AFA NEWSROOM V17N25, June 22, 2022 |
Maggie Pope Receives the “Honorary State FFA Degree” |
Maggie Pope, Director of Education and Industry Relations for the Forest Workforce Training Institute (FWTI), an affiliate of AFA, received the prestigious “Honorary State FFA Degree” from the Alabama Future Farmers Association (FFA) at the 94th Annual State Convention on June 8 in Montgomery.
The “Honorary State FFA Degree” is the highest honor awarded by Alabama FFA.
The award acknowledged Maggie’s “outstanding aid to education in agriculture and for her interest in the development of youth.” |
Katie Britt Clinches GOP Nomination For Alabama US Senate Seat |
Tuesday night, former Business Council of Alabama CEO Katie Britt defeated U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and secured the Republican Party nomination for the Yellowhammer State’s open U.S. Senate seat.
As of reporting time with 27% of the vote in, Britt is holding a 65.71% to 34.29% lead over Brooks.
Britt’s ascension from a virtual unknown outside of political circles to GOP nominee can be attributed to her campaign’s ability to navigate the consistent momentum swings that occurred throughout the hotly contested race. |
Florence, Here We Come! Join Us For The AFA Shoals Area Regional Reception - June 23th TOMORROW |
We are excited to head back to Florence for the AFA's Shoals Area Regional Reception & Valley District Meeting. Please make plans to join us on June 23rd and RSVP by clicking the link below.
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Wes Allen Defeats Jim Zeigler In Alabama Secretary of State Runoff Election |
Tuesday night, State Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy) emerged as the victor over State Auditor Jim Zeigler in the GOP primary runoff election for Alabama Secretary of State.
With 99% of the state’s precincts reporting, Allen topped Zeigler by a vote of 65.38% to 34.62%.
The lawmaker began the race as a heavy underdog to Zeigler, as early polling showed the term-limited state auditor leading Allen by 20 points. |
2nd Annual Bainbridge Block Party - June 24, 2022 |
Join us and our friends from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Egg & Poultry Association as we host a block party on June 24 beginning at 11am filled with food and fun on Bainbridge Street! This event will feature a Sweet Grown Alabama farmer's market, tours of The MOOseum, delicious food and highlight the many tools available to teachers to incorporate agriculture into the classroom. |
Congressman Stauber, Ranking Member Westerman Lead Legislation Updating, Modernizing the Endangered Species Act |
Last Week, Congressman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) and House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) introduced the ESA Flexibility Act. This legislation will grant landowners leeway and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) flexibility when dealing with endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including the northern long-eared bat. |
Historic Alabama Tower Reopens To Public After 20 Years |
The Flagg Mountain Tower has reopened to the public after 20 years of closure.
Flagg Mountain is the southernmost Appalachian peak over 1,000 feet, located in the Weogufka State Forest in Coosa County, Alabama.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey attended last week’s reopening ceremony. “It was a pleasure to visit Coosa County today to officially reopen the Flagg Mountain Tower,” Ivey tweeted. “Built in the 30s, this tower is a symbol of Alabama’s history, her rich natural resources and her strength.” |
Frozen Food Sales Experience Another Major Surge – What Does This Mean for P&P? |
The frozen food segment saw skyrocketing demand months after the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic as consumers had reduced access to restaurants during the various stages of lockdowns that began in March 2020. According to IRi, a Chicago-based market research firm, frozen food sales increased by 25.3% in December 2021 compared to sales in December 2019. However, the frozen food category is experiencing another surge amid increasing inflation – outgrowing the fresh food category by 230% thus far this year. Adnan Durrani, CEO of Saffron Road (a manufacturer of clean-label frozen food products and meals), gives some insight into this trend, explaining that frozen is nature’s pause button, and frozen products preserve that freshness over time and allow for a longer shelf life, especially with organic and locally sourced food items. “The sell-by dates got shortened because of the supply chain. People were also making fewer trips to the store, so items were sitting on the shelf for quite a while,” Durrani said. |
Public Policy Series - Forest Economics- July 22 |
Register today for the Public Policy Seminar: Forest Economics on July 22! Get your room now – the room block closes June 30! |
Reforestation Hits A Snag In Shortage Of Foreign Workers |
Efforts to plant millions of trees across America’s forests and cities may be the latest victim to the logjam on immigration policy.
Temporary foreign workers plant the great majority of trees in the U.S., including in national forests, and limitations on how many workers can enter the country through the H-2B visa guest worker program raise serious doubts about whether ramped-up reforestation goals can be met, according to people in the forest industry.
“The need is huge right now,” said Tim O’Hara, vice president for government affairs at the Forest Resources Association, a trade group for the forest products industry. |
Mark Your Calendars & Save The Date! AFA Is Headed To The Auburn/Opelika Area July 21, 2022 |
Held in conjunction with our Public Policy Series Seminar the next day, we are excited to return to the Marriott Grand National for our Auburn/Opelika Area Regional Reception and Capital District meeting again this year. Come join us for a fun night and a chance to visit with some old forestry friends and hopefully make some new ones.
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Have you registered for the Public Policy Series - Forest Economics seminar the next day? Make sure to check out the agenda and join us for part 3 of 4 in the 2022 Public Policy Series. |
WRI Market Insights: Global Forest Markets In 1H2022 |
Global sawlog price changes were mixed in 1Q/22 with quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) increases in North America and Eastern Europe, while prices declined in Central and Northern Europe.
The European Sawlog Price Index (ESPI) increased slightly in the 1Q/22 and reached a new all-time high, 27% higher than just a year ago. |
First Annual Workforce Development Forum - September 10, 2022 |
Join our ForestryWorks partners for the first annual Workforce Development Forum down in Orange Beach, AL in conjunction with the AFA Annual Meeting! Topics include: apprenticeship programs, non-traditional workforce solutions, career promotion opportunities, customized training tools and much more! Have questions -contact Stephanie Fuller at sfuller@alaforestry.org |
WFF Breaks New Ground with Night Shoot |
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) continues to provide citizens with groundbreaking opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in new, innovative ways.
The ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division’s (WFF) Law Enforcement Section recently held a Night Shoot at the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Shooting Range.
From what Law Enforcement Chief Michael Weathers can determine, Alabama is leading the way in this event, which allowed those who signed up to bring their night vision and thermal optics to the range to shoot at night. |
Are You Ready For The Beach? We Are! AFA Annual Meeting - September 11-13 |
Registration for the 2022 AFA Annual Meeting is in full swing! Click the link below to learn more about our speakers, agenda, sponsors and hotel information. We look forward to seeing you in September! |
Join us as we support U.S. Congressman Barry Moore with a Sporting Clay Fundraiser on Wednesday, June 29 at Selwood Farm! |
Online CE Available For PLM & CFE |
Foresters and loggers, a reminder that AFA offers online continuing education. Now is a great time to go ahead and handle continuing education hours.
Click below for a list of classes. |
11th Annual Sunburn Classic Golf Tournament -September 12 |
| Click sponsor links below |
Thank you to our sponsors |
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