Feb. 17, 2018 www.AlfaFarmers.org • News from the Alabama Farmers Federation FarmPAC Announces Endorsements n Feb. 12, FarmPAC, the Opolitical action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation, announced endorsements for the 2018 primary election. The endorsements followed a full day of meetings, during which Republican and Democratic candidates for statewide office met with Federation county leaders. Each had 10 minutes to address more than 80 FarmPAC Advisory Trustees and answer questions on issues ranging from taxes and regulation to judicial philosophy and traditional values. Over 600 farmers representing 16 commodities gathered in Montgomery Feb 6-8 for the Candidates endorsed by Alabama Farmers Federation Commodity Organizational Meeting. They heard industry FarmPAC include updates, learned about cutting-edge technology, elected leaders to state commodity • Governor: Kay Ivey (R) committees and honored outgoing committee members. • Lieutenant Governor: Will Ainsworth (R) • Attorney General: Alice Martin (R) Meeting Spotlights 16 Commodities • Commissioner of Agriculture & ndustry insights, cutting-edge research “Thanks to our great speakers, Industries: Rick Pate (R) Iupdates and committee member Alabama farmers are learning applicable • Secretary of State: John Merrill (R) elections were all part of the Alabama information to increase yields and • State Treasurer: John McMillan (R) Farmers Federation’s Commodity performance and the importance of • State Auditor: Jim Zeigler (R) Organizational Meeting in Montgomery diversification on their farms,” said • Alabama Supreme Court, Chief Feb. 6-8. Hardin, the Federation’s Governmental Justice: Lyn Stuart (R) Talladega County row crop farmer and Agricultural Programs Department • Alabama Supreme Court, Place Jeremy Wilson said the meeting was a director. 1: Brad Mendheim (R) great chance to network and learn tips to Researchers and industry leaders • Alabama Supreme Court, Place improve on-farm production. made presentations to the Federation’s 2: Tommy Bryan (R) “I enjoy going to this meeting every Bee & Honey; Beef; Catfish; Cotton; Dairy; • Alabama Supreme Court, Place year to listen to speakers talk about Equine; Forestry; Greenhouse, Nursery 3: Will Sellers (R) current issues we’re dealing with on our & Sod; Hay & Forage; Horticulture; Meat • Alabama Supreme Court, Place farms,” said Wilson, who is on the State Goat & Sheep; Pork; Poultry; Soybean; 4: Jay Mitchell (R). Soybean Committee. “It’s also important Wheat & Feed Grains; and Wildlife FarmPAC endorsed all for us to be involved in our commodity Resources divisions. The Alabama Peanut incumbent congressional candidates. committees to help keep our farms Producers Association annual meeting For a full list of endorsements, profitable for years to come.” and trade show was in Dothan Feb. 8. visit AlfaFarmers.org. The Federation’s Brian Hardin said the Commodity committee members Look for a list of Alabama meeting sets the course for a successful were elected to three-year terms, and Legislature and Alabama State Board year for the organization’s committees, outgoing committee members were of Education endorsements in the some of which manage checkoff dollars honored as well. View the list of new June Neighbors magazine. and promote Alabama agriculture. committee members on page 3. Federal Plans, Rulings Will Benefit Rural America Events & Deadlines he Alabama Farmers Federation Director Mitt Walker. “We’re pleased with Tapplauds recent infrastructure the cotton provisions in the bill and • March-May - Extension Health initiatives, budget deals and believe the dairy program changes are Management Workshops For environmental edict delays, which are a step in the right direction. Addressing Sheep & Goat Herds laying the foundation for rural renewal. these programs now allows for a clearer • aces.edu/urban/smallruminants path to completing the next farm bill.” • March 2-3 - Young Farmers Infrastructure Under the budget, seed cotton is Conference in Montgomery President Donald J. Trump released eligible for Price Loss Coverage (PLC) at a • March 16 - Alabama Jr. Beef Expo his infrastructure plan Feb. 12. The plan reference price of 36.7 cents per pound. in Montgomery seeks $200 billion in federal funds to spur The 2018 crop is eligible for PLC. • jrbeefexpo.com $1.5 billion in infrastructure investments Revisions to the Margin Protection • March 21-22 - Food Entrepreneur at the state, local, tribal and private levels. Program for Dairy Producers include Conference in Auburn Of that, $50 billion would be devoted to a calculating payments monthly as • Register by March 14 at Rural Infrastructure Program. opposed to current bimonthly payments. tinyurl.com/FoodEntConf. “We will build gleaming new • April 2 - Nominations end for roads, bridges, highways, railways and Environment Bama’s Best Pork Ribs contest waterways all across our land,” Trump said. In a move to help farmers, the • fb.com/alabamafarmers “And we will do it with American heart Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • instagram.com/alfafarmers and American hands and American grit.” has delayed implementation of the vague • April 4-6 - Women’s Leadership 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule to Conference in Birmingham Budget Deal Jan. 31, 2020. • Register at AlfaFarmers.org by On Feb. 9, the U.S. Senate and House The postponement gives the EPA March 2. passed a budget deal including assistance up to two years to develop a new rule to • April 5 - Alabama Farm-City for cotton and dairy farmers, following provide greater clarity for farmers. Luncheon in Birmingham a brief government shutdown. Trump The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Purchase tickets by March 9 at signed the bill into law. District of Columbia Circuit has also • “Passage of this legislation was delayed a new requirement — the AlfaFarmers.org. incredibly important to cotton farmers Comprehensive Environmental Response, • April 15 - Alabama Ag in the who have been without an adequate Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Classroom Summer Institute safety net for several years,” said — to May 1. The requirement could registration deadline Federation National Legislative Programs impact poultry and livestock farmers. • AlabamaAITC.org Auxin Herbicide Training Planned OBITUARIES uxin herbicide training is slated will receive pesticide recertification John “Bubba” Trotman of Aacross Alabama through March credit. Montgomery died Feb. 3. He was 90. to help applicators comply with the Certified crop advisers will also Trotman was a well-known cattleman mandatory rule passed in 2017. receive 10 points per training. who served as president of the National The Alabama Cooperative Registration is $15 and includes a Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Alabama Extension System is hosting the meal. Visit tinyurl.com/AuxinTraining to Cattlemen’s Association and Alabama training, where commercial applicators learn more. Farm-City Committee. He was preceded in death by wife Ellen Rogers Trotman; sons Frank Conservation Program Applications Due March 2 Randolph Trotman (Lorrie) and John McNeill Trotman Jr. (Teri); and grandson gricultural producers wanting to acres in CSP in 2018. John McNeill Trotman III. He is survived by enhance current conservation The recently updated program will A sons Charles Rogers Trotman (Whitney) efforts are encouraged to apply for the help producers better evaluate conserva- and Robert Tyler “Woody” Trotman; Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) tion options and benefits. eight grandchildren; and eight great- by March 2 to be considered for the Some benefits include grandchildren. current funding period. Applications are • Improved cattle gains per acre Tilton Louis Register of Fadette died accepted year-round. • Increased crop yields Jan. 31. He was 86. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural • Decreased inputs Register was a former Geneva County Resources Conservation Service • Wildlife population improvements Farmers Federation president. (NRCS) helps private landowners build • Better resilience to weather He was preceded in death by their businesses while implementing extremes. wife Flora. He is survived by son Mark; conservation practices. Contact a local USDA service center daughter Nena Speigner (Chris); and four NRCS plans to enroll up to 10 million or visit the NRCS website to learn more. grandchildren. 2018 Commodity Organizational Meeting armers were elected or reelected to three-year terms on their respective state commodity committees during the Alabama FFarmers Federation Commodity Organizational Meeting Feb. 6-8 in Montgomery. Outgoing committee members who served the maximum nine years also were honored during the three-day meeting. New & Reelected Committee Members Outgoing Members Bee & Honey Hay & Forage Bee & Honey Justin Hill, Calhoun Johnny Lee, Henry Bill Mullins, Madison Jacob Littleton, Chilton Joe Ching, Mobile Andy Webb, Washington Todd Mullins, Madison T.J. Mitchell, Elmore Troy Smith, Randolph Bryan G’Villo, Hale Catfish Randy Hollingsworth, Hale Beef Horticulture Will Pearce, Dallas Bill Lipscomb, Autauga Todd Cassebaum, Baldwin Tim Whitley, Blount Arlie Powell, Chilton Cotton Jay Buckley, Lamar Tom Ingram, Lee Larry Bowen, Randolph Meat Goat & Sheep Thomas Kirkland, Dale Charlie Loveless, Calhoun Joe Mullek, Baldwin Catfish J.C. Holt, Colbert Ashley Kyser, Hale Melissa Palmer, Elmore Dairy Danny Miller, Hale Andrew Williams, Marengo James Waite Sr., Covington Mike Owens, Hale David Pearce Jr., Dallas Pork Hay & Forage Sid Nelson, Sumter Luther Bishop, Colbert Wade Hill,