Author Archives: Kaye Lynn Hataway

Tuberville Continues Advocating for Alabama’s Ag Interests in Farm Bill Hearing

Tuberville Continues Advocating for Alabama’s Ag Interests in Farm Bill Hearing

WASHINGTON — During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing today covering commodities, crop insurance, and credit within the 2023 Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with top officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) about the department’s farm safety net, crop insurance, and what steps are being taken to address rising input costs.

Senator Tuberville opened his remarks with the following statement:

 

“Today, and throughout this Farm Bill process, my goal is to ensure Alabamians and the Southern states have a seat at the discussion table. Our farmers rely upon a strong farm safety net to manage risk, weather natural disasters, and remain in business despite fluctuating market conditions. Despite the USDA’s farm safety net, producers are still struggling to breakeven due to skyrocketing inflation and rising input costs for feed, fuel, and fertilizer. As Farm Bill discussions take place, we want to ensure a strong crop insurance program that maintains the public-private partnership makeup to help our producers manage risk.”

Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s line of questioning can be found below, and the full video can be found here.

ON ADDRESSING INFLATION FOR FARMERS:

 

TUBERVILLE: “My peanut growers in Alabama report that the Price Loss Coverage program (PLC) in the 2018 Farm Bill has worked well but, from a safety net perspective, reference prices have not kept up with the rising input costs in agriculture. Has USDA reviewed how we address inflation, from a policy perspective, over the life of a farm bill?”

BONNIE: “I will tell you; my legislative staff is always quick to tell me to emphasize that Congress writes the Farm Bill. And that’s going to be important here too. Obviously, there’s reference prices in statue, but I think you’re right. We’ve seen, when we talked to producers, there’s lots of concern about rising input costs. Our delivery of our programs is critical to be able to put money in their pocket to help address that. So, I assume the conversation about those prices will be a part of the debate that Congress has.”

TUBERVILLE: “During the Trump administration, when commodities were impacted by foreign trade barriers and retaliatory tariffs, USDA implemented the Market Facilitation Program to help offset export losses growers were facing. Has USDA considered a similar program to offset the rising costs of farm inputs?”

 

BONNIE: “We have not, but we’ve made some investments to try and encourage for example, domestic production of fertilizer to create more options and more competition. We think there may be some, that approach and potential other approaches might be helpful on input cost.”

ON EXPANDING FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE:

 

TUBERVILLE: “One of the strong suits of the federal crop insurance program is RMA’s authority to do its own research and develop policies. Through this approach, the program can expand to cover new crop types, such as specialty crops, and manage new types of risks. But when I look through RMA’s summary of business for Alabama, I see dozens of available crop insurance products where we’re selling fewer than ten policies each year. Ten policies amongst Alabama’s 44,000 farmers. I like having options for our farmers and support the flexibility of the program, but from a good governance perspective, can you walk me through any cost-benefit analysis you do on the marketability of the policies you put out?  Do you need additional authorities or resources to do that kind of analysis?”

BUNGER: “Thank you for the question, Senator. Currently, how RMA stands up all of its different crop policies, I call it a three-pronged approach. We look to the Hill, we look to you, to have us stand up those policies that you write. We also look to the 508(h) process where private submitters submit, and they also involve then recommendations, support from growers much like the corn growers did with pace and then the third is within the department itself, within what guidelines that RMA has to stand up programs. All of those come with reviewers and actuarial soundness, that needs to be maintained so it’s a balance. With the 508(h) process, they are supported by reviewers and also AIP’s (Approved Insurance Providers) that recommend how marketable the products are. So, we will continue to work through and take a look at those. The policies that are available have increased exponentially. In 2000, I believe, RMA had 300 policies and now today we are at 600 policies. The billions of dollars of liability that are covered under those policies have grown also dramatically, the dollar amount that comes to my mind, back in 2000 was $30 billion. Today we are at over $200 billion worth of liability, and that’s every year. So, we are seeing a great deal of interest in all of the policies that we stand up but at the end of the day, we listen to the farmer, we listen to the stakeholders and what their needs are, and that’s what we will continue to do.”

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

Alabama 4-H Peanut Essay Winners Announced

Alabama 4-H Peanut Essay Winners Announced

Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) is proud to announce the winners of the Alabama 4-H Peanut Essay Contest. The theme for 2022-2023 was “Peanuts: Feeding the World.”

 

Thirty-three essays from 15 counties were submitted for the state contest. All 4-H’ers who had an essay submitted to the state contest received a peanut t-shirt. Winners in each division receive – 1st – $50, 2nd – $35 and 3rd – $25.

 

Junior Division
1st – Claire Pierce, Marshall County
2nd – Lucy Rojas, Houston County
3rd – Skylar Hodges, Henry County

 

Intermediate Division
1st – Charlotte Bell, Shelby County
2nd – Colton Naylor, Lawrence County
3rd – Tyler Vincent, Etowah County

 

Sr. I Division
1st – Cyra Burks, Marshall County
2nd – Rebecca Baggett, Cullman County
3rd – Anthony Bell, Shelby County

 

Sr. II Division
1st – Christian Burks, Marshall County
2nd – Campbell Joiner, Lawrence County

 

 

APPA appreciates Alabama Cooperative Extension and Alabama 4-H for helping promote our Alabama peanut farmers and the importance of peanuts to our health and our state’s economy.

 

 

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) is a grower funded organization whose purpose is to represent the interests of Alabama peanut farmers through education, promotion and research. APPA has been turning resources into results since 1957.

Farmers fine-tune operations at 2023 AL-FL Peanut Trade Show

Farmers fine-tune operations at 2023 AL-FL Peanut Trade Show

DOTHAN, Ala. (Feb. 3, 2023) – Peanut growers from Alabama and Florida were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show February 2, 2023 at the National Peanut Festival fairgrounds in Dothan, Alabama. The trade show was hosted by Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) and Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA), and sponsored by National Peanut Board.

 

Over 400 peanut growers and industry partners from Alabama and Florida attended to view industry products and services offered by more than 70 exhibitors.

 

Researchers from Auburn University and the University of Florida were on hand to showcase the peanut research they are working on with the support of grower check-off dollars. Growers could talk to the researchers one on one about the research projects.

 

During the lunch program, attendees received an update from the National Peanut Board by Bob Parker. Bob Redding of the Redding Firm gave a legislative update, and Dr. Marshall Lamb, from the National Peanut Research Lab, spoke to growers about the 2023 peanut market outlook

 

Several door prizes were given out throughout the morning of the trade show, but the prizes everyone was most looking forward to winning were announced at lunch.

 

The Grand Door Prize, provided by Kelley Manufacturing Co., of a $5,000 voucher that can be used toward $5,000 off the price of any one piece of equipment or for $5,000 worth of parts for KMC equipment was won by Mark Nolin of Graceville, Florida.

 

Thomas Kirkland of Headland, Alabama won a free trip to the 2023 Southern Peanut Growers Conference in July. Andy Robinson of Williston, Florida won a Benelli 12 gauge shotgun.

 

LIST OF 2023 EXHIBITORS

2023 APPA Annual Meeting Held Feb. 2

2023 APPA Annual Meeting Held Feb. 2

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) held its annual meeting Feb. 2, 2023 in conjunction with the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show in Dothan, Alabama.

 

Delegates elected open director positions for the APPA board as well. Glen Walters was re-elected to hold Covington County’s one seat. Jerry Byrd was re-elected to hold Dale County’s one seat. Houston County has two seats, and Fred Helms and George Jeffcoat were both re-elected to hold those positions. Darrin Driskell was re-elected to the Southwest district’s one seat.

 

After the annual meeting was adjourned, the APPA Board of Directors convened to elect officers for 2023. Carl Sanders was re-elected to serve as President. Sanders has held this position for 23 years. Mark Kaiser was re-elected to his seventh year as Vice President. Jerry Byrd was re-elected to serve his 23rd year as Treasurer.

 

2023 Alabama Peanut Producers Association Board of Directors

Carl Sanders, President, Coffee County
Mark Kaiser, Vice-President, Baldwin County
Jerry Byrd, Treasurer, Dale County
Thomas Adams, Henry County
Tom Corcoran, NE District
Darrin Driskell, SW District
Fred Helms, Houston County
Jimmy Royce Helms, Geneva County
Billy Hixon, NW District
George Jeffcoat, Houston County
Jesse Scott, Geneva County
Joel Sirmon, Baldwin County
Glen Walters, Covington County
Jason Weber, Escambia County
Ed White, Henry County

 

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) is a grower funded organization whose purpose is to represent the interests of Alabama peanut farmers through education, promotion and research. APPA has been turning resources into results since 1957.

 

Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show Set For Feb. 2, 2023

Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show Set For Feb. 2, 2023

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Producers Association invite peanut growers and industry representatives from their respective states to attend the 2023 Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show on Thursday, Feb. 2 at the National Peanut Festival fairgrounds in Dothan, Alabama. Doors will open at 8:30 am.

 

Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with more than 60 agribusinesses and organizations in the peanut and agricultural industry. Farmers will also get to view research projects funded with their check-off dollars, and speak to the researchers from Auburn University and the University of Florida.

 

A sponsored lunch will be provided at 12 pm for trade show attendees. During lunch, attendees will hear about the current peanut market and legislative updates. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the show, including a trip to the 2023 Southern Peanut Growers Conference and a shotgun.

 

There are still spots available for exhibitors. Click here for Exhibitor Information.

 

For more information on the peanut trade show, contact the Alabama Peanut Producers Association at 334-792-6482 or the Florida Peanut Producers Association at 850-526-2590.

USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Assistance to Help Keep Farmers Farming

USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Assistance to Help Keep Farmers Farming

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk.

 

 

Today’s announcement kicks off a process to provide assistance to distressed farm loan borrowers using several complementary approaches, with the goal of keeping them farming, removing obstacles that currently prevent many of these borrowers from returning to farming, and improving the way that USDA approaches borrowing and servicing. Through this assistance, USDA is focused on generating long-term stability and success for distressed borrowers.

 

 

“Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The funding included in today’s announcement helps keep our farmers farming and provides a fresh start for producers in challenging positions.”

 

 

Work has already started to bring some relief to distressed farmers. As of today, over 13,000 borrowers have already benefited from the resources provided under the Inflation Reduction Act as follows:

 

 

Approximately 11,000 delinquent direct and guaranteed borrowers had their accounts brought current. USDA also paid the next scheduled annual installment for these direct loan borrowers giving them peace of mind in the near term.
Approximately 2,100 borrowers who had their farms foreclosed on and still had remaining debt have had this debt resolved in order to cease debt collections and garnishment relieving that burden that has made getting a fresh start more difficult.

 

In addition to the automatic assistance already provided, USDA has also outlined steps to administer up to an additional $500 million in payments to benefit the following distressed borrowers:

 

 

USDA will administer $66 million in separate automatic payments, using COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, to support up to 7,000 direct loan borrowers who used FSA’s disaster-set-aside option during the pandemic to move their scheduled payments to the end of their loans.
USDA is also initiating two case-by-case processes to provide additional assistance to farm loan borrowers. Under the first new process, FSA will review and assist with delinquencies from 1,600 complex cases, including cases in which borrowers are facing bankruptcy or foreclosure. The second new process will add a new option using existing direct loan servicing criteria to intervene more quickly and help an estimated 14,000 financially distressed borrowers who request assistance to avoid even becoming delinquent.

 

More details on each of the categories of assistance, including a downloadable fact sheet, are available on the Inflation Reduction Act webpage on farmers.gov.

 

 

Similar to other USDA assistance, all of these payments will be reported as income and borrowers are encouraged to consult their tax advisors. USDA also has resources and partnerships with cooperators who can provide additional assistance and help borrowers navigate the process.

 

 

The announcement today is only the first step in USDA’s efforts to provide assistance to distressed farm loan borrowers and respond to farmers and to improve the loan servicing efforts at USDA by adding more tools and relaxing unnecessary restrictions. Additional announcements and investments in assistance will be made as USDA institutes these additional changes and improvements.

 

 

This effort will ultimately also include adding more tools and relaxing unnecessary restrictions through assistance made possible by Congress through the IRA. Further assistance and changes to the approach will be made in subsequent phases.

 

 

Background

USDA provides access to credit to approximately 115,000 producers who cannot obtain sufficient commercial credit through direct and guaranteed farm loans, which do not include farm storage facility loans or marketing assistance loans. With the funds and direction Congress provided in Section 22006 of IRA, USDA is taking action to immediately provide relief to qualifying distressed borrowers whose operations are at financial risk while working on making transformational changes to how USDA goes about loan servicing in the long run so that borrowers are provided the flexibility and opportunities needed to address the inherent risks and unpredictability associated with agricultural operations and remain in good financial standing.

 

 

In January 2021, USDA suspended foreclosures and other adverse actions on direct farm loans due to the pandemic and encouraged guaranteed lenders to follow suit. Last week, USDA reiterated this request to guaranteed lenders to provide time for the full set of IRA distressed borrower assistance to be made available before lenders take irreparable actions.

 

 

Producers can explore available loan options using the Farm Loan Discovery Tool on farmers.gov (also available in Spanish) or by contacting their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also call the FSA call center at 877-508-8364 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern. USDA has tax-related resources available at farmers.gov/taxes.

 

 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

 

2022 National Peanut Festival Recipe Contest Set For Oct. 27

2022 National Peanut Festival Recipe Contest Set For Oct. 27

The 2022 National Peanut Festival (NPF) Recipe Contest is set for Thursday, October 27. Entries can be dropped off at the NPF Volunteer Building between 8 – 10 am. Judging begins at  10 a.m. Awards ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at the NPF Bank Plus Arena.

 

Click this link for rules and entry forms:  https://cdn.saffire.com/files.ashx?t=fg&rid=NationalPeanutFestival&f=2022_RECIPE_CONTEST_RULES.pdf

 

Alabama Peanut Producers Association is a sponsor of this contest.

 

Wiregrass Annual Field Crops Day Set For August 19

Wiregrass Annual Field Crops Day Set For August 19

The Wiregrass Research and Extension Center (WREC) in Headland, Alabama will host the annual Field Crops Day on Friday, August 19, 2022. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Field tours begin at 8 a.m. Lunch will follow.

 

Attendees to the field day will have the opportunity to tour research plots and listen to a variety of agriculture research professionals give explanations of their research projects. Alabama Extension area specialists will give mid-season crop updates as well.

 

Alabama Peanut Producers Association and National Peanut Board have funded many of the peanut research projects at WREC. Growers can see their check-off dollars at work.

 

Research projects include cotton pest management, cover crops, peanut and cotton variety tests, fungicide strategies on peanuts and cotton fertility with poultry litter.

 

The WREC is located at 167 East AL Highway 134, Headland, Alabama 36345. For more information call 334-693-3800.

2022 Wiregrass Weed Tour to be held

2022 Wiregrass Weed Tour to be held

The Wiregrass Research and Extension Center (WREC) in Headland, Alabama has announced plans for the 2022 Wiregrass Weed Tour on Thursday, July 7.

 

Registration begins at 4:30 pm in the WREC auditorium, with the program beginning at 4:45 pm.

 

Topics include Alite 27 resistant cotton update, PPO and auxin resistant Palmer management, grass control in cotton and peanut, burndown evaluations, drone remote sensing update, spray drone demonstration and discussion.

 

Dinner will be provided after the auditorium presentation and before the field tour. Please RSVP to the WREC at 334-693-2363 or Sedrick Mack, Agronomic REA, 334-441-8384.

U.S. Peanut Federation Testifies at U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearing focusing on Agricultural Trade

U.S. Peanut Federation Testifies at U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearing focusing on Agricultural Trade

U.S. Peanut Federation Testifies at U.S. Senate Subcommittee Hearing focusing on Agricultural Trade

 

Chairman Warnock Notes EU Non-Tariff Trade Issue for Peanuts

June 9, 2022 – Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, held a hearing June 9, 2022, on “Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers.” Representing the U.S. Peanut Federation, Karla Baker Thompson with JET Farms Georgia and Integrity Farms of Camilla, Georgia, presented testimony on the export market for peanuts and some of the issues the peanut industry is facing.
In Thompson’s testimony, she presented information on some of the major export markets. In Canada, the U.S. has witnessed an increase in the last few years, but it is still significantly off when compared to export numbers prior to 2013. In Japan, the U.S. has generally seen a flat trend line with significant market swings year after year. The U.S. has experienced a general upward trend in market share for Mexico. However, there are large swings in the Mexican market year after year. China is an unpredictable market for U.S. peanuts. While the China market made a large purchase of U.S. peanuts in 2016 and then again in 2020, there is clearly no consistency in U.S. peanut export sales to China.
Thompson highlighted the decline in peanut exports to the European Union (EU) for U.S. peanuts. While the EU market saw a significant increase over 2021 in the first 3 months of 2022, the overall trend line since 2003 has been downward. The U.S. market share decreased in the EU from approximately 40 percent in 2003 to 14 percent in 2021. Much of this market share loss has been to developing countries. The increase in U.S. market share in early 2022 is deceptive since the overall U.S. peanut exports to the EU have decreased drastically since 2003.
“A look at our major export markets shows some of the issues we are facing. Our best markets, and those with the most potential for growth, are the markets that pay premium prices,” Thompson says. “These markets provide prices that are profitable for exporters and have an impact on grower prices. Unfortunately, some of these best markets are not healthy.”
U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, Chairman of the Subcommittee, opened the hearing stating, “Today’s hearing, titled ‘Agricultural Trade: Priorities and Issues Facing America’s Farmers,’ is an opportunity for members of this Subcommittee to hear directly from our farmers regarding their trade challenges and priorities in today’s changing economy. Just last week, I spent time in Musella, Georgia, meeting with a group of farmers and agriculture leaders to discuss the stress our farmers are experiencing. The message I heard was clear – farming is always a tough job, but especially right now. Farmers in Georgia and throughout the country have been forced to navigate a tremendous amount of uncertainty over the last few years. Trade wars, COVID-19 supply chain disruptions, and Russia’s war in Ukraine have all sent shockwaves through global commodity markets.”
Chairman Warnock also commented on the peanut industry’s struggles with the EU, “Last year, I partnered with Senator Tuberville to highlight concerns to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) raised by our peanut farmers in getting their products to market in Europe, and ways we need federal agencies to better coordinate and step up to help address this issue.”
In addition to Thompson, other individuals testifying include Gopi Munisamay, distinguished professor at the University of Georgia Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Sheryl Meshke, co-president and CEO of Associated Milk Producers Inc. and Neal Fisher, administrator of the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) is comprised of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, the American Peanut Shellers Association, and the National Peanut Buying Points Association. USPF serves as a unified voice in Washington, D.C. for all sectors of the peanut industry and advocates actively for strong agricultural policy. For additional information, please contact the USPF at (202) 543-7464.
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