Alabama Hemp Pilot Program Underway

Back in April, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) announced they had licensed 152 growers, 59 processors, and 5 universities to grow, cultivate, process, and research industrial hemp. This effort came after a 2018 federal law legalized industrial hemp as an agricultural product. ADAI Deputy Commissioner Hassey Brooks, told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman their pilot hemp program is …

Alabama Ag Commissioner Discusses Disaster Aid

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spent time in the Southeast earlier this month to discuss disaster aid. Congress passed the disaster-relief bill, and the President has signed it. So the question for many is, when will it be implemented? This is something Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate discussed during this week’s Alabama Agribusiness Council meeting in Orange Beach. …

Scouting and Managing Spider Mites in Vegetables

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. (ACES) – Summertime can be a productive season for growing vegetables. However, it is also a time that can be hot and dry. These are the perfect conditions for spider mites, a pest that can cause widespread damage quickly. When present in high numbers, they can be pests for many aspects of farming There are many species …

Change of Leadership for Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo

Due to a recent retirement, there is now a new person at the helm of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) Rodeo. Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Erin Beasley has the details. The annual SLE Rodeo is held in March each year at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding …

Alabama Agribusiness Council Holding Annual Meeting

Folks involved with agriculture from across the state of Alabama are in Orange Beach this week attending the Alabama Agribusiness Council (AAC) Annual Meeting. AAC Executive Director Leigha Cauthen told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman the AAC is enjoying a record crowd at its annual event. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides …

Massive Yellow Jacket Nests Appearing

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. (ACES) — Imagine a colony of yellow jackets the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, filled with 15,000 of the stinging insects. Now, imagine more than 90 of these super nests in Alabama. It happened in 2006, and Charles Ray, an entomologist working with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said that 2019 may be shaping up to mirror …

The Buzz: Pollinators are Essential

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. (ACES)— In the spirit of National Pollinator Week, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System salutes pollinators everywhere who are irreplaceable pieces of the puzzle in gardens, cropland and flowerbeds. Bees are more than honey-makers and hive builders. Bees are essential to the most important part of the food chain—pollination. Importance of Pollinators Bees are essential for the pollination of one-third …

Farmers Preparing for Drought Conditions

While recent rains were welcome, more than 34 percent of Alabama still faces abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions. This has many livestock producers worried about providing their animals with enough to eat and drink. Landon Marks, an Alabama Extension animal science regional agent, said some northeastern Alabama areas are starting to see effects of the abnormally dry weather. “Water …