BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A group that promotes environmental awareness says Alabama made some big gains in 2012.

The Green Resource Center for Alabama has released its 5th annual Green Progress Report. It says the extension of the Forever Wild land trust program was 1 of the state's top environmental achievements.

Voters approved continuing the program in November. The 20-year-old program has let the state buy 220,000 acres of land to be used for hunting, fishing, bird watching and other activities.

The center report also highlights the Restore Act, which Congress passed to help with the recovery from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

The board president of the center, Susan Barron, says Alabama made significant environmental progress this year with the two measures.

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GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - State agriculture officials say Alabama's record yields in cotton, soybean and peanut crops in 2012 helped to offset lower than average corn yields.

The Gadsden Times reports (http://bit.ly/W2ALK8 ) that soybean and cotton yields in northeast Alabama also likely set records this year.

David Derrick, regional extension agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, says this year has been 1 of the best ever for row crop farmers.

Officials say farmers benefited from higher than average prices for corn and soybeans.

Bill Weaver, director of the Alabama office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistic Service, said drought conditions in the Midwest helped push soybean and corn prices higher.

Alabama's projected soybean yield is 44 bushels an acre, which would break the record of 40 set in 2009.