Providence Dairy, Climax                                           Follow them on Instagram @providence_dairy
We are just 9 days away!! Here are a few update s:

MLK Celebration Parade on Mon. January 20: 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.  Our block is under "Georgia Milk Producers" and the rate is $100/night.  This hotel is conveniently located next door and is very nice.

Continuing Education Credit Hours:
Certified Waste Operator CE Hours -  Certified 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 Hours -  Professional 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.

What's The Outlook For The Dairy Industry in 2019?
What's The Outlook For The Dairy Industry in 2019?
What's The Outlook For The Dairy Industry in 2019?
From the GA Farm Monitor

Between the low prices and ongoing labor shortages, it's been challenging times for the dairy industry. However, with a revamped Dairy Margin Protection Program and a new Farm Bill set to be implemented, will things turn around in 2019? Damon Jones has the story, featuring an interview with Farrah Newberry, Executive Director, GA Milk Producers. 
From CSRA News

Jefferson County Emergency Management confirms hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide leaked from the train that derailed on Sunday night near Peaches and Cream Dairy in Barton  Click here to watch report and to read more 
From Feedstuffs

The 2018 theme of slowing global milk production in the largest milk-producing countries will continue in 2019, according to Rabobank's "Dairy Quarterly Q4 2018." The report said third-quarter production was just 0.8% larger than the same period in 2017, and fourth-quarter numbers suggest a similarly modest increase.

"Lingering effects of Mother Nature have severely impacted Australian milk flows and stalled European growth, with feed quality and quantity impacted across the second half of 2018," lead author Emma Higgins, dairy analyst at Rabobank, noted in the report.     Read more
From Reuters

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday extended the deadline for farmers hurt by trade wars to apply for aid payments as the partial shutdown of the federal government drags on.

The deadline, originally set for Jan. 15, will be delayed for the number of business days that USDA offices are closed, according to the agency.   Read more
2018 was worst year the dairy industry has ever been through. Farmers think it will only get worse
By Ryan Mercer , Burlington Free Pres

After years of low milk prices,  about 75 dairy farms closed across Vermont in 2018. Harold Howrigan of Fairfield, Vermont, says the past year set a new low for dairy farmers in the state. 

And this year isn't looking any better. In fact, dairy farmers say it's looking worse.  

President Donald Trump's tariff actions and the resulting trade war shut off access to foreign markets for U.S. dairy farmers. The U.S. Dairy Export Council, an organization funded almost entirely by dairy farmers, has worked for decades developing those same markets around the world for their dairy producers.

 
"Those markets were taken away with the stroke of a pen," Howrigan said, referring to Trump's move in July that imposed billion of dollars of tariffs on Chinese goods and prompted China to impose retaliatory tariffs of its own. The trade war then expanded to other countries like Canada and Mexico. 
Now that U.S. farmers have been cut off from those markets, there's no guarantee that they will get them back.     Read more    
I know in many of my blogs I have talked about getting more and more information out to the public. This is key. It is what we lack in the dairy industry. The anti-agriculture groups that do not help us have more sources and more funds to get their thoughts into consumers' heads.

It's not just what we put out there, though. We have to create a positive image in other ways.

Dairying can get pretty dirty. I am sure most of you have seen the show "Dirty Jobs." Not everyone is cut out for the type of work we do. But what we don't want to do is let this be the image of our livelihoods. Even though we barely have time to get the normal jobs done around the farm, we cannot neglect the public appeal of our farms. This is where consumers' food comes from. We must produce a CLEAN and sustainable image.
Read more   
Iowa 'ag gag' law ruled unconstitutional, struck down by federal judge
By D
onnelle Eller and Lucas Grundmeier, Des Moines Register

A federal judge has ruled that Iowa's "ag gag" law is unconstitutional, saying the industry-backed statute violates the First Amendment's free-speech protections.

Senior Judge James Gritzner granted summary judgment Wednesday to a group that sued over the law.

"Today's decision is an important victory for free speech in Iowa," said Rita Bettis Austen, ACLU of Iowa legal director.

"It has effectively silenced advocates and ensured that animal cruelty, unsafe food safety practices, environmental hazards, and inhumane working conditions go unreported for years." Read more
Borden Dairy is energized and excited
The past year brought a sea of positive changes to Borden Dairy Co. The Dallas-based company welcomed a new CEO - Tony Sarsam, who boasts more than three decades of experience in the food industry at major companies that include Frito-Lay, Nestlé and PepsiCo - as well as a handful of other key executives. It also entered the planning stages for three major growth initiatives tied to innovative new product development, enhanced service capabilities and strategic acquisitions.

Those changes, along with a new commitment to be a "people-first" organization, have energized and excited employees at the 161-year-old company, which is perhaps best known for its iconic Elsie the Cow mascot.
Read more
Nobody Is Moving Our Cheese: American Surplus Reaches Record High

It's a stinky time for the American cheese industry.

While Americans consumed nearly 37 pounds per capita in 2017, it was not enough to reduce the country's 1.4 billion-pound cheese surplus,  according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The glut, which at  900,000 cubic yards is the largest in U.S. history, means that there is enough cheese sitting in cold storage to wrap around the U.S. Capitol.

The stockpile started to build several years ago, in large part because the pace of milk production began to exceed the rates of consumption, says Andrew Novakovic, professor of agricultural economics at Cornell University.    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    
Bloomberg Scares Parents With 'Big Dairy' Conspiracy
I must be psychic. (And before you ask, no, we aren't getting paid by the dairy industry.)

Last week, I wrote an article titled, " There's Nothing Wrong with Dairy Milk." The gist was simple: When I was a kid, milk was considered a superfood. But it really isn't because there's  no such thing as a superfood. Milk is a healthy drink, but if you don't like it, you can get the nutrients it provides somewhere else. There's nothing magical about milk, but there's nothing wrong with it, either, despite recent attempts to demonize it.

Little did I know that Bloomberg had a  hit job in the queue. And it touches upon almost every sensitive issue that worries parents: food, school, and their children.    Read more
Don't miss listening to this dairy farm manager at the convention in less that 10 days!!  #2019GDC  

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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.com|  www.gamilk.org