Ron Sparks on How He Plans to Help AL Farmers

Ron Sparks, the Democratic nominee for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, served two terms in that office from 2003 to 2011 before being term-limited out of office. During his time as Commissioner, he focused on food safety, consumer protection and opening export markets for Alabama farmers. He also served as President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

In 2010, Sparks was the Democratic nominee for Governor, losing to Republican Robert Bentley. Bentley later appointed him to lead Alabama’s Rural Development Agency, where he served from 2011 to 2017. A Fort Payne native and Coast Guard Veteran, Sparks is now seeking to return to the Agriculture & Industries post.

Alpolitics.com recently spoke with Ron Sparks about the Commissioner’s race and the issues facing Alabama farmers. We began by asking Mr. Sparks why he decided to get back into politics at this time, by running for his old position.

“Well, I got out because I termed out,” Sparks said, “and that's what most people should have to live under, is term limits. I certainly support that with a lot of folks in public office. But, I chose to get back in because of what's going on in Alabama.

“Number one, the farmers are struggling in Alabama, and I want to do everything I can to try to help them. I do have a plan, and I will talk about that. 

“Number two, some of the things, some of the decisions that they've made at the Department of Agriculture, I don't particularly agree with. One, getting rid of the law enforcement officers that they had, that certainly were beneficial to the farmers of Alabama. We were able to confiscate millions of dollars when it came to equipment loss or cattle loss of people who would steal. I hate to see that. The farmers don't have that outlet now because we don't have those officers at the department anymore. 

“The other thing that really concerned me was the way they started checking our gas pumps, basically cutting our inspectors down to where they can't do their job. You know, now the inspectors have to handle the gas pumps, which is 100,000 gas pumps. They have to handle light weights, which is hundreds of scales across Alabama, and then they also have to handle heavy weights, which is phenomenal. We had people in each one of those areas when I was there, so that they would have the ability to do a good job. And now I feel like they've stretched these guys and turned it over to private industry to regulate these pumps.

“Now, when you read the sticker, it says that the owner of this facility is responsible for the accuracy of this pump, and that just was not the way it was when I was there, and I don't think it should be that way now. And hopefully, I can make some of those changes and get it back to where I think it ought to be.”

We then asked Mr. Sparks to briefly outline his plan to help Alabama farmers.

Sparks began by saying, “Number one — and my opponent has started talking about this too, now that I begin talking about it, but that's okay. Maybe I have a good plan — Number one, I want to take off the 1.5 cent sales tax on farm equipment. That would put $40 million a year back into pockets of farmers of Alabama.

“Two, I want to start a cost share enhancement program like the State of Tennessee. People ask me, well, Ron, how are you planning on paying for that? Well, I'm going to be real honest. I know that at some point in time, regardless of who's elected and what position, they're going to start talking about the lottery. They're going to start talking about controlling gambling and the whole nine yards. And when they do, I want to make sure farmers are a part of that conversation. I'd like to have $20 million out of that fund to be able to stand up this cost share program for the farmers of Alabama, because we don't do enough for our farmers, and we need to do more, and that's my plan.

“I'd also like to have a bred heifer program to try to get these cattle herds built up for these young farmers in Alabama.

“I feel like there's some things that we can do to immediately try to help these farmers. They're going through one of some of the toughest times that they've ever gone through with tariffs, with the price of diesel fuel, the price of fertilizer, the cost of inputs, and we've lost farmers. We're going to lose more farmers.

“When I was there, we had about 45,000 farms. Today, I guess we have about 35,000 farms. You know, when I was there, we saved over 3000 acres of farmland. I don't think they've saved an acre since I've been gone. So there's just some things that I would really like to go back and do, and try to get the department back to where I think it needs to be.

Sparks has been endorsed by several prominent Republicans, including former Attorney General Troy King and former State Representative Mike Ball. ALPolitics.com asked him what he would say to voters who say “I cannot vote for a Democrat”?

“Well, I think that's ridiculous,” Sparks said. “Number one, I think we've got to a point where we’ve become tribal and we go to our corners. The people who suffer in those situations are the people we're trying to represent. You know, when I got defeated as governor, by about 150,000 votes, Governor Bentley asked me to come on board and work with him at Rural Development, and we did. And we did some phenomenal things.

“One thing we did, was we brought telemedicine to the State of Alabama. We started a program called Baby Box, trying to save babies across Alabama. I just believe that it's time that we lay this R and D and red and blue to the side in Alabama, especially when it comes to the Department of Agriculture.

“I never made a decision based on whether I was a Democrat or Republican, and anybody that's there that does, they're making the wrong decision because that's the Consumer Protection Agency of the State of Alabama, and I don't see the place for an R or D. I never did use it, and I really don't know any other commissioner that that really has, to be honest with you.

“I'm honored to have Troy King's endorsement. I've been friends with Troy a long time. I've worked with Troy when he was Attorney General on some projects, I know Mike Ball really well. I've worked with Mike Ball.

“Not only that, you know, when I was commissioner, I've got resolutions from the Republican legislature talking about the job that we did at the Department of Agriculture, the things that we are doing for the State of Alabama. I just think it's time that we get away from this division, and let's start talking about what we can do for the people of Alabama. And I don't think the division does anybody any good, to be honest.”

In closing, we asked Sparks why the people of Alabama should vote for him on November 3.

“Well, I think if they vote for me, it would be for someone that has experience, that has knowledge, that has a proven record, that has a record at the department. Someone that has a vision to work for the farmers of Alabama, building three animal diagnostic labs for the farmers of Alabama, building trade for the farmers of Alabama, starting the food safety programs, country of origin programs, starting the farm to school programs.

“Go back and look at my record. That's what I ask people to do. Take the R and D away from it. Look at what we did and what we can do, and my plan for the future. So that's where I'm at. We're working hard. We feel real good about where we are, and I would ask people to join us. We'll make some good things happen at the Department of Agriculture,” he concluded.

For more information on Ron Sparks and his campaign, visit https://sparks2026.com.