2019 GA Dairy Conference is Here!!
It's here! - The 2019 GA Dairy Conference is just days away.  Here are a few updates  :


We are excited to have Howard Wasdin as our keynote speaker this year.  Dr. Howard Wasdin graduated SEAL Class #143. After combat
in Desert Storm with SEAL Team  Two, he became a top SNIPER at SEAL Team Six. During "Operation Gothic Serpent" -later called BlackHawk Down, he was shot three times and nearly lost a leg. 
The president awarded him a Purple Heart and a Silver Star for 
Valor. He is the author of SEAL Team Six which was a New York 
Times Best-Seller for 22 weeks and is in print in 16 languages. Dr. Wasdin was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of Kentucky and devotes his free time to The Boys and Girls Club of America and transporting critical patients as an Angel Flight Command Pilot. He speaks routinely to organizations on promoting teamwork and overcoming adversity.   He will have books available for $20/each and will stick around for an hour after his presentation to meet attendees and sign books.  To learn more about Wasdin visit his website at: https://www.howardwasdin.com/

Tuesday Speaker Changes: 
Two of our speakers had to cancel at the last minute.   Click here to view our updated meeting agenda.

MLK Celebration Parade on Mon. January 21:
For guest and dairymen arriving to Savannah on Monday morning: Please be aware of the 2019 MLK Holiday Parade.  The parade will begin at 10 a.m.   Click here for the parade route and map. It will last for at least one or two hours (300+ floats)
 
Overflow Hotel: If the Marriott is booked, call the new Homewood Suites at 912-355-0025.  This hotel is conveniently located next door and is very nice.

Continuing Education Credit Hours:
Certified Waste Operator CE HoursCertified waste operators can receive one (1) certified waste operator continuing education credit hour during the Georgia Dairy Conference.  To obtain your attendance certificate, you must  attend Dr. Rebecca Larson's presentation, titled Manure Irrigation: Controlling Odor On-Farm on Tuesday, January 22 at 3:45 p.m.

Veterinary Continuing Education Credit Hours Veterinarians attending the 2018 Georgia Dairy Conference can earn up to six (6)  continuing education credit hours.  Registration and certificate of proof  can be found at the GDC registration table

ARPAS Continuing Education Credit HoursProfessional Animal Scientists can receive eight (8) continuing education units during the educational program at the Georgia Dairy Conference.  To receive credit, ARPAS members will need to request credit using the ARPAS website at: www.arpas.org

Dairy Spouses Event:
Each year Georgia Milk Producers provides the opportunity for spouses attending the Georgia Dairy Conference to fellowship with other dairy wives. Held on the Tuesday of the conference, this event is a great opportunity for spouses to meet one another and share their dairy experiences while enjoying a relaxing day.  
 
This year, our spouses will participate in a trolley tour of Savannah at 10 a.m. and will enjoy a ice cream social featuring a special treat from Savannah's historic Leopold's Ice Cream.  Please let us know if you plan to participate at the registration table or by email at gadairyconference@gmail.com! Those attending the tour will need to meet in the lobby at 9:30 a.m.

REGISTER TODAY!!

The Georgia Dairy Conference is the place where all aspects of dairy come together in the Southeast to discuss what's important for today and tomorrow. 
 
ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW REGARDING THE 2019 GA DAIRY CONFERENCE CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE: www.gadairyconference.com
GA Milk Sponsoring Webinar on Dairy Revenue Protection Program on Jan. 25th

Join the American Dairy Coalition and sponsors for an informative webinar to learn more about the Dairy Revenue Protection Program (Dairy RP), a recently introduced risk-management tool to insure against unexpected declines in quarterly revenue from milk sales as a result of a decline in milk prices, a decline in milk production, or a combination of both.  Click here for more information and to RSVP
From AG Week

Farm Service Agency offices across the nation will open up for three days to assist agricultural producers with existing farm loans, to ensure the agency provides tax documents to borrowers and release proceeds from the sale of loan security.

Select FSA offices will be open Jan. 17, Jan. 18 and Jan. 22, during normal business hours, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Wednesday, Jan. 16. About 2,500 U.S. Department of Agriculture employees have been recalled to perform certain services. A list of offices that will be open can be found at  https://www.farmers.gov/sites/default/files/documents/OpenFSAServiceCenters.pdf . The list accounts for about half of FSA locations. Since not all offices will be open, producers can visit nearby, open service centers if the office with which they typically do business is not on the list. Producers can call rather than visit if their business can be handled over the phone.

Recalled staff will be able to help with existing farm loans, ensure the agency provides 1099 tax documents to borrowers by the Internal Revenue Service's deadline, process payments made on or before Dec. 31, 2018, continue expiring financing statements, open mail to identify priority items and sign checks jointly payable to FSA. Read more

Last year started off on a promising note for dairy exports and was projected to possibly set new records. Tariff wars with China and Mexico along with a drop in cheese consumption, however, weighed heavy on prices.

Milk sales were down 2.2% over the first 10 months of 2018. As for exports, during the first 10 months, the U.S. exported 16.3% of milk solids, most of which occurred before the tariffs. Experts say there were 30,000 few cows on average during August through October. Looking ahead,  the 2019 average all milk price prediction stands at $16.20 per cwt., the lowest price since 2009.

When cheese prices drop, so do Class III milk prices. Currently, the U.S. is sitting on a 1.4 billion lb. mountain of cheese. This large inventory is mostly due to the consumer's appetite shifting away from processed cheeses and towards more natural cheese varieties.     Read more
From  Dave Natzke, Progressive Dairyman

The USDA Farm Service Agency will conduct an enrollment and coverage election period early in 2019. Under the farm bill, the USDA had 60 days to establish the enrollment/election period, with a duration of 90 days. As of Progressive Dairyman's press deadline, the government was shut down, and the sign-up period and other details had not been announced.

Bottom line: While waiting for final details from the USDA, you should begin to evaluate your full risk management strategies for 2019 and 2020 now.  Read more
Who is empowering whom? PART ONE: Dairy check-off's GENYOUth thin on milk
How serious is the National Dairy Board about improving fluid milk sales? We see some renewed emphasis on this lately, but our most important sales - those to children in school - threaten to steal even more demand from the future as we lose future milk drinkers with the forced service of only fat-free and 1% low-fat milk in the school lunch and breakfast programs.

Recent studies show that children and teenagers in the poorest demographic of the U.S. population are leading the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. One study by University of Michigan Health System, for example, revealed that for every 1% increase in low-income status among school districts, there as a 1.17% increase in rates of overweight/obese students. Researchers used data collected from mandated screenings that began in Massachusetts schools in 2011, and the percentage of overweight/obese students was compared with the percentage of students in each district eligible for free and reduced school lunch, transitional aid or food stamps (SNAP).   Read more

"Dairy farmers have supported nutritional education, research, and partnerships for the past 100 years," explained Marilyn Hershey, a dairy farmer and board chair of Dairy Management Inc. "Their support of Fuel Up to Play 60 follows the century-long tradition of nourishing strong, healthy communities," said the Pennsylvania dairy farmer to those attending the GENYOUth annual gala in New York City.

Directly impacting students
"Being a high school student and a soccer player requires a lot of energy. Running from class to class, plus soccer practices and games, can demand a lot from our bodies," explained Jimena, a Texas-based high school student. "I used to eat whatever I could find to take me through the day," she said. "But that was not working for me. I was tired all day."

"When I joined the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, I learned that good healthy food is vitally important. Moreover, being given a platform on which I can learn and find valuable information on how to combine and get a balance of different food groups makes a huge difference," she went on to say to the audience that included attendees from all walks of life including students, teachers, farmers, nutritionist, and sports celebrities.    Read more 
SEEKING SEVERAL DAIRY POSITIONS

Georgia Correctional Industries has a position to fill in the Reidsville Georgia area for a: 
Dairy Manager - Milking
Plant Operator 4- Milk Processing
Plant Operator 3- Milk Processing
Farm and Livestock Specialist 2 -Milking

Applicants should be comfortable with computers and software and have good communication and organizational skills.  Applicants should also have two years experience in dairy processing and excellent knowledge of all Department of Agriculture guidelines pertaining to milk processing.  If interested send a resume to Nicole Gaulthney at:  ngaultney@gci-ga.com    
Scientists Use 'Breathalyzers' and Lasers to Measure Cow Burps and Farts
When people burp and fart, it's considered rude. When cows burp and fart, it contributes to the civilization-threatening trend of climate change.

That's why scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been experimenting with new tools-including lasers and  a device described as a "breathalyzer for cows"-to figure out how much methane US cattle release into the atmosphere.    Read more 
We are excited to host Dr. Barb Dartt with The Family Business Consulting Group for two sessions on Tuesday in Savannah!!  #2019GDC  

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MANY THANKS TO OUR PLATINUM SPONSORS:

Click Here to view our Gold, Silver and 
GA Dairy Classifieds

Young Stock Supervisor wanted - 
Hart Agriculture Waynesboro GA
Grazing 500-1000 animals, 
Must be familiar with rotational grazing and breeding
Please contact Maggie 352-507-2042 or  maggie@hartagriculture.com
 
Dairy Manager wanted - 
Hart Agriculture Waynesboro GA
300-700 milking cows, 
60 bale rotary, New Zealand style grazing system
Please contact Maggie 352-507-2042 or  maggie@hartagriculture.com

Heifers for Sale (SC): 
18 Bred Registered Holstein Heifers. Big heifers 6 Due in November, 5 Due in December, 3 Due in March  50 years in the Dairy business, Top herd in South Carolina. RHA 25,000, Closed Herd, All AI Sired, all AI Bred, and  Vaccinated. Contact: Debbie Glenn at  864-376-8582.

Bull Calves WANTED: Competitive pricing with 6 day a week pickup. Brandon Mason Cattle Company 912-632-4490

For HIRE: Southeast DHIA 
has a position to fill in the 
West Central Georgia area for a 
FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIAN. 
 Responsibilities include data 
collection on area dairy farms 
during milking time. S
chedule is somewhat flexible 
but the hours are non-typical. S
ome travel and out-of-town 
work likely. 
Applicants should be comfortable 
with computers and software and
have good communication and 
organizational skills as well as 
reliable transportation. Pickup Truck required. I
f interested send a resume to 

For Sale: Custom manure application and Dryhill manure equipment sales. 
Contact Edwin @ 478-299-0717 with Agboys Custom Services LLC  - 
New 8"x52' lagoon pump with outriggers $24,000 (Pictured right)

For Sale 3000 gallon Surge/Westfalia milk tank and wash system. Three phase condensers. 2002 model. Excellent condition. John B Gay, 478-494-5107

WANTED: DeLaval Westfalia
 Neck Transponders:  TN Dairy seeking used Westfalia neck band transponders. 
Please contact Bill or Peggy Howell if interested at 423-972-9254 or 423-371-3032.

WANTED: Looking for used pasteurizing and bottling equipment in working condition; Linda and Darrell Rankins, Jr.; 334-745-2357 (best times: mid-day and after 8 p.m.)

For Sale: 
Jersey cows, heifers and calves for sale.  Registered with AJCA, all ages! Contact Matt Holton at 770-718-8271, call or text.  Dawsonville, GA.

FOR HIRE:  Custom Silage Harvesting.  Late model JD chopper. Will travel. Let me put your quality forage up! Nic Haynes, Muddy H Farms, 678-617-3379.

FOR SALE
We have a continuous selection of fresh and springing heifers.
 
Call William at  (706) 768-2857 or visit our website at 
 

Bullcalves Wanted : Looking for Bullcalves to purchase - Barron Tench 864-844-2295 or  barron.tench@gmail.com     
Upcoming Events:


Jan. 22 - Feb. 1 GA Ag Forecast Series, click here for more information

Feb. 6 - GA Agribusiness Council's Legislative Breakfast, click here for more information

For registration and more information - click here


GA Milk Producers|706.310.0020|  gamilkproducers@gmail.comwww.gamilk.org