As we are hopefully seeing the worst heat of summer wane, contract poultry growers should be concerned about fuel prices going into this winter. Propane prices have maintained at a high level through the summer. Looking ahead, evaluating the world market demand for energy and current U.S. inventories suggests that prices could be increasing drastically. According to an analysis by Propane Resources LLC, a leading U.S. propane marketing company, growers should expect a very volatile 6 to 9 months in propane prices. Much of this will be driven by a very active European market with much instability being caused by the Ukrainian conflict, which is stifling natural gas trading. To help fill that void, sellers of liquid natural gas that would normally be sending it to Asia are rerouting that LNG to a European market. That LNG will likely be replaced in Asia by propane.

As supply and demand for propane becomes an even more global market, a look at the current and projected U.S. propane inventory for 2022-2023 does not give one a good feeling for the upcoming winter’s prices, or even into next spring. The current peak projected inventory for the U.S. comes in at about 3.25 billion gallons, and drops off from there—staying at or below the historical monthly minimum inventory from the last 5 years. This simply means that the supply of propane does not look to be ample for the next several months. For poultry growers, this means the time to secure future pricing is now. Do not expect any price drops before the end of the summer. Waiting will likely mean you will be paying more, not less, for your propane this winter.

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The Alabama Grazing Academy is an advanced grazing school that works with producers to increase the efficiency of grazing management on their farm, taking it to the next level.

Topics include soil health and fertility, year-round grazing, pasture economics, and fencing options. The academy will also feature hands-on demonstrations that include sprayer calibration, weed identification, temporary electric fencing, and many more.

• When: September 15 starting at 9 a.m.
• Where: North Alabama Agriplex, 1714 Talley Ho Street SW, Cullman, AL 35055

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Season 2, Episode 10: Using Drones in Crop Production

Drones have become commonly used pieces of technology in many aspects of life. They are now working their way into the agriculture industry, being used for several crop production management items. On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report podcast, hosts Amanda Scherer and Katelyn Kesheimer sit down with Guilherme Morata, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System agronomic crops regional agent, to talk about how drones are used in crops. Morata talks about some of the basic qualities of drones and offers some beginner tips that producers need to know.

Season 2, Episode 9: Alabama Corn & Soybean Update

As Alabama farmers start to head to the fields to harvest, the Alabama Crops Report is here to keep you up to date on the latest crops situations. On this episode, host Scott Graham talks with Eros Francisco, an Alabama Extension grains specialist. The pair of them talk about what things are looking like for both corn and soybeans.

LISTEN HERE

The Alabama Cottage Food Law went into effect in 2014 and was revised in 2021. The law states that individuals can produce certain nonhazardous foods in their homes. The new law defines a cottage food as a non-potentially hazardous food that has been prepared in a person’s home that does not require time and temperature control for safety. The law excludes products that use meat, poultry, or fish.

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Many vegetables are well adapted to planting in the summer for fall harvest, which will extend the gardening season so you can continue to harvest fresh produce after earlier crops have finished producing. The fall harvest can be extended even further if you protect the plants from early frosts or plant them in cold frames or hotbeds.

Many cool-season vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, produce their best flavor and quality when they mature during cool weather. In Alabama, the spring temperatures often heat up quickly making vegetables such as lettuce and spinach bolt or develop a bitter flavor when they mature during hot summer weather.

Growing a productive fall vegetable garden requires thoughtful planning and good cultural practices. In Alabama, August and September are the main planting times for a fall garden. Depending on your specific location, you may need to adjust the planting dates. For a more accurate planting schedule, determine the average date of the first killing frost in the fall, and then count backward from the frost date, using the number of days to maturity to determine the best time to plant in your area.

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Just pronouncing the acronym FAFSA is difficult enough, let alone actually trying to fill out the application for it. Difficult or not, millions of students file for Free Application for Federal Student Aid–better known as FAFSA–every year. This year, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System is here to help make the application process a little easier for students. Alabama FAST (FAFSA Application Survival Toolkit) equips students, parents and school officials with the knowledge needed to make sound choices about the FAFSA process.

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For those that like to find the best deals and are always looking to save money, the Best Buys webinar series is a great opportunity. These webinars will help people discover the items that will offer great discounts during each month.

1st Monday of every Month 11:30 am-12:00 Noon

To Register: www.aces.edu/go/BestBuys2022

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The Money Talks Live webinar series will cover a variety of topics. These 30-minute sessions will provide participants with a wealth of knowledge to help them with their finances.

September 20th-Your Spending & Savings Plan

October 18th- Credit Reports

To Register: www.aces.edu/go/MoneyTalksLive

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The Live Well Alabama Kitchen wants to help everybody chill out during the summer with its latest recipe. Live Well Alabama’s Pear Pops and Sunset Pops are kid-friendly and parent-approved. The pops are made with real fruit and can be fun to make with the whole family.

“Here are two easy ways to turn your fresh or canned fruit into a frozen treat. Turn it into a fun activity for kids by letting them mash the fruit.”

-Katie Funderburk, Alabama SNAP-Ed Coordinator  

Ingredients for Pear Pops

• One can unsweetened pears, 15 ounces, undrained
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Four small paper cups
• Four popsicle sticks

Directions for Pear Pops

1. Mash pears using a hand masher or hand mixer in a bowl.
2. Add lemon juice and honey to the bowl and mix well.
3. Using four small paper cups, pour equal portions of the mix into each cup.
4. Freeze for one hour, then insert a stick into each cup. Then, freeze until firm.
5. Peel off paper cup and serve.

Pro Tips

If using sweetened pears or pears canned in syrup, use less honey. Also, use plastic spoons or wooden skewers if pop sticks aren’t available. Poke a hole through the plastic wrap, foil or another paper cup if needed to hold sticks in place during freezing.

Ingredients for Sunset Pops

• 1 cup strawberries, chopped
• One can unsweetened peaches, 15 ounces, undrained
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Four small paper cups
• Four pop sticks

Directions for Sunset Pops

1. Mash strawberries using a hand masher or hand mixer in a bowl.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey. Then, mix well.
3. Using four small paper cups, fill each cup half full of the strawberry mix. Freeze the cups for one hour.
4. In another bowl, mash peaches with juice using a hand masher or hand mixer.
5. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey. Then, mix well.
6. Fill the partially frozen strawberry cups with the peach mixture the rest of the way.
7. Insert a pop stick into each cup. Freeze cups until firm.
8. Peel off paper cup and serve.

Want to learn more? Step-by-step instructions for the Pear Pops and Sunset Pops recipes and an instructional video are available at LiveWellAlabama.com.