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GA Milk Weekly Enews March 15,
2019
Y
our weekly update for the Georgia Dairy Industry
Brought to you by the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc.
STAY CONNECTED:
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No GMP Enews for two weeks...
Please
keep me in your prayers Monday as I undergo major
surgery. I will need to take a couple of weeks off for
recovery and will not be able to provide the GMP Friday Enews during this time. Thank you to all of my friends, family and colleagues that have sent cards, texts and messages. I am so grateful for your prayers, thoughts and well wishes. My family will do their best to keep everyone updated on my recovery on my CaringBridge page at
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/farrahnewberry
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Kroger Commits to Georgia Dairy Farmers
The Georgia Department of Agriculture's Georgia Grown program is partnering with over 168 Kroger stores across the state as part of the "Milk Makes Amazing" promotion. Driven by
Milk on My Mind
, a dairy awareness program initiated by the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Milk (ACCM), the partnership with Kroger aims to educate consumers about the benefits and versatility of milk and dairy foods.
"Part of the Georgia Grown mission is to support our local farmers by introducing our communities to some of the amazing products made right here in the state," said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. "We're proud to promote some of Georgia's most authentic products at Kroger stores across the state."
Guests shopping at Kroger locations across the state can expect to see Georgia Grown milk and dairy products showcased through in-store and digital advertising. The recipes and video walkthroughs from local chefs demonstrate easy dishes to entertain friends and family with Georgia Grown dairy products. The videos will appear on popular social media platforms under the tagline: "Milk Makes Amazing" (#MilkMakesAmazing).
A special ceremony to kickoff the "Milk Makes Amazing" campaign will take place on Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. at the Kroger located at 10945 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30044.
Commissioner Black will deliver opening remarks. Event activities will include:
- A visit from the Georgia Mobile Dairy Classroom
- Live cooking (and tasting) demonstrations by Kroger's Chef John, Georgia Grown's Senior Executive Chef Holly, Word of Mouth Restaurant's Chef Stephen and Private Chef Massimo
- A live radio remote with B98.5 personality Charley Morgan
- In-store Kroger Chef Junior Cooking classes
- Prizes and giveaways, including "Groceries on Us" Kroger Gift Cards
Milk on My Mind was developed by The Partnership on behalf of Georgia Dairy Farmers. The Milk Makes Amazing campaign is a collaboration between Georgia ACCM, Kroger and Georgia Grown. For more information about the program, or to watch the videos and download the recipes, please visit
milkonmymind.com.
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Georgia will be added as 'major' dairy state
From Progressive Dairyman Editor Dave Natzke
Georgia is being added to the list of states included in USDA monthly milk production and milk price reports beginning this summer. Starting in June, the USDA's data - including total milk production, milk per cow, cow numbers and monthly average milk prices - for "major" dairy states will be expanded from 23 to 24.
The initial reports will start in June 2019, and include May and June data for both 2018 and 2019, according to Travis Averill, chief of the Livestock Branch in the USDA National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) Statistics Division.
The USDA notice said adding Georgia to the monthly estimating program will result in better coverage of the southeastern U.S. dairy industry. Currently, Florida and Virginia data is reported on a monthly basis.
Based on 2018 USDA annual dairy statistics, Georgia ranked 25th in cow numbers, 23rd in milk production per cow, 23rd in total milk production, and 26th in the number of dairy herds licensed to sell milk.
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RIGHT TO FARM BILL PASSES THROUGH HOUSE
From GA Agribusiness Council
HB 545, a GAC Priority Issue,
by House Agriculture Chairman
Tom McCall
was assigned to the Senate Agriculture committee chaired by
Senator John Wilkinson.
The bill was introduced during a hearing only meeting on Tuesday and the Georgia Agribusiness Council spoke in support of this much needed legislation.
HB 545
looks to protect family farms and other agribusinesses against frivolous nuisance lawsuits that often come from encroaching urbanization and works to ensure that these operations have the right to continue their farming practices.
Our support was countered by a small, but very vocal group of "environmentalists" that continue their efforts to spread fake news about this bill and the efforts of farmers and agribusinesses to produce food and fiber in the most efficient and sustainable system in the world. It's important to note that while this bill will close loopholes used by trial lawyers to attack family farms, the bill clearly states that bad actors that use negligent, improper or illegal practices can still be liable for resulting nuisances.
We look forward to working with the Senate Ag committee to perfect this bill and protect generations of family farms and other support agribusinesses.
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Every three years, the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk (ACCM) must hold a producer referendum as required by the Commodities Promotion Act. Recently, the Georgia Department of Agriculture sent out ballots to reaffirm the 15-cent check-off for another three years. If ACCM is not reaffirmed by Georgia dairymen, the 15 cents will still be taken out of your milk check and sent directly to national dairy promotion check-off.
ACCM engages in numerous projects promoting milk and educating the consumer on the importance and nutritional value of dairy products in their diet. Currently ACCM funds The Dairy Alliance, a statewide retail milk marketing campaign in all Georgia Kroger stores (launches March 1) and soon a retail milk promotion program with a major convenience store chain in Atlanta. In addition, ACCM funds the Mobile Dairy Classroom, the Georgia Farm Bureau "Farm Monitor", the Milk On My Mind Campaign, the Georgia National Fair Dairy Exhibit and product promotion (milk) during key state events.
By having ACCM, Georgia dairy producers are able to keep 10 cents of the 15-cent check-off at the state level.
Please remember, if the ACCM Referendum DOES NOT pass:
- The 15 cents/cwt. will still be collected and sent to the national check-off
- All money collected will go to the National Program (currently 10 cents stays at the state level and 5 cents goes to the national level).
- There will be no state control of a dairy promotion program.
- Funding for ACCM projects, including the Mobile Dairy Classroom, will be eliminated.
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GA Food Animal Conference Will Officer Producer Session Friday, March 29
Friday's general session at the Georgia Food Animal Conference will feature nationally-renowned speakers including Dr. Morgan McArthur and Dr. Francis L. Fluharty. The sessions will focus on greater stress management, finding the value of the VCPR, lost opportunities in cattle production, and veterinary stewardship.
For registration and additional information, click here.
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By Jim Dickrell, MILKBusiness
The United States Department of Agriculture has announced it will implement how it calculates the Class I price mover May 1.
The change in the calculation was mandated by the 2018 farm bill. But implementation was delayed due to the government shutdown brought on by the impasse over the federal budget earlier this year.
Under the old rules, the Class I skim milk price was calculated used the "higher of" the Class III or Class IV skim milk price. Using the "higher of" ensured fluid milk prices would attract milk into fluid plants. However, the practice made it difficult for fluid users to hedge their purchases on the futures market because the prices could switch from Class III to Class IV, and back again.
The solution in the 2018 farm bill was to average Class III and IV prices and add 74¢/cwt. The 74¢ represents the historical average of what the Class I price would have been if the Class III and IV had been averaged.
"In accordance with the 2018 farm bill, the amendment is effective indefinitely, until further modified, and may not be modified sooner than two years after the effective date of this rule," according to a news release issued by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service March 8. Read more
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With the World Dairy Innovation Awards 2019 now open for entries, we take a look at the five top trends that are shaping the international dairy industry today.
Digestive wellness
With consumers becoming increasingly concerned with wellness, a focus on gut health and probiotics is set to be a major trend for the dairy industry this year. Dairy is said to be one of the best vehicles for carrying probiotics into the body, with some yogurt bacteria having been shown to improve lactose digestion for those with an intolerance. Kefir in particular has seen a surge in popularity in the global food and health market this year, with the global probiotics market predicted to reach over USD 73 Billion by 2024.
Dairy proteins
Growth in protein consumption has driven innovation within the dairy industry, with many consumers turning to dairy proteins as their protein of choice. According to Gail Sabatura of AMCO Proteins, whey protein, the protein found in dairy, has a 10 year CAGR of 7.5% and the market shows no signs of slowing down. Dairy companies are advertising products as "high protein" largely due to their functionality as a health ingredient, particularly as they contain all of the essential amino acids. From coffee creamers to desserts, yogurts and ice cream, we are seeing a vast increase in the number of protein-enriched dairy innovations.
Read more
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The Green New Deal Progressives Really Are Coming for Your Beef
From Bloomberg
President Donald Trump says progressives want to take away your burger. He's not exactly wrong.
While the Green New Deal and its proponents don't call for mass cow culls, their goal to reach zero emissions by 2030 includes dealing with factory farms. Agriculture is responsible for one-quarter of global greenhouse gas pollution -- with burping and flatulent cattle creating a big chunk. If they want to keep eating meat, the New Dealers say Americans will have to rethink how it gets on their plate and what it costs.
The expansive environmental program backed by about 100 Democrats and championed by congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey
envisions financing for smaller-scale and sustainable farming, where the government would offer benefits for reducing their carbon footprint. That could mean choosing poultry over beef, or cutting waste. Incentives are the "carrot" farmers need to change production, but the proposed legislation doesn't include carbon pricing that activists and economists see as necessary to curb climate change.
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Make plans to join us for the GDYF Golf Tournament this month.
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Many dairy producers are hopeful that the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program through the 2018 Farm Bill will provide a better safety net. Below we've pulled together the answers to some frequently asked questions.
What is DMC? A new version of the Margin Protection Program (MPP), DMC is a voluntary program that makes payments when the national average income-over-feed-cost margin falls below a farmer-selected coverage level. ) Coverage is now available from $4 per hundredweight to as high as $9.50 per hundredweight. Unlike MPP, program payments may be triggered monthly and are made if the DMC margin falls below the farmer's elected coverage level.
How much milk can I cover with the program? Coverage can range from 5% to 95% of a farm's milk production history, but can only be covered in 5% increments. For example, you can cover 85%, but you couldn't cover 87% of your production.
Read more
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Instead of Supply Management Perdue Suggests Farmers Quit Expanding
Over the weekend, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited farmers in Vermont. When pressed on whether or not supply management could be implemented in U.S. dairy, he said not likely in a broad way.
"The dairy industry is wide and broad in the U.S., and I don't really see a lot of hope for a Canadian-type system," Perdue
said. "I just don't think the spirit of entrepreneurship and economic liberty in the United States really calls for a supply management system."
For years, dairy farmers in pockets of the U.S. have pushed the idea that supply management would fix dairy producers' milk price woes. And in fact, in some regions dairy cooperatives have implemented supply management-type policies often referred to base and excess programs. Instead of focusing on supply management, Perdue said farmers should quit expanding their farms.
"One of the things I caution to dairy farmers is don't get out there and look at it and say 'oh, I need to add more cows,'" Perdue continued. "That's kind of what got us into this predicament here. We've got a lot less dairy farms, but we don't have fewer dairy cows that you're milking."
View story here
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GA Dairy Classifieds
Calves wanted:
Competitive pricing with a 6 day a week pick up. Will buy bulls and heifers of all ages. Peter's Cattle Co. 470-255-8515
Young Stock Supervisor wanted -
Hart Agriculture Waynesboro GA
Grazing 500-1000 animals,
Must be familiar with rotational grazing and breeding.
Dairy Manager wanted -
Hart Agriculture Waynesboro GA
300-700 milking cows,
60 bale rotary, New Zealand style grazing system.
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.
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Upcoming Events:
March 28-30 - 2019 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, Tifton
March 20-21, Certified Waste Operator Training, Athens
April 4-6, GCA Convention & Beef Expo, Perry
April 25 - GA FFA State Convention, Macon
June 20 - UGA Corn Silage Field Day, Tifton
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