Livestock Shelters Open in Alabama in Preparation for Tropical Storm Zeta
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In response to Tropical Storm Zeta, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has been in contact with our partners to provide a temporary sheltering facility for evacuated livestock including horses and cattle. Animals moving in response to Tropical Storm Zeta will be exempt from a certificate of veterinary inspection. The Alabama A&M Agribition Center located at 4925 Moore’s Mill Rd, Huntsville, AL 35811, will open effective immediately. The shelter is only equipped to shelter livestock, not... read more ❯
ADAI Accepting Applications for USDA Organic Cost-Share Reimbursement Program
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama growers and handlers of organic agricultural products can recover part of the cost associated with their USDA certification. The reimbursement covers 50% of certification costs, up to a maximum of $500.00. The cost-share program makes it easier for certified organic businesses throughout the supply chain by recouping the costs associated with USDA organic certification. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will administer this non-competitive grant program by processing applications for cost share funds, and issuing reimbursements... read more ❯
ADAI Launches 2021 Applications for Growing and Processing Industrial Hemp
MONTGOMERY, Ala.- The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will accept hemp applications from eligible growers and processors/handlers, using a new online application system starting, TODAY, October 13, 2020. Applications will be available at agi.alabama.gov/hempapp at 9:00 am, Tuesday, October 13, 2020. The final day to apply for a hemp license is November 30, 2020 by 5:00 pm (CST). In 2016, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act, Section 2-8-380 Code of Alabama 1975, tasking ADAI... read more ❯
Comm. Rick Pate thanks ADAI Team who facilitated U.S. Sec. of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's visit to Baldwin Co.
Commissioner Rick Pate would like to recognize the ADAI Team who was instrumental in making U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's visit to Baldwin County a success. This visit, prompted by Hurricane Sally, included two farm tours and a round table discussion with local agricultural businesses. The hard work and dedication of the ADAI staff lead to an overall successful event. "I cannot thank my staff enough for their hard work to make this event happen. The Secretary visit went according... read more ❯
Governor Kay Ivey officially proclaims October 2020 as Farm to School Month in Alabama
MONTGOMERY, ALA. - Governor Kay Ivey officially proclaimed October 2020 as Farm to School Month in Alabama. The Alabama Farm to School Program promotes nutritional practices, fresh and local foods, school gardens and teaching agricultural education in Alabama schools. Local farms play an important role in the Alabama school systems by providing them with a variety of fresh, affordable and healthy produce options. The National School Lunch Program is administered by the Department of Education in Alabama. The Department of Agriculture... read more ❯
Poultry Farmer Stabilization Grant Program Application Availability Postponed to October 13, 2020
Montgomery, Ala. - In August, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that $26 Million of CARES Act Funds would be used to assist Alabama Agriculture impacted by COVID-19. These funds were used to establish the Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program (AASP). The application period for the Poultry Farmer Stabilization Grant Program portion of the AASP has been postponed. Applications for the poultry program will be available at agi.alabama.gov or crf.alabama.gov at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. The new deadline for applications is... read more ❯
Brigetta Hughes, DVM, MAM Joins the Alabama Veterinary Diagnostic Lab System as Director of the Mitchem Sparks Regional Poultry Diagnostic Lab in Boaz
Dr. Hughes earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee in 1987 and a Master of Avian Medicine from the University of Georgia, Poultry Diagnostic Research Center in 1990. Dr. Hughes has extensive clinical experience, both as a small animal practice owner, and as relief veterinarian for multiple small animal practices in Iowa. Her diverse background as a veterinarian also includes working with select exotic species and international volunteer teams to administer rabies vaccines to reduce/eliminate human rabies... read more ❯
Animal Disease Traceability Update
Animal Disease Traceability Update, Dr. Tony Frazier, State Veterinarian: For quite sometime now we have been working towards advancing official identification of certain cattle so that we could respond quickly to any disease outbreak. And this year we announced a Time Line that had been proposed by USDA/APHIS/VS that provided for the continued transition away from the metal ear tags to electronic tags. After much discussion we agreed with the Time Line and developed a plan for cattle producers in Alabama.... read more ❯
Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program
In August, Gov. Kay Ivey awarded $26 Million of CARES Act Funds to assist Alabama Agriculture impacted by COVID-19. Funding will be used to establish the Alabama Agricultural Stabilization Program (AASP). No funds may be utilized for salaries, building projects, or capital improvements. For program information, deadlines and applications please visit: crf.alabama.gov and select "Alabama Agriculture". We hope this message from Commissioner Pate helps explain the Alabama Agriculture Stabilization Program (AASP) and its seven programs. Our goal is to help farmers and agribusinesses impacted... read more ❯
Update on Sheep and Goat Identification and Travel Requirements
Travel and identification requirements for sheep and goats have changed. Please review the documents linked below for more information: 2.10.2020 ALABAMA Owner Hauler Statement (002)
Show Goat Identification Pamphlet
New Scrapie Brochure read more ❯