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August 2022 | Volume 47 | Number 8 Marlee Moore | Editor Laura Unger | Graphic Designer ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan | Executive Director Jeff Helms | Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jimmy Parnell | President, Stanton Rex Vaughn | Vice President | North, Huntsville Jon Hegeman | Vice President | Central, Anniston George Jeffcoat | Vice President | Southeast, Gordon Jake Harper | Vice President | Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn | Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Dorman Grace | Jasper Mark Byrd | Danville John Bert East | Leesburg Steve Lake | Vinemont Joe Anders | Northport Phillip Hunter | Birmingham Joe Lambrecht | Wetumpka Jimmy Holliman | Marion Junction Bill Cook | Montgomery Trip Horne | Louisville Mark Kaiser | Seminole Thomas Adams | Newville Lydia Haynes | Cullman Mitchell Henry | Moulton Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 or (334) 288-3900. For information about Alabama Farmers Federation member benefits, visit the website www.alfafarmers.org. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Neighbors P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001 MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES 800-392-5705, Option 4 or BWatkins@alfafarmers.org ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Ben Shurett, (256) 997-7922 BenShurett.alfafarmers@gmail.com DISCLAIMERS: Advertisements in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or Alabama Farmers Federation. Editorial information from sources outside the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of information does not imply an endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation.
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In This Issue 4 | Celebrate National Catfish Month From Pond To Plate
28 | Back-To-School Fare For Families On The Go
6 | Hay Farmers Go For Gold 8 | Book Barns Bring Ag To The Classroom 10 | Savor A Slice Of Bama’s Best Tomato Dish 19 | Operation Grow Gives
Veterans A New Mission
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On The Cover
Lawrence County farmers Jared and Heath Darnell have boosted their irrigated acres thanks to the Alabama Irrigation Initiative, which improves infrastructure and supplies monitoring technology. Photo By Jeff Helms
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Fingerling To Fillet: Get Hooked On Alabama Catfish Denzil Dees makes morning feed rounds on his family’s 20-pond catfish farm in Sumter County.
By Josie Chance hree-year-old Kirk Dees snacked on T crispy catfish as his grandparents, Sid and Susan Nelson, pulled another batch
from the fryer. “Regardless of how you cook catfish, it’s delicious,” Sid said. “No sauce needed.” Kirk nodded in agreement as light from the kitchen window illuminated the towhead’s smile. Outside, the summer sun reflected off acres of water where his parents, Denzil and Alex, carry on a pond-to-plate tradition spanning four decades. “You can’t just dig a hole and throw fish in it,” Sid said. “There’s an art to catfish farming.” For the Nelson and Dees families, the recipe for a successful fish fry starts long before fillets and cornmeal enter the kitchen. Established in 1912 when Sid’s grandfather relocated from Pennsylvania to Alabama, Penala Farms was originally a cattle and sheep operation. The Black Belt’s heavy clay soils, however, were
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ideal for holding water, and the farm’s proximity to Alabama and Mississippi processors made Sumter County the perfect spot to build the Nelsons’ first catfish pond in 1981. Today, Sid and Denzil manage 20 catfish ponds covering more than 200 acres, along with a 250-300 head beef cattle herd. It’s a lifestyle that keeps the family busy year-round. The production cycle starts with delivery of 4- to 6-inch catfish, called fingerlings, in late winter or early spring. The fish are fed for the next 13-15 months. As the fingerlings grow, Sid and Denzil watch to make sure oxygen levels stay above 3 parts per million (ppm). Aerators designed to help oxygen flow through the water turn on automatically if levels drop below 4 ppm. Even with modern technology, Denzil said catfish farming is a hands-on, 24/7 job. “Each pond is a little different,” he said. “One pond’s fish might eat fine, while another won’t eat at all that morning. We care for each pond individually.”
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At feeding time, farmers fill trucks with pellets or flakes of dry feed made from cornmeal, soybean meal, cottonseed and other byproducts. They drive next to the ponds, dispensing the feed into the water using a blower. The water’s surface bubbles as fish gobble the floating feast. Feeding fish is precise. Each pond has a specific spot where the fish are fed on a strict schedule. The amount of feed per day is closely monitored by scales or timed feedings. As water heats up and summer progresses, each pond’s fish can consume over a ton of feed per day. Denzil said farmers pay close attention to details and adjust accordingly to get the ideal 1.5- to 2-pound fish. “Farmers often are the only ones to feed their own fish,” he said. “Every part of it is so particular, and no one wants to mess that up.” Other fish, like shad, play a crucial role in creating an optimal water environment. They help reduce algae levels by feeding on microorganisms and leftover feed. This lessens the need to drain ponds. alfafarmers.org
! m u Y Clockwise from top left: A seining crew gathers a load of catfish to be processed that afternoon; Kirk Dees enjoys catfish fried by his grandmother, Susan Nelson; farmers aim to grow fish that’s 1.5 to 2 pounds; the fish is harvested, processed, sold and often fried to perfection in restaurants and in homes; farmer Sid Nelson scoops up a basket of crunchy, flaky, USDA-inspected catfish.
Quality control is important, Denzil said. Farmers take a sample fish from each pond to the processor about three weeks before harvest. A taste test ensures consumers get mild, flavorful catfish. Once a pond passes the test, producers prepare for harvest. “Originally, we would drain the ponds entirely every harvest,” Sid said. “That made us more dependent on rainfall and our watershed to completely refill the ponds.” Today, catfish farmers gather their crop in the spring through a process called seining. Boat crews pull nets across the pond from reels attached to tractors along the bank. As the alfafarmers.org
net is tightened, fish are channeled into a narrow section called the sock. Fingerlings and shad slip back into the pond through holes in the netting, leaving only harvest-size fish. Once the fish are contained, a boom hoists the sock to awaiting trucks. The fish are placed into tanks with chilled water and are transported live to the facility where, after another quality test, they are processed under U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection. “Catfish are fresh,” Denzil said. “The entire harvest procedure happens within 24 hours to ensure consumers get the highest quality product.” Flash-frozen fillets are loaded onto trucks and delivered in boxes labeled with the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish logo
to grocery stores, mom-and-pop shops and wholesale distributors. While flaky, clean-tasting catfish are versatile and can be grilled, baked or pan-seared, frying is a sure-fire win for all taste buds, Sid said. Back in the kitchen, Susan and Sid demonstrate their preferred preparation. Split fillets; dip in egg or buttermilk; and coat with seasoned cornmeal. For the perfect, crispy bite, cook the fillets a minute or two after the fish floats, Sid said. “You can’t beat the taste,” he said. “With U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish, you know you’re getting a fresh, high-quality product every time.” For more delicious catfish recipes, visit USCatfish.com. August 2022
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Growing Gold:
Hay Producers Battle Big Bills By Josie Chance eed, fuel and fertilizer. Frequiring The three “Fs” of farming are hay producers to be creative
this year as they combat problems beyond drought or insect pressure, said Mahlon Richburg as he walked through his Lee County field of lush green Bermudagrass. “We are going to have to be smarter and find ways to deal with long-term supply chain issues,” said the Alabama Farmers Federation State Hay & Forage Committee member. “Just because we have done something one way for the past 40 years doesn’t mean we should continue.” With the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimating a 34% increase in the cost of lubricant, fuel and electricity compared to last year, producers are increasing end-product prices while reevaluating costs and discovering ways to control expenses. Richburg has focused on improving soil and plant efficiency by using several
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new weed suppressants and methods of fertilizer application. He said research and development are crucial, but each producer needs to find what works for their operation. DeKalb County cattle and hay farmer Thomas Ridgeway puts this into practice through conservation techniques and careful business decisions to keep costs low, despite a necessary 30% hay price increase and no profit change over 2021. “Soil testing comes first,” Ridgeway said. “I don’t want to put out anything the land doesn’t need, so testing and applying fertilizer accordingly decreases the amount needed.” Improved production efficiency was evident once he began using more machinery and technology. Ridgeway said some of those decisions, such as purchasing an accumulator, were
Recent drought conditions have caused issues, such as decreased growth, in hayfields for Alabama farmers, including Mahlon Richburg of Lee County.
necessary after he was unable to find labor to move bales. “I couldn’t find people willing to work without breaking the bank,” said Ridgeway, a DeKalb County Farmers Federation board member. “I turned to investing in equipment that allowed me to do more by myself. It has definitely paid for itself in the long run.” He has also adapted his end products as the market changed. Previously, Circle R Farms offered mulch hay for construction use, but as demand for those square bales decreased, he changed gears to grow more Bermudagrass hay for livestock producers. Back in Auburn, Richburg said a bale’s value goes far beyond its weight. He’s determined to provide the quality product his customers expect. “We fertilize regularly, regardless of how the grass looks,” Richburg said. “We also never sell bales that have been alfafarmers.org
rained on.” Ridgeway echoed Richburg’s remarks. “My customers have been very understanding about the cost increase,” Ridgeway said. “They are experiencing supply problems as well and know getting quality forage is worth the expense.” This reputation for a first-rate product keeps both farmers busy with repeat customers. The farmers said word-of-mouth fulfills marketing needs, so they’re never short on buyers, despite only offering pickup because of limiting factors, such as time, labor, fuel and liability. “If I am making a delivery but blow a trailer tire on the way, I lose my profit for that load, plus time and energy,” Ridgeway said. Despite current challenges, Richburg reminds farmers to remember the big picture — growing quality hay to help livestock pack on pounds. “We have to live with these issues,” he said. “But we also must sharpen our management skills and do better than we have in the past.”
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Above: Farmers like Thomas Ridgeway are feeling the effects of supply chain issues and inflation. Inset photo: Technology, like this hay accumulator, helps Ridgeway deliver quality products with fewer workers on his Fyffe hay and cattle farm.
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Book Barns Build Bright Future By Josie Chance rtwork illustrating cotton, cattle, A tractors and peanuts fills the shelves of a bright red book barn in the
LaFayette Pilot Public Library. Farm kids flock to the books, but the publications’ reach extends far beyond readers with previous agricultural experience. Book barns are bookcases installed by county Farmers Federations in libraries, schools, offices and other locations to promote agriculture-related literature. Chambers County Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Lillian Slay and member Mary Helen Benford hopped on the book barn bandwagon over a decade ago. “If I had something like this, my
Lillian Slay and Mary Helen Benford have helped lead the charge in Chambers County to provide book barns and kid-friendly agricultural stories to local schools and libraries. 8
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students would have loved it,” said Benford, a former special education teacher who spent 35 years in the classroom. “Hands-on interaction is great. Kids can actually hold the book in their hands, sit on the floor and read or look at the illustrations. Reading physical books is crucial for development.” Benford and Slay saw their first book barn at Alabama Ag In The Classroom Summer Institute and immediately wanted to bring the concept closer to home. Working with local trade school students, 13 book barns have been built and distributed across Chambers County since 2010. The Franklin County Farmers Federation started its book barn program in 2016. With over 50 books each in seven elementary school libraries, the group has received rave reviews from teachers and students. Franklin County Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Carol Glass said book barns give farmers another outlet to share agriculture with youth. “During the pandemic, we couldn’t take kids to the farms for tours or field days,” Glass said. “Book barns gave us a way to take the farm to the kids.” The barns provide lessons beyond how food is produced. Local high school technical classes and agriculture students help source materials and build the barns, which are filled with
accurate ag reads, such as “John Deere That’s Who!”. That book is a hit at the LaFayette Pilot Public Library in LaFayette, where librarian Rachel Johnson said interest in the barn is growing. “The kids really enjoy the books, and being in a rural county, a lot of them relate to the topics,” Johnson said. “It’s a neat resource for kids and parents, as we offer packets and worksheets to go along with the books.” Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood said book barns help farmers get involved in their communities. “Federation members can utilize these barns as a way to increase ag education opportunities in their area and get children involved with food production at an early age,” Earwood said. “When farmers take initiative to get involved in their communities, it truly makes a difference.” Back in Chambers County, Benford said her best advice for those contemplating building a book barn program is simple: “Do it. Find someone to help. Contact a trade school and simply do it,” she said. For more information, contact Earwood at kearwood@alfafarmers.org or (334) 612-5370. alfafarmers.org
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FDL Tomato Pie Triumphs In Bama’s Best Tomato Dish Contest
By Marlee Moore
trio of judges sampled savory A tomato pie June 14 — just steps from the Montgomery Curb Market
stand where FDL Gourmet To Go chef Preston Williams purchased the dish’s star Better Boy tomatoes hours earlier. The tomato pie’s simple, salty flavor earned it the title of Bama’s Best Tomato Dish, a contest sponsored by Sweet Grown Alabama. As the winner, Montgomery-based FDL earns bragging rights, a cash prize, a plaque and a feature on “Simply Southern TV.”
“It was love at first sight!” said judge Kathleen Phillips. “The beautiful presentation of the ripe red tomatoes arranged on top told me tomatoes were going to take center stage of that tasty show. Sure enough, as I cut into the warm pie, another layer of salted tomatoes was found between layers of creamy, cheesy goodness. At that point, I knew I would be a fan girl of the FDL tomato pie.” Phillips, a recipe developer and author of the Grits and Gouda food blog, was joined on the two-day judging journey June 13-14 by “Simply Southern
From left are Sweet Grown Alabama Director Ellie Watson; recipe developer Kathleen Phillips; FDL Gourmet To Go owners Phillip Carter and Preston Williams, whose tomato pie was named Bama’s Best Tomato Dish; “Simply Southern TV” co-host Mary Wilson; and tomato connoisseur Kyle Hayes. 10
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TV” co-host Mary Wilson and tomato connoisseur Kyle Hayes. Sweet Grown Alabama Director Ellie Watson accompanied the crew, which visited the Flavorful Four finalists across the state to taste their takes on Bama’s Best Tomato Dish. Finalists were chosen by fans in head-to-head matchups between Edible Eight entrants on the Sweet Grown Alabama Facebook and Instagram pages. Watson praised FDL Gourmet To Go owners Williams and Phillip Carter for cooking with fresh, local ingredients. “Preston and Phillip understand the Sweet Grown Alabama mission,” Watson said. “FDL has built relationships with local farmers to highlight fresh produce. Their tomato pie shows off what Alabama farmers do best — grow safe, affordable, tasty food for families.” Williams is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef who specializes in Southern food with a Mediterranean flair. He and Carter broke into the gourmet food-to-go business during the COVID-19 pandemic, starting with pop-up events in neighborhoods. FDL (which stands for fleur-de-lis, a nod to Williams’ French ancestry) has a catering kitchen and takes custom delivery orders weekly. alfafarmers.org
FDL also has a booth with refrigerated foods (casseroles, pimento cheese and more) at the Montgomery Curb Market. “Once someone gets our tomato pie, they come back and get more,” Carter said. “We do a lot of deliveries for people throughout the week for funerals, new parents and events. Loved ones send things they like.” The duo is inspired by seasonal
ingredients. Summer favorites include an heirloom tomato gazpacho and, of course, Bama’s Best Tomato Dish. “Some people are scared of tomato pie if they’ve never had it,” Williams said. “I’ve never met a tomato pie I didn’t like. With ingredients being in season, it would be a shame not to use them. To highlight a tomato is to eat it fresh.” Other finalists in the Bama’s Best Tomato Dish contest were:
l Claunch Cafe, Tuscumbia, tomato pie l The Downtown Chief, Gadsden, fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and pepper jelly l Gather, Atmore, The Train Wreck To learn more about FDL Gourmet To Go, visit their Facebook page. The “Simply Southern TV” episode featuring FDL Gourmet To Go and Bama’s Best Tomato Dish airs Aug. 6 and 7.
More Flavorful Finalists
Claunch Cafe Tuscumbia Tomato pie
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The Downtown Chief
Gadsden Fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and pepper jelly
Gather
Atmore The Train Wreck
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Green Industry Growers Sharpen Skill Set On Florida Tour
Alabama greenhouse, nursery and sod growers visited the University of Florida Turf Unit during an inaugural education tour June 23. At the unit, they learned about research projects, which included work with soil moisture probes, nutrient disturbance analysis and thermal imagers.
By Marlee Moore reen industry farmers crisscrossed G south Alabama and the Florida Panhandle June 22-23, leaning into
lessons about logistics, labor and the importance of farm-friendly legislation. The Alabama Farmers Federation Greenhouse, Nursery & Sod (GNS) Division coordinated the educational tour, which replaced spring Commodity Organization Meeting workshops. The tour, held in the heat of summer, hit a lull for many greenhouse, nursery and sod farmers, including Ashley Driskell Morgan. “I learned some new things at each of the stops, particularly the University of Florida (UF) Turf Unit, and will be able to integrate aspects into our business,” said Morgan, whose family farms in Mobile County. “With having a family business, it’s hard to take off for a long time, so the short tour was ideal.” A seminar with Alabama Extension’s Dr. Jeremy Pickens kicked off the two-day event. The next day, the group visited Flowerwood Nursery in Loxley, Alabama, which propagates 4 million Encore azaleas annually, in addition to other container plants. Flowerwood CEO Ellis Ollinger serves on the Federation’s State GNS Committee and gave growers insight into Flowerwood’s fusion of modern alfafarmers.org
technology and hands-on labor. “Right now, we’re working on ergonomics to not necessarily make the job faster but easier for our employees,” Ollinger said. Sod took center stage at UF’s West Florida Research and Education Center Turf Unit — a former corn field that’s now the largest turf research facility in the Southeast. Associate Center Director Bryan Unruh told Alabama farmers that battling environmental activists while implementing best management practices (BMPs) for the state’s thousand-plus golf courses is a hefty issue for Florida turf growers. “We have 110 fertilizer restricted ordinances,” Unruh said. “Restrictive ordinances really pertain to landscapes and thankfully haven’t gone over to the golf course yet. I don’t know how I could manage a golf course without fertilizing May-October. If you can’t feed something in the warm season, it’s not going to do too well.” Unruh highlighted the importance of passing legislation to educate the public on BMPs, noting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law just days
earlier highlighting that point. During a tour of the Turf Unit in Milton, Florida, farmers saw technology in action, including thermal imagers recording data, soil moisture monitors and projects analyzing nutrient disturbance. Just a few miles from the Turf Unit, the group learned about wholesale tree production at Panhandle Growers, while a pitstop at the Pensacola Oyster Cluster microhatchery showcased farmers problem-solving another logistical puzzle — a bottlenecked supply chain of seedstock to oyster farms. Federation GNS Division Director Blake Thaxton said the tour had two goals: help farmers improve growing methods and, ultimately, their bottom lines, while increasing camaraderie among growers. “The feedback we’ve received from this tour has been excellent,” Thaxton said. “Everyone really enjoyed visiting with and learning from each other, and each stop had unique insights that will help Alabama farmers continue to improve their operations while growing exceptional products.” August 2022
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Alfa Employees Enjoy Bounty Of Alabama Agriculture By Josie Chance peaches were just picked Theyesterday!” “Yum, I love bramble jam.”
“I can’t wait to cook these steaks tonight.” These exclamations and more were heard from Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation employees at the Montgomery home office during Alfa Farmers Market Day June 30. Alfa employees Cindy Strickland, Melanie Stanford and Heather Burge browsed each booth, anticipating their turn to visit with farmers and purchase local goods. Burge said she was excited to get home and dig into fresh peaches and sweet bramble jam. “We love the Farmers Market Day,” said Burge, who works in Property & Casualty Services. “We even moved
Boozer Farms owner Taylor Hatchett bags fresh Chilton County peaches with help from her daughter, Raven, during the market June 30.
meetings around to make it down here in time. The farmers are fantastic, so we were excited to support them.” The Federation coordinates the event to give Alfa employees the opportunity to interact with the organization’s farmer-members while enjoying summer’s bounty. The Federation’s Blake Thaxton said it’s important for farmers and employees to spend time together and was grateful to bring the market back after a two-year hiatus. “Farmers are the reason we get to come to work every morning,” said Thaxton, the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) executive director. “It’s important for Alfa and Federation employees to grow relationships with our farmers so we can represent them well. This is a great opportunity for our employees to learn about local farms and the fruit of their labor.” The market also encourages employees to seek farm-fresh goods outside of the home office. Five farms plied their wares at Alfa Farmers Market Day. Boozer Farms’ Taylor Hatchett brought Chilton County peaches, tomatoes and cabbage. Hatchett serves on the AFVGA board with Beth Hornsby, who supplied jams, jellies and pickled products from her Lee County Hornsby Farms. At the East Alabama Bee Co. table, shoppers chose from honey,
handmade candles and beeswax bars while learning about beekeeping from Chambers County farmer and Federation State Bee & Honey Committee member Jeff Monroe. Alfa employees searching for a refreshing treat in the heat visited Blue Ribbon Dairy’s ice cream station manned by Elmore County farmer Michaela Sanders Wilson, who serves on the Federation’s State Dairy Committee. Rock House Farms from Cleburne County rounded out Alfa Farmers Market Day offerings with steaks, ground beef, sausage and eggs. Farmers Kaleb and Karah Skinner serve on the Federation’s State Pork Committee. Additionally, Sweet Grown Alabama, the state’s agricultural branding program, held a drawing for a Sweet Grown Alabama basket, won by Federation Membership Assistant Office Manager Liz Coon. Learn more at SweetGrownAlabama.org.
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Irrigation Initiative Eliminates Guesswork
By Jeff Helms orrential rains gave way to blue skies T just in time for the Darnell brothers of Lawrence County to show how the
Above: Heath Darnell demonstrates how soil moisture probes send a continual flow of information to a smartphone app, allowing him to make timely irrigation decisions. Top: Heath and brother Jared say the Alabama Irrigation Initiative is helping manage risk for the next generation on their family farm, which includes Heath’s son, Jackson, and Jared’s son, Riley. 16
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Alabama Irrigation Initiative takes some guesswork out of farming. Steel skeletons, which crawl across 12% of their 6,000-acre farm, sat silent. But Heath Darnell, 45, said it’s reassuring to know the irrigation pivots can deliver water to corn, cotton and soybeans when needed. “We can do everything right, but if it doesn’t rain for 10 days, we can be hurting,” he said. “We can go from being too wet to get anything done to
needing a rain badly.” The initiative helps farmers like the Darnells mitigate risk by providing cost-share assistance for irrigation equipment. Funding was secured by U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Kathy Gotcher is a senior conservationist with the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (ASWCC), which administers the program. The initiative pays 50% toward new irrigation equipment, up to $250,000. One of the most impactful alfafarmers.org
investments, however, is the $10,000 farmers receive for an irrigation water management system. This includes a soil moisture probe, flow meter, weather station and three-year subscription to monitoring software. “Vendors have told me they have producers who’ve installed the soil moisture probes under our program who are now installing them on other pivots,” Gotcher said. Standing in chest-high corn, Heath demonstrated the software. Using a smartphone app, he can access information provided by the solar-powered monitoring station. At ground level, a PVC pipe conceals the data-gathering probe. Irrigation vendors install equipment each spring and remove it before harvest. The technology is another way to increase efficiency while conserving resources. “A farmer, by nature, is going to overdo it,” Heath said. “In the past, we watered an inch a week whether the crop needed it or not. With these moisture probes, I’m seeing that sometimes I don’t need that inch a week. Maybe it’s an inch over 10 days with two or three passes. “If I’m putting on too much water, I’m wasting money and losing topsoil. You can save a tremendous amount of money by not overwatering. These probes pay for themselves,” he added. The irrigation management software is tied to planting date. Graphs show how deep the plants’ roots should be and how much water is needed at each stage of growth. The Darnell brothers said some of their systems take 40 hours to cover a field with an inch of water. Consequently, plants on the far side of the pivot could suffer almost two days before getting relief. Applying less water allows the pivot to move faster. “A field of growing corn uses so much more water than I realized before we had the monitoring stations,” said Jared, 50. “Instead of waiting for the crop to look stressed, Heath can watch the graph and know when to irrigate, even if it seems like it rained just a few days ago.” The Alabama Irrigation Initiative has invested $1.9 million on 19 farms in the Middle Tennessee River Watershed, which includes parts alfafarmers.org
of Cullman, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall and Morgan counties. Expansion is underway in the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers Watershed, including parts of Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties. Scientists are also working to bring the initiative to farms in the Middle Alabama River Watershed. Alabama has about 160,000 irrigated acres, compared to over 1 million in each neighboring state. Jared said increasing on-farm irrigation benefits the entire state. “Alabama is a corn-deficient state,” he said. “This will help us grow more of our own corn to feed the poultry industry.” Good relationships are key to the initiative’s success. ASWCC, NRCS, local soil and water conservation districts, irrigation vendors and researchers at Auburn University and University of Alabama Huntsville helped make the program a reality. The Darnells said the initiative made irrigation affordable, especially for smaller fields. “Before the program, it was very hard to put in an extensive irrigation program because you were investing a lot of money,” Heath said. “You’re looking at a 10- to 15-year return on your investment. You need to have a good relationship with your landlord, and they
should be able to handle the expense of everything underground that stays with the land.” Although the brothers rent most of their land, Jared Darnell said they are blessed with good landowners and neighbors. “We’ve been renting land from the same people in a lot of instances for over 30 years,” he said. “Our neighbors are really good farmers, and a lot of what we do is from watching them.” The Darnells operate as Clifton Farms, a shared family name. Since 1993, the brothers have more than tripled acreage. They utilize a three-year crop rotation, minimum tillage, cover crops, terracing, grass waterways, soil sampling and precision agriculture. Those techniques and management philosophy factored into their selection for the initiative, Gotcher said. Riley Darnell, who farms alongside his father, Jared, and uncle Heath, said the investments make the farm sustainable for his generation. “Everything we’re doing is only building for my future,” he said. “When I first started, we didn’t have any pivots; we had hard hose reels. You’d work yourself to death and not feel like you were doing any good. It’s come a long way. In farming, we know a lot of stuff may happen, but the crop is not going to dry up. That’s a game changer.”
Darnell Farms was started in 1968 by Jared and Heath’s parents, Danny and Pat. They retired in 2016. Today, the family business operates as Clifton Farms and includes, from left, Sally-Rae, Heath, Rachel, Jackson, Kenzie, Jared, Michelle, Riley and his fiancee, Maggie Williams. August 2022
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( Y O U) Who mapped the soybean genome? YOU did. Better varieties are on the way. All soybean farmers, including you, are achieving big breakthroughs in seed and production. How? By pooling your resources through your soy checkoff. Learn how your soy checkoff is bringing tangible returns back to you and your operation at unitedsoybean.org/hopper.
Moving Soy Forward. Moving You Forward. 2021 United Soybean Board [61078-10 9/21]
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Operation Grow Cultivates Love Of Farming For Military Veterans
Gregg DeBoer owns DeBoer Family Farm in Arab. Since joining Operation Grow in 2015, he has hosted more than 150 veterans on his farm.
By Ann Chambliss
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merican military personnel are revered for selfless contributions to securing the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for their fellow man. To support military members in their next mission — life as a veteran — the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) are partnering to cultivate Operation Grow, an Extension program that empowers veterans in agriculture. “We are here to help people,” said Alabama Extension Director Mike Phillips. “Operation Grow will be very beneficial to our veterans. It is an honor to collaboratively assist those who have served our country.” Alabama Commissioner of
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Agriculture & Industries Rick Pate said ADAI was looking for an opportunity to expand its long-term support for veterans. “Extension came to us with this proposal with the framework already in place; it’s a natural partnership,” Pate said. “Operation Grow aims to help veterans get started in agriculture, and I am excited about it.”
Changing Lives
Operation Grow supports grassroots educational and networking efforts for veterans and their families. “The Operation Grow pilot project and the relationship developed with Alabama Extension provided a solid foundation for me to begin farming,” said Gregg DeBoer of DeBoer Family Farm in Arab. “As a combat veteran, falling into farming has
absolutely saved my life. It truly makes a difference.” Operation Grow provides a three-step farm planning support system for military veterans interested in farming using hands-on, on-farm and digital media-based training. The program integrates technical, experiential and social learning for veteran-owned farms. It also helps farmer-veterans build networks with local sources of information and support, including U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies.
Operation Grow
Operation Grow is part of the Alabama Beginning Farmer program and emphasizes the need to train military veterans interested in specialty crop production. Harli Willis, Operation Grow project coordinator since 2015, said the Alabama Beginning Farmer program — led by Alabama Extension’s commercial horticulture team — has helped more than 400 small producers. “Implications of this project on mental health and employment priorities in veteran communities will be outstanding over time,” Willis said. Learn more about Operation Grow at aces.edu.
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Martin To Lead Advertising, Corporate Communications Team
elissa Martin, an 18-year veteran M with Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation, has been promoted
will provide strong leadership as we work to provide more strategic focus for CCI’s primary partner and client, Alfa to director of advertising and corporate Insurance.” communications. A graduate of Auburn Creative Consultants Inc. University at Montgomery, (CCI) General Manager and the Montgomery native Federation Public Relations has been a part of the Alfa and Communications family since 2004 when Director Jeff Helms said she started with Alfa’s Life Martin is a great fit for this Insurance Department. She position, crediting her was hired to work with CCI, proven leadership skills. the Federation’s in-house She is a graduate of the advertising agency, in Alfa Leadership Academy 2009. Later, she served as and continues to serve as a the Federation’s Cultivator Martin program adviser. newsletter and website “Melissa has distinguished herself editor before transferring back to CCI at Alfa through hard work, a love of as editor for marketing and employee learning and personal investment in communications. In 2019, Martin was people,” Helms said. “I’m confident she promoted to corporate media director.
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In her new position, Martin will oversee employee, marketing and product communication efforts for Alfa Insurance, as well as the company’s social media channels and Alfa Cares initiatives. Martin said she is excited for this next step in her career, as she supervises Alfa Employee Communications Director Brooke Foster and Digital Content Creator Sara Beth Beals. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue growing within this organization alongside my Alfa family,” she said. “This new role brings with it everything I love — challenge, opportunity, innovation and collaboration. The media landscape is ever-changing, but I’m confident we have the right team in place to yield incredible success.”
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Planting A Fall Vegetable Garden By Mallory Kelley f your summer vegetable garden has Isummer been a bust, you’re not alone. The started out sizzling hot! Veggies probably struggled — even with daily watering. If your tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash didn’t survive, don’t give up. Try again with a fall garden. We are blessed by a warm climate allowing us to grow vegetables year-round. Fall vegetables are my favorite to grow. Many cool-season vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, lettuce and Brussels sprouts, produce their best flavor and quality when maturing during cool weather. In Alabama, spring temperatures often rise quickly, causing vegetables such as lettuce and spinach to bolt or develop a bitter flavor. Growing a productive fall vegetable garden requires thoughtful planning and practices. In Alabama, August and September are ideal for planting a fall
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garden. For a more accurate planting schedule, determine the average date of the first killing frost in the fall. Then count backward from the frost date, using the number of days to maturity to determine the best time to plant in your area. For example, if a first frost usually occurs Nov. 15 and the broccoli you’d like to plant has an average 45 days to maturity, try planting around Oct. 1. August and September are also usually hot and dry. If you plant fall vegetables from seed during these months, keep the soil moist. Incorporating organic matter into the soil will add nutrients and increase water-holding capacity. Lettuce and spinach seeds will not germinate when soil temperatures exceed 85 F. Wait before sowing seeds or planting transplants. Mulch the garden to moderate moisture levels as September and October are our driest months. You can also extend your summer vegetable crop and semi-hardy vegetables into the fall and winter by
protecting them from frost. We often enjoy several weeks of good growing conditions after the first frost. Cover growing beds, rows or individual plants with burlap or a floating row cover supported by stakes or wire to keep material from directly touching plants.
Most hardy vegetables require little or no frost protection, but semi-hardy vegetables should be protected or harvested before a heavy freeze. Root crops such as carrots and radishes should be harvested or mulched heavily before a hard freeze. If you have home garden questions, we have answers. Call the Master Gardener Helpline at 1-877-ALA-GROW (252-4769).
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MM: What new information will be made available to poultry farmers?
Moody
Sponsored By Alabama Ag Credit
Christjohn
Enjoy this excerpt from an Alabama AgCast with Alabama Farmers Federation Creative Technical Director Mike Moody and Poultry Division Director Colton Christjohn. Mike Moody: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing a new poultry rule focused on arrangements between the integrator and farmer. What does this mean for our state’s poultry farmers? Colton Christjohn: The proposal would revise the list of disclosures integrators are required to provide growers. It would establish additional
disclosure requirements in connection with grower ranking systems used by the integrator to determine settlement payments for poultry growers. Overall, the proposal intends to promote transparency between poultry integrators and growers within the contracting system. It will also provide relevant information to current and future growers to aid better business decisions.
CC: As it stands today, the proposed rule is 155 pages. While it would be difficult to dive into each specific rule, one of the most pertinent bits of information surrounds the disclosure document. The proposal would require integrators to provide growers with new information, such as stocking density; breed, gender and hatchery details; parent flock health and age statistics; and adjustments to grower pay based on integrator inputs, all within 24 hours of chick placement. Full proposed rules can be found at AMS.USDA.gov. Catch the entire interview on the Alabama AgCast. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts or visit AlfaFarmers.org/agcast. New episodes available every Wednesday.
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2022 COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING DATES, TIMES & LOCATIONS COUNTY Autauga Baldwin Barbour Bibb Blount Bullock Calhoun Chambers Cherokee Chilton Choctaw Clarke Clay Cleburne Colbert Conecuh Coosa Covington Crenshaw Cullman Dale Dallas DeKalb Escambia Etowah Fayette Franklin Geneva Greene Hale Henry Jackson Jefferson Lamar Lauderdale Lawrence Limestone Lowndes Macon Madison Marengo Marion Marshall Mobile Monroe Montgomery Morgan Perry Randolph Russell Shelby St. Clair Talladega Tallapoosa Tuscaloosa Walker Washington Winston alfafarmers.org
DATE Wed., Aug. 17 Thurs., Aug. 11 Thurs., Aug. 11 Tues., Aug. 23 Thurs., Aug. 18 Thurs., Aug. 18 Thurs., Aug. 11 Mon., Aug. 22 Thurs., Aug. 25 Tues., Aug. 16 Mon., Aug. 15 Thurs., Aug. 25 Thurs., Aug. 25 Tues., Aug. 9 Mon., Aug. 29 Mon., Aug. 15 Thurs., Aug. 11 Thurs., Aug. 25 Thurs., Sept. 8 Tues., Aug. 2 Mon., Aug. 8 Tues., Sept. 13 Thurs., Aug. 18 Tues., Aug. 9 Mon., Aug. 8 Thurs., Aug. 11 Tues., Aug. 16 Tues., Aug. 16 Thurs., Aug. 25 Thurs., Sept. 1 Tues., Aug. 2 Tues., Aug. 2 Thurs., Aug. 25 Mon., Aug. 15 Tues., Aug. 9 Thurs., Aug. 11 Thurs., Aug. 18 Thurs., Sept. 8 Mon., Aug. 1 Tues., Aug. 2 Tues., Sept. 13 Fri., Aug. 12 Tues., Aug. 23 Thurs., Aug. 18 Mon., Sept. 12 Tues., Aug. 9 Fri., Aug. 12 Tues., Sept. 6 Sat., Aug. 20 Mon., Aug. 15 Mon., Aug. 15 Mon., Aug. 8 Thurs., Aug. 18 Tues., Aug. 23 Tues., Aug. 16 Tues., Aug. 30 Mon., Aug. 8 Thurs., Sept. 8
TIME 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. EST 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
BUILDING Autauga County Ag Center Baldwin County Farmers Federation Building Texasville Community Center Alfa Service Center Dunn’s Vintage Gardens Greenway Sportsman’s Lodge Calhoun County Farmers Federation Building Chambers County Farmers Federation Building Dean Buttram Senior Center Alfa Service Center Alfa Service Center Alfa Service Center First Baptist Church of Ashland — Christian Life Center Cleburne County Mountain Center Hospitality House (NW Shoals Community College) Alfa Service Center Poplar Point Camp Oakwood Lodge Alfa Service Center Cullman County Farmers Federation Building Alfa Service Center Alfa Service Center Alfa Service Center Camp 31 Restaurant Etowah County Farmers Federation Building Fayette Civic Center Best Western Hotel Geneva County Farm Center Alfa Service Center The Catfish Center Wiregrass Research & Extension Center Jackson County Farmers Federation Building Birmingham Botanical Gardens — Ireland Room Vernon City Complex Lauderdale County Extension Building — Ag Center Moulton Recreation Center Willow Oak Farm Southern Sportsman Lodge Beck’s Turf Farm Huntsville Country Club Alfa Service Center Tombigbee Electric Cooperative Marshall County Farmers Federation Building Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds Monroe County Ag Center Alfa Home Office Hartselle Civic Center Alfa Service Center Midway Community Life Center Fort Mitchell Visitors Center Alabama 4-H Center Pell City Municipal Building Talladega County Farmers Federation Building First Baptist Church of Dadeville Alabama Extension Office Walker County Farmers Federation Building Alfa Service Center American Legion Garrison-Bonds Post 184
ADDRESS 2224 Hwy. 14 W. 21332 Hwy. 59 2429 Co. Rd. 53 1101 Walnut St. 42685 AL Hwy. 79 2621 Hwy. 223 1535 Pelham Rd. S. 1006 Ave. A SE 229 Dean Buttram Ave. 301 1st St. N. 229 S. Mulberry Ave. 148 S. Jackson St. 83558 Hwy. 9 6751 Hwy. 78 800 George Wallace Blvd. 534 W. Front St. 191 Poplar Point Camp Rd. 13725 Brooklyn Rd. 357 S. Forest Ave. 307 Main Ave. NW 217 S. Union Ave. 403 Broad St. 346 McCurdy Ave. S. 222 St. Joseph Ave. 125 Broad St. 530 Temple Ave. N. 13770 Hwy. 43 2765 E. Hwy. 52 101 Boligee St. 529 S. Centreville St. 167 E. Hwy. 134 23625 John T. Reid Pkwy. 2612 Lane Park Rd. 44425 Hwy. 17 802 Veterans Dr. 13550 Court St. 17434 Morris Rd. 9022 U.S. Hwy. 80 W 2858 Co. Rd. 53 2601 Oakwood Ave. NW 206 Shiloh St. 3196 Co. Rd. 55 1333 Blount Ave. 1035 Cody Rd. N. 334 Agriculture Dr. 2108 E. South Blvd. 406 Nance Ford Rd. SW 406 Pickens St. 14093 Hwy. 431 561 AL Hwy. 165 892 Four H Rd. 1000 Bruce Etheredge Pkwy. 314 E. Battle St. 178 S. Tallassee St. 2513 7th St. 903 Airport Rd. S. 54 Court St. 60 New Legion Rd. August 2022
CITY Autaugaville Robertsdale Clayton Centreville Blountsville Union Springs Jacksonville LaFayette Centre Clanton Butler Grove Hill Ashland Heflin Muscle Shoals Evergreen Rockford Andalusia Luverne Cullman Ozark Selma Rainsville Brewton Gadsden Fayette Russellville Hartford Eutaw Greensboro Headland Scottsboro Birmingham Vernon Florence Moulton Elkmont Tyler Tuskegee Huntsville Linden Hamilton Guntersville Mobile Monroeville Montgomery Hartselle Marion Wedowee Fort Mitchell Columbiana Pell City Talladega Dadeville Tuscaloosa Jasper Chatom Double Springs |
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I
STORY
drove four hours to meet the editor of a big-city newspaper. I walked into a large office wearing my nicest necktie. I was young. Wideeyed. She told me I had five minutes. I handed her a pathetic resume so tiny it needed a magnifying glass. “You’re not even a journalism major?” she remarked. “No, ma’am.” “You’re still in community college?” “Yes, ma’am.” “You’re wasting my time. Find me a good story, and maybe we’ll talk.” A good story. The next day, I stopped at a nursing home. I walked inside and asked if there were storytellers in the bunch. The woman at the desk gave me a look. “They’re ALL storytellers, sweetie.” She introduced me to a 94-year-old. We sat in the cafeteria. I asked to hear about his life. He said, “You with the IRS or something?” He talked, and he was 18 again. A rural boy who’d never set foot in a schoolhouse. His father used a wheelchair. His mother was dead. Then, he met her. She’d moved to town to teach school. When he saw her at church, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He approached her with an idea. “I played on her sympathy,” he said. “Was my only hope. She was too pretty to be seen with me.” He asked her to teach him to read. She agreed. He made fast progress — no surprise. He would’ve rather died than disappoint a pretty girl.
They married. She taught, he farmed. He remembers how they sat in the evenings, watching evening take hold of the world. Love can be simple. She died before age 40. It was crippling. He gave up living. He lost his farm. He lost himself. He checked into a room at the motor-inn. “I had nothing left,” he said. There sat a leather-bound, bestselling book on the nightstand. He opened it. He read a passage. Then another. Another. He stayed awake all night reading the red words. That’s when everything changed. He remarried. He had three kids, a career working for an auto-part distributor. He paid three tuitions and watched five grandchildren grow. “If Loretta wouldn’t have taught me to read,” he said, “I coulda never read the first word, and I wouldn’t be here, talking into your little tape recorder. She saved me.” That night, I typed 700 words about him, the first thing I wrote that felt important. It took me a week to edit. The lady at the newspaper showed me the door. “Sorry,” she said. “This isn’t journalism. We don’t print this kinda thing.” Like I said, I was young. He died not long after. They buried him in a suit. Necktie. A ratty book in his hands. He wore a Gideon lapel pin and held a framed copy of an unpublished story some kid wrote about him. I’m writing this because once, I wanted to be a journalist. And because I’m grateful we don’t always get everything we want. ■
Columnist and novelist Sean Dietrich shares tales of common people, the human spirit and life in the American South at SeanDietrich.com. alfafarmers.org
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Simply Southern Spotlight Tea Time With Piper And Leaf
hen someone mentions tea in Alabama, the W first thought brings to mind a sweet, iced, refreshing beverage. However, Connor Knapp
is turning up the heat at his family owned tea company, Piper and Leaf, in Morgan County’s Lacey Springs.
Stations and Times
Saturday, Central Time Market Station Time Columbus, Ga. WLTZ 38 5:00 PM Sunday, Central Time Mobile WPMI 15 6:00 AM Birmingham WBMA 33/40 6:30 AM Huntsville WAFF 48 9:00 AM Montgomery WAKA 8 10:30 AM Dothan WTVY 4 10:30 AM
RFD-TV: Wednesdays • 3 p.m. Central ALWAYS ON: SimplySouthernTV.net
What type teas do you offer? Tell us about Piper and Leaf. Connor Knapp (CK): Piper and Leaf makes tea blends with local fruits and herbs we grow, pick and forage from around north Alabama. Piper and Leaf started accidentally. My brother-in-law, sisters and I started by trying to sell organic compost at the local farmers market as an all-natural fertilizer. We decided to make and give away tea while at the market to make our customers feel special, and when we realized we were giving away more tea than dirt, we decided to change our business.
CK: We offer herbal teas and teas that are blended with the actual tea leaf. An herbal is just fruits and herbs with no tea leaves and no caffeine. We’re more like a coffee roaster. The roaster affects a lot of what you experience because everything is roasted together on site. The tea leaf is native to Asia. We take basic tea leaves and our local ingredients and blend them together. We dehydrate our fruit, and we place those fruit pieces directly in the blend for amazing flavors.
How did you create a tea company out of a compost business? CK: My sister and brother-in-law had a landscaping company, and when we started the tea business, he had a lot of compost left over. We decided to try making compost tea, which is when you brew the compost in water and feed it sugars to develop bacteria. So when we weren’t selling any compost, we decided to give all the compost to our farmer friends and focused on making tea blends from the local ingredients. Why is Piper and Leaf important to you? What ingredients are used in your tea blends? CK: The ingredients include fresh strawberries, peaches, apples, mint, lemon balm, lemon grass, oregano and rosemary. Some ingredients we use don’t grow here, like the tea leaf itself. However, there is a local ingredient in every single tea blend we make because we want to feature our area and let people know local fruits and herbs taste amazing. We do not use any artificial flavors because local fruits and herbs taste good.
Simply Southern TV is sponsored by 26
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CK: Our family strives to be in that space where we have to work hard but provide a superior quality product that tastes good, features products from our community and is something that really supports our area. We love supporting Alabama and the idea that there are a lot of great products and people in our state. Simply Southern’s segment about this story airs on broadcast stations Aug. 6 and 7 and on RFD-TV Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 3 p.m. Central. For more information, visit SimplySouthernTV.net. Catfish Checkoff
Soybean Checkoff
Wheat & Feed Grain Checkoff
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Easy Stovetop Chicken Pasta Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Servings 6
Ingredients 1 (16-ounce) box penne pasta 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup 1 (10-ounce) can RO*TEL Tomatoes 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 (16-ounce) block Velveeta, cubed 3 to 4 cups shredded, cooked chicken (I use a rotisserie chicken) Chicken broth (optional)
Instructions Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. While pasta cooks, heat cream of mushroom soup, undrained RO*TEL, garlic powder and onion powder in a large pot or enameled Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add Velveeta and stir frequently until melted. Be cautious as Velveeta can scorch easily. Adjust heat as necessary. Add chicken and stir to combine. Add drained pasta and gently stir to combine. Add chicken broth to thin sauce if you find it too thick. Serve immediately.
elcome back, friends! I must W admit: Writing this month’s column is bittersweet for me because it
is all about back-to-school recipes — the ones that require minimal ingredients and don’t take much time, which makes getting supper on the table quick and easy. Our son, Jack, just about towers over us at this point, and each new school year is a reminder that we don’t have too many years left before he’s grown. I will never get over how fast the years have flown by. Of course, this is all the motivation I need to get supper done a little faster so I can spend more time at the table before he flies the coop and goes off to college! (I can’t believe I just typed that sentence.) 28
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Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Beef Enchilada Crescent Roll-Ups are an easy, stick-to-your-ribs weeknight meal perfect to mix up Taco Tuesday. I like to add a dollop of sour cream on top of mine. Jack always adds extra cheese, while my wife likes additional lettuce. I love versatile meals like this one that can make everyone happy. Easy Stovetop Chicken Pasta is perfect for hotter days when you really don’t want to heat up the kitchen. It has those flavors we love of creamy Velveeta and RO*TEL Tomatoes, with an added shortcut of precooked chicken, all cooked right on the stovetop. You can go from prepping to sitting down to eat this classic dinner in about 30 minutes. This month’s treasured recipe from
a member of the Alabama Farmers Federation family comes from Kim Slay, who shares her Tex-Mex Casserole. This is a favorite across the board with her family, and I know it will be with yours as well. The Slays raise livestock and greenhouse tomatoes in Chambers County and originally shared this recipe in the August 2000 Neighbors. As farm families juggle a new school year for their children and grandchildren while still tending their crops and livestock, let’s raise a glass of iced tea and toast to a great school year ahead! Stacey Little is a foodie, recipe developer and cookbook author whose Southern Bite blog helps families put simple, down-to-earth food on the table while preserving Southern cooking for future generations. See more recipes at southernbite.com. alfafarmers.org
Tex-Mex Casserole By Kim Slay, Chambers County Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Servings 8 to 10
Ingredients 4 cups shredded, cooked chicken 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 package taco seasoning mix 2 cans nacho cheese soup 1 soup can of milk (about 1 1/4 cups) 1 (16-ounce) jar salsa 1 (10-ounce) package saffron yellow rice, prepared according to package directions 2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
Instructions
Beef Enchilada Crescent Roll-Ups Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Makes 8 roll-ups
Ingredients 1/2 pound lean ground beef (I use ground sirloin) 1/2 cup salsa Salt Pepper 1 (12-ounce) can refrigerated Pillsbury Grands! crescent rolls 1 (8-ounce) package Mexican blend shredded cheese 1 (15-ounce) can red enchilada sauce (I use Hatch) Toppings, such as sour cream, diced tomato, diced avocado, lettuce and salsa
Heat oven to 350 F and spray a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine chicken with butter and taco seasoning. Let sit 10 minutes. Add in cheese soup, milk and salsa. Stir to combine. Fold in cooked rice. Pour mixture into prepared dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until golden brown around the edges and bubbling. Remove from oven, top with cheese and return to oven until cheese has melted — about 5 minutes.
Stacey’s Note In making Kim’s casserole, I had some trouble finding nacho cheese soup. As a substitute, I used two cans of regular cheddar cheese soup and the entire package of taco seasoning. It tasted great, but I’m sure using nacho cheese soup would be much better.
Instructions Heat oven to 350 F and lightly spray a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef until cooked through. Drain excess grease. Add salsa and cook on low about 5 minutes or until heated through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow to cool slightly. Unroll crescent rolls and place about 2 tablespoons of the mixture on the wide ends of each crescent. Add a generous pinch of cheese. Roll up each crescent and place into the baking dish. It’s a messy, imperfect process, so don’t worry if some filling falls out. Pour enchilada sauce over the crescents and top with remaining cheese. Leftover filling can be sprinkled over the roll-ups. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until crescent rolls are golden brown. Allow to cool slightly, then serve with toppings of your choice. alfafarmers.org
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