Opinion | Alabama farmers need results

Legislature

It’s time to clear away the thorns and do what’s right for Alabama family farmers.

By

Published on October 13, 2026 at 8:13 am CDT

We’re all feeling a deep sense of dread right now when we pull into the gas station. But if you’re a small family farmer, you’re feeling the squeeze at home and work, too. Diesel just hit a historic, all-time high, and you could be looking at thousands of dollars more just to keep your tractors running.

And it’s not just the high costs of fuel. The cost of fertilizer has skyrocketed up 30 percent to 50 percent or more in some places due to the war in Iran. Alabama farmers have no idea if their crops or livestock are going to be used as pawns in a global trade war. Recently, cattlemen were shocked when 300,000 metric tons of duty-free foreign beef flooded U.S. markets, undercutting market prices by 25 percent. Alabama farm foreclosures are at a six-year high.

In my district, which includes Clarke, Conecuh, Marengo, Monroe, Perry and Wilcox counties, family farmers don’t know if they can survive much more of this economic chaos, and they’re literally crying out for help.

Farmers want results and solutions, not political grandstanding or more red tape like what they see out of Washington.

That’s why I introduced legislation to create the Alabama Agricultural Enhancement Program this year. This cost-share program would help farmers purchase and upgrade critical equipment. The program represents a long-term investment in Alabama farms and agricultural communities of which over 90 percent are small family farms.

This is how we keep Alabama agriculture competitive and keep our economy growing. What makes the Alabama Agricultural Enhancement Program a complete “game-changer” is that each $1 invested generates $6.55 into rural economies. Now, that’s what I call an amazing return on investment!

In fact, my colleagues in the Alabama House Democratic Caucus introduced two legislative packages last session that would invest in rural Alabama and provide relief from the tariffs and other national political mess.

The Tariff Relief Act is 13 significant bills all focused on bringing down costs for Alabama families. The act would stabilize energy costs for businesses and families, keep industry and jobs here in rural Alabama and identify new markets for Alabama agricultural exports. Unfortunately, just like in D.C., partisan politics got in the way. But my colleagues and I plan to reintroduce these vital policy measures again this next session.

My hope is that citizens across the state demand that our state take immediate action. Small family farms are the backbone of Alabama’s agricultural economic engine, and they deserve relief, as well as our respect.

We may not be able to control what kind of economic chaos comes out of Washington, D.C., but our job in Montgomery is to protect the hardworking family farmers right here at home in Alabama who put food on all of our tables.

And speaking of putting food on all our tables, we need to end the state’s grocery tax. Rural families and farmers buy groceries, too—and cutting the grocery tax leaves more hard-earned money for folks to feed their families Sweet Grown Alabama produce.

Besides, nowadays, Alabamians need more money in their pockets and real relief now, not just the promise of help tomorrow when it may be too late.

Like it says in the book of Matthew (13:22-23), “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

It’s time to clear away the thorns and do what’s right for Alabama family farmers.

Elections

Analysis | Tuberville wins in court, but the case exposes an enforcement gap

News

State Rep. Easterbrook sought sex with minor, says new filing

Elections

Opinion | Could Doug Jones and the Democrats actually win?

Featured Opinion

Opinion | Police shortages aren’t unique to Montgomery. Neither are the solutions

Opinion

Opinion | Why Strong is Wrong: The case for Andrew Sneed

Elections

Opinion | You should talk to Thomas Jackson sometime

Spend a little time with Representative Thomas Jackson and you'll remember what public service is supposed to be like.

Congress

Figures proposes bill to undo Trump beef import plan

The Alabama Democrat joined cattle groups and other critics who warned tariff-free imports would undercut farmers already squeezed by trade fights.

Opinion

Opinion | Alabama family farmers urgently need our help

Family farms in Alabama are facing unprecedented challenges, and many are facing bankruptcy, due to the disruption caused by Trump’s tariffs.

Economy

Report: Alabama loses $3 billion annually from abortion restrictions

Researchers tied the losses to reduced workforce participation and earnings, warning restrictive policies weighed most heavily on Black and Latina women.