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Alabama Peanut Referendum Wins 91% Approval

Alabama Peanut Referendum Wins 91% Approval

Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts that is collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). In a referendum conducted on April 20, 2023, an unofficial but complete vote, ninety-one percent said “yes” to continuing APPA’s programs in education, promotion, and research.

 

For the continuance referendum to pass, a majority of eligible producers voting needed to vote in favor of continuing the assessment. Growers who produced peanuts in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were eligible to vote.

 

The referendum for peanuts is conducted every three years, which is a requirement of the Alabama Legislature. However, a bill was passed recently to change the requirement to every 5 years after 2026.

 

“The check-off funds we receive fund production research, grower, and consumer education. It’s important that we continue to promote our nutrient-packed peanuts, peanut butter, and other peanut products,” said Carl Sanders, president of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association and a peanut farmer in Coffee County. “The referendum results are indicative of the great work APPA does on behalf of our peanut farmers.”

 

In the last three years:

 

  • More than $500,000 has been invested toward peanut production research in partnership with Auburn University and Alabama Cooperative Extension System, which directly benefits Alabama peanut farmers. This research has contributed to yield increases and more efficient production practices.

 

  • More than $600,000 has been utilized in peanut promotion activities around the state, contributing to increased peanut and peanut butter consumption and adopting the early introduction of peanuts to infants recommendations by more Alabama pediatricians and parents. Peanut allergy education efforts have been included in the promotion activities as well.

 

  • More than $400,000 has been allocated to grower education to share relevant research results, legislative information, and other pertinent information for Alabama growers. This information is dispersed through grower production meetings, the APPA website (alpeanuts.com), quarterly newsletters, social media, and emails. The annual Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show is supported by these funds as well.
Alabama Extension Releases Ag Outlook 2023

Alabama Extension Releases Ag Outlook 2023

Increasing prices were seen across the board for agriculture in the crops and livestock sectors in 2022. As a result, the USDA is projecting a 26.5 percent increase in net cash farm income in the US. Tempering that growth was the continued increase in production expenses in almost all expense categories. This is even more apparent when looking at regional variations in net cash farm income, where the Southern Seaboard, which includes much of Alabama, is projected to decrease by 11.8 percent. Further concern also exists about maintaining revenue levels as prices begin to stabilize. While examining supply and demand factors provides a marketing look ahead, other factors also affect agricultural production and farm profitability.

 

This is a glimpse into the presentations from the 2023 Ag Outlook Conference, which covers topics in crops, livestock, forestry, land ownership, and agricultural policy. We hope this science-based information provides you with the resources necessary to make informed decisions for the year ahead.

 

Read more:

ANR-2961-Alabama-Ag-Outlook-Publication_120822a

AFBF Signs Right to Repair Memorandum of Understanding with John Deere

AFBF Signs Right to Repair Memorandum of Understanding with John Deere

The American Farm Bureau Federation and John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding today that ensures farmers’ and ranchers’ right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU, signed at the 2023 AFBF Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the culmination of several years of discussions between AFBF and John Deere.

 

“AFBF is pleased to announce this agreement with John Deere. It addresses a long-running issue for farmers and ranchers when it comes to accessing tools, information and resources, while protecting John Deere’s intellectual property rights and ensuring equipment safety,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “A piece of equipment is a major investment. Farmers must have the freedom to choose where equipment is repaired, or to repair it themselves, to help control costs. The MOU commits John Deere to ensuring farmers and independent repair facilities have access to many of the tools and software needed to grow the food, fuel and fiber America’s families rely on.”

 

The MOU sets parameters and creates a mechanism to address farmers’ concerns. John Deere commits to engaging with farmers and dealers to resolve issues when they arise and agrees to meet with AFBF at least twice per year to evaluate progress.

 

The agreement formalizes farmers’ access to diagnostic and repair codes, as well as manuals (operator, parts, service) and product guides. It also ensures farmers will be able to purchase diagnostic tools directly from John Deere and receive assistance from the manufacturer when ordering parts and products.

 

The MOU has the potential to serve as a model for other manufacturers and AFBF has already begun those discussions.

National Peanut Board Seeks Nominees

National Peanut Board Seeks Nominees

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association seeks eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The Alabama Peanut Producers Association will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board during a meeting on February 2, 2023, following the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, 5622 U.S. Highway 231 South, Dothan, AL 36301. All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop.

 

Tom Corcoran of Eufaula is the current Alabama National Peanut Board member and Thomas Adams of Newville serves as the alternate. The term for the current Alabama board member and alternate expires Dec. 31, 2023.

USDA requires two nominees from each state for each position of member and alternate. The National Peanut Board will submit Alabama’s slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments.

 

The National Peanut Board encourages inclusion of persons of any race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status. NPB encourages all persons who qualify as peanut producers to attend the meeting and run for nomination.

 

It is USDA’s policy that membership on industry-government boards and committees accurately reflect the diversity of individuals served by the programs.

Click here to learn more.

2022 Census of Agriculture

2022 Census of Agriculture

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Taken every five years, the census provides valuable information used at the local, state, and national levels to plan for the future. The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every state, county, and county equivalent in the nation.

 

YOUR VOICE

The census gives you and other producers a voice. Completing your census form is your opportunity to tell how American agriculture provides food, fuel, feed, and fiber to the world. Join this collective voice by responding to the census with information about your farm or ranch. You have the information and power to influence decisions that will shape the future of your operation, community, and industry.

 

YOUR FUTURE

Your response provides input for future agricultural planning and decision making. The information collected helps USDA work with other organizations and rural communities to develop short-term and long-term improvements, strategies, and safeguards to better serve you. Results from the 2022 Census of Agriculture will play a role in determining future decisions about:

 

Agricultural research

 

Beginning farmer programs

 

Conservation programs

 

New agricultural technologies

 

Production practices

 

Rural economic development

 

Telecommunications connectivity

 

Transportation and marketing locations

 

And more…

 

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

The information you supply in your census response is important — regardless of the size or type of your operation. Some of the information you provide is not collected by any other means and helps to provide new tools, resources, and reports. The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, and your opportunity. USDA will begin data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture in November 2022. The census is due February 6, 2023.

 

Please respond in one of the following ways:

 

Online at www.agcounts.usda.gov. Online reporting is fast, user friendly, and secure.

 

By mail. Fill out the census questionnaire and return it in the prepaid envelope provided.

 

Your response to the Census of Agriculture is required by law (Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113).

USDA to Collect Final 2022 Crop Data

USDA to Collect Final 2022 Crop Data

Athens, GA – As the 2022 growing season officially comes to an end, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to gather final year-end crop production numbers and the amount of grain and oilseeds they store on their farms. At the same time, NASS will survey grain facility operators to determine year-end grain and oilseed stocks.

 

“These surveys are the basis for the official USDA estimates of production and
harvested acres of all major agricultural commodities in the United States and year-end grain
and oilseed supplies,” said NASS Southern Regional Director Anthony Prillaman. “Data from the survey will benefit farmers and processors by providing timely and accurate information to help them make critical year-end business decisions and begin planning for the next growing and marketing season.”

 

NASS will analyze the survey information and publish the data in a series of USDA
reports, including the Crop Production Annual Summary and quarterly Grain Stocks reports,
both scheduled for release on Thursday, January 12, 2023.

 

“Responses to the survey will be combined with the County Agricultural Production
Survey data and used to calculate county yields,” said Prillaman. “Farmers who receive this
survey are not included in the County Agricultural Production Survey; therefore, this is their only opportunity to be included in the calculation of county yields.”

 

If a survey recipient does not respond by Tuesday, November 29, 2022, NASS may
reach out to schedule an interview to collect the information. As with all NASS surveys,
information provided by respondents is kept confidential, as required by federal law. The
information is used for statistical purposes only and will not be disclosed in identifiable form. All NASS reports are available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS Southern Regional Field Office at (800) 253-4419.