The theme of the day is Hurricane Sally. As this hurricane made landfall exactly 16 years to the day of the benchmark Hurricane Ivan, our coastal region and southern portions of the state are experiencing devastating effects and monumental rainfall. Our thoughts are will all those who face her path— but please know that the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is here for you. Our disaster relief fund, as part of our foundation, is ready and waiting. We invite and encourage producers to call our office or email one of our many staffers following farm assessments. (334) 265-1867 Stay safe out there.
Alabama Agriculture Stabilization Program
Gov. Kay Ivey has 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. Commissioner Rick Pate reminds everyone that the Cattle Producer Applications for the Alabama Agriculture Stabilization Program (AASP) will be available online beginning Tuesday Sept. 8, 2020, at 9 a.m. Applicants should visit crf.alabama.gov or agi.alabama.gov to apply.
In order to be eligible for cattle relief funds:
- You must be an Alabama resident
- You must be able to provide documentation that you sold cattle during the date range of April 16, 2020 through May 15, 2020. Slaughter cattle and bulls do not qualify for payment.
- If claiming payment for Dairy Production, you must have been eligible for USDA’s CFAP program for Dairy Production and you must provide the total amount of the CFAP payment you received for Dairy Production.
- Need a copy of your W-9
- Require successful submission of this application and signed certification and assurances form
- Must submit bank account information for electronic payment
- Must provide of a voided check or a memo from your bank with account number and routing number.
Maximum “per head” payments for beef cattle:
Less than 600 lbs. x $69/head
600-900 lbs. x $106/head
Fed cattle (Fats) (over 900 lbs.) x $181/head
If you have any questions regarding eligibility, please call 334-240-7100 or email: aasp-questions@agi.alabama.gov
Foundation Scholarships Now Open
Applications for the 2021-2022 Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships are now open online at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. The ACF is proud to award over $65,000 in scholarships annually to Alabama’s youth in livestock and those who are the children or grandchildren of longtime members. We offer a variety of scholarships with a range of requirements— there’s truly something to fit any student! We appreciate those who purchase the Cowboy vanity car tag that help fund these scholarships, as well as the generous families who have endowed scholarships through our foundation. Applications CLOSE on November 6 at midnight, so be sure your favorite student(s) submits today!
Beef Up the Blood Supply
This year, the ACA is going to “Beef Up the Blood Supply” throughout Alabama with LifeSouth Blood Bank. To celebrate Beef Month, we will be hosting a week of blood donations across Alabama starting in Dothan on October 12! If you live in the Dothan area, have blood, and love a good steak please reach out to us about donating blood that day and you will receive a discount on a Conestoga Steak for your donation. Then the beef mobile will be driving to Decatur Morgan Hospital in north Alabama for two straight days of blood donation and giving away steak sandwiches and beef meal vouchers. We will return to the MOOseum on October 15 for blood donations in the Montgomery area and then we will wrap up the week at the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association center in Troy, AL. Please contact our staffer, Ali Cantrell, about getting signed up for these blood drives if they are near your area!
Save the Date- Beef Checkoff Task Force Meeting
The Alabama Beef Checkoff Task Force meeting will be held Thursday, October 29 at the Cattlemen’s building in Montgomery. ANY cattlemen in Alabama interested in attending this meeting is welcome to do so by contacting the ACA office at (334) 265-1867. It is a way to get completely involved in the process and having a say in how beef checkoff dollars are spent in the state. The ideas that come out of the task force meeting will be put into a marketing plan and presented to the Beef Checkoff Council for approval and budgeting. Contact an ACA officer or the office today to get more information on the meeting.
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