October 19, 2022
Byrd Family Represents At Sunbelt Ag Expo
Mark Byrd represented Alabama in the Swisher/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award contest. He and other finalists were honored Oct. 18 during a luncheon at the farm show in Moultrie, Georgia.

Mark and his wife, Sandy, are poultry, cattle and row crop farmers in Morgan County. They are bringing home $2,500 from Swisher, in addition to about $10,000 in prizes received as Alabama Farm of Distinction winners.

Pictured from left are Federation Area 1 Organization Director Barrett Gilbert, Sandy and Mark.
During the farm show, Federation President Jimmy Parnell also competed against American Farm Bureau’s Zippy Duvall and Georgia Farm Bureau’s Tom McCall in the Cow Milking Contest.
Annual Meeting: Continuing The Legacy
Don’t miss the chance to take a photo with political consultant and former Trump Administration adviser Kellyanne Conway during the Alabama Farmers Federation annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5.

Members who donate $100 or more to FarmPAC are invited to a private reception with Conway, and the first 100 members in line will receive copies of Conway’s book, "Here’s The Deal."

To donate, send checks written out to FarmPAC to P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191. Questions? Contact Stacey Thrash at sthrash@alfafarmers.org. 
Other annual meeting events:
Beef Tips: How To Sell And Source Local Beef
Selling local beef (also called freezer beef) helps farmers market their products in the community.

The cattle are often harvested locally and sold directly to consumers instead of being sent to large-scale processors out West.

Beef Tips:
  1. Determine a market. 
  2. Prepare a plan.
  3. Allow time for “new” farm chores. 
  4. Consumer education is key.
Temporary Ag Workers Fulfill Farmers' Needs
After a year of planning, preparation and paperwork, Hunter Trees in Alpine welcomed 16 H-2A laborers in January 2022.

The legal temporary agricultural workers will stay through November. 
One year into the program, brothers Phillip and Will Hunter agree: H-2A’s immediate impact is worth the expense.

“We knew within days we had made the right decision,” Phillip said. “H-2A is great across all commodities because if you just need one or two guys, you can get that. These guys are proud of their work, and they want to do a good job.”
Ag In Action
The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance annually sponsor beef, dairy, goat, sheep and swine shows at the Alabama National Fair, one of many fairs supported by the state and county Farmers Federations each fall.

The Alabama National Fair was held Oct. 7-16 in Montgomery. Click here to read more.
The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance award staff each quarter for Bright Ideas that benefit the company. Quarter 3 Bright Idea award winners were Federation Publications Director Marlee Moore and Federation Chief Financial Officer Phillip Johns, who worked together to implement cost-savings for Neighbors magazine thanks to the new membership system.

They are pictured with Federation President Jimmy Parnell.
Members of the Alabama Farmers Federation Communications Department recently attended the National Press Photographers Association Advanced Storytelling Workshop in Colorado.

Thanks to the intensive workshop, communications staffers Mary Wilson, Kevin Worthington and Maggie Edwards are better prepared to tell farmers' stories in exciting, inventive ways through Simply Southern TV and Neighbors magazine.
Quick Clicks

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides grants through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program. Click here to read more.

  • The Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station has launched Auburn's Weather Exchange by Medius Ag, LLC. This brings a new age of weather data sharing. Sign up here.

  • The Supreme Court is set to make a huge decision regarding regulations in the pork industry and Proposition 12. Click here to read more.
Events & Deadlines
  • Oct. 25 - Poultry Producers Meeting in Auburn at the National Poultry Technology Center



  • Nov. 1 - Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Annual Conference & Trade Show registration opens. The conference is Feb. 9-10 in Gulf Shores.

  • Nov. 4 - Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation annual Skeet Shoot at Selwood Farms in Alpine


  • Nov. 14-15 - Alfa Youth Leadership Conference in Columbiana at 4-H Center



Simply Southern TV Season 8
Enjoy rewatching favorite moments from the second half of Simply Southern’s Season 8.

Oct. 22/23/26: Toomer’s Coffee, Dayspring Dairy, a Down To Earth Ask A Farmer bout Conserving Natural Resources with Bullock County’s Brian Agnew, and a Southern Bite recipe for Sheet Pan Brown Sugar Garlic Pork Loin Filet, sponsored by Alabama Pork Producers

Oct. 29/30 and Nov. 2: Return to Flagg Mountain, tablescapes with May Eason, high input costs for farmers with Macon County’s Shep Morris, and a Southern Bite recipe for Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Shows air over the weekend on six broadcast stations and on Wednesdays on national cable network RFD-TV. To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”
Let's Talk Dairy
On this week’s Alabama AgCast, hear from Alabama Farmers Federation Dairy Division Director Colton Christjohn as he has a conversation with the owner of Blue Ribbon Dairy, Michaela Sanders.