Montgomery, Ala. - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $15 million to the lender Alabama Agricultural Development Authority (AADA) to support meat and poultry slaughter and processing businesses in Alabama. The USDA Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) is awarded to the lender, AADA, in the form of a grant. Businesses engaged in the processing of meat or poultry can apply for a loan from AADA as an ultimate recipient. Loans can be used to purchase or... read more ❯

Montgomery, Ala. - Last week USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a Secretarial natural disaster designation for 27 counties in Tennessee that also included four counties in Alabama that are contiguous to some of the Tennessee counties. This designation will extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from drought through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is a federally funded program administered by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ Farmers Market Authority Section. The SFMNP provides eligible seniors with a $50 benefit card to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from certified farmers at farmers markets and farm stands in the state of Alabama. You can apply at https://agi.alabama.gov/ or  https://agi.alabama.gov/farmersmarket/ . A sample photo of what the card looks like is attached to this release. “The... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is 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 March 17, 2023, 5:00 p.m. CST. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture (including maple syrup and honey) and nursery crops (including floriculture). Commodity groups,... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In preparation for Hurricane Ian, entry requirements have been lifted for livestock animals that are moving across state lines. The following temporary sheltering facility has agreed to provide a place for evacuees with livestock including horses and cattle to stay. Please be advised that all stalls are first come first serve and calling ahead is requested. Furthermore, there are currently only 6 camper hookups left at this facility. Houston County Farm Center 1701 E Cottonwood Rd. Dothan, AL 36301 Josh... read more ❯

TROY, Ala.— Today, leaders from several organizations across the state of Alabama participated in a QPR, (Question, Persuade, Refer) training hosted by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI). The trainings are a vital part of the A Healthy You, A Healthy Farm initiative. The Alabama Department of Mental Health, an essential partner in this initiative, is assisting in providing the training and related resources. The A Healthy You, A Healthy Farm initiative is funded by the Farm and Ranch... read more ❯

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is aware of the upcoming closure of the Borden Dairy production facilities in Dothan, Ala. and Hattiesburg, Miss. on September 30 and the effect it will have on school milk contracts. Borden Dairy packages 8 oz. cartons of milk for schools, so while the packaging will be limited, the supply of milk produced by dairy farmers is still available. The Borden Dairy closure will impact more than 100 public school... read more ❯

By Donna Cope - Alabama NewsCenter - July 20, 2022 Click the following link for complete article - Support farmers on Sweet Grown Alabama Day July 23 Celebrate all the goodness of summertime fruit and vegetables – and the hard-working farmers who grow them – at Sweet Grown Alabama (SGA) Day on July 23. Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate is encouraging shoppers to visit their local farmers market and support local growers. It is a good idea, Pate noted, considering... read more ❯

Register Today for Alabama Stockmanship & Stewardship Event Premiere beef educational experience to be held in Auburn. Auburn, Alabama – Registration is now open for the Alabama Stockmanship & Stewardship event, Aug. 12-13, in Auburn. Stockmanship & Stewardship is a unique, educational experience for cattle producers featuring low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) educational sessions, facility design sessions and industry updates that you won’t find anywhere else. “In today’s world, no matter the beef production system you are involved with, stockmanship... read more ❯