Recent news from Madison County Farm Bureau - December 2023

By Guest Columnist Joy Foy

The Madison County Farm Bureau Board met on November 7, 2023, for their by-monthly meeting. This board represents the farmers and ranchers of the county. Recently elected Mississippi Representative Jonathan McMillan met with the board to hear concerns and issues of importance to Madison County. Among items discussed was high cow sales, increase in pine beetle damage and young tree farm destruction resulting from the summer drought.  Also, the board was informed of the changes in insurance for 2024.  

Kevin Brown, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Regional Manager explained that sale barns are seeing 2,000 to 3,000 head of cows per sale date.  Most of the cows are being bought and shipped to northern states, because that area has had rains.  He reported that cattle prices are still high because the cattle herd is the lowest since 1962. Without rain, the cost of feeding and lack of sufficient water will be a deterrent to building up herd count.  

Because Madison County ranks a D4 drought county, livestock owners qualify for payment to offset the cost of feed as well as supplement payment to offset the cost of hauling hay and feed.  Contact Jeff Tuberville at the Madison County Farm Services at 601-859-4272 to see if you qualify for these government assistance programs. While there is assistance, the side effects to this drought has created environments with deadly fungus on ponds. The fungus kills cattle when consumed while drinking water. According to Ty Jones, Madison County Agent, as ponds recede due to the heat and drought, the livestock wade into the mud trying to get water and sink.  They are not able to free themselves. In some instances, the farmer can rescue them with a backhoe or a tractor lift, but, in others, the buzzards get the calves and cows who are helplessly immobile.  In other places in Mississippi, the ground is cracking open and the livestock step into the holes and aren’t able to move.  Kevin said that, even with the large number of cows being sold, the predictions have cattle prices remaining high through 2026.  

The drought has harmed trees by stressing pines and making them more vulnerable to the pine beetles.  John Carr Bates, Madison County Young Farmer and Rancher representative and also a professional forester, recommended that anyone interested in selling timber be mindful that white oaks are selling at a premium.  He also reported that, after trees are planted, it is up to the land owner to keep the trees alive for the first year.  But, in years two and three of the tree’s life, funds to replant the forest can be obtained from Natural Resource Conservation Service.  

Another note of interest was from Farm Bureau Insurance Manager Bob Atkins, concerning insurance for 2024.  According to Bob, the age of the house roof is a bigger trigger for an increased insurance rate than the distance from a fire station. The cost for replacing a roof has risen in the last four years from $175 square in 2019 to $350 today.  Bob’s advice to anyone looking to purchase a home is to get an inspection.   If the inspection shows a weak roof, he advises that you not purchase the house without requiring roof replacement. 

The Mississippi Farm Bureau annual meeting is scheduled for December 1-4, 2023, at the Refuge in Flowood.  Speakers will include Kayleigh McEnany, former press secretary to President Donald Trump, and Dr. Jason Brown, an atmospheric scientist.  All Farm Bureau members are invited to attend.  
At the board meeting, the 2023-2024 Farm Bureau Committees were named, and we are excited to have new members.  If you are interested in becoming involved as a volunteer for Farm Bureau, please contact the Canton office at 601-859-3215.