2019 | Dec 13 GMP E Newsletter
Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
Georgia wins major victory in legal fight with Florida over water use - By  Tamar Hallerman , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An expert federal judge recommended Thursday that the U.S. Supreme Court dismiss Florida’s 6-year-old water rights case against Georgia, handing Georgia a major victory in a dispute with vast implications for both states’ economies.

Florida is requesting strict limits on Georgia’s water usage, arguing that its upstream neighbor helped kill its once-thriving oyster industry during a 2012 drought.

 Judge Paul Kelly said Florida’s request should be denied because “the evidence has shown that Georgia’s water use is reasonable.”

“The evidence has not shown that the benefits of apportionment would substantially outweigh the potential harms,” Kelly wrote in his  recommendation  to the court.
UGA researcher uses 'cotton cake' as protein supplement in dairy cattle diets
By Maria Sellers for CAES News
John Bernard, a professor and dairy scientist at the University of Georgia Tifton campus, has found “cotton cake” to be an effective protein supplement for dairy cattle.

Cotton cake is a type of cottonseed meal, the solid material that remains after oil is extracted from cottonseed and is made from products that would otherwise be wasted. The cotton cake Bernard has formulated is composed of a slightly different nutrient makeup than the raw material.

Bernard discovered that cotton cake provides dairy cattle with an alternate source of protein than the commonly used soybean meal.

“We really have to watch how much fat we put in their diets, so when they can get the extruder fine-tuned to reduce the oil content in the cotton cake, it makes that product better for feeding cattle,” he said. Read more here>>>
As progress was made on the trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada (USMCA), and the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced an extension to the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2020.
China Says Deal Agreed, U.S. to Roll Back Tariffs in Stages
From Bloomberg News, Dairy Herd Management
China and the U.S. agreed on the text of a phase one trade deal that includes the removal of tariffs on Chinese goods in stages, Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said, as President Donald Trump confirmed that some levies will be reduced and said the next round of talks will start immediately.

China will increase imports from the U.S. as part of the agreement, Wang said at a briefing in Beijing Friday.

The comments are China’s first response to a deal signed off by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that would halt higher tariffs planned for Dec. 15 and represent the first phase in defusing the trade war that’s shaken the global economy. Read more here>>>
By Dave Natzke, Progressive Dairy
The  Farm Workforce Modernization Act  (H.R. 5038), an attempt at immigration reform with a focus on addressing U.S. agriculture’s farm labor crisis, has been approved in the House of Representatives. The measure was approved on a 260-165 vote, with 34 Republicans joining 226 Democrats in favor of passage, Dec. 11. The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate.

The bill  is the first House-passed agricultural labor reform since a comprehensive immigration plan in 1986 and includes critical provisions to address dairy’s unique workforce needs, according to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).
Don’t Let Ageism Kill The Dairy Industry?
By  Karen Hunt, The Bullvine
It’s Not Too Late to Capitalize on Dairy’s Biggest Asset!”

Economics, politics and poor business decisions are the excuses we give when dairy dollars are going down the drain. At least, those are the things we blame. However, even without playing the blame game, we feel justified in forecasting a dire future for dairying. We think it can’t be helped.

Unfortunately, with all our knowledge, data and assessment processes, we are turning a blind eye to the biggest asset that we have available to us. Without a doubt, that asset is the next generation of young dairy entrepreneurs.

We can’t have a future dairy industry, without the input of young dairy people. Read more here>>>
Clarksville Couple Opening a Bed and Breakfast in a Dairy Barn
BY Roger Riley, NBC13whotv.com
A northeast Iowa dairy farm has entered a contest to help achieve a dream. New Day Dairy is becoming Iowa’s first bed and breakfast where you can “sleep with the cows.” They bill it as “Iowa’s Only Authentic Farm Stay.”

The New Day Dairy Guest Barn has three bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. From a common loft, guests can watch the dairy cows 24/7. The 150 cows are milked around the clock with a robot.

“There's an automated milking system from AMS Galaxy USA,” said Dan Bolin, owner of New Day Dairy. “That automated milking system is open to the cows. They’re free to go and get milked anytime they chose.”

Dan and wife, Lynn, realized people want to know where their food comes from. Lynn grew up in a suburb of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Read more here >>>
Can a new lawsuit overturn California's animal confinement law?
By Jodi Helmer, FoodDive.com
The National Pork Producers Council (NPCC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) filed a  lawsuit  asking federal courts to declare  Proposition 12  invalid. The trade groups argue the law, which sets new minimum requirements for farm animal confinement,​ is unconstitutional because it burdens interstate commerce . Read more here>>>
Dairy checkoff: Milk can win beverage wars
By Fran O'Leary , Farm Progress
Despite declining fluid milk consumption in the U.S., Dairy Management Inc., the organization that manages the national dairy checkoff, believes there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of milk consumption.

“Fluid milk is still a powerhouse category. Ninety-four percent of U.S. households still purchase milk,” says Paul Ziemnisky, executive vice president of DMI. “That means 117 million households are buying milk.”

Of those 117 million households, 65 million are exclusive to milk, meaning they do not purchase plant-based milk alternatives; those households buy 33 gallons of milk per year. Fifty-two million households buy both milk and plant-based milk alternatives. On average, these households buy 29 gallons of milk, compared to 5 gallons of plant-based milk alternatives. Ziemnisky calls this group “explorers.” Read more here>>>
Senate confirms Stephen Hahn as FDA commissioner
From Dairy Foods
Dairy organizations congratulate Hahn, are hopeful his leadership will be good for the dairy industry.

According to multiple news outlets, the U.S. Senate voted on Dec. 12 to confirm Stephen Hahn, M.D., most recently chief medical executive of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as commissioner of the FDA. Dairy organizations were quick to react to the news.

“We congratulate Dr. Stephen Hahn for his confirmation today,” said Matt Herrick, senior vice president, executive & strategic communications for the Washington, D.C.-based International Dairy Foods Association, in a written statement. “The dairy industry is hopeful that the FDA under Dr. Hahn engages in robust communication with food industry leaders to advance our common goals of food safety, transparent food labeling and public health. We are hopeful that the FDA under Dr. Hahn’s tenure is known for tackling outdated federal food standards of identity standards that currently stand in the way of using new technologies and ingredients to meet consumer demand for healthful foods and beverages.” Read more here>>>
Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
The 2020 GA Dairy Conference is proudly offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for attendees seeking hours toward maintaining certifications for the GA State Board of Veterinary Medicine,the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and for Georgia Certified Waste Operators. Certificates will be located at the GDC Registration desk. Visit our website at:  http://www.gadairyconference.com/   #2020GDC
Univ. of Georgia Seeking
Asst. Dairy Manager in Tifton

The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Georgia is seeking an Assistant Dairy Manager (Animal Facilities Supervisor) for the UGA Tifton Research Dairy in Tifton.

For more information please visit
Georgia Agencies Partner to Host Feral Swine Workshops
From Southeast AgNet
Feral swine have become increasingly detrimental in Georgia, causing significant damage to agricultural crops and natural resources around the state. The economic impact of damage caused by feral swine in Georgia last year is estimated at $150 million.
So a group of agricultural and natural resource organizations, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s  Natural Resources Conservation Service  and the  Georgia Association of Conservation Districts , have partnered to host some of Georgia’s top experts on feral swine in a series of educational workshops for farmers and landowners. There will be eight workshops and trapping demonstrations throughout the state, four in Southeast Georgia and four in Northeast Georgia.

The first workshop will be held Jan. 30 at University of Georgia Extension in Lakeland, Georgia.

Topics will include disease issues, swine biology, water quality issues, effective control techniques, transport issues, public health and regulations to be followed by a question-and-answer panel of experts. There is no cost to attend the workshops, but space is limited and preregistration is required. More details and registration information is available at  GACD.us/events .
Upcoming Events >>>
GA Dairy Classifieds
TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com

UPDATED 11/20/19

Position Available:
Assistant Dairy Manager (Animal Facilities Supervisor) UGA Tifton Research Dairy for more information please visit

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.

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