Dear {{Preferred Name/First Name}},

The House passed its version of the 2026 Farm Bill (H.R. 7567) in May. The bill is now in the Senate, where Chairman Boozman is expected to release a draft early this month and hold committee markup later this month. From there, whatever the Senate produces will need to be reconciled with the House version before anything heads to the President's desk.

If you missed our recent webinar, "Farm Bill: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," it is now up on the ASAN YouTube channel. We walked through what the House bill does, what it leaves out, and what Alabama small and mid-scale farmers should be watching for as the Senate takes its turn.

Farmer stories, on the record

This summer we are launching a storytelling project. We want to record Alabama farmers telling their own stories about how agricultural policy has helped or hurt their operations. These short video stories will go to lawmakers and to our coalition partners. If your operation has a story to tell about crop insurance, conservation programs, market access, or anything else policy-shaped, we want to hear from you. Email [email protected] to get on the list.

Hosting a lawmaker on your farm, August 2026

ASAN is looking for Alabama farms willing to host their congressional representative or staff for an in-district visit this August. We handle the logistics. You handle being yourself on your farm. These visits move policy because they put real conditions on a real farm in front of the people who write the rules. Email [email protected] if you are interested.

Central Alabama Sustainable Farmers Forum, June 26

Our Central AL Sustainable Farmers Forum is just over two weeks away. The day includes policy discussion, farmer-to-farmer learning, and ASAN community time. We want to see you there. [link to registration]

A few more things on our calendar

• Monday, June 16: Growing Organic Rice, a webinar with Jubilee Justice.
• Thursday, July 9 (tentative, depends on when the rice is ready): in-person organic rice harvesting demonstration in Tuskegee.
• Sunday, July 12: Transition to Certified Organic at Dr. Nettles Natural Beauty Farm in Mobile.

Full details and registration are on our Upcoming Events page.

Rooted in Alabama,

Alan, Rachel, and the ASAN Board of Directors

Unlocking Institutional Food Purchasing: Contract Strategies for Values-Based Sourcing—A new brief from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development looks at the $200 billion institutions spend on food each year and why small and mid-sized farms often can't access it. The brief names concrete leverage points for change, including multi-vendor RFPs, verified local-sourcing requirements, and dedicated technical assistance to help smaller producers meet institutional standards. For Alabama producers eyeing schools, hospitals, and university dining as future markets, the strategies sketched here show what coordinated advocacy can look like.

Using an Alternative Feed to Bring Stability in the Face of Drought and Rising Costs—Texas farmer Diana Padilla used a Southern SARE Producer Grant to test whether farm-grown moringa, a drought-tolerant tree, could replace alfalfa pellets in her lamb feed. Lambs gained weight at about the same rate on moringa, and on-farm production cut her feed costs by roughly a third. The trade-off was added labor to grow and pelletize. A useful read for any Alabama producer looking at feed costs and weather variability.

Join a statewide community of farmers, advocates, and food system changemakers. Member benefits include discounts, online member forum access, grant eligibility, and a voice in ASAN's direction.

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.

Welcome to the ASAN Board of Directors

ASAN is welcoming a new board member, Gregory Smith. Born and raised on his family's Alabama farm, Gregory joined the Army at 18 and served 20 years. He moved his family back to the farm mid-career in 1990 and returned to farming full-time after retiring from the military.

Today he runs Smith's Farm and Ranch in Macon County, a certified organic operation grounded in the belief that good food starts with good farming. The family raises grass-fed beef, pasture-raised goats, free-range chickens, and vegetables, all produced without hormones, GMOs, or synthetic chemicals. Gregory's interest in closed-loop farming systems shapes his whole approach, with every part of the operation feeding into the next. 

Gregory's connection to ASAN goes back years. He has spoken at two Food and Farm Forums and at a Transitioning to Certified Organic CRAFT, and he has developed a farmer training program for veterans, drawing on his own military background. He brings deep experience helping farmers structure financially sustainable businesses and a strong commitment to passing on what he has learned. His commitment to teaching the next generation of farmers and building community across Alabama makes him a natural fit for ASAN.

Tell Your Senator What a Real Farm Bill Looks Like: The House passed its Farm Bill at the end of April. Despite a lot of pushback from farmers across the country, the final version falls short on the things Alabama producers actually need: a level playing field for small and mid-sized farmers, real tools for building resilient operations, and support for the next generation of farmers. The Senate is up next, and because Senate rules force a bipartisan bill, this is where farmers have the most leverage. Call Senators Tuberville and Britt and tell them, in your own words, what a Farm Bill needs to do for your operation and your community. A two-minute phone call from a working Alabama farmer matters more than you'd think. U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Has an ASAN Program Changed the Way You Farm? If something you picked up at a Food and Farm Forum, CRAFT field day, or another ASAN event has shifted something on your operation, big or small, we want to hear about it from you. We've got grant funding to document the real impact of our programs, which means we'll come visit and we'll pay you for your time. Reach out by the end of July at [email protected] or (256) 743-0742.

National Farm to School Network BIPOC Growers Needs Assessment: The National Farm to School Network is currently gathering input from BIPOC growers across the country to better understand their experiences, interest, and needs related to accessing K–12 and other institutional food markets. The NFSN has developed a short (4–6 minute) needs assessment survey to help better design resources and outreach efforts that reflect growers’ experiences, including production scale, current engaged markets, farm to school familiarity, and barriers to K-12 institutional access. This needs assessment will conclude June 26 at 7:00pm. 

ASAN Advocate’s Guide: a practical guide outlining how to find elected officials, access accurate voting and district information, track Alabama legislative activity, and engage effectively in state and local policy advocacy through trusted tools, public data sources, and partner organizations.

Every Dollar Matched Up To $2500 + ASAN Merch for a Limited Time!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Goat Program at North Alabama Agriplex: Learn the fundamentals of raising goats for meat and dairy; covering breed selection, housing, nutrition, health and marketing, $10 fee per person. Youth, ages 12 to15 must register and be accompanied with a paid registered adult. June 22nd at 6 pm in Cullman.

Central Alabama Sustainable Farmers Forum: This one-day event is an opportunity to learn about sustainable farming from sustainable growers. Come learn from and network with the other farmers in your region. The event will be held in Jemison at Petals from the Past Plant Nursery and Garden on June 26th, 9AM–5PM. Free registration required. Lunch provided.

Webinar, Organic Rice with Jubilee Justice: This online learning event will shine some light on what growing rice in the Deep South can look like. Konda Mason, Co-Founder and President of Jubilee Justice, along with some members of her team will tell us about the amazing work they do bringing Organic Rice to the South with an in-depth technical lesson on the climate-smart system used to make it happen. Register to receive the meeting link. June 16th, 5:30PM–7PM.

CRAFT Rice Harvesting Demonstration: The last event in our Organic Rice Series! Farmers Collie Graddick and Konda Mason will shepherd us through an in-depth demonstration on harvesting Organic Rice. Tuskegee University on July 9th (date subject to change based on crop maturity),10 AM–2 PM. Free registration required. Lunch provided.

CRAFT Transitioning to Certified Organic: Learn the ins and outs of USDA Organic Certification from Farmer Dr. Dana Nettles, one of the trailblazers for certified organic produce in Mobile, AL. July 12th, 10AM–3PM. Free registration required. Lunch provided.

8th Annual Alabama Honey Bee Festival is an outdoor educational event and market with vendors that support bees and pollinators. It will take place at Alabama A&M University's Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station in Hazel Green, AL on October 4th, 1PM–5PM. Potential vendors can complete this form.

GRANTS & FUNDING

(Login to the ASAN Member Forum for additional grants)

Alabama Ag Credit Vendor Voucher Program: Helps small farmers offset vendor fees at certified farmers markets, supporting direct-to-consumer sales. Up to $300 for Alabama Ag Credit members, $100 for non-members. Open to farmers, food manufacturers, and producers of non-food goods using Alabama-grown ingredients or materials. Applications accepted through July 31st on a first-come basis.

Healthy Food Financing Initiative FARE Fund: Grants and technical assistance for fresh, healthy food retailers and post-harvest retail supply chain enterprises working to improve healthy food access in underserved areas. Grants $20,000 to $250,000 plus up to $75,000 in technical assistance per project. Inquiry due July 31st.

Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPEPP)—$60 million for very small, small, and intermediate meat and poultry processors. Processing expansion projects $50K to $2M; equipment-only projects $10K to $250K. Apply by August 7. 

National, Youth, and Breed Association MicroGrants: Funding to support U.S. residents and organizations working with livestock and poultry breeds listed on The Livestock Conservancy's Conservation Priority List. Awards range from $500 to $2,000. Applications due August 15th.

Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program (USDA NIFA): Research capacity grants for the 35 designated 1994 Land-Grant Tribal Colleges in agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences, with priority on projects using AI, data science, and robotics. Eligibility is limited to the listed Tribal colleges (none in Alabama); application closes December 31st.

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].

SERVICES

Organic Compost: Aged Horse Manure. Auburn Analyzed. Persistent Herbicide Free. $20 per tractor scoop. 2 scoops = 1 yard. Located in Shelby County on Hwy 47, Chelsea/Columbiana area at James Hale Stables.

JOBS & APPRENTICESHIPS

Law and Policy Fellow: The Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) at the University of Arkansas School of Law is accepting applications for a fellowship for third-year law students or recent graduates interested in Tribal governance, food systems, and agriculture policy in Indian Country.

Community & Operations Coordinator—First paid position for the Nashville Food Co-op. Part-time, about 20 hours/week, covers outreach, membership, marketing, CSA logistics, and operations. The person hired will play a major role in determining how the organization grows, operates, and serves the Nashville community in the years ahead.

Southeast Cohort Project Manager: Remote (Southeast preferred), full-time role with RAFI leading a team of Direct Service Providers helping farmers navigate financial distress and USDA programs across the Southeast.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Advancing Regional Organic Markets: A Farmer's Toolkit (Southeast)—Updated since its December 2025 launch, designed to help farmers and supply-chain partners identify market opportunities for high-demand organic crops, reduce reliance on imports, and build stronger regional connections between growers, processors, and buyers. 

National Farmers Union Beginning Farmer Institute—A free 10-week online intensive (October to December) for beginning farmers and ranchers with weekly expert-led business trainings, peer networking, one-on-one technical assistance, and a possible in-person session. Competitive application requires a resume, one reference letter, and a 2-3 page essay; admissions decisions announced by September 1.

Akiptan Young Entrepreneurs Guide to Native Agriculture—A free guide for young entrepreneurs interested in Native agriculture career paths, starting or growing projects, and the financial fundamentals behind them. Includes tips from people working in the field and pointers to additional resources.

Solar Savings Toolkit—A free guide that explains how solar works for farms, including upfront costs, potential savings over time, farm examples from Georgia, and a savings calculator to help producers run the math for their own operations.

Enterprise Budgets for Diversified Farms—This guide walks through how to build enterprise budgets for individual crops, livestock, or practices, and how to use partial budget analysis to evaluate specific decisions, with case studies covering a cow-calf operation, a grain farm, and a strawberry enterprise.

Master of Science in Agroecology through the University of Vermont is designed for food systems professionals who want to deepen their practice without leaving their communities. Apply by July 15.

RESEARCH & CONSERVATION

Great Southeast Pollinator Census is a University of Georgia Project open to residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and the Carolinas. This citizen science project invites gardeners, students, and farmers to count and identify pollinators in order to build entomological literacy and generate useful data on pollinator population trends across the region. August 21 & 22.

Report drought conditions in Alabama—Auburn's Water Resources Center and the National Drought Mitigation Center both rely on public submissions to build accurate drought maps. Farmers can submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) at drought.gov. Extension professionals can also participate in the Alabama Drought Reach Survey. Regular reporting from farmers improves how drought maps reflect conditions on the ground.