After about two months on the job, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate wants folks across the state to realize the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) touches everyone’s lives in the state in one way or another.
Applications Now Available for Pilot Industrial Hemp Production
The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) is now accepting applications from eligible producers, farmers and universities interested in growing industrial hemp. ADAI is also accepting applications from prospective industrial hemp processors. In 2016, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act, Section 2-8-380 Code of Alabama 1975, tasking the ADAI with the development of a …
Issues Facing New Alabama Ag Commissioner
In just his first week in office Rick Pate, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, is already hearing about various issues that concern citizens across the state.
Alabama Organic Cost Share Signup Deadline is September 30
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) wants to remind growers and handlers of organic agricultural products that they can recover part of the cost of their USDA certification. Through USDA, funds have been allocated to reimburse producers and handlers who either obtain or renew their organic certification in the fiscal year that ends September 30, 2017. The reimbursement …
Alabama State Vet Says Surveillance System Works Well
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has confirmed a positive test for atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an eleven-year old Alabama beef cow. An atypical BSE case basically means it is a rare and spontaneous incident. Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier says their surveillance system worked well, as routine testing made this discovery and they hope it’s …
Atypical BSE Cow Discovered through Routine Testing
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has confirmed they are working with USDA officials to address a positive test for atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an eleven-year old Alabama beef cow. Hassey Brooks, ADAI deputy commissioner, says this was found through routine testing.
Alabama Producers Can Apply for Organic Cost Share Programs
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) wants to remind growers and handlers of organic agricultural products that they can recover part of the cost of their USDA certification. Through USDA, funds have been allocated to reimburse producers and handlers who either obtain or renew their organic certification in the fiscal year that ends September 30, 2017. The reimbursement …
Disaster Declaration Sought for South Alabama Counties from USDA
Farmers were already in dire need of relief from several weeks of large rainfall totals where rain has saturated fields in central and southern Alabama. To add insult to injury, Tropical Storm Cindy dropped additional extensive rainfall across the region this week. Widespread flooding in South Alabama along with localized flooding in central Alabama have created multiple problems for Alabama …
Citrus Greening Plant Disease Detected in Alabama
A plant disease that presents a serious threat to the U.S. citrus industry has been detected in Alabama. Federal and state plant health officials have confirmed the identification of citrus greening (CG), also known as Huanglongbing or HLB, which is caused by the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. This is the first confirmation of citrus greening in Alabama despite biannual …
ADAI Accepting Applications for USDA Organic Cost Share Programs
Growers and handlers of organic agricultural products now can recover part of the cost of their USDA certification. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will be allocated funds from the USDA to reimburse producers and handlers who either obtain or renew their organic certification in the fiscal year that ends September 30, 2017. The reimbursement covers 75% of …