Alfa offers $10,000 reward in copper theft cases
Alfa Insurance has announced it is offering an additional $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction for the theft of copper from poultry houses, farm irrigation systems and other property in Alabama covered by an Alfa Insurance policy. One of the Alabama Farmers Federation member benefits is a $1,000 reward offer for property theft. “The theft of copper wiring and other valuable metals is growing, especially in our rural communities. Not only do the criminals that commit these acts cost our policyholders money, they often do thousands of dollars in damage to property and cripple the equipment and buildings farmers depend on for their livelihood,” said Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry A. Newby. The $10,000 reward will be paid to the first person who furnishes information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons for the theft of copper taken from property in Alabama covered by an Alfa Insurance policy. Alfa Insurance is the leading insurer of farms in the state. In recent months, dozens of farmers and other rural residents have reported copper theft.
Anyone with information related to the theft of copper is encouraged to contact local law enforcement officials. Last year, the Alabama Farmers Federation led the support for a new law requiring buyers of scrap metal to require proper identification of the seller in an attempt to provide a better database for law enforcement officials. Alabama Farmers Federation, a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, is the state’s largest farm organization with more than 440,000 members. Alfa and its affiliates provide insurance and other financial services to more than 1 million customers in 13 states.
Earth Day celebration
 | | John and Nancy Rudd of Patterson Plantation in Russell County hosted Earth Day on their farm for more than 80 fifth-graders from area schools. Students participated in workstations where they learned about the environment, how to build a birdhouse and how cardboard is made from trees. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources hosted a station where students learned about local wildlife and the rules and regulations regarding wildlife activities. In this photo, Rudd shows students how to build a birdhouse. |
New farm bill still in Congressional limbo
Another extension of the existing farm bill appears likely as debate continues over how to fund the bill without cutting direct payments to farmers. Federation National Affairs Director Keith Gray predicts the new extension will go to May 9. Negotiators have reached an agreement on the basics of the bill. It would total more than $570 billion, including increases for disaster payments and food stamps. It also includes $1.4 billion in tax credits for beginning farmers and ranchers. At issue with the proposed bill is the rebalancing of the loan rates for crops such as soybeans. That means farmers in the Southeast would receive less for their commodities, Gray said. “The rebalancing would only apply to certain crops,” Gray said. “Target prices would increase for wheat, barley, oats, soybeans and minor oil seeds, while loan rate increases would cover wheat, barley, oats, minor oil seeds, honey, wool and chick peas.” The American Farm Bureau Federation and Alabama Farmers Federation oppose rebalancing of loan rates and target prices at the expense of reductions in direct payments.
Natural resources
 | | A workshop to help private landowners develop income potential from natural resources was held April 22 at Selwood Farms in Alpine. Topics at the workshop included revenue potential from a natural resource enterprise, clientele expectations, liability and legal considerations and landowner cost-share programs for habitat. From left are Autauga County Farmers Federation Wildlife Chairman Mike Parmer, State Board Member Earl Saxon of Etowah County, Federation Wildlife Director Steve Guy, Talladega County Farmers Federation Wildlife Chairman Del Hill, who is the owner of Selwood Farms, and Daryl Jones, coordinator of the Natural Resources Enterprises Program for Mississippi State University. |
Weather radios
 | | The Jackson County Farmers Federation recently purchased 60 NOAA weather radios, which were distributed to the five Alfa offices in the county where they will be given to new members of the Alabama Farmers Federation. County Federation leaders came up with the idea following a Feb. 6 tornado that caused heavy damage in areas of the county. From left are Alfa Agent Jimmy Matthews, Jackson County Farmers Federation President Frank Hughes and Alfa Agent Juley Phillips. |
Senate logjam breaks, grocery tax blocked
A logjam of bills in the Alabama Senate appears to have been cleared as debate ended over a controversial gambling bill. Numerous calls by Alabama Farmers Federation members helped convince legislators to move on to other legislation. A budget isolation resolution that would have allowed a vote on a bill to remove state sales tax from groceries failed earlier this week. The Federation opposes the portion of the bill that would eliminate federal income tax deductions on state income tax filings. HB 346, sponsored by Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, passed the Senate Finance, Taxation and General Fund Committee. The bill would establish a broadband communications task force. An amendment was added to HB 346 that allows the Alabama Farmers Federation to name a representative to the task force. The bill is waiting to be placed on the Senate calendar.
Other measures debated by the Senate this week included coastal insurance and immigration. SB 362, sponsored by Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, passed the Senate this week. The bill would exempt taxpayers from paying state income tax on the economic stimulus checks being issued by the federal government. The bill now heads to the House. The Senate also passed SB226, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, which prohibits public benefits to illegal immigrates age 14 and over. The bill now goes to the House.
Scholarships offered by Feed & Grain Association
Applications are being sought for the Alabama Feed & Grain Association Scholarship. Students have until May 31 to apply for the $2,500 scholarship, which will be awarded to students pursuing a degree in the field of agriculture at any college or university.
For more information, contact the Alabama Feed & Grain Association office in Cullman at (256) 775-0111.
Future doctor receives on-farm tour for Rural Medical Scholars Program
 | | Monroe County Farmers Federation Board Members Jimmy Brooks, left, and Ronnie Joe Jordan, right, discuss the potential dangers of working around farm equipment with Sara Beth Bush. Bush, a third-year medical student at the University of Alabama, is participating in the Rural Medical Scholars Program and plans to
practice family medicine in a small town after graduation. |
Sara Beth Bush was born in a small town and after attending school at Judson College in rural Marion County, she was hooked on country living.So joining the Rural Medical Scholars Program was a natural fit for Bush who is in her third year of medical school at the University of Alabama. The Jefferson County native, who grew up in the town of Clay, said the program caught her attention during her first year of medical school. “I grew up near the suburbs of Birmingham and my grandfather had a few cows on his farm,” she said. “But that was about the extent of my knowledge of a working farm.” Bush is currently doing a family-rural medicine rotation as part of her schooling and works under the tutelage of Dr. Angela Powell, a Monroeville physician and big supporter of the Rural Medical Scholars Program. “In a regular curriculum you spend eight weeks in a rotation,” Bush said. “But with this program, we actually get to spend 16 weeks working in a rural area. It’s been wonderful.” She’s been in Monroeville for just over a month and works with Powell and other physicians in the community. Bush said she especially enjoys the “hands-on” work she’s done in Monroeville. Recently, Bush received some special training recently, courtesy of the Monroe County Farmers Federation. As part of her school requirements, Bush was supposed to meet with a farmer. When she contacted Monroe County President Martha Jordan, she got more than just a visit. “I thought she needed to see some of the actual equipment and livestock that farmers work around every day,” Jordan said. “Just talking would have been fine, but why not actually show her what the equipment looks like? We need good doctors in rural Alabama, and we need to do everything we can to encourage them.” The farm tours included stops at several farms and discussions about various equipment and livestock handling where injuries can occur.
Poultry seminars to discuss alternative litter sources
With more poultry growers combating the high cost of litter replacement, Auburn University is planning a series of free seminars to discuss alternate litter sources and to review litter management techniques. The two-hour seminars began April 29 at the Sand Mountain Substation in Crossville, followed by an April 30 session at the Moulton Recreation Center in Moulton. A May 14 seminar will be held at the Pike County Cattlemen's Facility in Troy, and a May 15 session will be at the Coffee County Ag Center in New Brockton. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. and will include a catered lunch. Moderated by Tom McCaskey of AU's Animal Science Department, the agenda for the seminars features experts from the university's Poultry Science Department. • 10 - 10:30 a.m. – "Alternative Litter Sources for Broilers,” Sarge Bilgili
• 10:30-11 a.m. – "Litter Treatments To Control Ammonia,” John Blake
• 11 - 11:30 a.m. – "Windrow Composting for Litter Reuse or Movement,” Ken Macklin
• 11:30-11:45 a.m. – "Litter Management: Decision Making,” Joe Hess
• 11:45 a.m. – Noon – Questions and discussion
• Noon – Catered lunch
For more information and registration, contact Joe Hess, associate professor and Extension specialist, at (334) 844-2611 or email hessjos@auburn.edu. There is no need to register, and lunch will be provided without charge.
Legislature honors OYFF
 | | Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family Chris and Monica Carroll of Dale County recently were honored by the Alabama Legislature for their service to agriculture in the state. They are pictured with State Sen. Jimmy Holley, R-Elba, right, who sponsored the resolution along with Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb. |
Grain pest management workshop is May 15
A workshop for stored grain pest management will be May 15 at Stanley Walters’ grain bins in Browns. Sponsored by the Alabama Wheat Producer’s 1-cent per bushel checkoff, the workshop will include some hands-on training and seminars at the Black Belt Research and Extension Center in Marion Junction. Lunch will be provided at the meeting, but participants are asked to call for reservations. According to Alabama Farmers Federation Wheat and Feed Grains Director Buddy Adamson, a larger-than-normal wheat crop is expected this year due to increased acreage and the current favorable crop conditions. “Many farmers are growing wheat for the first time or it has been several years since they’ve grown wheat,” Adamson said. “If a farmer is planning to store on-farm, this workshop should be very beneficial.” For more information, contact Rudy Yates at (334) 295-5959, or email him at yatesrp@aces.edu.
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