Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews |
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By Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke
Dairy producers who invested in risk management through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program in 2021 are going to see some hefty returns right out of the gate.
The USDA released its latest Ag Prices report on Feb. 26, including factors used to calculate monthly DMC margins and payments. The January DMC milk income over feed cost margin is $7.14 per hundredweight (cwt), triggering indemnity payments on Tier I and Tier II milk insured at all levels above $7 per cwt.
Those with Tier I (5 million pounds or less of covered production history) who are insured at the top level of $9.50 per cwt will see a payment of $2.36 per cwt (Table 1), with lesser amounts at $9 ($1.86), $8.50 ($1.36), $8 (86 cents) and $7.50 (36 cents) coverage levels. The payments are on one-twelfth of a dairy operation’s covered annual production history, and DMC payments are subject to a 5.7% sequestration deduction in 2021. Read more here>>>
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Georgia’s Agriculture Industry Is Weathering the Storms
From UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
It’s been a rough three years for Georgia pecan farmers, whose cash crop has been battered by a hurricane, a fungal tree disease, and a global pandemic — all in relatively rapid succession.
But many have tapped into the strength of connection with the University of Georgia. That’s what rescued alumni Rob Cohen and Eric Cohen when their Pecan Ridge Plantation in Bainbridge began to drown after Hurricane Michael destroyed 800 acres in late 2018.
“I’m on the Alumni Association board, and members of the Association immediately reached out to help us promote the business,” says Eric Cohen. “They also hooked me up with FEMA work to deal with all the vegetative landfill — trees, wood chips, all the debris. They basically saved our farm.”
The brothers have replanted some lost trees and hope to eventually return to business as usual. Meanwhile, they have scaled up related business endeavors with deep ties to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and UGA Cooperative Extension programs, including new fumigation techniques and crop consulting for cotton, peanuts, and soybeans.
Eric Cohen’s son is a freshman at UGA. “I’ve always told him, never underestimate the power of connections,” Cohen says. Read more here>>>
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UAC Legislative Update; Representative Sam Watson
From GA Urban Ag Council
Overview of 2021 legislation regarding the House Rural Development Council and HB 498 clarifying the state’s ad valorem tax exemption on agricultural equipment, structures, etc.
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Texas Jumps to Fourth-Largest Dairy State – Will it Last?
By Taylor Leach, Dairy Herd Management
Texas has recently moved up the ranks from the fifth-largest milk-producing state to the fourth, edging out New York by 4 million lb. of milk in 2020. However, a tiered-pricing program could cause Texas’ new ranking to slip this year.
According to the Texas Farm Bureau, mild weather patterns the last several years have allowed for milk production throughout the state to rise. However, processing capacity has remained constant, with no new plant growth in the foreseeable future. Because of this, Texas dairy producers are making more milk than the plants can handle.
To help manage production, the Greater Southwest Agency, which includes milk cooperatives Dairy Farmers of America and Select Milk Producers, adopted a tiered-pricing plan for when processing capacity is unavailable for the group to sell all of its members’ milk.
Under the terms of the new plan, dairy farmers will be paid at a much lower rate for everything over 90% of the milk produced, discouraging overproduction. It only goes into effect when cooperatives cannot sell all the milk produced, Texas Farm Bureau notes.
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Wild Pig Explosion Starts in Belly of the Beast
By Chris Bennett, AgWeb
Slicing into a wild pig killed overnight during a research cull, a student of Dr. Steve Ditchkoff expects the unexpected. Another wild pig, another necropsy, and quite possibly—another surprise. Roots, vegetation, seeds, pecans or acorns, insects, rabbit, deer: What is inside the belly of this particular pig?
As the blade cuts through the stomach wall, 53 toads spill from the cavity—telltale evidence of a phenomenally adaptive creature geared for survival. “There’s not an animal in North America that compares with the opportunism of a wild pig,” Ditchkoff says. “If you take away invasive pythons in Florida, wild pigs are unquestionably the No. 1 vertebrate pest in the country, and they’re responsible for untold amounts of destruction.”
Truly. And 53 toads is merely a tiny dish on a buffet line with no end. Wild pigs have exploded in numbers across the United States, possibly exceeding 6.5 million in just under 40 states, assisted in great part by car wheels on gravel—human transport, and their proliferation involves far more than an outrageously high birth rate and extreme intelligence. Without exaggeration, wild pig control is one of the greatest challenges in U.S. wildlife management history, and in many ways, wild pig prosperity is partially due to a hog’s ability to eat like a human, i.e., the truth is in the fascinating belly of a beast like no other. Read more here>>>
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As depooling, negative PPDs and Cl. I formula change continue stealing value from milk checks, here’s what you can do
By Sherry Bunting, Agmoos
EAST EARL, Pa. — Dairy producers from across the U.S., along with many state dairy associations and the American Dairy Coalition, have come together to compose a letter to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). The letter addresses the impact of massive depooling in relation to large negative PPDs for dairy farmers across the U.S during the last three months in 2019, eight months in 2020, and is estimated to continue through at least the first four to seven months of 2021.
Dairy producers and dairy advocacy trade associations are invited to add their names as signatories to this letter to the presidents of both NMPF and IDFA. Hundreds of producers and dairy trade associations have done so electronically within the first few days.
The deadline to sign is March 12, 2021.
Farmshine has learned that allied industry persons can also sign and mention how they are affiliated — due to the many jobs, economic activity and livelihoods supported by dairy beyond the farmgate having a vested interest in seeing a price formula that is fairer to producers. Those signing who are not producers, but are affiliated with dairy production, will be listed separately as ‘allied industry’ when the letter is officially presented.
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2021 GDYF Annual Golf Tournament
Join us for the 2021 GA Dairy Youth Foundation Golf Tournament on March 26th at Lane Creek Golf Club in Bishop.
Our golf tournament is played each year in honor of Bud Wiley. Wiley was a dairy farmer and strong advocate for dairy youth programs. He is one of many dairy industry champions that worked hard to promote and build our industry. Thank you to all that help financially support our organization.
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Agriculture Secretary Sees ‘Early Wins’ on Climate From Farms
By Mike Dorning, Bloomberg Green
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack predicted farms would provide “early wins” for the Biden administration’s efforts to counter climate change, and hinted he will draw on the department’s borrowing authority to fund initiatives to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
What on Earth?
The Bloomberg Green newsletter is your guide to the latest in climate news, zero-emission tech and green finance.
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Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>> |
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TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com
UPDATED 1/15/2021
Seeking Beef and dairy crossed bullcalves/heifers bottled or weaned. Please contact Victoria Rowland at 404-922-0938 or 423-946-5869
Will Raise Heifers for GA Dairy Farms: Hello we are located in Southern Illinois and have an abundance of pasture and cheap feed available looking to contract with a dairy to grow heifers for them, out location offers mild climate and we are just 558 miles from Montezuma Ga. Please contact 817-528-6645 very reasonable daily rates.
For Sale- DeLaval 84 Vacuum Pump on Stand, Oil Reclaimer, 10 HP- 3 Phase Electric Motor. New Bearings, New Oil Seal, New Belts. $2000
For sale - Please contact Archie Felder for more information at 803-682-3426:
- Dairy Tech Bay Pasturizer - $4,000
- Tidenberg Hydraulic Hoof Table (like new) - $5,000
- Claas Silage Choppers - 960 1875 cutterhead hours, 4WD, 600 orbis, HD300 PU - $180,000
- Koomin John Deere Corn Header adapter for Claus Silage Chopper Used - $6,000
WANTED: Peter's Cattle Co. will buy any dairy, beef, and cross, bottle or weaned, bulls, heifers or free martins. Pick up weekly 7 days a week. Chris- 470-255-8515
Bull Calves WANTED: Competitive pricing with 6 day a week pickup. Brandon Mason Cattle Company 912-632-4490
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Farmer to Farmer Support Program Available for SE dairy farmers
Farmers across the Southeast are experiencing uncertain times like never before. All aspects of agriculture have been hit by market losses due to COVID-19, but dairy has reached a level of uncertainty that many have never experienced.
As we navigate through these next few months, dairy producers across the Southeast have come together to introduce the "Farmer to Farmer Support Program." If you find that you need support or would like to talk to a fellow farmer or industry friend, they have several volunteers that are willing and able to help. Georgia Milk Producers has also put together a packet on the program that you can access by clicking here.
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