AFVGA

Directors and members of the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association traveled to Savannah for the annual Southeastern Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in mid-January. They learned about the latest research on fruit and vegetable production, labor laws and business management. 

-Hunter McBrayer, executive director

Pork, Poultry

A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register to allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine if a “packer, swine contractor or live poultry dealer has made or given any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person or locality,” violating the Packers and Stockyards Act. This would replace the Obama-era proposal dubbed the “GIPSA rule.” The 60-day comment period ends March 13. Learn more at FederalRegister.gov.

-Russ Durrance, divisions director

Peanuts

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association annual meeting will be held in conjunction with the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show Feb. 6. The meeting begins at 11:15 a.m. in the Volunteer Building at the National Peanut Festival in Dothan.

-Jacob Davis, executive director

Forestry

The University of Arkansas is now home to the largest mass timber building in the U.S. The newly unveiled residence hall and student center, Adohi Hall (Cherokee for “woods”), is a 202,027-square-foot mixed-use building made of cross-laminated timber.

-William Green, division director

Cotton, Soybean, Wheat & Feed Grain

U.S. corn production for grain is forecast at 13.7 billion bushels, down 5% with an average yield of 167 bushels per acre. Soybean production is forecast at 3.55 billion bushels, down 20%, with the average yield of 46.9 bushels an acre. Cotton production is forecast at 20.2 million bales, with upland cotton accounting for 19.48 million bales and extra-long staple cotton at 726,000 bales.

-Carla Hornady, divisions director

Beef

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has entered the beef business. In early January, the industry giant opened a 200,000-square-foot processing facility in west Georgia aimed at supplying black Angus beef to over 500 stores across the Southeast. This represents a larger vision to create a streamlined supply chain for Walmart’s beef.

-Brady Ragland, division director