Drought and high energy prices were on the minds of about 700 farmers who traveled to Huntsville Aug. 3-5 for the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 34th annual Commodity Producers Conference.South and central farmers left their own parched fields behind hoping to see greener pastures in north Alabama, but discovered their friends in the Tennessee Valley are sweating about this year’s harvest, too. “I always like to go and look at other farms,” said Tuscaloosa County farmer Floyd Hughes. “I thought north Alabama would have a better potential crop, but when I got there, they were dry too.”Still, Hughes said he’s always encouraged by talking to other farmers and getting updates on national issues and new management practices.”It’s good to see new techniques,” he said. “I’m getting into my senior years, but it’s good to see technology coming that can help younger farmers.”During the conference, farmers could choose from six tours that visited farms and ag-related sites in seven Alabama counties and parts of Tennessee. Meanwhile, about 215 farmers attended a Hay, Forage and Livestock Expo. In addition to equipment demonstrations and a trade show, farmers received timely information that could help them cope with dry weather. “A lot of the farmers wanted to learn more about managing feed and forage resources during a drought,” said Federation Beef, Dairy and Hay and Forage Director Perry Mobley. “The expo included presentations on hay storage and quality and the importance of testing hay for nitrate, which can be a problem during a drought.”Federation State Hay and Forage Committee Member Roger Brumbeloe organized a field trip to the expo for 30 Blount County cattlemen. “I thought it would be informative and helpful, and would hopefully make everyone a better producer,” he said.During the expo, about 20 farmers voluntarily registered their livestock premises under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), Mobley said. Animal identification was one of many topics addressed during seminars on the second full day of the conference.The session on national agricultural issues included presentations by Don Parrish and Kelli Ludlum of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Dave Miller with Iowa Farm Bureau also gave a talk on the carbon credit exchange, a potentially lucrative program that allows farmers to earn marketable “credits” for environmentally friendly farming practices.Other seminars focused on alternative fuels, the Alabama Irrigation Initiative, the availability of USDA grants, environmental issues and estate planning. Myron Salter, president of the Butler County Farmers Federation, said he enjoyed the program on estate planning. He said he hasn’t made a will, although his wife has been after him for years to do so.”I’ve got four children, and I learned I need to do something to make it easier on them and my wife,” he said. Eliminating estate taxes is one of the Federation’s national priorities. Alabama Congressman Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, will play a role in that debate as well as those relating to the farm bill. As keynote speaker at the opening banquet, Cramer called on farmers to offer input from the “front lines.””Your issues are our bread-and-butter issues — literally,” Cramer said. “My strength is my relationship with you. We want to make sure your voice is not lost.”Cramer, who holds periodic meetings with farmers in his district, said farmers have told him the 2002 farm bill has been good for agriculture. “In that farm bill (2002), we were able to accomplish some things for rural America that we weren’t able to do before,” Cramer said. “I know we want to make sure opportunities like that are continued when we go back in 2007 to reauthorize the farm bill.”