Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries
John McMillan Commissioner	PRESS RELEASES	Amy Belcher Communications

(Archived Press Releases...)

Food Safety Inspectors Conducting Effectiveness Checks on Recalled Pet Foods

The Department of Agriculture and Industries Food Safety inspectors continue to conduct effectiveness checks on several varieties of pet food that have been recalled after Salmonella was detected during retail surveillance sampling. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local officials to investigate a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Infantis infections. read more...

"Trading With the World" ~ Ag Commissioner Outlines "Global Approach" to Grow Alabama's Largest Industry, Creating Jobs and Opportunity

Alabama agriculture exports, now at $1 billion, must double in the next decade if we are to keep up with world food demand and remain competitive in the international marketplace, according to Commissioner John McMillan of the state Department of Agriculture & Industries. read more...

Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries Unveils New Magazine

The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries today unveiled the premier issue of Alabama Agriculture magazine, a 72-page, comprehensive guide to the state's farms, food and forestry. The Department unveiled the magazine to the public today, in honor of National Ag Day. read more...

Department of Agriculture & Industries Celebrates National Ag Day with the Release of a Statewide Magazine Promoting Farmers

Join the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, Thursday, March 8, as it unveils the premier issue of Alabama Agriculture, a guide to the state's farms, food and forestry. The magazine is intended to inform consumers increasingly concerned about their families' food source and to educate legislators and community leaders about the impact of agriculture on the state's economy. read more...

Local Foods: Potential to Build Wealth and Health in Alabama

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in cooperation with Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) and the Food Bank of North Alabama (FBNA) cordially invites the media to a presentation by national food system expert Ken Meter entitled, “Local Foods: Potential to Create Wealth and Health in Alabama.” read more...

Online Survey To Access Labor Shortages as a Result of Immigration Law Now Available

In an effort to gauge current and potential labor shortages resulting from enactment of the state's immigration law, the Alabama Agribusiness Council (AAC) has created on-line survey for farmers, producers and agribusinesses. read more...

Food Safety Inspectors Conducting Quality Assurance Checks on Over-the-Counter Medications

The Department of Agriculture and Industries Food Safety inspectors are conducting quality assurance checks throughout the state today as a result of a voluntary recall announced by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. (NCH). read more...

A Grassroots Approach to Our Chronic Labor Shortage (Video Posted)

On December 6, 2011, Commissioner John McMillan hosted a meeting, in Mobile to bring agribusiness owners and farmers together with federal and state officials to help solve the chronic labor shortages created by Alabama's new immigration law. Video of that meeting is now available on the Department of Agriculture and Industries website at www.agi.alabama.gov. read more...

A Farmers Market Day Christmas ~ Saturday December 17th

The Montgomery State Farmers Market will host its first "Farmers Market Day Christmas" celebration this Saturday, December 17, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Farmer's Market is ready for Christmas, are you? read more...

McMillan Commends Reps. Roby and Sewell for Their Common Sense Legislation that Returns Cropland Back into Production

Putting millions of acres of idle cropland back into farm production makes perfect sense as American agriculture works to meet rapidly growing world food demand, says Commissioner John McMillan. read more...

Free marketing service to help agricultural & seafood businesses

The Alabama MarketMaker website is up and running, offering Alabama fishermen, seafood processors, seafood distributors and farmers a free opportunity to connect with potential customers online. read more...

Food Safety Inspectors conducting Effectiveness Checks on Recalled Nike All-American Sandwiches

The Department of Agriculture and Industries Food Safety inspectors are conducting effectiveness checks today on a recall announced by Landshire of St. Louis, Missouri. Landshire is initiating a voluntary recall of 1,751 cases of the Nike All-American sandwich because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. read more...

Free Trade Agreements: Department of Agriculture & Industries Commissioner Hails Passage of Trade Pacts with South Korea, Colombia & Panama

Commissioner John McMillan of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries today released the following statement upon Congress's ratification of Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama. read more...

Statewide Immigration Webinar Set for Oct. 14

The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are sponsoring a webinar on the state’s new immigration law. The webinar will be Friday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Labor law expert Thomas M. Eden of the Capell & Howard law firm will conduct the seminars, which include an overview of the law, complying with key provisions, and record-keeping. read more...

Food Safety Inspectors conducting Effectiveness Checks on Recalled Velveeta and Mrs. Freshley’s Products

The Department of Agriculture and Industries Food Safety inspectors are conducting effectiveness checks today on two voluntarily recalled products. The first voluntary recall is for three varieties of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Single Serve Microwaveable Cups with limited “best when used by” dates as a precaution due to the possible presence of small, thin wire bristle pieces. read more...

McMillan says chances now good for trade pact, bringing jobs to the Wire Grass

As many as 15,000 well paying jobs could come to Alabama, including the Wire Grass, with ratification of the Free Trade Agreements, according Commissioner John McMillan of Alabama’s Department of Agriculture & Industries read more...

John McMillan to discuss creating jobs for the Wire Grass region during news conference tomorrow

Commissioner John McMillan will discuss an initiative to bring opportunity and create jobs in the Wire Grass during a news conference set for tomorrow at 10:30 am in Headland. read more...

Statewide web seminars on Alabama’s new immigration law to be held October 14

Commissioner John McMillan today announced a statewide web seminar series on the state’s new immigration law to be held Friday, October 14. read more...

McMillan invites families in the River Region to the State Farmers Market’s Fall Festival, Oct. 1

Commissioner John McMillan today invited the River Region community to the State Farmers Market’s Fall Festival to be held Saturday, October 1. read more...

Commissioner John McMillan's response to Judge Blackburn's ruling in the state immigration law matter

Commissioner John McMillan today issued the following statement concerning U.S. Dist. Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn's ruling in the state immigration law matter: read more...

News Conference Advisory - Commissioner McMillan to announce Community Fall Festival

Tomorrow at 11 am, Commissioner John McMillan will hold a news conference, along with members of the Montgomery Fire Department, to announce the Farmers Market Fall Festival to be held Saturday, October 1, at the State Farmers Market on Federal Drive. read more...

USDA Secretary Vilsack Declares Drought Disaster in 21 South Alabama Counties

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has declared a drought disaster in 21 counties in South Alabama enabling farmers there to apply for low interest federal loans and grants. read more...

McMillan: Breakthrough for Jobs for Alabama, thanks to today's congressional developments

Chances for passage of the three Free Trade Agreements improved greatly with today's developments in Congress, according to Commissioner John McMillan of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industry. read more...

McMillan to Obama: Time is now to send the Free Trade Agreements to Congress

It’s time to strike while the issue is hot and now is the time for President Obama to send the Free Trade Agreements to Congress for ratification. read more...

Monsanto Contributes $50,000 to Alabama Tornado Relief Efforts

In response to the devastating tornadoes that swept through Alabama this spring, Monsanto Company announced a donation of $50,000 to aid in tornado relief efforts. The donation will help aid cleanup and rebuilding efforts in agricultural communities as a part of the Alabama Forestry Foundation. read more...

President Obama and Congress Can Jump Start Jobs Creation with the Free Trade Agreements, Says Ag Commissioner John McMillan

As many as 15,000 good-paying jobs will come to Alabama as a result of ratification of three Free Trade Agreements, according to Commissioner John McMillan who met today with business leaders at the Innovation Depot here. read more...

President Obama and Congress Can Jump Start Jobs Creation with the Free Trade Agreements, Says Ag Commissioner John McMillan

News Conference Advisory - Friday, September 9

Tomorrow, Friday, September 9, at 11:30 am, we will have a news conference at the Port of Mobile to discuss how we can bring good-paying jobs to Alabama. read more...

Statewide Recall Issued for Quaker Oats Snack Bars

A statewide recall has been issued for a brand of Quaker Oats snack bars, according to an advisory issued today by the Food Safety Division of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. Quaker Oats Company, a division of PepsiCo, has issued a voluntary recall of 8-count Quaker Chewy Smashbar Graham Pretzel snack bars due to an undeclared milk allergen that is not noted on the label. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk products run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. read more...

McMillan Urges Obama to Push Free Trade Agreement: Says FTA Means 15,000 New Jobs for Alabama

Montgomery – Commissioner John McMillan today called upon President Obama to quickly resolve the differences with Congressional leadership and submit the three Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea to Congress for ratification. “With an increasingly competitive global economy, it is vital for Alabama’s economy and our farmers that these agreements are sent to Congress by the President and then Congress has fast track authority to ratify. read more...