2019 | July 19 GMP E Newsletter
Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
State Dairy Associations Meet in St. Paul
Georgia Milk Producers would like to thank the National Milk Producers Federation for the invitation to attend the first State Dairy Associations Summit this week in St. Paul, Minnesota. Over 20 state dairy trade associations met with the goal to exchange information on national policy activities, and to solicit ideas to further collaboration in the future. The attendance totaled nearly 50 people from all across the country.  NMPF said the meeting illustrated the importance of engaging at the grass-roots level across the dairy sector, particularly as policy challenges multiply and have become less regional. GMP looks forward to attending more meetings in the future and to collaborate on issues that impact all dairy farm families.
Annual field day to feature UGA research
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia
MOULTRIE, Ga. — Georgia farmers can learn about agricultural research while interacting with University of Georgia scientists during the annual Sunbelt Field Day in Moultrie, Georgia, on Thursday, July 25.

From 8:30 a.m. to noon, UGA agriculture specialists and other industry leaders will present their findings from various crop research projects conducted on the 600-acre farm.

Among the UGA experts whose research will be highlighted is UGA Cooperative Extension soils and hydrology specialist Glen Harris. He’s researched cotton and peanuts at Sunbelt for more than 20 years and believes the research done here is vital to the Georgia farming community.   Full Story Here>>>
From Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke
The August 2019 Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) Class I base price is $17.89 per hundredweight (cwt), the highest level since January 2015. It is up 71 cents from July 2019 and $3.74 more than August 2018.

Through the first eight months of 2019, the Class I base price is $16.34 per cwt, up about $1.80 compared to the same period a year ago. Full Story Here>>>
People are willing to pay nearly twice as much for plant-based milk
By Jeanette Settembre, MarketWatch
Got plant-based milk?

That’s the question driving the alternative milk market. Sales of plant-based varieties have grown 6% over the past year, now comprising 13% of the entire milk category, new data released this week from The Good Food Institute and Plant Based Foods Association show. Sales of cow’s milk, meanwhile, have declined 3%, according to the report.

Consumers are making the switch for health reasons, intolerance to dairy, ethical concerns about animal abuse in modern  dairy farming practices,  or simply for wanting another alternative to dairy, even if they have to pay more for it, industry experts say.
In the newest episode of  Dairy On the Air , host Lucas Lentsch joins fellow CEOs Chad Vincent, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and Doug Ackerman, Dairy Alliance , to discuss how their collaborative approach to guiding the work of checkoff is resulting in stronger alignment with national, regional and local objectives to move the industry forward.

During the half-hour conversation, the leaders share how they address opportunities and challenges specific to their regions–with Dairy Alliance covering eight southeastern states and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin representing dairy farmers in the north, these are quite different across the board–while also working with other state and regional dairy councils and Dairy Management, Inc. to ensure they deliver on their dairy farmers’ entire checkoff investment.

Tune in to listen to them discuss what they are doing to build trust in dairy farming and boost sales. Specifically, they talk about the importance of listening to both their board of directors and their local dairy farmer communities, finding relevance with consumers and exploring product innovation. They also share the joy which comes with their positions as well as the talented staffs they employ. Click here to listen to podcast>>>
How Milk Is Really Priced in the U.S.
By John Newton, Ph.D.,
Chief Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
Milk Price Discovery is Not Broken, but it Can be Improved

I n the U.S., minimum milk price regulations enforced by Federal Milk Marketing Orders are based on a system of mandatory dairy price reporting, milk pricing formulas, price discrimination based on the end-use of raw milk and equity payments from a revenue sharing pool. A recent Market Intel,  How Milk Is Priced in Federal Milk Marketing Orders: A Primer , reviewed milk pricing regulations under Federal Milk Marketing Orders.

This complex government framework of determining regulated milk prices that ultimately set the benchmark value of milk at the farm-level begins with price discovery in Chicago. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange has electronic spot markets for butter, cheddar cheese, nonfat dry milk and dry whey – the same products that are surveyed in USDA’s mandatory dairy price report ( Background on National Dairy Product Sales Report ).
Are federal policies to blame for drop in student milk consumption?
By Eric Litke, Politifact Wisconsin
Representing the dairy state in Washington, D.C., U.S. Sen Ron Johnson is proposing a bill to allow schools to return to serving higher-fat milks.

Making his case on Facebook, the Republican tied the drop in student milk consumption to the focus on low-fat milks.

"Schools have not been able to serve whole milk or 2% since Obama-era regulations went into place," Johnson wrote in a  June 12, 2019, post . "As a result, milk consumption has notably declined in schools across the country."

Is Johnson right to blame the federal policies for decreasing student interest in milk?   Read more here >>>
Does Your Dairy Meet OSHA Heat Stress Requirements?
By Anna-Lisa Laca, MilkBusines s
Summertime came in like a lion and most of the country will experience extreme heat this week. It’s common to worry about cows dropping in milk from the heat, but have you given keeping your workers cool a second thought?

The following are Cal/OSHA rules for helping employees avoid heat stress when the temperature exceeds 80
degrees F:   Read more here >>>
Trump Administration Proposes New Agriculture Immigration Rules
By  B loomberg via AgWeb
The Trump administration proposed new immigration rules Monday for temporary agricultural workers that officials said would make it easier for employers to apply for the visas.

The regulatory changes will play out in a charged political climate on immigration as the president has clamped down on border crossings and promised a series of raids against undocumented immigrants around the country.

The Labor Department said in a statement announcing the proposed new regulations that they would simplify the H-2A program through electronic filing of job orders and applications and allowing employers the option of staggering entry of H-2A workers on a single application. Read more here >>>
FSA Begins Issuing $100 Million In Dairy Margin Coverage Payments
By Anna-Lisa Laca, Dairy Herd Management
USDA announced the Farm Service Agency began issuing payments under the Dairy Margin Coverage program on Thursday. To date, nearly 10,000 operations have signed up for the new program, and FSA has begun paying approximately $100 million to producers for January through May.

“Times have been especially tough for dairy farmers, and while we hope producers’ margins will increase, the Dairy Margin Coverage program is providing support at a critical time for many in the industry,” said Bill Northey, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “With lower premiums and higher levels of assistance than previous programs, DMC is already proving to be a good option for a lot of dairy producers across the country." Full Story Here>>>
Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
Upcoming Events >>>
GA Dairy Classifieds
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.

FOR SALE :  We have a continuous selection of fresh and springing heifers.   Call William at   (706) 768-2857  or visit our website at   crumpdairyreplacements.org   

Bullcalves Wanted :  Looking for Bullcalves to purchase - Barron Tench 864-844-2295 or  barron.tench@gmail.com    

TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com