Mark your calendar for the 2026 Food & Farm Forum, which will take place January 16-18 at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, AL. Food & Farm Forum is ASAN’s flagship annual event—a dynamic, hands-on gathering that brings together Alabama’s most passionate farmers, food advocates, educators, and community leaders. 

ASAN believes that financial barriers should never prevent participation in building Alabama’s sustainable food future. Thanks to generous support from Alabama RC&D Councils, all attendees are eligible for scholarships. We offer:

Thank you for another sold out Graze: Huntsville Farm to Fork Benefit!

INTERESTING READS

Impacts of a Federal Government Shutdown Hunger, Nutrition, and Agriculture—Thank you to our friends at Louisiana Food Policy Council for putting together this document. ASAN edits have been made to reflect data specific to Alabama. 

Seeds and Pesticides: Farming Under Corporate Patents—Farm Action's third installment in their Food Monopoly Files explains how just four corporations control over half the global seed market, and engineering these seeds to work hand-in-hand with their own branded chemicals that ultimately lock farmers into buying both. Higher input costs raise grocery prices while corporate control reduces crop diversity and leaves our food system more vulnerable to shocks. 

Puerto Ricans are Devising the Food System of Tomorrow—After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, exposing deep flaws in the island’s food system and emergency response, local communities began building grassroots food sovereignty networks to become more self-reliant. Organizations like Plenitud PR and Comedores Sociales established community kitchens, gardens, and food distribution systems powered by mutual aid and local farming, creating long-term resilience in the face of recurring climate disasters and inconsistent federal support. These efforts are now critical lifelines, especially as federal funding cuts and policy shifts further threaten Puerto Rico’s ability to prepare for and recover from future storms.

WORK WITH ASAN

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.

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

FARMER SPOTLIGHT

Join us in congratulating Marty Brunson, owner of MBD Apiaries, on receiving an Undo the Knot grant! A veteran-owned, small-scale farm in rural Alabama, MBD Apiaries produces natural sweeteners while promoting sustainability, pollinator health, and community access to fresh food. Marty currently manages 22 hives in Macon County and aims to expand. You can find MBD products at local markets, online, and through direct sales. ASAN is proud to support farmers like Marty through the Undo the Knot fund—congratulations and best wishes for continued success! To learn more about the Undo the Knot fund, follow the link below.

IT'S NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH 

UPCOMING WEBINAR: The Business of Farming with Good Agriculture

Get ready for Tax Season and beyond! We're partnering with Good Agriculture to host an informative webinar focused on the business side of farming. Founded in Georgia, Good Agriculture serves as a "back office" for farms—handling the paperwork so farmers can focus on what they do best.

In this session, you’ll learn how their services support economic sustainability in agriculture, helping farms thrive as both businesses and vital parts of their communities. We'll explore practical strategies for maintaining financial health without compromising farmer wellbeing.

Join us on November 18 to gain valuable insights for preparing your farm for a strong 2026. Registration opens October 16.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Operation Grow Bootcamp is a full-day training for veteran and beginning farmers, featuring workshops and networking to support your farm's success. Hosted at Russell County Extension Office (508 14th St, Phenix City, AL 36867) on November 7th from 9am-3:30pm. $20 registration includes lunch.

Alabama Regenerative Growers Conference hosted in partnership with Alabama Cooperative Extension System, ASAN, and Jones Valley Teaching Farm, focuses on agroecological methods of fruit and vegetable production, with session tracks for both commercial farmers and home & community gardeners. The conference features educational sessions, farm tours, vendors, lunch, and networking: a convergence of commercial and community growers interested in soil health, biodiversity, agroecology, and related topics. November 8th from 8:30am-4:30pm at Jones Valley Teaching Farm.

PSA Grower Training Course will provide valuable insights on produce safety, worker health and hygiene, soil amendments and water quality management in both pre and post-harvest settings. November 18th from 9:00am-5:00pm at the Etowah County Extension Office. Register at the link above or call 334-546-7457.

Webinar: Understanding NRCS Cost-Share Programs for Organic Grain Farmers hosted by OATS will clearly break down the programs and practices that are most applicable for organic grain farms. November 11th, 12-1PM.

Military Veterans and Beginning Farmer Workshops held monthly at the North Alabama Agriplex in Cullman. 

Save the Date: 2025 Southern Region Small Farms Conference will take place in Mobile, AL on December 3-5. More details to come.

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

Alabama Drought Reach program seeks to better document drought impacts on agriculture and create a more-informed scientific and agricultural community by improving drought communications and drought impact monitoring in Alabama. Help them create more accurate drought maps of Alabama by reporting drought conditions at your farm.

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.

Farmer-Led Trials Program: The Organic Farming Research Foundation offers funding and technical assistance for on-farm research trials to help organic and regenerative farmers test and refine production practices. Apply by December 3rd.

Have You Heard of CHONEX? This Alabama-based company is advancing sustainable agriculture with its patented biofertilizer, StrongSoil®, made by upcycling poultry manure using black soldier fly larvae. Proven in over 350 trials to boost plant health and reduce fertilizer needs, CHONEX is now offering incentive programs for Alabama farmers. Learn more at www.chonex.ag or contact [email protected].

For Farmers Grant: This application is your ticket to finding funding for something you need on your farm to help you get to the next level, to get by, to get going. What you apply for is up to you. Apply by October 31st.​

Southern IPM Grant Program: Southern IPM Center funds projects tackling integrated pest management issues in the Southern U.S., including seed projects, working groups, and capstones. Apply by November 21st.

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.

Producer Grant Program: Southern SARE Producer Grants are used to conduct sustainable agriculture research projects that solve agricultural production challenges farmers face and to develop information on what works and what doesn’t so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same challenges can benefit from the results of the funded project. Apply by December 5th.

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.

AgriForaging’s AskHACCP Hotline offers free, confidential guidance on HACCP, food safety, and regulatory compliance for small and mid-sized food businesses and value-added producers.

Emergency Preparedness Kit: RAFI has put together a simple checklist of actions to take before disaster strikes so that you are prepared to apply for FSA programs that may assist in recovery. 

Free Technical Assistance: Prosperity Partners by American Farmland Trust (the "No Farms, No Food" folks) provides free technical assistance connecting farmers with expert advisors. Services include conservation planning, soil health improvement, and agricultural project support to strengthen farm businesses.

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].