The Lone Ranger at GDYF First Dress-A-Cow Contest in Perry
GDYF hosts first Dress-A-Cow Contest at state show 

The GA Dairy Youth Foundation held their first Dress-A-Cow contest this week at the GA National Livestock Show in Perry.  Costumes ranged from firetrucks to Alice in Wonderland to football players.  Spectators were blown away by the creative costumes that the kids exhibited in the first (of hopefully many) Dress-A-Cow contest. To view the many colorful and creative costumes, visit the GDYF Facebook page here.


Georgia AG Industry Concerned with Immigration Enforcement 
From Bryan Tolar with the GA Agribusiness Council

This week has included several key discussions concerning the impact of recent increased immigration enforcement activities by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency. We understand ICE has conducted roadblocks in various locations across Georgia and perhaps detained immigrant workers.

As you are aware, having a viable workforce for our industry is critical. We are seeking information you can share about any such roadblocks and the impact it may have had on your agribusiness and/or others in your area. We appreciate hearing from several GAC members this week. This information is being compiled and will be communicated with elected leaders about any of the economic outfall from such activities.  Pathways to a sustainable workforce in agriculture and rural Georgia have long been a key issue for the Council. Your input is very important and details will be kept confidential.  Please feel free to email me at btolar@ga-agribusiness.org or call our office at 706-336-6830.

ALSO: Any employee hired on or after Jan 22, 2017 must complete the new I-9 form. The new form is available at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9      Please make sure your I-9 Forms are completed for all employees!
Trump plans to hire 10,000 more ICE agents 
By Farm Journal's MILK, Anna-Lisa Laca

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According to the memos, part of that plan will be to hire an additional 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and 5,000 new customs and border patrol agents. Kelly says a surge of immigration at the southern border is the reason for the calling on more resources. He says that agents made 10,000 to 15,000 more apprehensions at the southern border over the last two years.

The draft memos are waiting official review at the White House before any official release or action will take place.   Read more
Lisa K. Nolan named dean of UGA College of Veterinary Medicine

Athens, Ga. - Dr. Lisa K. Nolan, a veteran educator, administrator and scholar of diseases that affect animal and human health, has been named dean of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Nolan is currently professor and Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and her appointment at UGA is effective July 1.

"Dr. Nolan is one of the nation's most respected veterinary educators and administrators, and I'm delighted that she has joined the University of Georgia's leadership team," said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten. "She comes to our College of Veterinary Medicine at a time of growth in the scope and impact of its instruction, research and service, and I am confident that the best is yet to come under her leadership."

Nolan has led the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University since 2011. She co-chaired a campus-wide "One Health-One Medicine" initiative that brought faculty members from across campus together to foster new collaborations that span animal, human and ecosystem health. The initiative has resulted in several faculty hires across campus and a significant enhancement of Iowa State's research capacity.      Read more 
By Progressive Dairyman Editor Dave Natzke

U.S. milk production continues to grow steadily, based on USDA's latest monthly report, released Feb. 21.

January 2017 milk production in the 23 major dairy states was estimated at just under 17 billion pounds, up 2.7 percent from January 2016. Total U.S. production, at 18.13 billion pounds, was up 2.5 percent.

January cow numbers were estimated at 8.69 million head, 67,000 head more than January 2016, and 5,000 head more than December 2016.   Read more
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$18 Milk In 2017?

In their most recent podcast, University of Wisconsin Madison economists Bob Cropp and Mark Stephenson discuss what farmers can expect for milk prices the remainder of the year. Their prediction? Milk prices will "definitely" be higher than a year ago average and $18 milk is not out of the question. The strength of a price rally will rely on exports and domestic demand to overcome large increases in milk production.

The most recent milk production report showed production up overall. Declines were seen in the west including California and New Mexico. Cropp credits the declines in New Mexico to winter storm Goliath which killed thousands of cows in the area last winter. As far as California goes, he doesn't expect to see cow numbers improve there anytime soon.

"California folks can't seem to catch a break," Stephensen said. "For four years we're talking about drought and now cows are just about drowning out there. I wouldn't be surprised to see cow numbers down next month."

Production in Idaho and Texas both increased. In Texas the story is booming demand Cropp says. "Texas is milking 39,000 cows more than a year ago," he says. There's a new plant in Texas and Stephensen thinks farmers are trying to fill it.     Read more   


It's a good thing dairy cows can't read. If they knew folks out there were passing off crushed almonds and filtered water as "milk," those hard-working girls would be pretty annoyed.
Fortunately, dairy cows have humans speaking out on their behalf-and lately the conversation has gotten louder.
The dairy industry is fed up with makers of plant-based products using the word "milk" to describe soy, almond, rice and coconut drinks (and more recently, hemp).

Even though the FDA has a  longstanding rule that defines "milk" as the "lacteal secretion...obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows," the agency has so far been lax towards others appropriating the term.     Read more  
Spring has arrived early this year and the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation 7th Annual Golf Tournament is a great way to enjoy the warmer temperatures! Make plans to join us at the Lane Creek Golf Club in Bishop, GA, on  Friday, March 31 .   Click here for tournament information.   

Mark Your Calendars:
 
Feb. 22-25: Georgia Junior National Livestock Show, Perry 
March 7-8: 2016 Southern Dairy Conference, Atlanta
March 15-16: SUDIA Annual Meeting, Stone Mountain    
GA Dairy Classifieds

FOR SALE:   (1) Registered Brown Swiss bull from Franks Farm, 14 months old. Call Randall Ruff at 706-498-4344 for more information.

Bullcalves Wanted : Looking for Bullcalves to purchase - Barron Tench 864-844-2295 or  barron.tench@gmail.com     
GA Milk Producers|706.310.0020 |  gamilkproducers@gmail.com | 
www.gamilk.org

For 2016, Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. has once AGAIN been named an All Star Award winner by 
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