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February 10, 2006

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Japanese beef ban could affect Alabama producers

The most recent Japanese ban on American beef could put Alabama beef producers in a bind, along with the rest of the country’s producers, says Perry Mobley, beef division director for the Alabama Farmers Federation.

The latest ban came after officials determined an American shipment of beef might have contained material at risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The ban comes a little more than a month after the two-year ban of American beef to Japan had been lifted.

“As a whole, the beef industry is put back in the situation where we don’t have the major Japanese market to ship to,” said Mobley. “If we don’t get that market reopened, we’ll have to figure out what to do with the extra beef.”

Despite a recent BSE detection in Canada, Mobley is confident consumer safety will not be compromised. “The cow that was determined to have BSE in Alberta did not enter the human food or animal feed system,” he said.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns did not issue a change in the status of beef or cattle imports from Canada. However, Mobley believes Johanns will be pressured about this decision.

Discussing the Farm Bill

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis held a Farm Bill Listening Post session Jan. 25 in Marion that was attended by farmers from across the 7th Congressional District. The congressman held the meeting to seek input on issues as the debate over the farm bill gets underway. From left are Bibb County Farmers Federation President Brown Bolding, Hale County President Joe Wilkerson, U.S. Rep. Artur Davis and State Young Farmers Chairman Townsend Kyser.

Tuskegee names new dean of veterinary college

Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, president of Tuskegee University, appointed Dr. Tsegaye Habtemariam as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health effective Jan. 3.

Habtemariam had previously served as associate dean for research and graduate studies since 1999 and as director of the Center for Computational Epidemiology, Bioinformatics and Risk Analysis, director of Biomedical Information Management Systems, and professor of Epidemiology and Biomedical Informatics.

Habtemariam holds a bachelor of science degree in animal sciences with distinction from HSI University in Ethiopia, a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Colorado State University, master’s degree in preventive veterinary medicine and Ph.D. in epidemiology from University of California-Davis. He also holds a certificate in risk analysis from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Graduate School.

Alabama A&M, Tuskegee receive minority grants

Alabama A&M University will receive $300,000 and Tuskegee University will get $269,000 as part of the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program.

The money is part of a $5 million competitive grant program being awarded by the USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) to aid minority farmers and ranchers.

The grants will help organizations deliver technical assistance and a wide range of support activities including farm management, financial management and marketing.

New auction opens for goat and sheep producers

Meat goat and sheep producers have a new outlet for selling their animals with the opening of the Montgomery Stockyards goat and sheep auction Feb. 6. Stockyard owners say future sale dates will be determined by the interest of area buyers and most likely be held each Monday at noon.

James Griffin, a member of the Federation’s State Meat Goat and Sheep Committee, was instrumental in helping start the sale. He said meat goats and sheep producers most likely will be selling their animals by the pound instead of by the head at future sales in Montgomery.

“The best weight for a meat goat is between 60 and 80 pounds,” he said. “If a producer sells a goat for $25 or even $35 on the head, just think about the money he's missing out on. Goat meat is bringing about $1.20 a pound.”

For more information about the Montgomery sale contact Griffin at 334-584-7051.

Other stockyards in the state that have regular goat sales are Alabama Goat Auction, Marshall County; Central Alabama Goat and Poultry Auction, Chilton County; Cullman Stockyard, Cullman County; Escambia County Stockyard, Brewton; and Southern Star Stockyards, Lauderdale County. Goat and sheep are also sold periodically at a number of other stockyards in the state. For more information on goat and sheep sales, contact the Alabama Department of Agriculture.

Media Award

The Pickens County Herald was honored by the Alabama Farmers Federation for its coverage of agricultural events and issues in 2005. From left are, Pickens County Communications Coordinator Sara Peebles, Pickens County Herald Editor and Publisher Doug Sanders, Federation Communications Department Director Jeff Helms, Pickens County Women’s Committee Chairman Diane McCool and Pickens County Farmers Federation President Harold McCool. Because Sanders was unable to attend the Federation’s annual meeting, the award was presented Feb. 1 at the newspaper office.

Fruit selection, pruning workshop is Feb. 18

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has scheduled a free, three-hour workshop on selecting fruits and pruning Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. until noon, at the John Neighbors’ farm near Alexander City.

Designed for homeowners, master gardeners, commercial growers and others, the workshop will include the following topics: Fruit Selection: Adapted Varieties and New Fruit Opportunities; Planting and Training Fruits; Pruning Small Fruits (blackberries, blueberries, muscadine, bunch grapes and figs); and Pruning Tree Fruits (apples, peaches, pears and persimmons).

The workshop will be held outdoors, weather permitting, at the farm on Highway 259 in Coosa County, near the 8-mile marker, about 7.5 miles southwest of Alexander City and 7.5 miles northeast of Equality.

To register, contact the Coosa County Extension Office at (256) 377-1553 or the Tallapoosa County Extension Office at (256) 825-1050.

Senate Agriculture Committee Passes Bills

Two bills supported by the Alabama Farmers Federation passed the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee this week and are now awaiting final action by the full Senate.

The catfish weighing bill, HB 180, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, was approved by the committee on Tuesday. It would require fish weighing devices to conform to certain legal requirements. Processors would be required to drain the water in weighing baskets containing farm-raised catfish before weighing. The bill also would require farm-raised catfish to be weighed with a device capable of electronically printing a ticket, to provide an exact duplicate of the weight indicated for the farmer. It also allows a deduction from the weight of the catfish for any foreign substances in the weighing basket.

The companion bill, SB 165, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, passed the Senate and is awaiting final action by the entire House. The first bill to win approval in both houses of the Legislature will be sent to the governor for his signature.

The Senate Ag Committee also approved HB 254 Tuesday. It is sponsored by Blaine Galliher, R-Gadsden, and would allow the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to implement an animal identification database consistent with the USDA’s National Animal Identification System. It also would authorize the commissioner to keep information confidential regarding the existence or operation of any agricultural interest or other business regulated by the department.

Ag Committee hears testimony from Alabama farmers

Alabama Congressman Terry Everett, second from right, discusses agricultural issues with Alabama farmers following a hearing on the 2007 Farm Bill by the House Ag Committee Feb. 7 in Auburn. From left are, Elmore County Farmers Federation President Richard Edgar, Federation State Beef Committee Member Garry Henry of Montgomery County, Everett and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry A. Newby.

Alabama farmers pinched by low commodity prices and soaring fuel and fertilizer costs asked members of the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee to preserve current price support and conservation programs during a full committee hearing on the 2007 Farm Bill Feb. 7.

“The safety net that is in place now should continue to be there so that our farmers can continue to produce the most affordable, dependable and safest food in the world,” said Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry A. Newby. “Having the ability to produce the nation’s food is a matter of national security, and we only have to look at the situation with energy to see what happens when we depend on others.”

Newby was among 11 farmers who testified at the hearing, which was the second of about a dozen planned by the House Agriculture Committee this year. Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said the hearings give members a chance to hear from farmers who will be affected by changes that may be made when the farm bill is reauthorized in 2007. “Strong agricultural policy is vital to our farmers and ranchers,” Goodlatte said. “To ensure that American agriculture remains competitive and that our producers can continue to provide fellow Americans with a safe, inexpensive and wholesome food supply, we must hear from the frontlines.”

Goodlatte began his questioning of the farmers by asking them to prioritize what farm programs are most important, if budget cuts are necessary. The farm panelists were in agreement that agriculture should not be targeted for cuts, noting that the 2002 Farm Bill has served producers well and has been a good value for taxpayers.

“The 2002 law has provided a well-balanced approach to commodity, conservation, nutrition and rural development programs and has been less expensive than originally projected,” said Barbour County farmer Walt Corcoran. “Input prices such as fuel, fertilizer, technology and seed and commodity prices – as well as the weather – are all, for the most part, out of the producer’s control. That is why we need a stable and consistent farm policy. It provides the essential foundation upon which we build long-term plans.” Among House Agriculture Committee members on hand for the hearing were Alabama congressmen Terry Everett, Mike Rogers and Jo Bonner. Committee members expressed their commitment to providing programs that enhance the profitability of American agriculture, but Goodlatte warned budget constraints would factor into the 2007 Farm Bill debate.

“On the last farm bill, we had a budget surplus for the first time in 30 years," said Goodlatte. "That's a situation we no longer find ourselves in. We are facing budget deficits again. We don't know how much money will be made available to us next year when we write the farm bill.”

OBITUARY

Charles Lee Weston, a former Barbour County Farmers Federation president and board member, died Jan. 18. He was 95. A native of Louisville and a long-time resident of Clayton, Weston served on the Barbour County Farmers Federation Board of Directors from 1955 to 2005. He was president of the county Federation from 1963 until 1970.

Weston was a leader in several Barbour County civic organizations, and served three terms in the Alabama House of Representatives. After his retirement, he was active in the “Silver Haired Legislators” group. He served on the board of the Southeast Council on Aging, was an active member of the Royal White Heart Lodge #10 in Clayton, served as chairman of the Barbour County Heart Association Fund Drive and as president of the Central Alabama Rehabilitation Committee.

He served on the board of the Clayton Historical Association and assisted with the annual Tour of Homes for several years. He was a former deacon of the Clayton Baptist Church and was active in the Barbour County Baptist Association. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army from 1941 to 1945. He was a former teacher and principal in the Barbour County School System.

Survivors include his wife, Almeda Cole Philpott Weston, Montgomery; a son, Charles T. “Buddy” Weston, Clayton; two grandchildren, a step-grandson; and a great-granddaughter.

Commodity leaders set goals for coming year

Clinton Hardin, a Lawrence County farmer and member of the Alabama Farmers Federation’s State Beef Committee, second from left, shares his production experiences with other members during the Federation’s Commodity Producers Organizational Conference in Birmingham. Hardin was part of a panel of beef producers from across the state who discussed health issues facing today’s cattlemen during the beef commodity meeting Wednesday. From left are Leo Hollinger of Wilcox County, Hardin, Calvin Freeland of Mobile County, Bill Lipscomb of Autauga County and Tim Tucker of Monroe County.

Farmers from across the state discussed issues and challenges for the coming year as they attended the Alabama Farmers Federation’s annual Commodity Producers Organizational Conference this week in Birmingham.

More than 600 farmers representing 15 commodities met Feb. 7-9 at the Cahaba Grand in Birmingham where they elected state commodity committee leaders and heard speakers who discussed topics such as insect and disease control, hurricane preparedness, animal identification and marketing strategies.

Federation Commodity Director Jimmy Carlisle said attendance at the meetings was up from last year, and most farmers he talked to were optimistic about this year’s crop.

“Farmers are facing a lot of challenges with increased input costs and low commodity prices,” Carlisle said, “but despite those things, they are upbeat and eager to begin a new crop year. This meeting serves as a reminder that the Alabama Farmers Federation is a true grassroots organization, and we operate under a commodity structure where policy is determined by our farmers from the grassroots level.”

During the luncheon session each day, Carlisle recognized the 2005 Outstanding County Commodity Committees for each division. Outgoing state commodity members also were recognized. They included Jimmy Miller of Blount County and Ricky Wiggins of Covington County, State Cotton Committee; Gary Fortenberry of Choctaw County, State Forestry Committee; David Wright of Calhoun County, State Dairy Committee; Jackie Loyd of Jackson County and Mike Reeves of Morgan County, State Horticulture Committee; and Pat Buck of Sumter County, State Soybean Committee.

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