Help our farmers overcome drought

By Staff
Rep. Ronald Grantland, Guest columnist
Although all Alabamians are known as hard workers, perhaps no group of individuals in our state works harder than our farmers. For the first 100 years of our state’s existence, Alabama was primarily an agrarian society; farming was our largest and most successful market. While times have changed as Alabama developed other industry, the agricultural community is still vital to our state. Unfortunately, our agricultural community is experiencing one of the worst growing seasons in recent memory.
Agriculture is an integral part of our way of life and our economy. Alabama’s agricultural products exceeded $4.5 billion last year is sales, creating thousands of jobs throughout the state. Last year alone, Alabama produced 820,000 bales of cotton, 27 million bushels of corn, 557 million pounds of peanuts and 6.7 million bushels of soybeans. Those figures combined with livestock production show that Alabama is a haven for agricultural success.
Alabama has reaped the benefits from our hard working farmers, especially with recent changes and upgrades in farming technology. Farming today is vastly different than it was 50 years ago, and it has certainly changed since the days of a man, a horse, and a plow. New methods and technology allow our farmers to overcome many tough obstacles.
However, the basic tenets of farming remain the same, and no amount of technology or resources can overcome a drought. We all know that plants need water in order to grow, and without it, plants will die.
As we all know too well, this summer has been the hottest in years and one of the driest ever. Across the state, almost every town in Alabama is well below average for rainfall received. For example, Huntsville is more than 13 inches below average, Montgomery is more than 11 inches below average, and Mobile is 22 inches below average.
The lack of rainfall combined with high temperatures spell disaster for growing crops. In fact, officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Alabama Farmers Association predict that up to 75 percent of corn crops and 50 percent of cotton could be lost to the drought and heat. Also, the Agriculture Commissioner reports that Alabama has declared agricultural emergencies in 48 of its 67 counties.
There is little doubt that low yields and lost crops mean less business and economic hard times for Alabama's farmers. However, there are things that we can all do to help, as undoubtedly, Alabama farmers and producers will need all the assistance available to recover the loss of income.
When you buy produce, buy Alabama grown produce. While the crop yield may be low, be sure to buy what our farmers do produce by looking for the A+ logo when you shop. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries sponsors the A+ Alabama Agriculture program, and when you see that yellow and red A+ symbol, you’ll know it is Alabama grown.
Another way to find local produce is to shop at the dozens of State Farmer’s Markets across the state, at local roadside stands, or by visiting the various U-pick farms around the state. Throughout the summer and into the fall, U-pick farms will have everything from corn to tomatoes and cantaloupe to watermelons. You can find a list of U-pick farms on the Alabama Department of Agriculture’s web site: www.agi.state.al.us, and select the Alabama U-pick icon. The wide array of fruits and vegetables will surely satisfy any fresh produce lover, and picking your own is a fun activity for the whole family. Plus, the produce is the freshest around.
Finally, Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks has established a toll-free hotline for Alabama farmers in need of disaster assistance. Many farmers who are still feeling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are now suffering due to the drought, and continue to experience difficulty with their Federal Crop Insurance claims they filed following disasters in years past.
If you or someone that you know have been affected, give the hotline a call at 1-800-951-1275.
While we can’t control Mother Nature, we can help some of Alabama's finest - our farmers. So do your part and look for A+ logo, visit state Farmers’ Markets and U-pick farms, and, if needed, call the disaster relief hotline. By doing so, you can keep dollars in the state and help support rural communities. And more importantly, not only are you getting the world’s best produce, you are strengthening our economy and ensuring that our farmers are taken care of, no matter how hot or dry it may be.