Month: April 2021

What. A. Week! Spring fever is setting in as our schedules are on fire with activities. After a year like 2020, we’ll take it! We’re also giddy with joy as we’ve got something big to celebrate at the ACA this week. Keep reading to learn more!

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Welcome, Baby Kennedy!

It is with the utmost joy that we announce the safe and healthy arrival of Baby Beau Hawkins Kennedy, the newborn son of ACA’s Jessica Kennedy! Beau Hawkins made his arrival on Tuesday weighing in at 7lbs 4oz, and Mama Jessica is doing well, also! So far he looks like Jessica made over, down to the curly black hair, and we are thrilled to add the newest Beef Baby to the ACA herd. Join us in congratulating Jessica, her husband, Trey, and big sister, Trinity! Take a look at this cutie…

Alabama Junior & Senior High School Beef Cook-Off

This past Saturday at Jefferson State Community College’s Culinary & Hospitality Institute in Birmingham, the ACA hosted the Annual Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-off! We had over 20 students registered for this event and they were able to participate in educational sessions to teach them more about the beef industry. They met with Registered Dietician, Elesha Ergle, to talk about nutrition of beef, Chef Todd Jackson of Jefferson State Community College to learn more about the breakdown of a whole Tenderloin, and with ACA staffer, Ali Cantrell, to learn the Pasture to Plate story.

The winners for the contest are as follows: 

Overall Best in Beef

Steak Frites prepared by Bethanie Cross of Limestone County

Senior North Division Winners:

1st- Bethanie Cross, Steak Frites, Limestone Co.

2nd- Denisen Justice, Steak Fajitas w Pepper Poppers, Shelby Co.

3rd- James Nichols, Balsamic Glazed Steak Rolls, Calhoun Co.

Senior South Division Winners:

1st- Jessica Criswell, Queso Stuffed Bell Peppers, Washington Co. 

2nd- Patricia Williams, Teriyaki Steak Skewers, Russell Co.

3rd- Carrie Salter, Philly Cheesesteak Ring, Baldwin Co. 

Junior North Division Winners:

1st- Caroline Green, Seared Steak Salad, Shelby Co.

2nd- Carsean Machristie, Taco Throwdown, Calhoun Co.

3rd- Peyton Parrish, Beef Enchiladas, Franklin Co. 

Junior South Division Winenrs:

1st- Lauren Glass, Grilled Ribeye Steak, Washington Co.

2nd- Daniel Navarro, Spinach Mozzerella Stuffed Flank Steak, Baldwin Co.

Senior Division Classroom Award:

Limestone County Career Technical Center

Junior Division Classroom Award: 

Washington County High School

Census Celebration- Alabama Counts!

The big news of the week for the state is the official report being released from the US Census. Credit to our great state for getting the work done to complete the census because the direct result was maintaining seven congressional seats in Washington DC! Alabama’s official population count came in at 5,030,053. Now that these results have been released, the legislature can work toward redistricting both state and congressional legislative district lines.

Junior Activities, Coming Up!

ACA Director of Field Services Morgan Desselle is hard at work preparing for the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association(AJCA) Round-Up that is just around the corner. The AJCA Round-Up packet and registration will be live on May 17. Round-Up registration will close July 2. The AJCA Round-Up is more than a calf show. This event is full of educational contest and family fun! We welcome anyone who would like to support our youth by being a spectator. The Round-Up also host the AJCA District Director elections. If you know of a young motivated AJCA member from the ages 15-21 encourage them to apply to the AJCA Board of Directors. The AJCA Board serves the ACA and AWCA by volunteering their time to help out at beef promotional and educational events through out the year. This is a great way for youth to learn more about the industry and connect with industry leaders.

AJCA is excited to host two ZOOM meeting opportunities for county leadership looking to grow their junior cattlemen’s involvement. Join us May 25 or 27 for an hour of discussion with junior leaders across the state! They will share their tips, tricks, and experiences on how to engage youth at a county level.  To register or learn more visit our youth event calendar at https://www.bamabeef.org/events/youth.

Hosting Leadership Huntsville

ACA President Clay Kennamer will host Leadership Huntsville at his farm this Friday, which has around 40 community leaders involved. The group will tour his operation and gain insight on his role as Cattlemen’s President. The group is spending 3 days scouring North Alabama to learn about many industries and we are happy they included agriculture on their trip!

YCLP News

We are one month out from welcoming our YCLP Class VIII to Montgomery to kick off their first session. Session 1 will be full of leadership and networking. The class will be joining in on the Spring Board Meeting, attending farm tours, and participating in our BEEF 201 program at the Auburn Meat Lab. 

YCLP Alumni from all graduated classes we invited you to join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch! The reunion will give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion.

Board Reminder: Save the Date!

The ACA Executive Committee will meet Thursday for a business meeting. A few items of business will be taken care of prior to the Spring Board of Directors Meeting taking place next month. Reminder, board members, we will see you on May 13 for that meeting!

Gear Up for Beef Promos

This week, staffer Ali Cantrell is working on beef promotion for the rest of 2021. She will be traveling to Birmingham to meet with local television stations about airing cooking segments throughout the year and with Associated Grocers of the South to discuss beef promotion within the retail store. Kayla Greer is also putting a stamp on a billboard campaign firing up this summer!

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

By Elesha Ergle, RDN

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Spring has sprung and busy schedules are filling up. Grocery lists get shorter because it’s easier to grab some drive-thru on your way home from a late night at the ballpark or a long day of working on the farm. While planning and meal prep are all things that help keep our daily diets more balanced, beef can provide some quick and easy recipes to keep it simple and nutritious. 

On the evenings where cooking is something you can do, take time to double recipes that can be frozen in for quick reheating. Classic Meatloaf, Baked Italian Meatballs, or Farm-ous Beef Lasagna are great recipes to double up and freeze individual portions for use later. Frozen meatballs are great to keep on-hand; just microwave and add some canned marinara sauce for quick meatball subs or spaghetti and meatballs.If you need some help reviving your leftovers, Beef It’s What’s For Dinner has an entire collection of recipes to keep you going while saving you time and reducing food waste. 

If you’re springtime has you busy knocking the pollen off your grill to get it going, beef is always a great addition to your fiery flare. Before your next BBQ, take a refresher course in beef safety with this short informational video. One of the easiest reminders for food safety is to keep hot foods hot (135℉ or greater), and cold foods cold (40℉ or less). If you’re all set for grilling, nothing beats the perfect steak. If you need step-by-step guidance on grilling steaks, this post from Simply Recipes is a great guide. 

No matter what your April brings, don’t be fooled…beef is the premier protein for your everyday meals! Whether you’re busy at the farm or chasing travel ball dreams, beef has you covered every day. For more recipes, and information on beef, from pasture to plate, visit Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.

Happy Springtime, everyone!

This article was funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. Brought to you by Alabama beef farmers and ranchers. Photo courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Things are firing up around the ACA as we head into some busy summer months, and we are thrilled to have a full calendar on the docket! After last year, we will never take busyness for granted again. We hope you enjoy this week’s update and that it helps keep you in the loop with all things ACA. Before we invite you to get started, we wanted to shoutout a faithful reader of the blog, Regional Vice President and Choctaw County Cattleman Johnny Gibson. Mr. Johnny is top-notch, and never misses a weekly blog update. Lately, however, he has been reading our updates from Arkansas where he is receiving cancer treatment. We invite you to join us in praying for Mr. Johnny and his wife, Henrietta, as they walk through this journey. Thanks for all you do!

Now, please continue reading to learn more about what we’re up to at the ACA this week.

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Youth Field Day Success

Our Spring Production Field Day was nothing short of a great success! We would like to thank our host, Quail Valley Farms in Blount County, for showing us true Southern hospitality. Youth of Alabama got the chance to learn about livestock judging, social media and photography, and forages. Jason P’Pool, Associate Extension Professor, did an excellent job talking with our youth on how to judge a production beef animal. Quail Valley Farms provided us with top notch Santa Gertrudis and Brangus cattle for our youth to evaluate. Participants then broke into two groups to have some hands on training. ACA staffer, Kayla Greer, talked with our youth on the do’s and don’ts of agriculture social media. She also gave some tips and tricks for when they are behind the camera! Regional Extension Agent Gerry Thompson did a great hands-on education course with the participants on hay testing and soil sampling.

A special thanks, goes to Blount County Cattlemen’s for providing over 50 youth participants a tasty hamburger for lunch! The youth then wrapped up the sunny Saturday at Quail Valley Farms with a farm tour given by farm manager, Chris Heptinstall, and owner, Ricky Cleveland.

Welcome, Senators!

Thursday morning the ACA and Alabama Poultry and Egg Association will host the Senate at the ACA building for breakfast. This is a great opportunity to have all of the Senators in our building for beef and to network with them. Senators look forward to this every year as it takes place towards to the end of the session!

On the Menu: Beef Cook-Off

The Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cookoff will be hosted at Jefferson State Community College this Saturday, April 24. We have over 20 Family and Consumer Science students from all over the state of Alabama registered to compete for the title of Overall Best Beef Dish! While judging is taking place, students will meet with Chef Todd Jackson on how to break down a whole Tenderloin, discuss the importance of adding beef to a healthy lifestyle with Registered Dietician, Elesha Ergle, and learn the pasture to plate story from ACA staffer Ali Cantrell.

Membership Update

County leaders, please send us leadership changes for 2021 to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy. We want to ensure all mailings and correspondence are getting to correct individuals in your county who are in leadership positions! Speaking of mailings, the second round of membership notices are hitting mailboxes, so be on the lookout for renewals, and get those in the system! If you’ve got upcoming events, please also share them with our staff so we can put them on our calendar and potentially attend.

AU Women in Ag

On Wednesday, ACA Executive VP Erin Beasley attended the AU College of Agriculture’s “Women in Agriculture” event and served on a panel to address attendees. The event brought about 100 women together including students, faculty, staff and industry professionals. Panelists shared their experiences about their roles in agriculture as well as field questions from attendees.

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program News

We are one month out from welcoming our YCLP Class VIII to Montgomery to kick off their first session. Session 1 will be full of leadership and networking. The class will be joining in on the Spring Board Meeting, attending farm tours, and participating in our BEEF 201 program at the Auburn Meat Lab. 

YCLP Alumni from all graduated classes we invited you to join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch! The reunion will give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion.

AJCA Upcoming Events

AJCA is excited to host two ZOOM meeting opportunities for county leadership looking to grow their junior cattlemen’s involvement. Join us May 25 or 27 for an hour of discussion with junior leaders across the state! They will share their tips, tricks, and experiences on how to engage youth at a county level.  To register or learn more visit our youth event calendar at https://www.bamabeef.org/events/youth.

AJCA Round-Up is just around the corner. Staffer Morgan Desselle is working on putting the last final touches to the entry packet before she releases all the details next month. Registration will open May 17and close July 2. There will be exciting new things added to Round-Up this year. Make sure to check over the packet for all the new things coming to AJCA! Don’t worry we will keep with the tradition on some of our events as we welcome the AJCA members and their families for the 15^th Annual AJCA Round-Up July 15-18!

CFAP Info: Here’s What You Need to Know

Got questions about CFAPand the various programs administering COVID-19 relief dollars to cattle producers? Here’s what you need to know. 

There’s three parts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s push to bring relief and assistance to producers who are struggling due to the pandemic: CFAP 1 payments, CFAP 2 payments, and the newly-created Pandemic Assistance to Producers. Let’s go over them one by one.

CFAP 1 payments have already gone out, but USDA is now increasing the rates for producers based on the number of cattle in inventory between April 16-May 14, 2020. The rates are now as follows: 

Feeder Cattle, less than 600 lbs  $7.00/head

Feeder Cattle, 600 lbs or more  $25.50/head

Slaughter Cattle, fed cattle  $63.00/head

Slaughter Cattle, mature cattle  $14.75/head

All Other Cattle  $17.25/head

“Am I eligible for the increase?” YES, you are if you previously applied for CFAP 1. “Do I need to take any action to get the funds?” NO, producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive the increased payment rate.

CFAP 2. The original application window was September 21-December 11, 2020. However, FSA is now accepting *new* and *modified* applications for CFAP 2. This won’t impact everyone, but it’s important for cattle producers who may have missed the original deadline! To see the full eligibility requirements and payment details for CFAP 2, visit farmers.gov/cfap2/livestock. 

The third and final program to be aware of is the new Pandemic Assistance to Producers. The NCBA policy team is tracking this initiative closely. While the new program still needs to undergo a formal rulemaking process at USDA, it’s our understanding that they intend to open it up to producers this spring. The program will include additional COVID-19 aid for producers, and other efforts to strengthen the resiliency of the national food supply. We will keep pushing hard to have practical measures like the RAMP UP Act implemented. We will continue to keep you up to date as we receive additional information on federal COVID-19 assistance efforts for cattle producers. In the meantime, reach out to us at (202) 347-0228 if you have questions!

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Springtime is here, and our calendar shows! With items filling up our to-do lists, you can bet that while you’re busy in the barns, hayfields and pastures, your ACA staff is busy in the workplace. We’re planning and executing beef promotion, youth development events and educational opportunities. We’re putting out a magazine; we’re playing watchdog for you on the legislative front. There’s no shortage of work around here— and we know that’s something you all know a thing or two about. Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening at the ACA this week.

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Youth Spring Production Field Day – This Weekend!

We look forward to welcoming all the juniors who registered for the Field Day this Saturday! The 2021 Spring Youth Production Field Day will be held on April 17 at Quail Valley Farms in Oneonta. The Alabama State Beef Checkoff is providing a chance for our youth to become educated on topics such as cattle judging, foraging, and marketing! Registration has closed for this event, but walk-up guests are welcome. Learn more at:  www.bamabeef.org/fieldday. If you can’t make it this time, make sure to save the date for our fall field day in Andalusia on September 18!

Annual Beef Cook-Off, Coming Right Up!

The Annual Alabama Jr. & Sr. High School Beef Cook-Off will NEXT WEEKEND at a new location! Jefferson State Community College has been gracious enough to host the Beef Cook-Off and we thank the culinary education staff for the support. We are extending the registration deadline for those counties that have not been able to host a cook-off yet.This event will be held at Health Sciences and Culinary Institute building at Jefferson State and registration is FREE! Please contact Ali Cantrell if you have any questions.

YCLP Update

We are one month out from welcoming our YCLP Class VIII to Montgomery to kick off their first session. Session 1 will be full of leadership and networking. The class will be joining in on the Spring Board Meeting, attending farm tours, and participating in our BEEF 201 program at the Auburn Meat Lab. 

YCLP Alumni from all graduated classes we invited you to join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch! The reunion will give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion.

Membership Update

The membership total o’ the day is: 7,143 members of the ACA! County leaders, please send us leadership changes for 2021 to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy. We want to ensure all mailings and correspondence are getting to correct individuals in your county who are in leadership positions! Speaking of mailings, the second round of membership notices are hitting mailboxes, so be on the lookout for renewals, and get those in the system! If you’ve got upcoming events, please also share them with our staff so we can put them on our calendar and potentially attend!

AJCA Upcoming Events

AJCA is excited to host two ZOOM meeting opportunities for county leadership looking to grow their junior cattlemen’s involvement. Join us May 25 or 27 for an hour of discussion with junior leaders across the state! They will share their tips, tricks, and experiences on how to engage youth at a county level.  To register or learn more visit our youth event calendar at https://www.bamabeef.org/events/youth.

AJCA Round-Up is just around the corner. Staffer Morgan Desselle is working on putting the last final touches to the entry packet before she releases all the details next month. Registration will open May 17 and close July 2. There will be exciting new things added to Round-Up this year. Make sure to check over the packet for all the new things coming to AJCA! Don’t worry we will keep with the tradition on some of our events as we welcome the AJCA members and their families for the 15^th Annual AJCA Round-Up July 15-18!

CFAP Info: Here’s What You Need to Know

Got questions about CFAP and the various programs administering COVID-19 relief dollars to cattle producers? Here’s what you need to know. 

There’s three parts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s push to bring relief and assistance to producers who are struggling due to the pandemic: CFAP 1 payments, CFAP 2 payments, and the newly-created Pandemic Assistance to Producers. Let’s go over them one by one.

CFAP 1 payments have already gone out, but USDA is now increasing the rates for producers based on the number of cattle in inventory between April 16-May 14, 2020. The rates are now as follows: 

Feeder Cattle, less than 600 lbs  $7.00/head

Feeder Cattle, 600 lbs or more  $25.50/head

Slaughter Cattle, fed cattle  $63.00/head

Slaughter Cattle, mature cattle  $14.75/head

All Other Cattle  $17.25/head

“Am I eligible for the increase?” YES, you are if you previously applied for CFAP 1. “Do I need to take any action to get the funds?” NO, producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive the increased payment rate.

CFAP 2. The original application window was September 21-December 11, 2020. However, FSA is now accepting *new* and *modified* applications for CFAP 2. This won’t impact everyone, but it’s important for cattle producers who may have missed the original deadline! To see the full eligibility requirements and payment details for CFAP 2, visit farmers.gov/cfap2/livestock. 

The third and final program to be aware of is the new Pandemic Assistance to Producers. The NCBA policy team is tracking this initiative closely. While the new program still needs to undergo a formal rulemaking process at USDA, it’s our understanding that they intend to open it up to producers this spring. The program will include additional COVID-19 aid for producers, and other efforts to strengthen the resiliency of the national food supply. We will keep pushing hard to have practical measures like the RAMP UP Act implemented. We will continue to keep you up to date as we receive additional information on federal COVID-19 assistance efforts for cattle producers. In the meantime, reach out to us at (202) 347-0228 if you have questions!

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!

Thanks for reading this week’s post! Until we post again, we want to remind you that you can stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook or Instagram.

Welcome, April. Welcome, spring! It’s a beautiful time of year as green grass appears all over Alabama’s farm-scapes. While that green forage fools some into thinking a cattlemen’s agenda may clear out with less feeding to do, boy, we all know that’s not the truth! We’re looking at tightening fences as wondering cows start to eyeball that ungrazed roadside grass, cutting and baling hay, working and weaning calves, watering where there’s no natural sources and so much more. On top of that, the warmer weather and the reduced COVID numbers have people, groups, and events ready to GO! It’s a busy time of year for you, which means it’s a busy time of year for us. Keep reading to learn more about what’s happening at the ACA.

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Bama Beef Events Calendar

The online Bama Beef Events Calendar is getting a list of new events daily. As Extension begins to normalize, educational programs are popping up across the state. County cattlemen’s chapters are beginning to think about meeting. Sales are lining up. Steak sandwich sales are firing up, and Junior Cattlemen events eyeball those free summer months! Not only that, but summertime means grilling season. We all know that beef is king of the grill, so summer beef promotions are also firing up! Make it a daily task to check out our calendar and keep an eye on events coming near you!

Speaking of events, this weekend ACA’s Morgan Desselle and Erin Beasley will stop by the Clay and Marshall County meetings! We look forward to seeing cattlemen in those counties.

Welcome, Junior Angus Association

On Saturday, April 10. The MOOseum will be hosting a private tour for the Junior Angus Association for their “Raising the Bar Conference.” Eighty Junior Angus members from across the United States will be coming to our building to learn more about the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Beef Checkoff and how we raise beef cattle right here in Sweet Home. On Thursday, Erin Beasley will join the group for a discussion about the ACA and the Alabama Beef Checkoff program. Raising the Bar is a three-day conference that builds stronger leaders within state associations, create regional relationships, while preparing juniors for the future. They will be hosting workshops and farm tours around the state to learn more about Alabama agriculture operations.

Membership Update

County leaders, please send us leadership changes for 2021 to Membership Coordinator Jessica Kennedy. We want to ensure all mailings and correspondence are getting to correct individuals in your county who are in leadership positions! Speaking of mailings, the second round of membership notices will be hitting mailboxes late next week so be on the lookout for renewals, and get those in the system! If you’ve got upcoming events, please also share them with our staff so we can put them on our calendar and potentially attend!

Hosting Congressman Mike Rogers

On Tuesday, the ACA hosted a small fundraising brunch for U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers of Alabama’s third congressional district. While at the building, Rep. Rogers gave an update from D.C., explained some upcoming changes within the new Administration and answered many questions regarding armed services, taxation, and the reopening of the country post-COVID. We appreciate him stopping by and being a friend fo the cattle industry!

All You Need to Know About CFAP

Got questions about CFAP and the various programs administering COVID-19 relief dollars to cattle producers? Here’s what you need to know.

There’s three parts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s push to bring relief and assistance to producers who are struggling due to the pandemic: CFAP 1 payments, CFAP 2 payments, and the newly-created Pandemic Assistance to Producers. Let’s go over them one by one.

CFAP 1 payments have already gone out, but USDA is now increasing the rates for producers based on the number of cattle in inventory between April 16-May 14, 2020. The rates are now as follows:

Feeder Cattle, less than 600 lbs $7.00/head

Feeder Cattle, 600 lbs or more $25.50/head

Slaughter Cattle, fed cattle $63.00/head

Slaughter Cattle, mature cattle $14.75/head

All Other Cattle $17.25/head

“Am I eligible for the increase?” YES, you are if you previously applied for CFAP 1. “Do I need to take any action to get the funds?” NO, producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive the increased payment rate.

CFAP 2. The original application window was September 21-December 11, 2020. However, FSA is now accepting *new* and *modified* applications for CFAP 2. This won’t impact everyone, but it’s important for cattle producers who may have missed the original deadline! To see the full eligibility requirements and payment details for CFAP 2, visit farmers.gov/cfap2/livestock.

The third and final program to be aware of is the new Pandemic Assistance to Producers. The NCBA policy team is tracking this initiative closely. While the new program still needs to undergo a formal rulemaking process at USDA, it’s our understanding that they intend to open it up to producers this spring. The program will include additional COVID-19 aid for producers, and other efforts to strengthen the resiliency of the national food supply. We will keep pushing hard to have practical measures like the RAMP UP Act implemented. We will continue to keep you up to date as we receive additional information on federal COVID-19 assistance efforts for cattle producers. In the meantime, reach out to us at (202) 347-0228 if you have questions!

Spring Production Field Day

Calling all youth ages 21 and younger! Join us in Blount County for a day full of education and fun! Spring Youth Production Field Day will be held on April 17 at Quail Valley Farms in Oneonta. The Alabama State Beef Checkoff is providing a chance for our youth to become educated on topics such as cattle judging, foraging, and marketing! Registration for this hands on field day closes Friday April 9 at noon. Register today at www.bamabeef.org/fieldday

Highlighting the Alabama Beef Checkoff

ACA Director of Education and Outreach Ali Cantrell spoke to a marketing class at Samford University on Tuesday, April 6 about how the Beef Checkoff program utilizes our marketing plan. She explained both National and State checkoff programs and what we do to help promote beef throughout the year. These students learned a lot about the checkoff and how the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association represents beef producers in the state. We appreciate Linda Godfrey, a Samford University dietetics professor and Alabama Beef Checkoff Council member, for coordinating this talk.

YCLP Update

YCLP Council members met yesterday for a meeting to discuss upcoming events and applications for the YCLP Council seats Class IV and VII. We will be hosting our first YCLP Reunion! YCLP Alumni from all graduated classes we invited you to join us May 21-22 at Kick Back Ranch! The reunion will give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and meet other young cattlemen. Kick Back Ranch is a family-friendly destination featuring swimming pools, fishing, canoeing, water slides, playgrounds and much more in addition to a variety of western-themed, unique lodging for your family to enjoy! They have offered us a great weekend rate for this event, and we encourage you and your family to make a trip of this reunion. Register today at https://www.bamabeef.org/reunion.

Congratulations to the 2021-2022 Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council: