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Changing with the Times
Guy Hall
(800) 392-5705, ext. 5181
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| The 2006 Commodity Tour visits John Gibson's farm. |
Alabama Pork Producers, a division of Alabama Farmers Federation, is composed of farmers across the state involved in swine production. Some farmers independently own their operations. Others contract with a company to raise hogs, while still others raise hogs that are sold to young people to exhibit in market shows.
Regardless of size of their farm, pork producers share a common interest to provide for their families while managing their farms in an environmentally sound manner.
Goals and Issues
Goals of the Alabama Pork Producers are determined by a state committee, which is elected by other producers throughout the state.
Issues and challenges facing producers are evaluated each year, and priority is placed on each to determine a focus for the division's efforts.
Goals for 2010 include:- Work with youth pork program to increase involvement and quality of education
- Improve image of producers and educate public about pork production
- Develop markets
- Assist producers with education of animal welfare issues
Helping farmers address everyday problems is a key part of our mission. As new challenges appear, Alabama Pork Producers is poised to address those for the good of its producer members.
Alabama Pork Producers is the steward of Alabama's checkoff funds. The National Pork Board collects the pork checkoff and redistributes a portion back to Alabama and maintains a portion to support national programs. Checkoff funds may be used only in areas related to consumer information, promotion, research, and producer education. Programs implemented and supported by Alabama Pork Producers include advertising, community events that focus on pork promotion, 4-H and FFA activities, cooking demonstrations and contests, producer education meetings, and research.
Since checkoff funds may not be utilized for efforts dealing with matters of a legislative or regulatory nature for example, Alabama Pork Producers is able to utilize the resources of Alabama Farmers Federation. National Pork Producers Council is the national trade association that represents America's pork producers on a variety of issues.
Alabama Pork Producers also works closely with the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to provide information for Alabama's producers.
Dr. Frank Owsley serves as the state's swine specialist and coordinates the extension swine program.
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Members of the 2010 Alabama Farmers Federation State Pork Committee are, from left, front row: Frank Morris, St. Clair; Chairman Mark Pennington, Calhoun; and 1st Vice Chairman Luther Bishop; back row, Federation Pork Division Director Guy Hall; Johnny Williams, Cherokee; and 2nd Vice Chairman Wallace Norwood, Greene. Not shown are: Tim Donaldson, Cullman; Greg Buttram, DeKalb; Joe Hall, Henry; Albert Miller, Mobile; and Tim Gates, Pickens. |
Alabama Farmers Federation at Work for Alabama Pork Producers
As a part of Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Pork Producers is represented at the state and national levels through departments of Governmental Affairs and National Affairs. The Department of Public Relations provides communications about important issues and notices through its monthly magazine, Neighbors and biweekly newsletter, Cultivator.
The Local Connection
County Farmers Federations, with the assistance of Area Organization Directors, provide support and a mechanism to address issues on the local level. Herein lies the strength of Alabama Pork Producers. Each county may establish its own Pork Committee. Needs and requests from producers in the county are the beginning of policy development and the direction of Alabama Pork Producers. You may contact your county Pork Chairman, or if none currently exists, the Area Organization Director in your region or your County President for more information.
Why Should I be a Member of Alabama Farmers Federation and Alabama Pork Producers?
The Alabama Farmers Federation brings farmers of all commodities together for a common cause. Together, we can accomplish more for everyone's benefit. The more pork producers actively participating in Alabama Farmers Federation and Alabama Pork Producers, the more effective the organization can be on issues affecting them. With membership in the Alabama Farmers Federation, come many benefits.
Related Links
- AFO/CAFO Buffers
- Alabama Animal Waste Management
- Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
- Alabama State Veterinarian
- Animal Waste/Nutrient Land Application Map
- American Farm Bureau Federation
- Auburn University College of Agriculture
- CAFO Information: Alabama Department of Environmental Management
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Pork Recipes
- Pork Magazine
- USDA Market News
Did You Know?
- Alabama's top hog producing counties are DeKalb and Pickens.
- On any given day, Alabama has about 180,000 head of hogs, with annual cash receipts of $17 million.
- Pork is the world's most widely consumed meat, accounting for about 42 percent of the world's meat consumption.
- Insulin from hogs is used in the treatment of diabetes. Hog heart valves are used to replace damaged or diseased human heart valves. Skin from hogs is used to treat severe burn victims.
- The U.S. pork industry creates more than 500,000 jobs and exports more than $1 billion worth of pork products each year.
- The average American eats 52 pounds of pork a year which, by the way, is 31 percent lower in fat, 14 percent lower in calories and 10 percent lower in cholesterol than in 1983.
For more information, contact Guy Hall,
Director, Alabama Pork Producers, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191-0001. Phone:
(800) 392-5705, ext. 5181.
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