Harvest of Hardship: Alabama Farmers' Struggles

0:00Birmingham's story is making news on March 12th. Alabama farmers are up against tough challenges by skyrocketing costs, bad weather, labor shortages, and new pests in the fields. ABC-3340 is hosting a special town hall called Harvests of Hartship to dive into these issues. It airs this Thursday, March 19th, at 4pm, hosted by Valerie Bell and Gracie Johnson. Agriculture is huge in Alabama, with farms in all 67 counties producing everything from poultry and cattle to cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, timber, peaches, and strawberries. From big operations to family run spots, it drives the economy and keeps rural areas going strong. Farmers report fuel, feed, equipment, and labor prices eating into their slim profits, while urban sprawl swallows up farmland. Teriffs add another layer, sometimes helping by blocking cheap imports, but often sparking retaliation that hurts exports like soybeans and corn,

1:01or jacks of costs for imported supplies. Labor woes hit hard too, with fewer young people sticking around for the long hours and risks, threatening family farms pass down for generations. Pests and diseases keep producers on constant watch, adding uncertainty to already volatile markets. Tune in for insights on these pressures, policy impacts, and a look ahead at agriculture's future in the state, including reasons for hope amid the resilience of farming communities. DNN is sponsored by our partner. You know what is better than earbuds in bed? No earbuds at all. So L.I. solelypillow.com