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USDA Urban Agriculture Programs at a Glance

Agricultural producers can begin to apply for two new important programs for revenue losses, from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Both programs equitably fill gaps in earlier assistance. Applications for both new programs are due June 2, 2023, and you can apply for both programs during your same appointment with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

First, you may be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two if you experienced revenue losses from eligible natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. ERP Phase Two is for producers who didn’t receive assistance from ERP Phase One.

You may also be eligible for the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) if you experienced revenue losses in calendar year 2020. PARP is addressing gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses.

Producers interested in ERP Phase Two and PARP, should reach out to their local USDA Service Center to inquire and request assistance. You can also call the FSA call center at 877-508-8364.

Source: USDA Farm Service Agency

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.

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) partnered with Alabama Ag Credit, First South Farm Credit, Autauga County Famers Federation and Dallas County Farmers Federation to donate Peanut Proud peanut butter to the communities in Dallas and Autauga counties devastated by tornadoes in January 2023. While recovery efforts continue in the areas affected by the tornadoes, there are families still displaced from their homes. The peanut butter will provide these families with a much-needed nutritious food source that doesn’t have to be refrigerated and has a long shelf life.

“Peanut butter is the perfect disaster food,” said Harold Gaines, an Autauga County peanut farmer. “It is non-perishable and provides nutrients in one perfect bite.”

The peanut butter was delivered on Thursday, March 16, 2023 to the Autauga Interfaith Care Center in Prattville, Alabama, and the Selma Area Food Bank in Selma, Alabama Each location received four pallets of Peanut Proud peanut butter. That’s a total of 11,530 pounds of peanut butter – enough to make 161,280 peanut butter sandwiches!

Special thanks to Southern Ag Carriers for delivering the peanut butter to Prattville and Selma.

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association represents the interests of Alabama peanut farmers through education, promotion and research.

Peanut Proud, Inc. is the humanitarian arm of the peanut industry and assist peanut-producing states in responding to natural disasters by supplying peanut butter. To make a donation, visit www.peanutproud.org.

Peanut butter donation at the Autauga Interfaith Care Center – pictured (l-r) Heather Smith, Alabama Ag Credit, Amber Pratt, Alabama Ag Credit, Harold Gaines, Autauga County Farmers Federation and Alabama peanut farmer, Denise Brown, Autauga Interfaith Care Center, Gary Weaver, Autauga EMA, Keith McCurdy, First South Farm Credit

Peanut butter donation at the Selma Area Food Bank – pictured (front – back) Kaye Lynn Hataway, Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Jeff Harrison, Selma Area Food Bank, Amber Pratt, Alabama Ag Credit, Andy Leslie, First South Farm Credit, Dale Williamson, Alabama Ag Credit

Gov. Ivey declares March as Peanut Month in Alabama. Pictured l-r: Billy Hixon, Pike County; Joel Sirmon, Baldwin County; Carl Sanders, Coffee County, Gov. Ivey, Garrett Dixon, Lee County; Mark Kaiser, Baldwin County, George Kaiser Baldwin County, Kaye Lynn Hataway, APPA.

Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) celebrated National Peanut Month with a proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey at the Alabama Capitol and a peanut day at the Alabama State House on March 16, 2023.

Carl Sanders, APPA President from Coffee County, and Billy Hixon, APPA board member for Pike County, led the House of Representatives in prayer and pledge at the beginning of their session. Garrett Dixon, APPA young farmer representative from Lee County, led the Senate in the pledge at the beginning of their session.

Throughout the morning, APPA board members and Alabama Farmers Federation staff handed out cans of Alabama chocolate covered peanuts to legislators, and talked with them about topics concerning our Alabama peanut farmers.

“Alabama ranks 2^nd in peanut production in the nation, and the peanut industry adds $200 million to the state’s economy,” states APPA president, Carl Sanders. “Having a peanut day at the Alabama State House helps remind our legislators that peanuts are an important crop for Alabama agriculture, and they are good to eat too.”

Gov. Ivey’s proclamation recognized the peanut as the state legume of Alabama, as well as the impact the peanut industry has on the economy of the state, the farmers who grow peanuts, the nutritional value and environmentally friendly attributes. Gov. Ivey also received a can of chocolate-covered peanuts from Sanders.

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.

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

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.

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.