Country of Origin Labeling Bill Awaits Gov. Bentley's Signature
|
| | Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Demopolis, second from the left, addresses House Agriculture and Forestry Committee members on HB186. |
|
| | Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, encourages senators to support HB186. |
A bill that would require restaurants to properly label country of origin of catfish-like foods passed the Alabama Senate 30-2 Thursday, April 30.
Matthew Durdin of the Alabama Farmers Federation said HB186, sponsored by Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Demopolis, and Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, will help keep the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry viable.
"Catfish raised in Alabama are among the best products on the market, and consumers will now have more information before sitting down to a meal," said Durdin, state senate legislative programs director. "We're glad our friends in the House and Senate recognize the importance catfish plays in Alabama's economy, and we look forward to HB186 becoming law."
A 2012 study by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Agribusiness Council reports the catfish industry employs 5,829 people and injects $158.2 million into Alabama's economy. Alabama ranks second nationally in catfish farming behind Mississippi.
Currently, only 1 percent of imported seafood is inspected by the Food and Drug Administration.
|
Queen Honeybee Bill Passes House of Representatives
|
| | Rep. Jim Patterson, R-Meridianville. |
A bill that would make the queen honeybee the official state agricultural insect passed the Alabama House of Representatives 90-5 Tuesday, April 28.
Federation Bee & Honey Division Director Mac Higginbotham thanked Rep. Jim Patterson, R-Meridianville, who sponsored HB286, for recognizing the queen honeybee's importance.
"Bees pollinate 80 percent of our flowering crops, which constitute one-third of everything we eat," Higginbotham said. "Recent studies estimate that honeybees pollinate $14 billion worth of seeds and crops annually in the United States. The passage of this bill will help us promote the important role the queen honeybee plays and will educate those in our state who enjoy eating the fruits of her labor."
Statistics gathered by the Alabama Agricultural Statistics Service in 2011 show honey production totaled about 486,000 pounds with 9,000 colonies producing honey. Yield per colony averaged 54 pounds with an average price per pound of $2.22.
The bill will come before the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee Wednesday, May 6, at 2:30 p.m. in Statehouse room 316.
|
Clay County Federation Member Visits Legislators
| Clay County Farmers Federation Secretary/Treasurer Larry Upchurch visited his elected officials in Montgomery Wednesday, April 29. In addition to serving on the county Federation board, Upchurch is a county FarmPAC representative. From left are Rep. Ron Johnson, R-Sylacauga, Upchurch and Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville. |
|
|
The Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 5.
The House meets at 2 p.m. the same day.
|
|
For questions or comments on newsletter content, email:
Matthew Durdin - State Legislative Programs Director for the Senate
or
David Cole - State Legislative Programs Director for the House
For distribution questions or media inquiries, email:
A.J. Watson - Ag Communications Specialist
|
