MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate is proud to see five outstanding leaders selected to serve on the Alabama USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee. “These individuals bring valuable experience and a strong commitment to supporting Alabama agriculture and rural communities,” said Commissioner Pate. “These leaders will ensure our farmers have the support and resources they need at the state and county level.” Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members including a... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announced that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has designated a total of 19 Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to recent drought. “The drought severely affected several Alabama’s counties, impacting row-crop yields and forage availability. Many cattle producers were unable to harvest sufficient hay for the winter months which resulted in the need to provide supplemental alternative feed sources earlier in the fall. They were also delayed in planting... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is proud to announce the success of a project designed to strengthen and modernize Christmas tree production across the state. As part of a large fertilizer trial conducted by Auburn University’s Department of Horticulture at the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center in Fairhope, Alabama-grown Christmas trees were donated to Marines and their families at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. Funded by USDA’s Specialty Crop Block... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate commends President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, alongside other federal and state leadership, for their recent announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $12 billion in one time bridge payments to American farmers. The allocated funds are in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate and ADAI staff presented two checks, totaling $1.3 million, to two Alabama farms through ADAI's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. Through the USDA RFSI funds, Boozer Farms and J. Durbin Farms will be able to continue their efforts to strengthen Alabama’s local food supply and reduce waste in the state’s agricultural system. Boozer Farms was awarded around $719,000, and J. Durbin Farms received around $644,000. They... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate has issued a formal notice of intent to suspend Hansen-Mueller Co.’s grain dealer license after the company failed to pay Alabama producers for grain delivered on its behalf. In recent weeks, ADAI was contacted by several concerned Alabama grain producers who reported missing payments from the company. After communication with Hansen-Mueller Co., ADAI confirmed that around 17 Alabama producers were currently owed payment, in addition to farmers... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) food safety inspectors are conducting recall effectiveness checks on all batches of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and Anywhere Pack™ nationwide as they may be contaminated and are making infants sick with infant botulism. “ADAI is working closely with the Alabama Department of Public Health, CDC and FDA to be sure all remaining products are removed from store shelves,” said Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate. “The health and safety... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - USDA has awarded the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) $519,000 to fund projects that strengthen Alabama’s specialty crop industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The program will fund 14 projects to enhance competitiveness of specialty crop growers by using marketing, education and research for Alabama’s specialty crop industry. “Since I became Commissioner in 2019, the specialty crop industry including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops has grown tremendously. We’re proud of the... read more ❯