Rounding Out Regional Meetings
The month of June hosted five out of six 2023 Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts, sending staff to Decatur, Fayette, Selma, Troy and Lineville. Throughout the regional meeting season, we were thrilled to interact with more than 600 cattle producers who attended for fellowship, fun and Cattlemen’s updates. This meeting series would not be possible without support from our generous sponsors, so join us in thanking Agoro Carbon Alliance, First South Farm Credit, Alabama Livestock Marketing Association, ENVU and the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. We would also be remised if we didn’t highlight the County Cattlemen’s cook teams who brought the BEEF to these meetings. Big thank you to the cattlemen of Morgan, Fayette, Dallas, Pike and Clay counties! Until next year…
Membership Report: OVER THE TOP Edition
Today, June 30 is the final day to submit membership for the Over the Top County deadline to earn your president an iconic red coat! Going “over the top” means recruiting more members in a county chapter than there were in the previous year. The numbers are still rolling in and the final list won’t be established until after the holiday weekend after all online submissions are processed, but SO FAR we are thrilled to report have 24 county chapters who have achieved Over the Top Status! They are: Barbour, Calhoun, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Cullman, Dale, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, Shelby, St Clair, Talladega, and Wilcox counties.
Big congrats to these counties and THANK YOU for your incredible grassroots efforts! Membership is the lifeblood of our organization, and we wouldn’t be who we are without you. With that, we are signing off in June with 9,550 members, just barely short of our 10,000 member goal at only halfway through the year! Stay tuned for the FINAL report in July.
2023 Alabama Beef Checkoff Referendum
Alabama Law (Act No. 280, Legislature of Alabama 1961) requires a statewide vote of cattle owners every five years to continue the voluntary Alabama beef checkoff program. On August 24, 2023, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will conduct this referendum from 8AM – 4PM at all County Extension Offices statewide. Learn more about the Alabama Beef Checkoff at www.BamaBeef.org/Vote.
Who can vote? All Alabama cattle owners, no age restrictions apply.
When is the vote? Thursday, August 24 // 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where can I vote? County Extension Offices (Click here to find your county office)
The Alabama Beef Checkoff Program is a self-help program for cattle producers that works to increase consumer beef demand and provide opportunities for youth development, research and educational programs for cattlemen in the state. The program is not mandatory as producers who do not wish to participate can request refund on the state beef checkoff assessment.
Welcome, Josie!
In June, Josie Jones joined the team at ACA as our Director of Consumer Outreach. A Bibb County native and Mississippi State University graduate, Josie will coordinate statewide programming focused on educating consumers about beef as part of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Her responsibilities will include working with partners to host events across the state – including BEEF 101, the Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cookoff, and October Beef Month – and promoting the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand.
Her email is Josie@bamabeef.org— reach out to her for all your beef promotion needs!
Redrawing Alabama’s Congressional District Map
Governor Kay Ivey called a Special Session of the Alabama Legislature, beginning July 17, to redraw Alabama’s congressional district map. On June 8, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ruling of a lower court which claimed Alabama’s current map— which only features one majority Black district out of seven— violates the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The federal courts have given the State of Alabama until July 21 to submit the drawing for a new congressional map. While redistricting is the only topic of the special session, your team of ACA lobbyists will be playing a watchdog role throughout the legislative gathering. The Legislature’s Committee on Reapportionment met Tuesday, June 27 for the first public hearing on the matter to to discuss proposed map renderings.
Boys State Talks Agribusiness at ACA
On Friday, June 2 we had the opportunity to host delegates of Boys State as we offered insight to Alabama’s agribusiness industry! Joined by our friends from Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, Alabama Forestry Association and Alabama Agribusiness Council, we enjoyed sharing about our respective organizations, industry challenges, and fielding excellent questions from these young men.
AJCA Round-Up
The Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association is hosting its 17th Annual Round-Up, July 20-23, 2023 in Montgomery! This Alabama Beef Checkoff-funded event features 15 youth cattle shows and contests— including a heifer show, steer show, bull show, showmanship, cattle judging, cattle judging, skill-a-thon, salesmanship, photography, poster, golden pitchfork, record book, ad design, battle of the beef, team grooming and volleyball.
Learn more about the event and register your junior cattleman at https://cvent.me/d8K9dD. Registration and AJCA director applications close TOMORROW July 1, 2023!
Beef for Father’s Day
Since 1955, the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association has promoted “Beef for Father’s Day” through a variety of campaigns.
From stickers to placemats, and roadway signs to restaurant table tents, “Beef for Father’s Day” promotions date back to the earliest years of the ACWA— formerly known as the Alabama CowBelles Association.
In June, the time-honored tradition of presenting Alabama’s governor with a platter of steaks at a proclamation signing carried on, and the ladies of the ACWA were there, just like they have been for nearly 70 years!
AADA
The Alabama Agricultural Development Authority (AADA) is now accepting applications for low interest loans intended to support meat and poultry processing businesses in Alabama. Loans can be used to purchase or construct new facilities, expand existing facilities, purchase new equipment, cover start-up costs and hire additional employees.
Phase I applications are now open and will close September 14. For more information and loan application details, visit www.agi.alabama.gov/news/usda/mpilp.
Digital Beef Promotion Package Touts Big Reach for Beef
The Alabama Beef Checkoff partners annually with Alabama Media Group (including AL.com) to promote beef on their digital assets through display advertising, sports packages and email services. At our midyear check-in, we were proud to see that thus far, our Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner advertising efforts had garnered more than 1 million online impressions and over 5,100 hours of in-screen exposure time, driving more than 1,300 unique users to www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. This type of exposure translates to more than 612,000 30-second television ads— talk about bang for your buck! Also this week, we launched a summer grilling e-blast campaign that went to 35,500 verified Alabamian email inboxes, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Stay tuned on those reporting numbers and be on the lookout for our AL.com Crimson Tide and AL.com Auburn Tigers Facebook promotions to begin soon, brought to you by BEEF!
Alabama Pasture to Rail
On Saturday, June 17, the ACA hosted an educational event regarding the 2023 Alabama Pasture to Rail Program, managed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and chaired by Regional Extension Agent Rickey Hudson. During the event, attendees learned about the retained ownership program offered by Extension, as well as risk management strategies and herd health. To learn more about Alabama Pasture to Rail, contact Rickey Hudson or visit the ACES website or contact your local Extension agent.
SLE News
In June, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition was proud to sponsor and present awards to youth who won the Livestock Evaluation contest at the Alabama FFA 95th Annual State Convention. President Frank Ellis and staffer Sarah Hunter recognized many faces in the winner’s circle who have competed at the SLE Livestock Judging contest in recent years. Following Father’s Day weekend, Hunter also attended the Alabama Agribusiness Council annual meeting where she joined more than 100 members and guests of the organization to network and receive industry updates. Topics discussed included workforce development, state and federal legislative policies affecting ag, and educational initiatives at Auburn and Tuskegee Universities.
Please do not forget that the SLE has two beautiful young ladies who represent the agriculture industry and would be proud to assist at your next rodeo or ag event. You can book an appearance from Miss SLE Rodeo Ada Grace Stacey and Junior Miss SLE Rodeo Allyson Singleton by contacting SLE Royalty Director Victoria Suggs: victoriajeffcoat@yahoo.com
The SLE leadership team is making exciting decisions about the 2024 SLE Rodeo, so be sure to follow the SLE Rodeo Facebook page (@SLE Rodeo) for announcements that are coming soon!
Black Vulture Depredation Sub-Permit
Livestock producers experiencing depredation from black vultures may now apply for a no cost Black Vulture Depredation Sub-Permit through the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. All approved applicants will be allowed to take up to three black vultures as long as the statewide take number has not exceeded 500. Approved applicants must report each take within 48 hours. If 500 vultures are harvested in the state, applicants will receive an email notifying them that no more vultures may be taken during the permit period. For more information, visit agi.alabama.gov.