Dear {{Preferred Name/First Name}},

It is the deep part of summer in Alabama, when the heat settles in early and the work doesn't slow down for it. This time of year has us thinking about the soil itself and about the long line of farmers who worked to keep it healthy.

Regenerative agriculture is in the news a lot these days and it can sound like something brand new, but it's not. The term was coined by the Rodale Institute in the 1980s, but the practices behind it are older than that. Long before Europeans arrived, Native peoples were intercropping and using fire to keep land productive. As settlers displaced Native communities and brought the plow, that knowledge was largely lost, and the land was pushed past what it could give. When the Dust Bowl stripped the plains, it was clear that care for the soil was not optional, and the response became what we now know as the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Alabama has its own place in that story. George Washington Carver, who farmed and taught in Tuskegee, called it "being kind to the soil." On land worn out by years of cotton, he taught farmers across the South to rotate their crops and plant peanuts, cowpeas, and sweet potatoes to pull nitrogen back into the ground, and to feed the soil with compost and swamp muck instead of buying costly chemicals. Much of what we now call regenerative agriculture traces straight back to that work.

That's the tradition ASAN has been part of since 2001. Our aim has always been a resilient, regenerative farm and food system in Alabama, built on healthy soil, healthy water, and farms that can make a living. It shows up in the on-farm trainings we host through our CRAFT Network, where farmers learn from one another on everything from cover crops to grazing. Carver's kindness to the soil is still the thread that ties this whole network together.

That thread is also pulling us forward. This year we formed a Policy Steering Committee, a group of farmers and policy experts helping shape where ASAN stands on the issues that affect your livelihood. It's a real step, but a committee can only carry us so far. To do the day-to-day work of changing policy, we need a presence where the decisions get made. We're working toward placing a policy director in Montgomery, someone who can show up at the statehouse, build relationships with lawmakers, and keep Alabama's small and mid-scale farmers in the room instead of just talked about.

We're also thinking hard about who farms next. We want to see Alabama farmland stay in production, but the way into farming is steep for anyone without a family farm to inherit, and not every farm family has children who want to carry it on. So we're building a land access resource to connect retiring farmers with beginning farmers, so that good ground and the knowledge that comes with it gets passed on rather than paved over.

None of this happens without you. The work ahead depends on people who believe Alabama farmland and farm families are worth standing up for, whether that's a policy director in Montgomery, a land access program, or more trainings across the state. If that's you, we're grateful for your support. 

Thank you for being part of this work. We're glad you're here.

Rooted in Alabama,

Alan and Rachel

If you would like to be an exhibitor, sponsor, or presenter at Alabama's premier statewide gathering built for and by sustainable producers, then email  [email protected] for more information. We're excited to host the next Food & Farm Forum in the Black Belt region and we can't wait to see you there!

An Annotated Bibliography on Structural Racism Present in the U.S. Food System—Researchers at Michigan State University's Center for Regional Food Systems look back on a decade of compiling the research, outreach, and opinion on structural racism in our food system. The essay traces how their own understanding of racial equity grew over that time, and points to where the work still needs to go. It is a thoughtful read for anyone thinking about who gets to farm and who gets left out.

Egg producers to pay $3.3M and donate 53 million eggs to settle price-fixing claims—The Justice Department and 17 states settled with three major egg producers over allegations they colluded to inflate egg prices from 2022 to 2025. The companies admit no wrongdoing but will pay $3.3 million, donate 53 million eggs to food banks, and adopt antitrust compliance programs. 

John Deere reaches right-to-repair settlement with FTC—John Deere reached a proposed settlement with the FTC and five state attorneys general that would give farmers and independent repair shops the same diagnostic software, tools, and manuals that authorized dealers get. It follows a separate $99 million class-action settlement with farmers over similar claims. 

Farmer Spotlight

Consider Your FSA County Committee: These committees make real decisions about how federal farm programs run in your county, and elections are underway now. Nominations close August 3. 

Tell Your Senator What a Real Farm Bill Looks Like: 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.

New World Screwworm has turned up in animals in Texas and New Mexico, the first U.S. cases in nearly sixty years. It's not in Alabama and it is not a food safety issue, but watch for wounds that will not heal or fill with maggots, and call the State Veterinarian's office at 334-240-7253 if something looks wrong.

Share a Win for Land Access: A federal court has ordered USDA to restore $127 million in canceled grants under the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (LCM) program, reinstating agreements for 24 organizations and local governments. This is the kind of program that helps beginning and limited-resource farmers get onto land. Help spread the word. 

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.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Alabama Farm Service Agency Producer Exposition—Open to all farmers and producers. Vendors, information booths, and a talk from Alabama State Climatologist Dr. Lee Ellenburg on current drought conditions and assistance options. FSA staff from Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, DeKalb, and Elmore counties will be on site. July 21st, 10AM–2:30PM, Oxford Civic Center, 401 McCullars Ln, Oxford, AL.

Webinar: Growing Landscape of Statewide Local Food Solicitations—Hosted by National Farm to School Network, this webinar will cover how states are using statewide or regional food solicitations to make local food purchasing easier for schools. July 23rd, 1:00PM–2:15PM.

Elderberry Production and Pest Management Workshop on August 11 at 10am in Huntsville will feature Extension professionals discussing elderberry production and pest management strategies, a grower talk from Elder Farms in Missouri, and a tour of the small research planting at Alabama A&M.

Commercial Strawberry 101 class on August 20 at 5:30pm in Hartselle will cover the building blocks of growing strawberries on the farm or market garden: cultivars, production systems, pest management, and marketing.

South Alabama Sustainable Farmers Forum—ASAN's Central Alabama Forum last month was a day of fellowship and learning, with sessions on market opportunities, agricultural policy, and fruit production. We are bringing that same spirit south on September 18 in Headland, at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center. The event is free, but registration is required, and lunch will be provided. To inquire about exhibiting or presenting, email [email protected].

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.