MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Due to recent warmer temperatures, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier encourage horse owners to vaccinate for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV is a significant health threat to horses because it can cause severe neurological diseases. Most cases occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. EEE is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is more severe than WNV. The mortality... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - During the Alabama School Nutrition Association’s (ASNA) annual meeting, Commissioner Rick Pate was awarded their Friend of the Year award.“I am truly honored to receive the Friend of the Year Award. The work that school nutrition directors and staff put in every single day to serve Alabama’s students does not go unnoticed,” said Commissioner Pate. “I am especially grateful for their partnership in embracing Alabama’s Farm to School Incentive Program. Because of their willingness to connect with... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is now accepting grant applications for projects that enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in foreign and domestic markets. The application deadline for these specialty crop block grants through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST. “As interest in locally grown food continues to rise, Alabama’s specialty crop industry is stronger than ever,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick... read more ❯

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 ❯