Alabama Cattlemen's Association

Bama Beef News Update | June 2023

Welcome to the Bama Beef Blog, where you can check out the latest monthly news from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program and the Southeastern Livestock Expo. Keep reading for more info!

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 95^th 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.

Bama Beef News Update | May 2023

Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts

On Monday, May 22, we hosted our first of many Regional Cattlemen’s Cookouts across the state! We had an excellent turnout for an evening of fellowship and updates in Atmore. We appreciate everyone who joined us, especially our speaker, Regional Extension Agent Ken Kelley.

It’s not too late to join in on a meeting near you! Join us for dinner, fellowship and an update from your state Cattlemen’s Association.

June 6, 2023: North Alabama, Ingalls Pavilion Event Center, Decatur
June 12, 2023: Northwest Alabama, Fayette Multipurpose Complex, Fayette
June 22, 2023: West Central Alabama, YNOT Entertainment Center, Selma
June 27, 2023: Southeast Alabama, Pike County Cattleman’s Park, Troy
June 29, 2023: East Alabama, Clay-Central High School, Lineville

WHO CAN ATTEND THIS EVENT?

(1) Current Alabama Cattlemen’s Association members.

(2) Anyone who needs to renew their ACA membership.

(3) Anyone who would like to join the ACA.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ATTEND? If you’re a current ACA member, this event is FREE to enjoy! If you need to renew your membership or join the ACA, you can simply pay your membership dues at the door, and we’ll be glad to have you join us! Meals are FREE to current ACA members. Guest plates are $25/adult, $15/child.

Learn More » tinyurl.com/RegionalCookouts2023

RSVP » tinyurl.com/RegionalCookouts-RSVP

Membership Update

The ACA is proud to represent 8,929 members thus far in 2023, which means we are only 1,077 members from the state going Over the Top this year! Don’t forget— the Over the Top deadline to earn your county president an iconic ACA red coat is June 30, 2023. Counties who have gone Over the Top in 2023 to date are: Conecuh, Elmore, Geneva, Jefferson, Lowndes, Marengo, Russell, St Clair, and Wilcox counties.

Did we mention our recruitment prizes? If you join as a new member of the ACA, your name automatically goes into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, sponsored by John Deere, SunSouth and TriGreen Equipment. But wait! That’s not all. If you are responsible for recruiting a new member, your name also qualifies for the drawing and begins your journey toward joining our Top Hand Club— which awards exclusive prizes to recruiters (left). The prize for Top Recruiter is 10 Priefert panels! Your membership matters to your county chapter. Each year, one lucky chapter who goes “Over the Top” from the previous membership year qualifies for a drawing to win a Priefert squeeze chute, sponsored by Fuller Supply Co. and Priefert Ranch Equipment. The county chapter with the largest percentage membership growth year over year is awarded a Priefert head gate. Help your local chapter roll home with a tool all members can benefit from!

Legislative Update

The Cattlemen’s Building was buzzing early on May 3 as biscuits, pancakes, omelets, and beef were being prepared and served at the annual legislative breakfast. Hosted by ACA and Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, this breakfast is a highlight of the session for legislators. Senators Gerald Allen, Chris Elliott, Jack Williams and David Sessions cooked and welcomed a large crowd of colleagues prior to a busy committee day on the hill. The following week, on Wednesday, May 10, constitutional officers, senators, and representatives enjoyed a night at the Cattlemen’s Building for our 2023 “Steaks and Spirits” Legislative Reception. Attendees from the BEEF PAC Club mingled with legislators and had discussions about the current legislative session.

As the session moves swiftly toward Sine Die, here are a few updates regarding legislation that directly, or indirectly, impact Alabama’s beef industry and cattle producers.

Governor Kay Ivey has signed both budgets and supplemental packages totaling a record-breaking $15+ billion.
The House passed SB261 known as the “ESG bill” which now heads to the Governor’s desk. This bill prohibits state contracts with businesses that boycott certain sectors of the economy based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies. This bill and others that fight against ESG principles are vitally important to agriculture.
HB 379 would inhibit certain governments or governmental entities from acquiring certain real property in the state, including agricultural and forestry land and property within 10 miles of any military installation or critical infrastructure facility. Foreign countries of concern include China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
HB432 by Rep. Van Smith is awaiting the Governor’s signature. This legislation would reduce the minimum time an Alabama driver’s license could be issued to H2A (migrant) workers, from 160 days to 30 days.
HB479 by Rep. Danny Garrett— dubbed the Grocery Tax bill—is in the hands of the Governor. This bill would reduce the state sales tax on food from 4% to 3% beginning September 1, 2023, then 3% to 2% on September 1, 2024, with a provision that the Education Trust Fund (ETF) must see growth of 3.5% or more.
The Overtime Bill, HB217 by Rep. Anthony Daniels, will eliminate state income taxes on overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40. Designed to incentivize labor, this bill has seen incredible bipartisan support and been hailed by industry for its creativity and insightfulness. A Senate amendment to the bill provided a sunset of 3 years (2024-2026) and ensures that no more than $25 million, annually, in aggregate income taxes otherwise due from all taxpayers is exempt from income taxes for hours worked in excess of 40hrs/week.

Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Awards Record Number of Scholarships

On Friday, May 5, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation awarded $113,000 to 127 deserving students from across Alabama. More than 115 scholarships were awarded by funds generated through the sale of the Cowboy vanity car tag, including SIX new scholarships— the Tagged for Academic Excellence Scholarship, Tagged for Civic Engagement Scholarship, Tagged for Industry Involvement Scholarship, Tagged for Campus Involvement Scholarship, Rural Medicine Scholarship, and the Agricultural Law Scholarship. Nearly 10 scholarships were awarded thanks to generous endowment families. We wish these students the best in their future endeavors and appreciate the involvement of their parents or grandparents in our association, which is a requirement for qualification for an ACF scholarship award!

May Board of Directors Meeting

On May 11, the ACA Board of Directors put boots on the Hill as a visit to the Alabama State House was the key component of the May 2023 Board Meeting. Our leaders had the opportunity to hear from Senate Majority Leader Senator Clay Scofield, House Ag Chairman Rep. Danny Crawford, Senator Randy Price and Senator Jack Williams, who updated them about the 2023 session and answered their questions about current legislation. Following the Hill visit, we wrapped up the May meeting with lunch and business back at the Cattlemen’s headquarters. As always, thank you to our many volunteer leaders who joined us for a busy and productive day in Montgomery. We’ll see you again in August!

YCLP Class X Kicks Off

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Class X kicked the year off in May in conjunction with the Spring Board of Directors Meeting. The crew of young leaders spent time in the Alabama State House to learn about the legislative process. Following, they visited with ACA state officers and then took a short trip south to Carter Cattle Company in Pintlala. The next day, they traveled to Auburn to receive Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training from Dr. Soren Rodning and see a full carcass fabrication at the Auburn Meat Lab, given by Barney Wilborn. To learn more about this year’s class, visit www.BamaBeef.org/YCLP

Register for the Round-Up

Welcome, Faith!

In mid-May, we welcomed Faith Lane to our team for the summer as she stepped into her role as Association Intern. A native of Lowndes County where her family manages a multi-generation stocker operation, Faith is pursuing a degree in ag business and economics at the College of Agriculture at Auburn University. Throughout the summer, Faith will explore the work of our trade association— from legislative affairs to membership recruitment and beef promotion to youth development. We look forward to having her with us throughout May, June and July!

Big Win for Rural America

On May 25, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled unanimously in favor of the Sackett family in Sackett v. EPA – the court’s most recent consideration of which features are subject to federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. In its holding, the court soundly rejected the contentious “significant nexus” test. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) strongly supports this ruling and is currently engaged in a litigation against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the Biden Administration’s WOTUS definition. NCBA has been heavily involved in litigation surrounding the WOTUS rule since 2015. NCBA filed suit against the Obama-era WOTUS definition, defended the Trump-era definition that brought more clarity to what water features are included under WOTUS, and filed suit against the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule that did not include critical agricultural exemptions.

SCOTUS’s decision is a win for rural America, including Alabama’s farmers and ranchers.

SLE Update

May was a busy month for the Southeastern Livestock Exposition. President Frank Ellis and staffer Sarah Hunter travelled to Las Vegas for the Association of Rodeo Committees (ARC) Global Conference where they spent their time networking with PRCA leaders and rodeo committees. These relationships and industry updates are key to the success of the SLE Rodeo. The following week, a group of SLE and ACA representatives, including Miss SLE Rodeo Ada Grace Stacey, visited Atmore to support the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PBCI) at the groundbreaking for their new meat processing facility. Our PBCI friends have been great supporters of the SLE youth scholarship program for more than a decade. If you are around Atmore, be sure to stop by the impressive PBCI Museum to learn more about the Tribe and the progress they have made throughout the years.

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 applicants for the depredation sub-permit must agree to the requirements found in the Authorizations and Conditions section of the black vulture depredation permitting page at agi.alabama.gov. These authorizations and conditions are part of the statewide permit issued to ADAI by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). ADAI cannot alter these provisions.

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.Approved applicants are not allowed to take any other migratory bird species. Even if an approved applicant does not harvest any black vultures, they must login to their account and report “no birds taken,” no later than December 31, 2023. For more information, visit agi.alabama.gov.