Please join us in welcoming Hayley Murdock to the ASAN Team as the Southern Region Program Coordinator! 

Hayley is a relationship-driven program and operations professional who believes strong communities are built through trust, connection, and shared purpose. With experience across recruiting, operations, and stakeholder engagement, she brings a people-first approach grounded in clear communication, organization, and meaningful relationship-building.

At ASAN, Hayley supports farmer engagement, program coordination, and network communication, serving as a connector between growers, partners, and the broader sustainable agriculture community. As a mother, she holds a deep commitment to sustainability and stewardship, values that guide her work and reinforce her dedication to supporting Alabama’s farmers and the systems that sustain them.

Periodic Table of Cover Crops—The National Center for Appropriate Technology, Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network, and Operation Spring Plant have joined forces to create a new tool for farmers interested in planting cover crops.

Clemson Researchers Fight Peach Bacterial Diseases—A Clemson University team, supported by a SARE grant, is developing sustainable, holistic strategies to manage bacterial spot and bacterial canker by improving disease management, tree health, soil practices, and grower profitability.

How Alabama Gulf Oysters are Creating Global Sustainability—Alabama Gulf oyster farming delivers culinary value while providing significant environmental benefits—such as improved water quality, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem protection—while continuing to advance sustainability practices.

Can Farmers Survive with Less Federal Help?—Amid tariffs, funding cuts, and policy instability under the Trump administration, farmers face growing uncertainty over federal support, deepening divisions between those seeking more government aid and others increasingly relying on local networks to survive.

JOIN ASAN

Becoming a member of ASAN means joining a passionate community working to build a more just, sustainable, and thriving food system in Alabama. Whether you are a farmer, food lover, activist, or educator, your membership supports local agriculture, food justice, and environmental stewardship while giving you access to member-only perks, event discounts, and a powerful statewide network.

Member Benefits:

• A say in where ASAN focuses its priorities.
• Access to the member portal where you can collaborate with other members and share resources.
• Save 5% off your order with Johnny's Seeds.
• Save 20% off StrongSoil® from CHONEX. 
• Apply for a mini-grant through ASAN's Undo the Knot fund.
• Post a crowdfunding project on the website.

Not ready to become a member? You can still support ASAN’s mission by making a recurring or one-time donation. Every dollar helps build a stronger, more sustainable food system for us all.

USDA Cost-Share Delays are Hurting Organic Farms—Organic farms still haven’t received their 2025 certification cost-share reimbursements, despite Congress authorizing the funds. These delays are putting financial pressure on organic operations and some farms are postponing renewal, scaling back, or exiting organic altogether. 

Urge Congress to Restore Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling—Since Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) was repealed in 2015, multinational corporations have used misleading labels to market imported beef as U.S.-made. Restoring MCOOL would level the playing field by requiring clear labels showing where cattle were born, raised, and slaughtered.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Webinar: Marketing Tips for Selling at a Farmers Market is a free virtual workshop designed to help farmers and market managers boost sales, strengthen customer engagement, and make the most of their market presence. January 28, 12-1:30pm.

Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Annual Conference & Trade Show is February 4-6 in Gulf Shores at The Lodge at Gulf State Park. 

134th Annual Farmers Conference at Tuskegee University is a two-day educational forum that features tours, panel discussions, interactive demonstrations and concurrent workshops. It will take place February 19-20.

Southern Cover Crops Council Conference is a regional gathering focused on practical cover crop strategies for Southern farms. Farmers, researchers, and advisors share real-world experience to improve soil health and reduce risk. February 25-26 in Gainesville, FL.

North Alabama Agriplex 2026 Program Guide includes adult programs, homeschool classes, summer camps, field trips, and more.

Come to the Table Conference is RAFI’s biennial gathering that brings together farmers, faith leaders, anti-hunger advocates, and community organizations to learn, share, and collaborate on building a more just and equitable food system. The theme is “Food & The Common Good,” which will explore what and who is affecting our food system. March 12-13 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Alabama Water Rally is the annual gathering of Alabama’s network of water advocates and allies hosted by the Alabama Rivers Alliance. It will take place March 20-22 in Montgomery. Registration is open.

Submit your event to the ASAN Events Calendar! Do you have an event you would like to advertise in this monthly newsletter? If so, please email the following to [email protected]: name of event, host group and contact info, location (including full address), date/time, price, link to event website / Facebook event page. We cannot transcribe a flyer but can share a link to one you've already published online. 

CLASSIFIEDS & RESOURCES

Freedom Harvest Apprenticeship: Based at Fountain Heights Farms Cooperative in Birmingham, this 9-month, 20-hour/week paid apprenticeship equips burgeoning farmers and land stewards with hands-on work and learning experience on successful Black and Indigenous run farms. 

ASLF Apprenticeship: Paid, one-month immersive experiences to cultivate and inspire the next generation of food and agriculture leaders. Partner farms are located throughout the country, including Alabama and Georgia. Apply by March 15.

Sky High Farm Grants: Support equitable food justice and land sovereignty projects, prioritizing BIPOC and marginalized producer applicants. Apply by January 20. 

Natoora Farm Fund: Transformational and resilience grants to young agroecological farmers globally. Apply by May 31.

Rooted Farmers' Grant: Two grant programs for producer hubs in 2026, one for established hubs and one for emerging groups. Deepening Roots: Hubs in Transition Grant supports groups navigating financial need or major organizational transitions and Growing Roots: Startup Hubs Grant, designed for groups in their first 0-3 years of operations. Apply by February 1.

The FruitGuys Community Fund: Small grants to support sustainable agriculture projects, with priority for underrepresented farmers and nonprofits. Applications open soon.

FARMpreneurs Strategic Sprint: A week-long executive level education experience to bring the best in entrepreneurship training to farmers. The experience is free to attend with all room and board included. The Southeast regional Strategic Sprint is in partnership with Caney Fork Farms in Carthage, TN on November 15-21, 2026. Applications will open January 20, 2026. Interested applicants can email [email protected] with any questions.

Free Sweet Grown Alabama Membership: Through March 31, 2026, First South Farm Credit will generously cover the first-year Sweet Grown Alabama membership fee for any Alabama farmer, product maker, restaurant or retailer interested in joining the state’s agricultural branding program.

Holistic Financial Planning Course: This FSA Borrower Approved course introduces a values-based approach to managing money that supports both financial viability and quality of life. It emphasizes proactive financial planning over accounting alone, helping participants align daily decisions with long-term goals. Use discount code collab2026! for 15% off. Full scholarships available, apply here.

Tribal Agriculture Fellowship: Designed to aid Native students in achieving their educational goals leading to careers in agriculture, the fellowship program provides a generous benefits package that can include up to four years of fellowship status with funding to earn agricultural degrees or technical certifications. Apply by March 2.

USDA Value-Added Producer Grant: This program helps U.S. agricultural producers enter into value-added activities that:

• Generate new products from raw agricultural commodities
• Create and expand marketing opportunities
• Increase producer income through enhanced product value and market reach

This is a lengthy grant but highly rewarding and applicable to almost every producer’s operation. If you'd like assistance in preparing your application, then consider contracting with Stewards Unlimited. Apply by April 15.

Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crop Program: This program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. Apply by January 31.

Regenerative Agriculture Course: Curious about regenerative agriculture and soil health? Kiss the Ground is offering scholarships for its 90-minute online Regenerative Agriculture Essentials course, prioritizing underserved and underrepresented communities.

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant: This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses qualify for this funding. Applications are open year round.

Tax Exemption Opportunity: Fencing materials, such as t-posts, wood posts, barbed wire, net wire, smooth wire, standard metal gates, and other like materials used for the purpose of fencing in agriculture livestock applications are exempt from state sales and use taxes through September 30, 2029. To benefit, the purchaser must provide the retailer with Form ST:EXC-2. For more information, email [email protected].