hemp

ADAI Licenses Growers, Processors, and Universities into the Alabama Industrial Hemp Pilot Program

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

Commissioner Rick Pate announced the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has licensed 152 growers, 59 processors, and 5 universities to grow, cultivate, process, and research industrial hemp in 2019. Each list is available at http://www.agi.alabama.gov/s/industrial-hemp—home—w-o. “We have had a significant interest in the Alabama Industrial Hemp Pilot Program from potential growers and processors since the availability of applications was …

deadline

Deadline Nearing for Block Grant Program Applications in Alabama

Dan Alabama, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) wants to remind producers that the grant application deadline for projects that enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in foreign and domestic markets is April 18th. These block grants, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), are for specialty crops like fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery …

alabama

Protecting Local Foods Across Alabama

Dan Alabama

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries oversees programs that affect residents — from producers to consumers to businesses — across the state in many ways. Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate told Southeast AgNet he hears a lot about local foods from people all over the state.

alabama

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Applications Being Accepted

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is accepting grant applications for projects that enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops in foreign and domestic markets. The application deadline for these specialty crop block grants through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is April 18, 2019, 5 p.m. CST. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits and …

hemp

Farm Bill Removes Hemp as Controlled Substance

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

On Dec. 12, Congress passed the 2018 Agriculture and Nutrition Act, better known as the farm bill, which is awaiting President Trump’s signature. The important legislation amends the classification of hemp as a Schedule I drug. This legislation defines hemp as all parts of the plant less than 0.3% THC, including derivatives, extracts and cannabinoids. Hemp is now deemed an agricultural …

adai

ADAI Announces Cost-Share Program for Specialty Crop Producers

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Specialty Crops

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is pleased to announce a cost-share program for specialty crop growers to alleviate the cost associated with GAP/GHP certification. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) audits are voluntary inspections that evaluate how fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored. The goal is to ensure that food is …

disaster

USDA Disaster Designation Assigned for Five Alabama Counties

Dan Alabama, Economy, Industry News Release

On November 16, 2018, United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that five Alabama counties are under Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation. He announced the declaration during a roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Martha Roby, Commissioner John McMillan and local farmers in Gordon, Alabama. The designation by USDA was prompted by excessive winds and rainfall from Hurricane Michael. The conditions caused …

hurricane

Livestock Shelters Open in Alabama in Preparation for Hurricane Michael

Dan Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Industry News Release, Livestock, Weather

Hurricane Michael is expected to strike Florida’s Panhandle on Wednesday. In preparation for this intense storm, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has been in contact with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Horse Council and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services to provide temporary sheltering facilities for evacuated livestock, including horses and …