Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
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USDA Announces Block Grants For Three States as Part of Broader Disaster Relief Package
From USDA
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make available $800 million to agricultural producers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia affected by hurricanes Michael and Florence. The state block grants are part of a broader $3 billion package to help producers recover from 2018 and 2019 natural disasters, which includes the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+) as well as programs for loss of milk and stored commodities.
“Natural disasters dealt producers some hefty blows in the past couple of years,” said Secretary Perdue. “This relief complements USDA’s tool chest of disaster assistance programs and crop insurance. In many cases, these special programs help us better reach producers who suffered substantial losses beyond what our regular programs cover. While we can’t make producers whole, we can give them a helping hand to get back on their feet and prepare for next year’s planting and harvest.”
USDA and the governor’s office in Florida and the state departments of agriculture in the other two states are working out final details for the grants, which will cover qualifying losses not covered by other USDA disaster programs. Grant funding will cover losses of timber, cattle, poultry, as well as for necessary expenses related to losses of horticulture crops and present value losses associated with pecan production.
For covered commodities, USDA’s
Farm Service Agency
(FSA) opened signup for WHIP+ in September and has since distributed millions of dollars in assistance to producers throughout the country to help with recovery from 2018 and 2019 disasters. Signup for the program continues into 2020.
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Farmers: Migrant workers needed
By Riley Bunch, The Dairy Citizen
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Georgia farmers claim a U.S. labor shortage is the reason they're increasingly turning to migrant workers but advocates say a broken visa program means both foreign and domestic workers suffer.
Georgia is the nation’s highest user of the H-2A guest worker program — a federal program that brings migrant workers from neighboring countries seasonally to work in U.S. agriculture.
During fiscal year 2019, the Peach State surpassed all others, with 12% of the total workforce coming out of the H-2A program, according to the federal Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Nationwide in fiscal year 2018, 242,000 seasonal foreign workers were approved for hire.
Although a costly program, a shortage of domestic labor has caused farmers and producers to lean heavily on a migrant workforce — many farmers using guest workers for more than half of their workforce. Labor brokers connect growers to the foreign labor workforce, who contract for a season. Farmers who can't keep up with costs are removed from the program.
Read more here>>>
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Animal Waste Operator and Planner Certification Training Next Week in Athens
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A waste planner/operator certification training will be offered in Athens at the UGA Livestock Arena classroom on November 13 & 14, 2019. All permitted livestock operations (other than dry poultry operations) must have a certified animal waste systems operator and an implemented nutrient management plan written by a certified planner. In previous years this has been held as separate trainings, one to certify farm owners/employees to properly manage animal waste systems and the other to certify people to write nutrient management plans.
This training has been combined into one training with break-out sessions on day 2 for topics specific to each group. Both certifications require completion of this course and passing of the exam. This is the final operator/planner certification course this year. The next training will be in March 2020.
Click here for registration form and information>>>
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Georgia counties receive drought disaster designations
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On Oct. 31 the USDA issued a disaster declaration for a total of 54 Georgia counties to help farmers mitigate their losses due to ongoing drought conditions.
The 24 Georgia counties with the primary natural disaster designation are Banks, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Henry, Lumpkin, Paulding, Pickens, Twiggs, White, and Wilkinson.
Producers in the contiguous Georgia counties of Baldwin, Barrow, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Fannin, Floyd, Franklin, Gordon, Haralson, Heard, Houston, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Madison, Meriwether, Murray, Newton, Polk, Rabun, Rockdale, Spalding, Stephens, Towns, Troup, Union, Walton, and Washington are also eligible to apply for emergency loans. Dade County is eligible because it is contiguous to Alabama and Tennessee counties that received primary designations.
Farmers in counties named either primary disaster areas or contiguous counties are eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. The deadline is June 24, 2020, to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs in addition to the EM loan program to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.
Other FSA programs that provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include the Emergency Conservation Program, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, Operating and Farm Ownership Loans and the Tree Assistance Program.
Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for more information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at
www.farmers.gov/recover
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USDA opens sign-up for Market Facilitation Program
From The Journal
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Sign-up is ongoing through Dec. 6 for the Market Facilitation Program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to assist farmers who continue to suffer damages because of tariffs imposed on agricultural products in response to U.S. tariffs.
Through MFP, the Agriculture Department will provide up to $14.5 billion in direct payments to farmers, part of a broader trade relief package announced in late July.
MFP payments will be made to producers of certain non-specialty and specialty crops as well as dairy and hog producers.
Read more here>>>
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SE Dairy Stewardship - 5th Module
Please join us for an educational program addressing communications and training to comply with F.A.R.M. requirements and 3rd party auditors. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the program. Program is designed for owners, managers, and personnel responsible for training and communications. Completion of this program will count towards annual animal care employee training required within the NMPF’s National Dairy FARM Program.”
Read more here>>>
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By Beth Newhart, DairyReporter.com
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The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 was introduced in the US House of Representatives this week, with the goal of expanding the H-2A foreign guestworker program and aiding with legalization of current workers.
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Kohl: Next Decade Will be a Wild Ride
By Maureen Hanson, Dairy Herd Management
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Dairy farming in the United States will change more in the next 10 years than it has in the past 70, predicts David Kohl, agricultural economist and professor emeritus at Virginia Tech.
During, “Get a Grip on Ag Economics,” part of the “World Class Webinar” series sponsored by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Kohl shared his thoughts on the changing domestic and global dairy and agricultural industries, and what it will take to be a successful producer in them in the future.
Economically, he said farmers in general need to be satisfied with more “base hits” and fewer “home runs.” “The markets will be volatile, to be sure, and steadily locking in modest profits – versus trying to hit the occasional jackpot – will be a more prudent way to sustain farm businesses long-term,” Kohl advised. He noted the dairy boom cycle of 2014 was not necessarily a good thing, because it created unrealistic optimism that similar market conditions will return.
Read more here>>>
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2019 State of the Industry report: Milk aims for an inside straight
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At first glance, it seems that milk hasn’t been dealt the best hand. But the beverage isn’t considering folding: While purchasing numbers have declined in recent years, it’s still present in 91% of American households, according to the September 2019 “Eating Trends: Meat, Dairy, Vegetarian, and Vegan” report from the Packaged Facts division of Rockville, Md.-based MarketResearch.com.
But milk should bet cautiously. Overall, dollar and unit sales are down 1.3% and 2.3%, respectively, during the 52-week period ending Aug. 11, 2019, according to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI.
Refrigerated skim/low-fat milk — in particular — is hoping for a better hand next year. Dollar sales fell 5.2%, and unit sales declined 5.6%. Whole milk, however, is holding more chips. It’s dollar and unit sales are up 1.8% and 0.9%, respectively.
“In my two decades of work with the dairy industry, I can’t think of a time when the milk category has been more challenged,” said Julia Kadison, former CEO of the Washington D.C.-based Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP). “Yet, milk is an amazing product that truly does align to today’s consumer needs — it’s wholesome, fresh, local, delicious [and] produced by farmers who care about the earth and their animals.”
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Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
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We can't wait for attendees to listen to Mark Fahlin on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the 2020 Ga Dairy Conference. Mark Fahlin specializes in Business Development for Cargill and is a frequent speaker at dairy industry events. For over fifteen years, Mark has been supporting and working on innovation in dairy products in the USA and during half dozen international assignments. To learn more about the 2020 GA Dairy Conference, visit our website at: www.gadairyconference.com
To learn more visit our website at
http://
gadairyconference.com
#2020GDC
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Univ. of Florida Seeking
Dairy Manager
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The Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, is looking for candidates for the position of manager of its Dairy Unit.
Where to apply:
Applications close:
November 4, 2019 (or later until the position has been filled)
More information:
Dr. Audy Spell
Dr. Albert De Vries
Operations Manager
Professor and Associate Chair
251-656-6972 cell phone
352-474-3412 office phone
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Dec. 8-10 - GA Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Jekyll Island
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TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com
UPDATED 10/4/19
The following are
FOR SALE
from Archie Felder. For more information call 1-803-682-3426 :
Dairy Tech Bag Pasturizer - $4,000
Tidenberg Hydraulic Hoof Table (like new) - $5,000
Hall stall sand leveler skid steer (never used) - $1,000
Mench Sand Trailer - $14,000
McLanahan 20 x 20 sand seperator - $25,000
Chiller Drake 24 hp, dual 12 hp scroll tank pumps, 3 phase - $10,000
Fans 3-phase w/brackets:
54" - $225/ea (18 available)
48" - $125/ea (20 available)
36" - $100/ea (20 available)
3000 Mueller Milk Tank - $5,000
20 springers 7 1/2 - 8 mos. pg - $1,450/ea (24,000 2x herd average)
Bull Calves WANTED:
Competitive pricing with 6 day a week pickup. Brandon Mason Cattle Company 912-632-4490
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 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.
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