5 Ways to Prepare Your Farm for the Alabama Heat

Summer’s almost here and if you’ve been farming in Alabama for a long time, you know it’s not just the sweet tea that gets hot. With rising temps, surprise thunderstorms, and long days in the field, it’s important to get ahead. Whether you’ve been farming your whole life or you’re just getting started, here are five ways to get your farm ready for the Alabama summer.

1. Check Your Water Systems

Summers in Alabama can be brutal with heat indexes climbing over 100 degrees. That means your livestock and crops need a solid, dependable water supply.

For Livestock: Make sure waterers and troughs are clean and shaded. Check for leaks and test water quality if it’s from a pond or well.
For crops: Inspect irrigation lines, pivot systems, and other things. Test timers and make sure nozzles are clear.
For you: Don't forget to drink water! Stay hydrated while you’re working under that hot sun.

2. Tune Up Equipment Before You’re in a Bind

From Tractors to Bush Hogs summer is not the time to be waiting on parts. Do a quick equipment check now.

Change oil and filters
Sharpen blades
Grease bearings
Check tire pressure and battery levels

Even if you’re just starting out, taking care of your equipment will save you big headaches later.

3. Look for pests

Bugs come out as soon as the temps rise and Alabama has no shortage of them (think Alabama’s unofficial state bird, The Mosquito). Armyworms in hayfields, Stink Bugs, Beetles and more, early detection is key.

Walk your fields weekly
Look under leaves and at plant bases
Keep an eye out for unusual wilting and holes

A good pest source is the Alabama Extension Office. They’re a great (free) resource.

4. Protect your soil

Alabama’s soil is rich, but our summer storms can wash it away fast. A few dry weeks can take a toll.

Use cover crops or mulch to retain moisture.
Create natural windbreaks with trees or fencing
Rotate pastures to give your grass time to recover.

5. Review your emergency and insurance plans

We all hope every summer goes smoothly, but in Alabama, summer can bring hail, tornadoes, heavy rain and lightning. Any of these can knock out power, or worse.
Review your crop and farm insurance policies. Don’t have a policy? Contact Farm Shield for a Livestock or Crop Insurance quote.
Make sure your generator is working.
Create a quick checklist for what to do in a weather emergency.

Summer in Alabama can be beautiful and bountiful, but only if you’re ready for the heat. Whether you’re raising chickens or managing acres of pasture, getting ahead of summer gives you more time to enjoy what you love the most.

If you have questions about financing a new tractor, buying your first piece of land or just need someone to talk through your options, Alabama Farm Credit is here for you.

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Together We Grow Foundation Awards 11 Scholarships to North Alabama Students

May 20, 2026

The Together We Grow Foundation is proud to announce the awarding of 11 scholarships totaling $27,500 to students pursuing education and careers in agriculture and related fields across North Alabama, reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to investing in the future of Alabama’s agricultural community. The Together We Grow Foundation was born from a group of young farmers who recognized a growing need for college scholarships to support students entering Alabama’s agricultural sector. What began as a shared concern has grown into a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating opportunity, leadership, and long term success for students across the state. This year’s awards include 10 Young Roots Scholarships and one Cultivating Leaders Scholarship. The Young Roots Scholarship is designed for graduating high school seniors, and the Cultivating Leaders Scholarship supports students graduating from a two year college who plan to pursue a four year degree. Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic achievement and active involvement in their schools and communities. 2026 Scholarship Recipients • Ella Barkley, DeKalb County — Plans to attend Auburn University and major in Animal Science • Kylie Calvert, Cullman County – Plans to attend Auburn University and major in Animal Science • Kiley Cochran, Jefferson County — Cultivating Leaders Scholarship recipient; attends Wallace State Community College and will major in Communications • River Cox, Calhoun County — Plans to attend the University of West Alabama and major in Forestry Technology • Jayden Friedrich, Cullman County — Plans to attend the University of South Alabama and major in Radiology, with a minor in Agricultural Sciences • Jackson Haynes, Cullman County — Plans to attend Auburn University and major in Biological and Agricultural Technology Management • Blaine McDuffa, Franklin County — Plans to attend Auburn University and major in Animal Science • Elijah Miller, Colbert County — Plans to attend Northwest Shoals Community College and major in Industrial Systems Technology • Addison Norwood, Limestone County — Plans to attend the University of Mississippi and major in Legal Studies • Gracie Stidham, Cullman County – Plans to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham and major in Nursing • Melanie Studdard, Cherokee County — Plans to attend Auburn University and major in Mechanical Engineering The Together We Grow Foundation receives proceeds from Alabama Farm Credit’s Ag Night at the Rocket City Trash Pandas, with VIP ticket sales directly benefiting Together We Grow scholarships. VIP tickets are on sale now for Ag Night, set for June 19 at the Rocket City Trash Pandas stadium. The Foundation primarily raises scholarship funds through community supported events, including Agri Shoot at Selwood Farms, an annual sporting clays fundraiser held each fall, which will take place on September 18 at Selwood Farms this year. Through the support of Alabama Farm Credit and community partners, the Together We Grow Foundation continues to strengthen the future of agriculture by investing in students who demonstrate both academic excellence and a commitment to serving their communities. For more information about the Together We Grow Foundation, VIP ticket sales, or upcoming events, visit thetwgfoundation.com.

Loyd Rutherford Named 2026 Academy of Honor Recipient, Scholarship Established at Auburn University

May 17, 2026

Alabama Farm Credit (AFC) proudly recognizes former board chairman Loyd Rutherford as a 2026 inductee into the Farm Credit Bank of Texas Academy of Honor, the Bank’s highest distinction for leadership and service in agricultural credit. Established in 1968, the Academy of Honor in Agricultural Credit recognizes individuals who have made valuable and significant contributions to agriculture, rural communities and the Farm Credit System. Each year, one deserving individual is inducted into the Academy of Honor, and a one-time $25,000 scholarship bearing the inductee’s name is awarded through a college or university of their choice. Mr. Rutherford has chosen Auburn University as the recipient of the Loyd Rutherford Academy of Honor Scholarship, which will support five students with $5,000 scholarships to further their education and careers in agriculture. A lifelong agricultural producer and business leader, Rutherford was raised on a farm and spent much of his life farming cotton, soybeans, wheat and broilers, while also managing the Lawrence County Exchange, the local farmers’ cooperative known at the time by that name. His deep agricultural roots shaped a career defined by service, leadership and a commitment to rural communities. Rutherford dedicated nearly 30 years to advancing agriculture through his leadership within the Farm Credit System. He served on the AFC board of directors from 1990 to 2019, including more than two decades as chairman from 1995 to 2017. During that time, he helped guide the association through the farm crisis of the early 1990s, significant structural transitions, and decades of sustained growth. He consistently championed stockholder interests and long-term stability while also serving on numerous district and national Farm Credit boards and committees. Rutherford was formally recognized as a 2026 Academy of Honor inductee at the Farm Credit Bank of Texas Annual Meeting, where his steady leadership, hands-on involvement in agriculture and lasting impact on rural communities were celebrated. Throughout his career, he was supported by his wife, Janice Rutherford, whose encouragement and partnership were integral to his lifelong dedication to agriculture and service. The scholarship established in Rutherford’s name reflects both his legacy and the Farm Credit System’s continued investment in the next generation. The funds will be awarded through Auburn University to students pursuing agriculture-related fields of study, helping recipients continue their education and build careers that strengthen rural America.