rigorous application and interview process. Eighteen participants will join the ranks of Alabama Farmers Federation county presidents, board members, legislators and other leaders at the local, state and national levels whose involvement and personal development grew through the premier leadership experience.
A.L.F.A. Leaders is sponsored by the Federation and sharpens the skills of already-proven agricultural community leaders by focusing on personal development, political involvement, effective communication and understanding of the Federation.
The program begins in September and will conclude with a capstone project presentation and graduation at the 2025 Farm & Land Expo. Participants will train in agricultural policy, industry leadership, productive communication and organizational involvement at six seminars in Alabama, Washington, D.C., and a to-be-determined international location.
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Alfa Insurance Earns National Innovation Award |
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Alfa Insurance, founded by the Alabama Farmers Federation in 1946, was recently awarded the 10th annual Award in Innovation from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). Alfa received the award for the creation and continued success of its Alfa Leadership Academy.
The Alfa Leadership Academy was crafted in 2015 to address organizational needs while developing the next generation of proven leaders. Participants, which include Federation employees, work through a yearlong training course to develop leadership skills, enhance company culture, build innovative solutions and provide exceptional service to customers.
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Farmers Tour Alabama and Tennessee Green Industry Farms |
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An exclusive nursery tour hosted by the Alabama Farmers Federation and the Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association brought 30 farmers to north Alabama and central Tennessee June 28-29.
Tour stops included:
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology - Huntsville, Alabama
- Posey & Son's Nursery - Hazel Green, Alabama
- Schaefer Nursery - Winchester, Tennessee
- Tennessee Valley Nursery Inc - Winchester, Tennessee
- Hubert Family Farms - New Market, Alabama
Attendees also experienced a spray drone demonstration by Auburn University's Dr. Steve Li.
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Conference Inspires Educators to Bring Ag into Classrooms |
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Seventy-one educators from across the state headed to Huntsville June 14-16 for hands-on learning, farm tours and workshops during the annual Alabama Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Summer Institute.
AITC Committee Chair Kim Earwood said this conference is centered around ways to implement agriculture into teachers’ curricula.
“I am amazed at how many of our educators show up every year excited to learn about agriculture,” Earwood said. “Teachers realize where our food comes from, but their goal is to teach future generations about the importance of the industry.”
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Listen to this recent Alabama AgCast for three educators' takes on their AITC experiences. |
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Federation Priorities Discussed During Farm Bill Listening Session |
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Alabama Farmers Federation Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department Director Mitt Walker formally commented on Federation priorities June 26 during a farm bill listening session in Lebanon, Tennessee.
The session also included remarks from U.S. Reps. G.T. Thompson, R-Pa.; Scott Desjarlias, R-Tenn.; John Rose, R-Tenn.; and Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill.
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Alfa Foundation Awards $100,000 in College Scholarships |
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The Alfa Foundation recently awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 100 students attending colleges and universities across Alabama. Recipients, who hail from 44 counties and will attend 23 different academic institutions, each received $1,000 from the Foundation to use on tuition, fees, books or supplies in the 2023-24 academic year.
Since 2014, the Alfa Foundation has awarded $950,000 to deserving students through its scholarship program, which is administered by Kaleidoscope. All recipients are Alabama Farmers Federation members.
“We are proud to support this outstanding group of students as they further their education within the state of Alabama,” said Alfa Insurance and Federation President Jimmy Parnell. “It’s important to us as an organization to invest in our young people, and we are happy to do so through the Alfa Foundation Scholarship Program.”
Scholarships were awarded based on grade point average, participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience and future goals. To qualify, students must be enrolled – or planning to enroll – in a full-time accredited program at a two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school located in Alabama.
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Alabama Farmers Federation State commodity committee members put boots on the ground visiting farms during June.
The State Hay & Forage Committee hosted a field day on Steve Stroud's farm in Pike County June 27. For the State Beef Committee, north Alabama cattle farms took center stage as they visited Mitchell and Rebecca Henry at Hardin Farms in Moulton and Maples Stock Farm in Elkmont June 20-21. Additionally, the State Equine Committee enjoyed a networking trail ride at Wind Creek State Park in Tallapoosa County June 24.
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Dairy Educational Session Set for July 26 |
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The Alabama Farmers Federation Dairy Educational Meeting is July 26 at 10 a.m. The event will be held at Darrell Rankins' farm in Chambers County.
Dairymen and others with interest in the industry are invited to attend.
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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 commodity workshops, click here.
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Farmers Shift Business Models to Stay Profitable |
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Tight margins and changing landscapes are causing Alabama farm families to make tough calls — sell out, scale back or switch commodities.
In Lamar County, Gilmer Family Farm is shifting gears in the cattle business, trading in their 70-year-old milking parlor for greener pastures dotted with beef cattle. With fewer local bottling plants and other economic shifts, Gilmer followed in the steps of hundreds of dairymen. The Gilmers milked their last cow Feb. 27. The father-son duo has gone from milking 230 head of dairy cattle to raising 250 beef cattle.
Farther north in Madison County, Hubert Family Farms also realized changing a farm business model doesn’t happen overnight. With a leap of faith, the Huberts bought their first tulip bulbs in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and opened a U-pick flower operation. The thousands of bulbs provided a profusion of color that attracted visitors from north Alabama and beyond
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Projections for 2023 peanut acreage indicate an increase of nearly 100,000 peanut acres nationwide. Alabama farmers have planted approximately 97% of the state’s peanut acreage thus far. The remaining peanut acres are on hold because of 10 days of significant rainfall. Click here to read more.
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U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala, introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Forest Data Modernization Act with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash. The sponsors say this legislation modernizes technologies and data-collection methods used by the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program to meet growing market demand and support sustainable forest management decisions. Click here to read more.
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The Alabama Agricultural Development Authority is accepting loan applications to help expand or build meat processing plants in Alabama. Applications for Phase I close Sept. 14. Click here to learn more.
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The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is now accepting applications for its annual Century & Heritage Farm and Bicentennial Farm programs. ADAI created these programs to recognize and celebrate family farms that have significantly impacted Alabama history and agriculture. Click here to find more information.
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July 6-9 - Alabama Farmers Federation Presidents Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee
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July 16-21 - Alabama Farmers Federation Beef Tour in Wisconsin
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Simply Southern TV Features New Episodes |
Enjoy brand new episodes of Simply Southern starting the weekend of July 1 and 2.
July 1/2/5: Alabama 2023 Farm of Distinction the Hayneses of Cullman County, Handey’s Farm, What’s in Season with Sweet Grown Alabama and a Southern Bite recipe for Easy Pea Salad sponsored by Sweet Grown Alabama
July 8/9/12: New rural health clinic, Traditional Bowmen of Alabama, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association award winner and a Southern Bite Recipe for Egg Salad sponsored by the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association
To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”
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