Livestock Fencing Materials Exempt from State Sales Tax Starting October 1
Beginning October 1, up to $25,000 of the gross proceeds from the sale of fencing materials for livestock purposes will be exempt from state sales tax. This implementation comes from the passage of Senate Bill (SB)73, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, during the 2024 Alabama Legislative Session. Producers will be required to sign an affidavit when the purchase is made from the retailer to indicate that the materials will be used for livestock fencing purposes. Materials included are t-posts, wood posts, barbed wire, net wire, smooth wire, standard metal gates, and other like materials. Learn more with this Agricultural Fencing State Sales and Use Tax Exemption fact sheet.
Saddle Up for 60 Years of Savor—October is Beef Month in Alabama!
Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed a proclamation declaring “October is Beef Month in Alabama” for the traditional start of the largest promotional month of the year for the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. In preparation to kick off the association’s favorite month for its 60th year, here is some history on this time-honored tradition, as written in It’s Great to Be Number One! by Dan Hollis:
“The year 1964 would provide to be another ‘red letter’ year in Alabama’s beef promotion effort…in September came the announcement of the first October Beef Month. Governor George Wallace issued an official proclamation designating ‘October Beef Month in Alabama’, and the promoters covered the state in October with more than 35,000 posters, charts, signs, hats, and flags…The ‘October Beef Month’ idea drew some attention outside the borders of Alabama. The following editorial was printed in the November 1964 issue of ‘Livestock Breeders Journal’…It was entitled: ‘Bama’s Beef Boosts Gets Our Vote’: ‘We like the method in force in Alabama during October. It requires a lot more work, perhaps more manpower (and womanpower), and certainly more money, but long-range, it is our solution. Folks in Alabama are putting on the biggest push for beef consumption that has ever been tried by a state cattlemen’s association in history. The market is loaded, and they are going to unload on the consumer with a selling job that has enlisted the press, the packers, the county associations, and all others that have come forward to help the cattlemen out of their fix. Some folks might minimize such efforts by saying it is not that easy to clear all the alleyways and feed lots of our surplus stock, but we contend it’s the best way, and it’ll work. Besides, you’re gaining allies all the time. Folks just prefer doing business with a fellow carrying a grin on his face and full of enthusiasm, rather than a man with a chip on his shoulder and a face that reflects contempt and bitterness.’ -Livestock Breeders Journal, excerpt from November 1964.”
Sixty years later, Alabama’s cattle producers are still celebrating October Beef Month.
CATTLEMEN’S FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATION
Alabama Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships are now open for application, brought to you by the Cowboy vanity car tag and many, generous endowment families! Opportunities are available for all stages of postsecondary education— from incoming freshmen to doctoral candidates who are members, or whose parents or grandparents are members, for at least two consecutive years. Explore these many opportunities and APPLY today at www.BamaBeef.org/Scholarships. Applications close November 3.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
As of today, the ACA is home to 10,270 members. That number is still growing, however, as renewals are rolling in from our third and final mail out of the year. Remember, if you recruit new members, you’ll qualify for one of several Top Hand Club prizes, thanks to our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment, John Deere and Priefert Ranch Equipment!
As we head into county annual meeting season, here’s a few reminders for our grassroots leaders. Send the date, time, and location information for your upcoming meeting to ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy as soon as possible. In order to make it in the magazine, we need it in office no later than the 10th of the previous month, but the sooner the better! If you would like a postcard invitation sent out to your membership through our office, those requests must be made two weeks prior to the preferred send date. Contact Jessica for all your county meeting needs!
AJCA Fall Field Days, That’s a Wrap!
This month, the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) hosted its fall field days. The first was held on Wednesday, September 11 in Troy, and the second was hosted today, September 25 in Cullman.
Between the two Alabama Beef Checkoff-funded events, more than 240 youth participated in a cattle judging clinic. Thanks to the help of the Auburn University Livestock Judging Team participants developed skills and took home tips in live evaluation, understanding EPD’s, note-taking, and presenting oral reasons.
Alabama Beef Checkoff Council Funds production research
The Alabama Beef Checkoff Council met in Montgomery on August 29 for its third quarterly meeting. The jam-packed agenda featured financial reviews, second quarter programming recaps and upcoming program overviews from Alabama Beef Checkoff staff, followed by a review and discussion of this year’s research grant proposals.
The following projects received funding for the 2024-2025 funding cycle:
- Animal performance of steers impacted by mitigation of tall fescue toxicosis through interseeded red clover and various rates of byproduct feed, Dillard et. al
- Auburn University Variety Selection Platform, Henry Jordan and Joshua Elmore
- Determining Best Management Practices for Vaseygrass Weed Control in Forage Systems, Russell et. al
- Strengthening Alabama cattlemen through enabling better fly control: Determining the gut microbiota in the horn fly as the first step to impairing it and preventing flies from thriving; Brandebourg et. al
Livestock Forage Program Triggered for 10 Counties
Ten counties in Alabama now qualify for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): Colbert, Fayette, Lamar, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Pickens, Walker, and Winston counties.
This program, offered through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses for covered livestock. It also covers producers of grazed forage crop acreage of native and improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or acreage planted specifically for grazing. For more information about this program or to sign up in one of the abovementioned counties, contact your local FSA office or visit www.farmers.gov.
Out & About representing aca
On September 16, ACA Director of Field Services Reid McGuire represented ACA at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Blount County Multi-Purpose Facility. The new facility features meeting space, a kitchen, an arena, and barn with equipment for use in advanced agriscience classes. In addition to use by Blount County Schools, the facility will be used for livestock shows and meetings of ag-related groups.
Two days later, on September 18, Reid represented the ACA at the second annual East Alabama Careers in Ag Expo at Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City. The event was organized by Tallapoosa County Extension and featured exhibitors from Auburn University and businesses throughout East Alabama that offer career and educational opportunities for youth in agriculture. Over 500 youth attended the event.
REBATES AVAILABLE ON LIVESTOCK AND GRAZING PRACTICES!
Alabama’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts are reminding cattle producers that application sign-up for the Alabama Conservation Incentive Program (CIP) has begun! CIP supports several conservation practices for livestock and grazing including watering facilities, exclusion and cross fencing and herd health. New to the program are corral systems, squeeze chutes, and feed troughs. Eligible applicants can receive a 75 percent rebate on the cost of installation. Check with your local soil and water conservation district for price caps and application deadlines. For more information, visit https://alabamasoilandwater.gov/cip/
Beef Education Efforts Strong across alabama
Beef at Trash Pandas: The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Madison County Cattlemen’s Association took to Toyota Field on August 30 for the final baseball beef education event of 2024. Fans enjoyed learning about beef cookery methods, unique cut options and beef production in Alabama!
Auburn Ag Round-Up: Thanks to the Auburn Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association and the Lee County Cattlemen’s Association, attendees of the Auburn Agriculture Alumni Club Ag Roundup on September 14th enjoyed brisket samples as a part of the event highlighting agriculture commodities in Alabama before the Auburn University football game facing The University of New Mexico.
BEEF 101: Students from Geneva City Schools enjoyed a beef education day in Auburn as attendees of Beef 101 on September 20th . Highlights for this group of culinary students included a pasture to plate talk, Q&A with beef producers and a carcass fabrication demonstration.
BAINBRIDGE BLOCK PARTY
Join us and our friends from the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, the Alabama Forestry Association and Sweet Grown Alabama as we host an afternoon block party filled with food and fun on Bainbridge Street Tuesday, October 29 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.! This event will feature a Sweet Grown Alabama farmer’s market, tours of The MOOseum, burgers and chicken wings and a host of agricultural vendors and is a celebration of Alabama’s agricultural trade organizations housed on Bainbridge Street in downtown Montgomery. We’ll see you there!
Beef Wagon on Display
The 1968 Dodge Beef Wagon that has been an iconic symbol of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association can now be spotted in a prominent location as you turn into the parking lot of our building. Designed to be a photo backdrop for those visiting The MOOseum, the Beef Wagon is now permanently located on a new concrete pad in the northeast corner of the parking lot. Please be sure to grab a photo the next time you are at the building and tag us on social media for everyone to enjoy!
2025 CONVENTION- SAVE THE DATE!
Make plans to join us for the 82nd annual ACA Convention & Trade Show February 21-22, 2025 at the BJCC in Birmingham, AL. In addition to vast networking opportunities, banquets featuring delicious beef meals and the Alabama beef industry’s largest trade show, the event will provide educational workshops, youth competitions and industry meetings. Be on the lookout for registration, lodging and schedule information to release in November!
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. 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.
CATTLE CONNECT PODCAST, TUNE IN TODAY!
Tune into the Cattle Connect podcast weekly on Friday mornings at 7AM. Listen is as staff discusses beef industry news, hits on a variety of educational topics and explores the many facets of the ACA! This podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast. Tune in on your favorite streaming platform today to catch up on the first 30+ episodes and subscribe to get notifications when a new episode airs!
BAMA BEEF EVENTS CALENDAR
The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/Events) is filling up with county cattlemen’s, youth and Extension activities as we look toward the summer months. Check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!
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