Month: April 2025

ACA Hosts “Steak & Spirits” Legislative Reception

The 2025 ACA Legislative Reception brought together Alabama’s cattlemen and legislators for an evening of steak, spirits and fellowship! The ACA has been busy at work this legislative session, and this reception was a good opportunity to discuss topics that will impact agriculture. Thank you to the many state senators and representatives who stopped by to visit with our members. We appreciate your leadership and support of Alabama’s beef cattle industry.

For any ACA member interested in joining the Alabama BEEF PAC club, information can be found here.

Alabama Junior & Senior High Beef Cookoff

Twenty-four talented students from across Alabama gathered at the Riverchase Career Connection Center in Birmingham on April 11, for the 2025 Alabama Junior and Senior High School Beef Cook-off. While judges sampled dishes, competitors, parents and educators enjoyed two informational sessions pertaining to the beef industry. Alabama Beef Influencer Kathy Adams Phillips presented on her culinary career and how she became a social media chef, while Kali Gilbert, a Health and Wellness Regional Extension Agent, spoke to the group about including beef as part of a healthy lifestyle. The 2025 Overall Best in Beef winner is Ashley Nimmer from Spanish Fort High School in Baldwin County with her entry, Peppercorn Filet Mignon.

Political Round-Up: April Report

As the 2025 Alabama Legislative Session enters the fourth quarter, the political process is full steam ahead. With over 600 introduced bills this session, lawmakers and lobbyists alike are racing the clock to see their legislation across the finish line. Below is a summary of bills of interest to the ACA at this very fluid and fast-paced point in the session. 

General Fund (GF) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) Budgets

As of the very late hours of Tuesday, April 29, both the Education Trust Fund (ETF) and General Fund (GF) budgets are on their way to Gov. Ivey for signature. The ACA was pleased to see level funding for the Alabama Department of Ag & Industries as well as the requested increase of $500,000 in the House-passed General Fund budget for the Conservation Incentive Program (CIP). The Education Trust Fund budget presented secure funds for Junior Cattlemen programs, career technical education, FFA programs and livestock programming at Auburn University. 

Alfa Health Plans

The Alabama Farmers Federation is working toward legislation that will allow the organization to offer an affordable healthcare option to Alabama’s farmers and small business owners. HB477, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, has passed through the House with a range of amendments all deemed favorable by the Federation and the bill sponsor. The bill underwent a public hearing in the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee and was voted out of committee before the Easter holiday. It is hopeful to be up for vote in the Senate in the coming days.

Logging Legislation

After rigorous amendments, SB110, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, is headed to the Governor’s desk for signature. Throughout the process, the bill has been stripped of any language that would allow for redistribution of weight per axle and now focuses on highway safety and simplifying the appeals process. The amended bill states a maximum of only five trucks can be pulled over by law enforcement at any given time for weighing at a portable weigh station. Further, in the event a driver is ticketed for being over-axle or over-gross weight— but later finds that measurement to be inaccurate once weighed at a certified scale— the driver can appeal the ticket within 48 hours through a digital means rather than having to appear in-person at court. 

Next month will feature our Sine Die edition, where we give final report on everything that has been on our radar this session. The session is anticipated to adjourned within the next two weeks, and there is still much work to be done between now and then. If you have questions or concerns, please call our office and ask to speak with Executive Vice President Erin Beasley or Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs Kayla Greer. 

NCBA Legislative Fly-In

The last week in April, the ACA officer team took to Washington DC for the annual National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Legislative Fly-In. In addition to a tour of the nation’s capitol and its many historical monuments, the crew enjoyed briefings from the NCBA legislative staff and visits on the Hill with Alabama delegation members and their staff members.

Beef 101

Since January of 2025, more than ten different groups have attended Beef 101 sessions, with almost 300 students receiving the pasture to plate education. Attendees included high school and collegiate agriculture and culinary students; high school educators; social media influencers and beef producers. Each session highlights beef production and the role various occupations play in getting this nutritious product to American consumers. Through guest lectures from industry professionals, carcass fabrication demonstrations and Q&A sessions, students leave with the education needed to trust beef products and the operations producing them. For those interested in Fall 2025 Beef 101 sessions, please contact Josie Jones at josie@bamabeef.org to be added to the email list. 

Junior Cattlemen Update

AJCA held its Spring Field Days on April 2nd at the Blount County Multipurpose Center and April 9th at Parnell Farms. Attendees participated in BQA training with demonstrations led by the Extension Animal Science and Forages Team. More than 120 youth got BQA certified between both days. Thank you to our hosts and trainers!

The 19th annual AJCA Round-Up will be held July 24-27 at the Garrett Coliseum. The event will feature a cattle show, educational contests, and an educational session for attendees. Schedule and rules can be found at https://cvent.me/8MEgbA. Registration will open in late May.

Membership Report

The ACA is aiming to go Over the Top again in 2025— help us get over 10,500 members! As we are one quarter into the membership year, we are proud to report that we represent 7,696 members and growing more with each county annual meeting that takes place. We are grateful for the grassroots efforts of our county organizations and look forward to another year of membership advocacy alongside you! 

Membership Deadlines to Remember

Remember, the Over the Top County Chapter deadline to earn your president a coveted ACA red coat is June 30, just two months away! Membership must be in the office or entered in the database by June 30. Note, the second round of membership remittances have gone out, so secretaries be on the lookout!

Membership Prizes

Reminder! All counties who go Over the Top by the end of 2025 will be entered in a drawing for the Priefert Squeeze Chute, donated by our friends and supporters at Priefert Ranch Equipment and Hartford Veterinary Supplies, while the county who increases by the largest percentage will earn a Priefert head gate! New members— and their recruiters!— will go into a drawing for a John Deere Gator, brought to you by our friends at SunSouth, TriGreen Equipment and John Deere!

County Meetings

We need to know about your county meetings in more ways than one. First, we need to know when it will be! Please send the date, time, and location information to ACA Director of Membership Jessica Kennedy so we can list your upcoming meeting in the magazine and on our online events calendar. Second, following the meeting, we need to know about leadership changes. Submit the names and contact information of your county president and secretary also to Jessica Kennedy so they can be added to our correspondence list! 

Checkoff Council Hosts Quarterly Meeting

The Alabama Beef Checkoff Council gathered in Montgomery April 24 for its first quarterly meeting of 2025! Agenda items included an overview of Beef Checkoff logistics; a review of Alabama Beef Checkoff promotional and educational programming completed in the first quarter; and discussions about upcoming events and highlights. Thank you to the members of our 2025 Alabama Beef Checkoff Council for their volunteer leadership!

Members of this year’s council are:

Learn more about the Alabama Beef Checkoff here.

Britt Joins Trade Association Leaders for Roundtable Discussion

The ACA had the pleasure of partnering with numerous trade associations to host a roundtable discussion in April for U.S. Senator Katie Britt at the Cattlemen’s building. After enjoying a beef lunch together, Sen. Britt provided an update on the latest news out of Washington D.C. Following, she allowed each trade executive to provide input on the challenges their industry is facing currently. Britt and staff provided great insight into many of the topics discussed, including tariffs, which are currently affecting every industry. 

ACA Hosts LiveAg “Grass Time Video Auction”

On April 24, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association had the pleasure to host a board sale that auctioned off over 11,800 head of feeder calves LIVE from the Cattlemen’s Building in downtown Montgomery. Broadcasted nationally, the sale welcomed many visitors to our building and featured outstanding prices. Special thanks to our friends at LiveAg and Elite Livestock Marketing Group for selecting the ACA as the venue of this event!

ACA Summer Regional Meetings

Save the date as the popular summer regional meetings will take place again beginning in June. This year, the ACA is teaming up with Alabama Extension to provide and educational program at each meeting— talk about a two-for-one! Regional Extension agents and specialists will provide the educational components of the program, and the ACA will provide updates to attendees during a meal at each event.  Save the date for a meeting near you:

• June 12– Blount County Multipurpose Complex, 2PM-7PM
• June 26– The Cedars (Demopolis, AL),  11AM-3PM
• July 17– Wetumpka Civic Center, 4PM-8PM
• August 8-Grace Fellowship Church (Atmore, AL), 8AM-2PM

Special thanks to our sponsors: Alabama Ag Credit, Alabama Farm Credit, the Alabama Beef Checkoff, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Speaks Land Company, ENVU, Agoro Carbon Alliance, and FERAppease.

LFP for Counties

Numerous counties in Alabama have been approved for eligibility for the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) winter grazing payments. 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 following counties, contact your local FSA office or visit www.farmers.gov.

Eligible counties include Autauga, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Dallas, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Morgan, Perry, Sumter, Washington, Wilcox and Winston. 

FFA Day on the Hill

More than 300 blue jackets flooded downtown Montgomery on Tuesday, April 1, for the Alabama FFA Association’s annual FFA Day on the Hill. Agriscience students from all corners of Alabama gathered for a photo with Gov. Kay Ivey to start the day. More than 100 of those students made their way to the Cattlemen’s Building for a briefing by a line-up of excellent speakers and public servants including, Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), Secretary of State Wes Allen, House Agriculture & Forestry Chairman Danny Crawford (R-Athens), and Rep. Marcus Paramore (R-Troy). Following a tour of The MOOseum, the students split off to enjoy lunch with their local delegation and visits in the State House.

Cattle Connect Podcast

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, iHeart Radio, YouTube, Amazon Music and at www.BamaBeef.org/Podcast. Season 2 of the show aired January 3 and already features more than 10 episodes full of timely information for cattlemen and members of our association!

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.

Bama Beef Events Calendar

The Bama Beef Events Calendar (www.BamaBeef.org/Events) is beginning to fill up with county cattlemen’s, youth and Extension activities as we look toward the late spring and summer months. Check it daily to make sure you don’t miss an event near you!

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