 |
Commissioner’s Race
 |
Walker County farmer Dorman Grace held a press conference Wednesday at the Alabama Farmers Federation headquarters in Montgomery as part of a statewide campaign tour for his candidacy for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Grace, who has been an active member and leader of the Federation, received the organization’s endorsement in the race. From left are Federation State Board Member Garry Henry of Montgomery County, Grace, Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan and Pike County Federation Board Member Steve Stroud.
|
Taxes, trade top agenda for annual Washington trip
Estate taxes, cap-and-trade and research initiatives are among the topics Alabama farmers plan to discuss with congressmen when they visit the nation’s capital later this month.
The trip, set for March 23-26, is an annual forum for Alabama Farmers Federation leaders who see the summit as a way to put a face on the farming industry. “The estate tax exemptions for farmers, business owners and individuals ended in 2009,” said Federation Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department Director Jimmy Carlisle. “There are plans by leaders in Congress and the administration to impose a new, lower threshold for estate tax exemptions, possibly as low as $1 million per household. That’s going to cover a lot more people, particularly in agriculture.” Farmers also will discuss the Federation’s opposition to cap-and-trade proposals before Congress and its strong support for legislative action that would suspend the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The group also will stress the importance of continued funding for research projects at Alabama’s land grant universities. Farmers from each of Alabama’s seven congressional districts will meet with their respective U.S. representatives during breakfast meetings while in Washington. A luncheon at the Hart Senate Building will allow farmers to hear from U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions. While on the trip, small groups of Federation members will meet with congressmen and their staff on specific commodity-related issues. Federation members on the trip will attend a congressional reception for lawmakers and staffers featuring barbecue provided by Colbert County Farmers Federation President L.O. Bishop.
Young farmers selected for contest
 | | Young Farmers Committee Chairman Jeff Maze, back row right, congratulates the Outstanding Young Farm Family commodity division winners and finalists. From left are, back row, Josh Turner, Mike Dole, Evelyn Dole, Jeremy Wilson, Jeff Whitaker, Matthew Smith, Colby Smith, Davy Wright, Colby Willoughby, Garrett Henry, Justin Hill and Maze; front row, Katie Sue Dole, Teresa Dole, Stephanie Wilson, Kinsley Wilson, Randi Whitaker, Micheal Smith, Stacey Smith, Noah Wright, Heather Wright, Abby Wright, Jaclyn Willoughby, Emily Henry, Paige Henry, Julie Calvert and James Calvert. |
Exceptional young agriculturalists from Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Houston and Montgomery counties were named finalists in Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family contest during the closing session of the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Young Farmers Leadership Conference in Montgomery March 6.Six finalists were recognized from among 10 commodity division winners. The finalists received a year’s free membership in the Alabama Farm Analysis Association and will go on to compete this summer for the title of overall Outstanding Young Farm Family for 2010. Commodity division winners each received $200 each and were invited to serve as ex-officio members of the Federation’s state committee for their respective commodities.
The 10 commodity division winners are Garrett and Emily Henry of Montgomery County, beef division; Matthew and Stacey Smith of Calhoun County, cotton division; Justin Hill of Calhoun County, equine division; Davy and Heather Wright of Dallas County, greenhouse, nursery and sod division; Jeff and Randi Whitaker of DeKalb County, hay and forage division; Jeremy and Julie Calvert of Cullman County, horticulture division; Mike and Teresa Dole of St. Clair County, meat goat and sheep division; Colby Willoughby of Houston County, peanut division; Josh and Jessica Turner of DeKalb County, poultry division; and Jeremy and Stephanie Wilson of Talladega County, soybean division. The six finalists are the Calverts, Wrights, Whitakers, Turners, Henrys and Willoughby. One of these farm families will be named the overall winner at the Federation’s annual meeting in December. Prizes include a year’s use of a new vehicle from the Federation, a John Deere Gator from Alabama Farm Credit and Alabama Ag Credit (formerly Federal Land Bank), a personal computing package from ValCom/CSS Wireless and $500 from Dodge. The state winner will go on to represent Alabama at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2011 annual meeting in Atlanta. About 300 young farmers from throughout the state attended the conference, which featured speakers and workshops on topics ranging from precision agriculture to human resource management. Last year’s Outstanding Young Farm Family, Gaylan and Angie Shelly of Escambia County, got a pleasant surprise when Alabama John Deere dealers SunSouth, Tri-Green and Snead Ag announced they would give the family six month’s free use of a new John Deere 7000-series tractor.
House Ag Committee unanimously passes Family Farm Preservation Act
 | | House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Members Benjamin Lewis, R-Dothan, left, and Committee Chairman Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, right, discuss the Family Farm Preservation Act with Nate Jaeger of the Federation Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department following Wednesday’s vote. |
The Family Farm Preservation Act is expected to face a final vote in the Alabama House of Representatives later this month, following unanimous passage of the bill by the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee on Wednesday.SB 61, sponsored by Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, would prevent farms that abide by current rules and regulations from being declared a public nuisance. The measure passed the Senate last month by a 30-0 vote. During Wednesday’s committee meeting, Rep. Benjamin Lewis, R-Dothan spoke in favor of the bill. A dairy farmer himself, Lewis noted that the bill is important to all voters because it helps maintain a stable food supply and preserves the values, character and work ethic taught on family farms. In other action, the House Ag Committee passed a bill allowing streamlined licensing of hunters at bird preserves, a bill that strengthens the state veterinarian’s authority to oversee livestock care, and two bills increasing penalties for timber theft. SB 76, sponsored by Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, would provide bird-hunting preserves the option of buying an annual license for $500 that would cover hunters on the property who do not already have the appropriate license. The bill now heads to the full House. The companion bill, HB 302 by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, is on the Senate calendar. The committee gave a favorable report to a substitute version of HB 561, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Howard, D-Greensboro. The bill, which updates the state veterinarian’s responsibilities related to livestock care, was changed to address concerns by farmers, law enforcement officers, the state Department of Public Health and county commissioners. The changes define livestock an clarify that the bill doesn’t affect the authority of law enforcement agencies. They also clarify that the bill doesn’t relieve farms of the need to comply with health laws; and clarify that the bill doesn’t supersede local ordinances that are not related to livestock care. The companion bill, SB 413 by Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne, awaits action by the full Senate. Meanwhile, the committee passed two Senate bills related to timber theft, which now lack only a vote by the full House before going to the governor. SB 163, sponsored by Sen. Ted Little, D-Auburn, would make the unauthorized cutting, removal, transportation, sale or purchase of timber and forest products a Class A misdemeanor. The bill also would make it a crime to alter a weight-measuring device used for forest products. The companion bill, HB 405 by Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, was expected to be voted on by the full House Thursday. The committee also passed SB 185, sponsored by Sen. Mitchell. The bill would allow law enforcement officers to seize equipment possessed by a person charged with a felony offense involving the theft of timber or lumber. The companion bill, HB 175 by Rep. Charles Newton, D-Greenville, has passed the House and awaits action in a Senate committee. In other business, the House Agriculture Committee assigned a bill strengthening penalties for cockfighting to a subcommittee and delayed action on a bill giving restaurant customers the right to know the country-of-origin of wild seafood.
The committee passed a bill allowing farm-raised perch to be sold, provided the seller is permitted by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In other legislative action, the House passed a bill that would encourage competition in the coastal insurance market by eliminating a rule requiring surplus-line insurers to do business five years in Alabama before writing certain business. SB 10, sponsored by Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Daphne, now heads to the governor. The companion bill is sponsored by Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Bay Minette. SB 97, sponsored by Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne, was expected to be voted on by the full House Thursday. The bill allows checkoff programs to conduct full audits every two years, rather than annually. It requires the programs to file a financial statement every year, but reduces the cost associated with a full audit. The companion bill, HB 121 by Rep. Tammy Irons, D-Florence, awaits action by the full Senate.
Hilliard Press Conference
 | State Rep. Earl Hilliard Jr., has formally received the endorsement of the Alabama Farmers Federation in his bid for the seventh district congressional seat. Jefferson County Farmers Federation President Randy Gilmore, left, and Greene County Farmers Federation President Dickie Odom, right, recently met Hilliard at a farmers market near Birmingham to announce the endorsement. |
Search committee narrows list for new AU ag dean
The search committee for the position of Auburn University Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the Alabama Agricultural experiment Station has narrowed its list to four candidates. The candidates will have on-campus interviews March 28–April 14. Additional interviews with external agricultural organizations also will be conducted.
The finalists are:
• Dr. Kenneth Lee Esbenshade, associate dean and director of academic programs, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University. • Dr. John D. Kirby, acting executive associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences and director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station of South Dakota State University. • Dr. William David Batchelor, head of the department of agricultural and biological engineering, director of the Sustainable Energy Research Center and director of the Energy Institute at Mississippi State University. • Dr. Rameshwar S. Kanwar, chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University.
Forecast predicts farm income to rise
Net farm income is forecast to be $63 billion in 2010, up $6.7 billion or 11.8 percent from 2009, according to the USDA Economic Research Service. However, expenses for farmers are projected to be the second-highest level ever. The 2010 forecast is $1.4 billion below the average of $64.5 billion in net farm income earned in the previous 10 years. The forecast for 2010 remains the fifth largest amount of income earned in U.S. farming. Total production expenses in 2010 are forecast to rise to $281.4 billion, up 3 percent from the revised forecast of $280.7 billion in 2009. This increase follows a dramatic drop in 2009, when total expenses fell $9.3 billion (3.2 percent).
Restricted use pesticide applicators audited
Several farmers around the state have reported auditors from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries have inspected their records for restricted-use pesticides.
Tony Cofer, division director for pest management with the department, said employees of his department are conducting the field inspections for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “These audits were previously conducted by USDA,” Cofer said. “This department has conducted field audits on commercial operations for years; now we are inspecting private applicators as well.” When an applicator receives a license from the state, he or she is required to keep records on all restricted-use chemicals, Cofer said. “Those records include when it was sprayed, the amount sprayed, size of the area treated, the crop it was sprayed on and the location of the sprayed area,” he said. Cofer said the department conducts about 200 random audits of licensed applicators per year.
Poultry seminars set for March 23-26
Reducing utility bills and an overview of ventilation, water conservation and alternative fuels will be among the topics discussed when the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and National Poultry Technology Center (NPTC) hosts its annual grower seminars at six locations in Alabama. The seminars will be March 23 in Luverne and New Brockton; March 24 in Russellville; March 25 in Cullman and Boaz; and March 26 in Anniston. A meal will be served at each meeting, and continuing education credits will be awarded. Growers are not required to pre-register for the seminars and there is no charge. The NPTC seeks to improve the bottom-line profitability of the live production sector of the U.S. poultry industry through research and education. For information about the seminars, contact AP&EA at 1-800-254-2732.
|
|
Archived Issues
