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Farmers tax guide notes IRS changes for 2008
Farmers preparing for the 2008 tax season should note the Internal Revenue Service has changed its 2008 Publication 225, Farmers' Tax Guide, according to an IRS Web notice. The IRS notes that on pages 2 and 66 under "Federally declared disasters," Item 2 of the numbered list was changed to reflect the correct line number for the worksheet. It now reads: "You can deduct a net disaster loss even if you do not itemize your net disaster loss on line 6 of the Standard Deduction Worksheet - Line 40 in the Form 1040 instructions." The Farmers Tax Guide explains how federal tax laws apply to farming. Farmers should use the publication as a guide to calculate taxes and complete their returns. If more information is needed, farmers should get the specific tax publication covering that subject. A copy of the Farmers' Tax Guide, can be downloaded from the Alabama Farmers Federation Web site at www.AlfaFarmers.org under news headlines.
Ag Roundup
 | | The annual Taste of Alabama Agriculture and Fall Roundup was held during Auburn University's homecoming activities at Ag Heritage Park on the Auburn University (AU) campus. Participants were treated to many agricultural products that included collard greens, catfish, chicken, pork, beef, lamb, goat, Satsuma oranges, shrimp, pecans, ice cream, honey, peanuts and many other delicacies. |
Conference to explore capture of Alabama rainfall
A conference aimed at alternative rainwater banking will be Jan. 21-22 at the Lake Guntersville State Park Conference Center.
The conference is entitled "Upland Rainwater Banking: An Alternative to Damming Larger Perennial Streams for Municipal, Industrial and Agricultural Water Source." It is sponsored by the Auburn University Butler/Cunningham Endowment, the Auburn University Water Resources Center, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Farmers Federation. The conference will explore the potential for capturing overland flow of rainfall from upland, rural watersheds in small impoundments to provide water for municipal, industrial and agricultural use. Because there is relatively high rainfall and resulting overland flow across Alabama, water harvesting could be a particularly attractive source of water for municipalities in areas without access to significant sources of groundwater. Such a program could be of financial interest for farmers since water would be harvested from privately owned land. That could provide a source of income for property owners. Speakers at the conference will discuss hydrologic, environmental, legislative, regulatory and socioeconomic issues related to water harvesting. For information about the conference, including an agenda of all presenters and topics, and a link to the online registration form, go to www.nrmdi.auburn.edu/water/conference/2009.
Ag Energy Conference is Dec. 10 in Auburn
The 5th Annual Alabama Agriculture Energy Conference, sponsored by the Alabama Department of Economics and Community Affairs and the Natural Resources Management & Development Institute at Auburn University, will be Dec. 10 at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center. This year's conference will feature a series of panel discussions on topics that include: The Bioenergy Industry in Alabama
Food, Fiber, Fuel: Optimum Use of Alabama's Resources
Bioenergy Supply Chain Logistics, and
Bioenergy Infrastructure Issues.
Agenda and registration information is available by contacting Kathy Hornsby at (334) 242-5284 or kathy.hornsby@adeca.alabama.gov.
National Farm-City Week focuses on hunger in America
 | | Mike Adams of AgriTalk Radio, left, interviews Alabama Young Farmers Chairman Will Gilmer of Sulligent about how farmers help combat hunger through Second Harvest. |
The National Farm City Council held its annual meeting and kicked off National Farm-City Week with a symposium focusing on "Combating Hunger in America," at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham Nov. 20.The meeting began with a live broadcast of AgriTalk Radio, a nationally syndicated agriculture program. The show's host, Mike Adams, interviewed Alabama Young Farmers Chairman Will Gilmer regarding the organization's work with Second Harvest, a hunger-relief organization that provides emergency food assistance through a network of more than 200 food banks. Several students and professional staff at Auburn University also were interviewed about programs the school promotes to combat hunger. During the meeting, Farm-City Programs in Pickens and St. Clair counties were recognized for outstanding accomplishments in agricultural education and outreach. The luncheon also featured the presentation of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture's second annual Book of the Year award to Leon Hesser for "The Man Who Fed the World," a biography of Dr. Norman Borlaug. In 1970, Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to preventing hunger and famine in developing countries. National Farm-City Week is the week leading up to and including Thanksgiving.
Pilgrims Pride files for bankruptcy
Pilgrim's Pride Corp., a Texas-based company that operates 14 facilities in Alabama, including poultry processing plants in Athens, Boaz, Russellville and Enterprise, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Dec. 1. Pilgrim's Pride is the largest poultry production company in the world and has faced an oversupply of chicken in the marketplace plus higher commodity prices, including feed. "We expect to emerge from this restructuring a stronger, more competitive company that is well positioned for growth and enhanced profitability," Clint Rivers, the company's chief executive, said in a statement. Pilgrim's Pride became the market leader in poultry after it acquired Gold Kist in December 2006 for $1.1 billion, surpassing Tyson as the number-one poultry producer in the world. "We hope this Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection allows Pilgrim's Pride to restructure, maintain daily operations and continue to honor contracts with poultry and pork producers," said Alabama Farmers Federation Poultry and Pork Divisions Director Guy Hall. "This bankruptcy, and Russia seeking to cut American poultry imports by 300,000 metric tons, are likely to cause a continued reduction in the number of chickens placed on producers' farms, reducing on-farm income significantly."
OBITUARY
Walter Benners Vail of Armstrong, a long-time leader of the Macon County Farmers Federation, died Nov. 20. He was 78. Mr. Vail is survived by a son, Walter (Debbie) Vail, Jr. of Armstrong; daughters, Cathy (Barry) Leger of Enterprise and Beth Chancey of Montgomery; grandchildren, Chad (Jennifer) Vail, Davis Vail, Doug Rainer, Lori Beth (Jamie) Whaley, Will Rainer, Leanne Rainer, Rebecca Chancey and Anna Vail Chancey; sisters, Marjie Broadnax of Anniston and Mary B. (Taylor) Hostetter of Armstrong; brother-in-law Emerson Valentine of Charlotte, N.C.; two great granddaughters; and several nephews and a niece.
Congressional ag internship deadline is Feb. 1
Applications will be accepted until Feb. 1 for the third year of the Congressional Ag Internship program sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation in cooperation with Alabama's three land-grant universities, Auburn University, Alabama A&M University and Tuskegee University. "The program allows a student to gain invaluable public policy experience in the participating congressional office," said Keith Gray, director of the Federation's Department of National Affairs. According to Gray, a student enrolled in Auburn, A&M or Tuskegee with an interest in federal agriculture, natural resources and environmental policy may be eligible for the program. The selected candidate(s) will attend agriculture committee hearings, prepare briefs, conduct research directly related to federal agriculture policy or rural development and meet with constituents. College credit may also be earned by giving a written presentation of the internship. The student will be responsible for his or her own expenses, but will receive a stipend of $2,000 per month during the internship which begins March 1 and ends May 31. Eligible students must complete a two-step application process. First, written applications will be solicited in the three land-grant universities, and then will be evaluated and ranked by the selection committee. Second, the participating congressional offices will interview the top finalists. A committee composed of representatives from the Federation and the universities will coordinate the application and selection process. Applications must be received by Feb. 1. The first intern selections will be announced in mid-December for the spring semester. For more information or applications for the Congressional Agricultural Internship program, call the College of Agriculture at your university or Millie Hawes at the Alabama Farmers Federation at (334) 613-4268 or email MHawes@AlfaFarmers.org. Applications may also be downloaded from www.AlfaFarmers.org.
Cherokee County Farm Day
 | | Sand Rock Elementary School students enjoy playing in corn as part of the Farm Day activities sponsored by the Cherokee County Farmers Federation and Young Farmers. In addition to the corn bin, students enjoyed petting farm animals, learning about the cotton industry and farm safety. |
Elections highlight annual meeting
 | | Finalists in the Young Farmers Discussion Meet will compete Sunday afternoon during the Federation's annual meeting for the opportunity to represent Alabama at the American Farm Bureau meeting in January. From left are finalists Heather Wright of Dallas County, Victoria Leavell of Tuscaloosa County and Brett Mack of Covington County. Not pictured are finalist Zac Marsh of Blount County Barrett Stephenson of Barbour County. |
Can't attend the 87th annual meeting of the Alabama Farmers Federation in Mobile? You can still keep up with what's going on simply by visiting the Alfa Farmer's Web site at www.AlfaFarmers.org.The meeting begins Saturday evening with Alfa Farmers President Jerry A. Newby's annual report. That same evening, the winner of the state talent contest will be chosen. During the Sunday morning session, the 2008 Outstanding Young Farm Family will be named. Sunday afternoon, the Young Farmer Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions will be held. The Monday morning session will honor county organizations and leaders. Public Service Commissioner Jan Cook will receive the Federation's Service to Agriculture Award and Supreme Court Justice Harold See will receive the Judicial Award of Excellence. During that meeting, the Federation's Communication Award also will be presented to the Clay Times-Journal. Monday afternoon's business session includes election of the Federation president, north area vice president, southeast area vice president, state board members for districts 3, 6, 9 and 12, the State Women's Committee chairman and Young Farmers chairman. The new Miss Alabama Agriculture will be crowned Monday night in the closing session.
EPA considering rule that would tax livestock producers
A new proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency would devastate Alabama's multi-million dollar livestock industry and cause food prices to escalate, according to officials with the Alabama Farmers Federation, the state's largest agricultural organization. The proposal is essentially a tax on livestock operations, said Perry Mobley, director of the Federation's Beef Division. The American Farm Bureau Federation, which includes the Alabama Farmers Federation, registered its opposition to the proposal aimed at regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. "Most livestock and dairy farmers won't be able to pass along this tax," Mobley said. "If this proposal is finalized, it would put many producers out of business and would likely result in higher consumer costs for milk, beef and pork." EPA originally set Nov. 28 as the deadline for public comments on the proposal. However EPA will continue to accept late comments about the issue.
Comment information is available on the Federation's Web site at www.AlfaFarmers.org under Action Alert or write Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington,D.C. 20460. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures, any farm or ranch with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs emits more than 100 tons of carbon equivalent per year, and thus would need to obtain a permit under the proposed rules. More than 90 percent of U.S. dairy, beef and pork production would be affected by the proposal. Mobley said the figure could be even higher for Alabama. Permit fees would vary from state to state, but EPA sets a "presumptive minimum rate" for fees. For 2008-2009, the rate is $43.75 per ton of emitted greenhouse gases. According to AFBF, the proposed fee would mean annual assessments of $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 for each head of beef cattle and $20 for each hog. "Reduction of a ton of greenhouse gases anywhere will make a difference, but if a ton is removed in Iowa and replaced by a ton in China, then no net effect occurred," said Mark Maslyn, AFBF executive director of public policy. "A livestock tax and regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act will impose restrictions and added costs on the U.S. economy without reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." Mobley said the Advance Notice of Rulemaking is EPA's way of asking if a proposal is a good idea.
"The next step would be to issue a proposed rule, with another round of comments," Mobley said. "It's easier to influence the course of a regulatory action at the earliest stages, the earlier the better. By the time it gets to the proposed rule stage, it may be too late to reverse course." Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), wrote a letter on behalf of that organization that strongly opposes the approach outlined by EPA. "If the programs contemplated by the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking are ultimately proposed and adopted, we firmly believe that it will place a staggering cost on agricultural producers, consumers, and the U.S. economy - all with little or no environmental benefit," Sparks wrote in his letter to EPA. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, (R-Ala.), U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, (R-Haleyville), both have written letters to EPA opposing the proposed regulations.
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