Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
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UGA Advanced Grazing School Next Week!
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The 2019 Advanced Grazing School will be held on July 16
th
and 17
th
at the Livestock Instructional Arena in Athens, GA. This will be an intense two day hands on event that will overlap with the Deep South Stocker Conference on the second day. Registration will include coffee and snacks throughout the day, lunch for both days, a large notebook with handouts and supplemental information, and PLENTY of interactive presentations and hands on learning activities.
Tentative topics for the 2019 Advanced Grazing School will include:
Forage Systems for Stocker Cattle: Cool Season and Warm Season Systems
Economics of Forage Systems
Putting an Entire Forage System Together
Regenerative Grazing: Facts or Fiction?
Grassfed Livestock Production
Data Reviews
Supplementation Strategies
Producer Panel
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When is Hay Dry Enough?
By
Dennis Hancock, UGA, Dairy Herd Management
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There is a great misconception that once hay is "dry" and baled it is plain and devoid of life. The truth is that hay is never completely dry, and it is full of microscopic life. If the hay is not dry enough, those microscopic life forms can cause major problems. It's alive.
Many microorganisms (mainly fungi species like Aspergillus and Fusarium, bacteria, and others) are ever present in hay (Figure 1). They feed on available carbohydrates on the surface of the forage plants and inside the stems and leaves. This feeding results in the loss of some dry matter (DM), reduces the quality of the hay, and also generates heat. The temperature of these hay bales, stacks, and barns can get very hot. In extreme cases, it can get so hot that the bales can catch on fire, even without a spark (i.e., spontaneous combustion). Even if the temperature does not reach these extremes, these microorganisms can also form spores. It is these spores that give the hay a moldy smell.
Full Story Here>>>
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Immigration Raids Back On For This Weekend
By Mike Opperman, Milk Business
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A nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting people who are in the United States illegally is expected to begin this weekend after it was postponed last month by President Donald Trump. That’s according to two administration officials and immigrant activists.
The raids will target people with final orders of removal, including families whose cases had been fast-traced by judges. It’s expected in 10 major cities, according to an Associated Press article.
Initially set for late June, Trump postponed the raids as Congress worked to pass a $4.6 billion border deal.
The raids will be conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials over multiple days and will include “collateral” deportations, as reported by the
New York Times
. In those instances authorities might detain immigrants who happened to be on the scene, even though they were not targets of the raids.
Full Story Here>>>
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By Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke
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As of July 11, nearly 10,000 dairy operations had signed up for the new program, and FSA has begun paying approximately $100 million to producers for milk production insured from January through May 2019. A spot check by Progressive Dairy found some state FSA offices were issuing payments on July 8-9, while software issues in a few states caused delays of a day or two.
Read more here>>>
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Stories, photos & funds sought for Georgia cattle history book
From GA Farm Bureau
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The Georgia Cattlemen’s Foundation is working to publish a hardback book that chronicles the history of Georgia’s cattle community – both beef and dairy. The steering committee for the project is asking all Georgia beef and dairy families to share their photos, especially old ones, and the stories of their family farms or experiences with cattle.
“We want this book to reflect the whole history of Georgia’s cattle industry, not just the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association,” explained John Callaway, co-chair of the book committee. “We’re looking to include information about sale barns, projects and programs the University of Georgia, Georgia Farm Bureau and the Georgia Department of Agriculture have conducted through the years to improve and support our cattle industry. We also want the stories of Georgia 4-H and FFA members who have been involved in dairy and beef cattle projects and showing cattle.”
The intent of the book, Callaway said, is for it to serve as an educational tool that preserves the history of Georgia’s cattle sector but also looks toward the industry’s future. Plans are for the book to be unveiled at the 60th Annual Georgia Cattlemen’s Convention in April 2021.
Read more here >>>
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Employees need not fear robots
By Caitlin Rodgers, Georgia dairy farmer, Hoard's Dairyman Blog
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During this robotic transition, Dad has written several blogs about what all is going on around the farm preparing for startup. A few are listed at the bottom of this blog, but we haven’t really talked about how the employees on our farm are preparing for the transition. There is one thing I have realized since I have come back to the farm and that is change can be difficult for the employees.
Transition, transform, change, alter; these are words that some employees fear. We have tried our best to explain that these words can also be placed alongside of efficient, effective, stress reduction, and flexibility. When it comes to big changes, employees need to understand all aspects of the transition or we tend to see a slight negative reaction.
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When the Title Match is Big Ag vs. Hobby Farms, PETA Wins
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Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of Brandi Buzzard Frobose, and do not necessarily represent the views of Drovers or Farm Journal.
Fair Oaks Farms, a progressive dairy, pork and crop farm in northwest Indiana, was recently the subject of some less than savory media attention. Four employees, three of whom had already been fired by the time the footage surfaced, were seen committing heinous acts of animal abuse, with zero remorse for their actions. As the video made its way across social media and television news, the perpetrators were condemned, cussed and pursued by law enforcement. Rightfully so, because animal abuse is taken very seriously by the agriculture community and should not be tolerated, ever.
However, as Fair Oaks Farms reeled from the unexpected blow and struggled to recover, another vein of hateful, sinister commentary was making its way across the Internet. Can you guess what it was?
If you said criticism of “Big Ag,” ding, ding — you win! Except not really, because when big farms and small farms quarrel, no one wins … except PETA, HSUS and other animal rights extremists.
Read more here >>>
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Ag group offers self-protection tips: Use care with employee hiring, animal rights groups
From
Jonathan Knutson / Agweek Staff Writer
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An animal agriculture group wants livestock producers to better protect themselves about questionable employees and animal rights activist organizations.
"While the first step to take is always ensuring that your animal care practices are beyond reproach, the Animal Agriculture Alliance also advises farmers and ranchers to be very vigilant in their hiring processes to ensure that everyone hired is there for the right reason," the organization says.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance describes itself as "an industry-united, nonprofit organization that helps bridge the communication gap between farm and fork."
Read more here >>>
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Kroger Cites Revamped Milk Jug in Plastic Reduction
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CEO pledges further waste reduction following 2020 goals
A revamped gallon-sized milk jug introduced by The Kroger Co. two years ago is making a meaningful reduction in the amount of plastic waste the retailer produces, CEO Rodney McMullen said.
Kroger has reduced nearly 2 million pounds of plastics in its manufacturing from a 2015 baseline set as a part of its “Zero Waste” initiative, McMullen said during Kroger's annual meeting last week. “This is a large part due to converting to our lighter weight milk jug, which is 10% larger than our previous jug.”
Kroger’s Westover Dairy in Lynchburg, Va., began manufacturing the new container beginning in 2016. It utilizes the same recyclable polyethylene as the previous jugs, but the design allows the company to reduce plastics in it by 10%. The vessel is used for milk, water, juice and tea products. Kroger had converted eight of its dairy plants to utilize the new jug through the end of its 2018 fiscal year and 15 facilities through May of this year.
Full Story Here>>>
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It's a Game-Changing Day in the Dairy Industry: Say Hello to the Industry's First Fresh Milk and Plant Blended Beverage
By Donna Berry, Berry on Dairy Blog
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It takes a lot for me to say wow. I’m rolling out the red carpet for this innovation. And guess what? I knew about it for a few months and was able to keep a secret!
The highly creative team at Live Real Farms, a new brand owned and managed by Dairy Farmers of America, is rolling out what I believe is the first fresh milk blended beverage in the marketplace. The company is combining the best of pure dairy with almonds or oats to make Live Real Farms Dairy Plus Milk Blends.
Live Real Farms, owned by more than 8,000 family-farms across the U.S. and inspired by the wonder of real--real food, real dairy and real nourishment—just started shipping the Dairy + Blends beverages throughout Minnesota. Distribution will expand in the fall and hopefully this milk plus plant beverage will find its way to refrigerators across the country.
Using a unique blending process, Live Real Farms takes nature’s pure milk from 100% family-owned farms and creates a whole new milk taste and texture with just the right amount of sweetness. The combination of the flavor of almonds or oats that consumers love with the protein power of dairy will satisfy the demands of families seeking the best of both worlds!
Full Story Here>>>
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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
Registered Brown Swiss dairy cows(6) and heifers(3) for sale. 7 X 24 2004 Featherlight trailer with tack area and 2 cuts $12,000.00 and an Artic 22 semen tank (has a few straws of beef semen inside) $450. Please contact Beth Gearhart, Waynesboro, GA, 352-603-2629 text or call
For Sale:
2016 Tatoma Vertical Twin Screw Mixer. Equipped with Front Discharge and Side Discharge Extension - $35,000.00. Please contact Jim or Stephanie Waite 334-222-7957 for more information.
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. 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
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
brian.winters@dhicoop.com
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
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.
TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com
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