By Alabama Public Radio
Mobile, AL – The vote came Monday during the federation's annual meeting in Mobile. The next step is for the board of the American Farm Bureau Federation to finalize the return this weekend in Washington. The Alabama Farmers Federation started in 1921 as the Alabama Farm Bureau Federation, but it split from the American Farm Bureau Federation in 1981 over disputes about its insurance operations, known as Alfa. When the two groups are reunited, the Alabama group will be officially known as the ``Alabama Farmers Federation, an affiliate of the American Farm Bureau Federation.'' Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby saying the alliance will increase his organization's influence on national agricultural issues.