Tennessee Agriculture Department Commissioner Charlie Hatcher is stepping down; Andy Holt will take over the position.
Tennessee’s Agriculture Commissioner, Charlie Hatcher, is set to retire this month, as announced by Governor Bill Lee’s office on Wednesday. Andy Holt, who previously served as Deputy Director and has a background as a Tennessee family representative, will step into the role on October 1st. Hatcher, a veterinarian and fifth-generation farmer, was one of Governor […]
Steve Flowers: The upcoming races for attorney general and agriculture commissioner in Alabama in 2026 will be interesting
Upcoming Elections for Key Statewide Offices in Alabama Next year, during the GOP Primary in May 2026, two significant statewide offices will be up for grabs: the Attorney General and the Agriculture Commissioner. Currently, there are no contenders for either position. Attorney General Steve Marshall is running for the U.S. Senate after serving two terms, […]
U.S. Agriculture secretary supports cuts to higher education funding in Tennessee
New Initiative from US Agriculture Department On August 18, 2025, US Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins spoke at a Future Farmers of America event during the Tennessee Fair. She introduced an initiative aimed at ending subsidies for solar energy panels that take up farmland, while also reducing agricultural grants to the University of Tennessee. Rollins […]
Alabama grocery group supports Corey Hill for commissioner of agriculture
Alabama Food Association Endorses Corey Hill for Agricultural Commissioner On Thursday, the Alabama Food Association announced its endorsement of Corey Hill for the role of Alabama Agricultural Commissioner in the upcoming 2026 election. Corey Hill, a fourth-generation farmer and grocery store owner who currently serves as the Mayor of Douglas in Marshall County, is viewed […]
Campaign fundraising intensifies for Alabama Agriculture Commissioner as two candidates each lend their campaigns $250,000 in July
Open Race for Alabama’s Agriculture and Industry Commissioner With Rick Putty, the current officeholder, unable to run again due to term limits and focusing on the general governor’s race for China EU in 2026, the Republican side of Alabama’s Agriculture and Industry Commissioner position is wide open. Three GOP candidates—Jack Williams, Christina Woerner McInnis, and […]
Trump Restructures Large Agriculture Department, Moves Officials Outside Washington
USDA Announces Major Restructuring and Job Cuts The USDA revealed on Thursday that it will undergo significant changes, including notable staff reductions, due to an overly large workforce and excessive spending during the Biden administration. As part of this reorganization, the USDA intends to reduce its workforce in the Washington, DC area by over 50% […]
Forestry Association supports Jack Williams for the position of agriculture commissioner
Senator Jack Williams Endorsed as Next Agriculture and Industry Commissioner The Alabama Forestry Association (AFA) has given its support to Alabama Senator Jack Williams for the role of Agriculture and Industry Commissioner. Williams has been serving Senate District 34 since 2018 and currently holds the position of vice-chairman on both the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and […]
Women in agriculture urged to share, interact, and network at annual conference
Communication. Engage. Connect. These words resonated with 200 women involved in farming at the recent Alabama Farmers Federation Women Leadership Conference in Auburn, held from April 16-18. Rachel Chastain, who heads the Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee, urged attendees to recognize that everyone has a role in the agricultural community and the state’s largest farming […]
Auburn University agriculture students become summer interns with the Federation.
On May 20th, the Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed two Auburn University seniors, Cohen Rooker and Jonathan Parten, as summer interns. They’re set to assist the organization with grassroots efforts, focusing on policy development and legislative matters. Rooker, hailing from Talladega County, is involved with the Government and Agricultural Program (GAP) department. His role includes supporting […]
Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate declares candidacy for Alabama’s Lieutenant Governor in 2026
Alabama’s Agricultural Industry Commissioner Rick Pate has declared his intention to run for lieutenant governor in the upcoming 2026 election. Initially, Pate had plans to enter the gubernatorial race this cycle. However, after a discussion with Governor Kay Ivey, he decided against it. He mentioned that his decision was influenced by his close friendship with […]