Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
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GA Milk will host a Georgia Dairy Zoom meeting on Tuesday at 4 p.m., and on Thursday with The Dairy Alliance at 4 p.m. If you would like to join in - please email Farrah Newberry at
gamilkproducers@gmail.com
. A summary of the zoom meetings are emailed to producers following each call.
Georgia Milk has updated their website for farmers to use as a resource:
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Georgia dairy farmers donate milk to healthcare workers in Macon
By Gabrielle Nelloms, Fox 24
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Georgia’s dairy farmers, along with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Kroger Atlanta Division continue the new Great Georgia Give in Macon.
Farmers are delivering fresh, local Georgia milk to the city’s first responders and healthcare workers.
This is the second stop of the four-week Great Georgia Give campaign.
The Great Georgia Give is led by "Milk on My Mind", a dairy awareness program initiated and funded by Georgia dairy farmers through the Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Commission for Milk and developed and managed by Atlanta-based marketing and PR agency, The Partnership.
Local Georgia milk is supplied by DFA dairy farmers and Kroger’s Centennial Farms.
Kroger Atlanta Division announced last week that they would match the milk donation from DFA increase the support in local communities.
The milk donation of 24,000 half gallons represents $60,000 contributed by Kroger Atlanta Division, DFA and Kroger’s Centennial Farms.
In the coming weeks, the remaining 24,000 half-gallons of local Georgia milk will be donated to healthcare workers and first responders in Augusta and Savannah.
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GEORGIA YOUNG FARMERS PARTNER WITH LOCAL FOOD PANTRY
From The Dairy Alliance
As our world continues to deal with the global pandemic of COVID-19, those impacted by school closures and job loss need the help of local communities now more than ever. On any given day, one in five children and one in seven adults struggle with hunger in Georgia.
In an effort to help bridge the hunger gap and get nourishment to those who need it the most, the Morgan County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers, in partnership with Kroger’s Centennial Farms and The Dairy Alliance, helped provide 216 gallons of whole milk to The Madison-Morgan Caring Place food pantry.
“We saw a need in our community for milk while most of the local food banks didn’t have access to it,” stated local dairy farmer & Young Farmer and Rancher member Jay Moon. “The Young Farmers group reached out to a couple of organizations to see if we could provide a nutrient-rich product to members of our community. As a dairy farmer in Morgan County, it’s exciting to see some of the milk that our cows produced go to help nourish families in our community.”
The Morgan County Young Farmers and Ranchers group saw a need for nutrient-rich milk in their community and wanted to somehow share it. Originally sparking this idea, Jay Moon with Moon Dairy, then put a plan in place to implement the initiative, working with The Dairy Alliance and Kroger’s Centennial Farms. Kroger’s Centennial Farms agreed to donate after seeing the value of the Young Farmers’ Group initiative and how it aligns with Kroger’s own Zero Hunger Zero Waste social impact plan. The Young Farmers group also continues working with other organizations to get additional food products donated to local food banks and help community members in need.
Located in Madison, GA, The Madison-Morgan Caring Place has played a huge role in serving the food insecure families of Morgan County since the organization’s opening in 1997.
Read Press Release here>>>
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Dairy Groups Call For Flooring Class I Price at $15.68 This Summer
Cooperatives and marketing agencies in common operating in 10 of the 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders have requested an emergency hearing to floor the Class I price at $15.68 in June, July and August. The only Federal Order that is not represented in the request is Federal 124 in the Pacific Northwest.
The request for hearing can be found here.
Based on current futures market prices, the projected Class I price June through August would average $11.93/cwt. “This is the lowest price level during the preceding 10-year period of January 2010 through December 2019 and $5.42 less than the average price during this time,” say Marvin Beshore and Jason Statler, attorneys for the proponents of the request.
“The purpose of this proposal is to minimize the destructive impact on the Class I price of the dairy commodities’ price plunge caused by the coronavirus pandemic. While the proposal will not mitigate all the market value loss dairy farms are expected to experience, implementing the temporary Class I price will meaningfully help reduce the overall impact,” write the attorneys.
The attorneys note that proposed $15.68/cwt floor would still be below 10-year Class I average of $17.53. But it is unclear in the proposal why $15.68 was selected as the proposed price floor.
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USDA Nixes Class I Floor Proposal
In a stunningly rapid response, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has nixed a proposal submitted by a number of dairy co-ops and marketing agencies in common to floor the Class I price at $15.68 in June, July and August.
Read letter here>>>
The proposal was submitted Monday by Marvin Beshore and Jason Statler, attorneys for the proponents of the request. This afternoon, USDA Administrator Bruce Summers nixed the idea. His statement reads in part:
“Subsequent to your proposal submission, USDA has been contacted by additional stakeholders who would like to consider other possible solutions. In light of the significant interest in alternative solutions and the temporary nature of your request, USDA would not be able to complete a rulemaking proceeding that allows all industry stakeholders the opportunity to adequately participate and implement the proposal timely. While USDA appreciates the industry’s efforts to develop potential solutions considering the unexpected COVID-19 impacts, USDA is not moving forward with a rulemaking proceeding to consider this proposal.”.
Read more here >>>
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COVID-19 Pandemic Producer Survey
From UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
During this pandemic, we recognize that Georgia’s food and fiber industry is being impacted across all agricultural sectors. In order to accurately tell your story and represent your needs, we have developed a survey to collect information on how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting your farm operation. The survey is a joint project of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau, The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.
The survey is to be completed only once for each farm/ranch operation. Your name will NOT be recorded for each survey record completed. All information will be kept strictly confidential. You may choose whether to participate in the survey, and you may withdraw at any time. There is no personal compensation provided for participation. The Qualtrics survey system uses data encryption, so there is minimal risk that security of any online data may be breached.
If you are agricultural producer located in the state of Georgia, please take the time to complete this short 10 minute survey. As an industry, it is critical that we work together to evaluate the needs of our farming community during this time.
If you have any questions about this project, contact the following investigator:
Kent Wolfe, UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
Cell: 706-688-9858
Thank you for your cooperation.
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GA Dairy Farmers Hit Hard by Pandemic
From WTOC Savannah
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Executive Director of Georgia Milk Producers, INC. Farrah Newberry says milk was flying off shelves during the first few weeks of panic-buying. Now, not so much.
Even though people aren’t out to purchase it, the cows are still producing milk.
Since most states have closed their schools and restaurants during the pandemic, dairy farmers have no other option: they’re having to dump the milk.
“I’ve been with Georgia Milk Producers for over 20 years and this is the first time I’ve ever seen this happen on this scale," said Newberry. "We’ve almost dumped close to 100 tanker loads of milk and one tanker load is worth ten thousand dollars, so we’ve lost a lot of money. Close to a million dollars.”
They’re hoping the government will aid by buying product and donating it to food banks. They’ve donated some milk to healthcare workers and the Ronald McDonald House already.
“You can’t turn a cow off. Once a cow starts producing milk, she’s going to do it for about eight months, so they have to continue to milk her twice a day, feed her, take care of her, so they’ll just continue milking and farming, and we’re hoping that the government will help us by buying some product and donating it to food banks," Newberry added.
Watch report here>>>
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PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERS MEAT PROCESSING FACILITIES TO REMAIN OPEN
From Georgia Farm Bureau
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On Tuesday, April 28, President Trump signed an executive order declaring that meat processing plants are to be considered critical infrastructure and should therefore remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite an uptick in cases in facilities across the country. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
praised President Trump
for signing the order, and is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure that plants are operating in accordance with safety and health guidelines.
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Mike Conaway (TX-11) released the following statement after President Trump’s announcement: “With today’s decision to keep meat-processing plants running, President Trump is showing once again that he understands the critical importance of American agriculture. I thank the President for seeking solutions that not only protect the health and safety of the hardworking men and women in these essential positions, but lessen the hardship for our farmers, ranchers, and consumers. During this incredibly difficult time, American agriculture has gone above and beyond to keep our nation fed and clothed, and I could not be more grateful to these American heroes.”
Ranging from a few days to two weeks or even indefinitely, at least 18 plants have been closed down due to issues with COVID-19 over the previous two months. In some cases, the closures were due to outbreaks among workers at the plants. In other cases, it is a struggle to keep workers, who are afraid of getting sick, coming into the plant. For more information on the economic disruption that plant closures have made on the industry, you can view the American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) Market Intel report on the subject
here
.
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GVMA/UGA CVM Town Hall, Thursday, May 7, 7:00 p.m
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The way we interact and produce food is already changing due to COVID-19. This session is devoted to answering questions producers and veterinarians have around their key role in maintaining a stable, secure, and cost effective food supply.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on all segments of beef cattle production, producers are faced with exploring options that likely require retaining ownership of their cattle for longer periods of time. Therefore, it is imperative to meet the changing nutrient requirements of both the herd, as well as weaned cattle. This includes knowing the nutrient requirements for different stages of production, procuring feeds, and understanding stocking capacity.
Panelists:
- Dr. Brent Credille – UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, Assistant Professor of Food Animal Health and Management Program, Department of Population Health
- Dr. Lawton Stewart – UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Extension Animal Scientist
- Dr. Tommie Shepherd - UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Agribusiness Economist
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Large DMC payments coming
From Progressive Dairyman
T
he March figures give only a small hint of things to come. Based on milk and feed futures prices at the close of trading on April 28, the
DMC Decision Tool
estimates margins are likely to drop below $6 per cwt on April, May and June milk marketings, ensuring substantial DMC payments at several insured levels. Monthly DMC margins were forecast at:
- April – $5.87
- May – $5.02
- June – $5.10
- July – $6.07
- August – $7.15
- September – $8.03
- October – $8.64
- November – $9.05
- December – $9.22
Using those estimates, the average projected 2020 DMC Margin was $7.84 per cwt and just $7.13 over the final three quarters of the year. Under that scenario, monthly DMC indemnity payments for those insured at the highest level could be about $4.40 per cwt in May and June.
Read more here>>>
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Bankrupt Borden Dairy and Dean Foods bondholders propose merger
By Lillianna Byington
,
Food Dive
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After facing challenges in the milk industry in recent years from competition, slumping sales and mounting debt, both Borden and Dean
filed for bankruptcy
just two months apart. Now, the option of merging the two bankrupt dairy companies is being floated as an alternative option to the sale to DFA.
Early this month, the court
approved the sale
of most of Dean's assets to Dairy Farmers of America. Before the sale was approved by the court, Dean
dropped the dairy co-op
from serving as the lead bidder after facing resistance from creditors and the judge.
Although it is likely that the deal will be approved, concerns around competition have plagued the potential sale since talks began when Dean
filed for bankruptcy
in November of last year. Dean
is the largest milk processor
in the U.S. with 57 manufacturing facilities and a portfolio of brands, including TruMoo and DairyPure. The milk giant is the DFA's biggest customer.
Farmers have filed class action lawsuits against Dean, DFA and others for breaking antitrust laws in previous years. Although the companies didn't
admit wrongdoing
, Dean and DFA have settled for millions of dollars.
Some parties
recently told Food Dive
they are hoping the DOJ will stop the deal, claiming the sale would negatively impact prices and competition. Last week, DOJ's antitrust officials were reportedly coming close to a settlement with DFA that would allow it to buy the assets from Dean,
according to The Wall Street Journal
.
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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
.
For more information on the program, please reach out to Farrah Newberry at gamilkproducers@gmail.com.
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Coronavirus Florida: Milk prices to plunge under COVID-19 uncertainty
By
Timothy Fanning
, Herald Tribune
Jerry Dakin and his wife Karen are among the last remaining dairy farmers in Manatee County. They’re also among the select group of workers deemed
“essential” by government officials
because they help supply the global food chain with milk.
But with the COVID-19 pandemic driving dairy and crop prices down, the Dakins’ essential work is losing value, leaving them looking toward a dark and uncertain future.
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Dairy back in demand due to stay-at-home orders
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For the first time in the past two decades fluid milk posted an increase in retail dollar sales for the past 52-week period. It happened the week ended April 5, and has continued. The total refrigerated milk department (dairy and non-dairy, including kefir and value-added flavored milks) showed a 3.6% increase in dollar sales vs. the same 52-week period one year ago, according to Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), Chicago.
Whole milk, a category that had been faring well for some brands in recent years, was up 6.6%. Nonfat and low-fat milk, which had been declining categories for most brands, was up 0.8% in dollar sales. Many varieties of non-dairy options are showing growth, too; however, they have been on a positive trajectory for some time.
Read more here>>>
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Kemp lifts statewide stay-home order, shifts focus to medically fragile
Gov. Brian Kemp will let the clock run out on his order for most Georgians to stay home during the COVID-19 crisis, but shelter-in-place restrictions for the medically fragile will continue on through at least mid-June.
Kemp eased restrictions on healthy homebound Georgians after recently letting nail salons, restaurants, bowling alleys and other once-shuttered businesses reopen their doors with limitations in hopes of reviving the state’s economy.
And he says his attention will shift back to older residents, residents of long-term care facilities, people with chronic lung disease and others who are thought to be particularly vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.
Read more here>>>
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Whipped Strawberry Milk: Let’s brainstorm on this one!
By Donna Berry, Berry on Dairy
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Happy May Day! In case you were unaware, May Day is not only a celebration of the seasons changing, it is a day to commemorate workers’ rights. Let’s never forget all of the people involved in the food supply chain who daily take health and safety risks to ensure we have ample. Thank you to all the dairy farmers, haulers, processors, distributors, retailers and innovators…for your time and energy to keep refrigerators and freezers stocked.
May Day this year also marks changes to many quarantines. We are now in the new norm.
Ready! Set! Go!
That new norm apparently includes a phenomenon known as “whipped strawberry milk.” It has only three ingredients: strawberry Nesquik, heavy whipping cream and your milk of choice. The consumer whips the strawberry mix with the cream until it forms a thick foam. Then it tops a glass of milk. Strawberry garnish and straw are optional.
This follows in the footsteps of Dalgona coffee, a whipped coffee beverage that originated in South Korea. The frothy, foamy iced coffee is made with instant coffee, sugar and iced milk. Suggested toppings are a dusting of cocoa or cinnamon.
There are other whipped dairy beverages popping up on social media, everything from peanut butter cup to pina colada. Let’s brainstorm on this
.
Read more here>>>
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Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
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HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERING NEW MEAL SERVICE THAT INCLUDES WHOLE PIZZAS, LOCAL FRUIT
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TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com
UPDATED 5/1/20
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
For Sale:
Corn Silage - For more information contact Carlin Giesbrecht at 478-494-4007
FOR Sale:
Stretch-O-Matic Bale Wrapper and Mover. For more information contact Carlin Giesbrecht at 478-494-4007
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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