Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
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GAC Legislative Breakfast held on Wednesday
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Georgia Milk Producers enjoyed attending another Georgia Agribusiness Council Legislative Breakfast this past Wednesday. We heard updates from Governor Brian Kemp, Commissioner Gary Black, Senator John Wilkinson and Representative Tom McCall. Thank you to Will Bentley and GAC staff for this great event and their work under the gold dome!
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SENATE AG COMMITTEE APPROVES RIGHT TO FARM LEGISLATION
From GA Agribusiness Council
After hearing testimony regarding
HB 545 Georgia's Right To Farm Act
of 2020 last week, the Senate Agriculture Committee took a vote on Tuesday afternoon and passed the bill along a party line vote. Members of the committee addressed several of the concerns expressed by GAC and our other partner groups within the current version of the bill. We were pleased that the bill was favorably reported and are committed to continuing to advocate for this much needed legislation as the language is perfected throughout the process. HB 545 is a priority bill for GAC and we ask for your support in contacting your Senator in support.
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GA Dairy Farmers Approve Bylaw and District Changes for Georgia Milk Producers
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During the 2020 Georgia Dairy Conference last month, Georgia dairy farmers unanimously approved proposed bylaw changes and redistricting for Georgia Milk Producers, Inc.
To review the changes click here.
Producers attending also elected the following farmers to serve as GMP Statewide Directors for 2020 and 2021:
Marvin Yoder, Montezuma; Scott Glover, Clermont; Adam Graft, Americus, Chad Davis, Eatonton; Matt Johnson, Climax; Megan Bell, Madison;Steven Addis, Rocky Face; Everett Williams, Madison and James Yoder, East Dublin.
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Being without a permanent director since June 2018, the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (USDFRC) will now operate under the leadership of Dennis Hancock, who assumes its directorship beginning today.
Hancock leaves the University of Georgia, where he was a tenured faculty professor in the Crop and Soil Sciences Department. He served as their state extension forage agronomist since 2006. During his time in Georgia, Hancock developed a world-class extension and research program.
The USDFRC consists of a team of scientists and support staff who are based on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It also includes a research dairy facility in Prairie du Sac and a research unit in Marshfield, which houses several scientists. Dairy Forage Research Center scientists are involved in applied dairy forage research, cell wall biology and utilization research, and investigations into environmental issues and solutions that pertain to dairy farming.
“Leaving Georgia wasn’t an easy decision . . . a lot of handwringing, but I kept getting signs that this was the right move at this time,” Hancock said in a discussion with
Hay & Forage Grower
. “It took some time to come to this decision, but I’m looking forward to the new challenge and opportunity.”
Read more here>>>
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Z
oetis to Host Producer Meeting in Valdosta on March 3
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Zoetis will host a workshop in Valdosta, GA on Tuesday, March 3rd at 2:00 pm. The topics covered will include Southeast Dairy Financial Drivers and Genomic Benchmarking. It will take place at the Hampton Inn & Suites (2 Meeting Place Drive, Valdosta, GA 31601). For more details and to RSVP, please email Jorge.Fulleda@zoetis.com or call 352-240-4868 by February 21st.
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Vegans are holding sit-ins at Starbucks because dairy-free drinks cost more
By Gabby Landsverk, Insider
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Activists have been posting themselves inside Starbucks coffee shops across the US and Canada with signs decrying the so-called "vegan tax," which they've argued is discriminatory against more than just vegans. Recent sit-in protests have been held from coast to coast, including in
Arlington, Virginia;
San Diego, California;
Portland, Oregon;
and
New York City
, New York.
In New York City, a typical Starbucks latte comes in at around $4.78 (according to
an online menu
), but when swapped with soy, almond, or coconut milk, that price rises to over $5.30. In the Midwest, you'll pay just over $4 for a regular latte, plus an extra 60 cents for nondairy milk, making the vegan version 15% more expensive.
Although it may not seems like much, it's prompted PETA, the animal rights organization, to announce in late 2019 that it had purchased stock in Starbucks — therefore earning a seat at the company's annual shareholder meeting, where PETA representatives plan to call for an end to extra charges on dairy-free milks.
Read more here>>>
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USDA Issues Third Tranche of 2019 MFP Payments
From USDA
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At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. The payments will begin to show up in farmers’ bank accounts by the end of this week.
“It’s been a great start to 2020 for American Agriculture with the signing of the historic Phase One Deal with China and the signing of USMCA,” said Secretary Perdue. “While these agreements are welcome news, we must not forget that 2019 was a tough year for farmers as they were the tip of the spear when it came to unfair trade retaliation. President Trump has shown time and again that he is fighting for America’s farmers and ranchers and this third tranche of 2019 MFP payments is proof. President Trump is following through on his promise to help and support farmers as he continues to fight for fair market access just like he did with China.”
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Look for continued improvement in milk prices
By Bob Cropp, Hoard's Dairyman
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After 4-1/2 years of milk prices below the cash cost of production for many dairy producers, profit started to return during the second half of 2019. Class III prices were a low of $13.89 in February and averaged a paltry $14.30 in the first quarter (Table 1). Cheese prices started to improve by the second quarter and into the fourth quarter. By November, Class III hit $20.45 . . . the first time above $20 since November of 2014. That lifted the fourth-quarter average to $19.51. Class III averaged $16.96 for the year, $2.35 higher than 2018.
Higher milk prices were propelled forward by relatively smaller growth in production and improved total milk sales. Milk cow numbers averaged 0.7% lower for the year, and milk per cow was 1.2% higher. That netted just a 0.5% gain in 2019 milk production.Beverage milk sales were 1.8% lower through October, but cheese sales were about 1.5% higher. With beverage milk accounting for about 25% of milk use and cheese for more than 50%, higher cheese sales more than offset lower beverage milk sales, increasing total milk sales.
Despite the continued trade war with China, dairy exports through November were still equivalent to 14.5% of milk production on a total milk solids basis. Year-to-date total whey product exports were down 20% from a year ago due mainly to 53% less exports to China as a result of retaliatory tariffs and African Swine Fever that reduced the size of China’s swine herd.
Overall, cheese exports were 4% higher with improved exports to Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Mexico. Nonfat dry milk exports were down 5% but came on strong, as exports were 25% higher in September, 17% higher in October, and 41% higher in November. Butterfat exports were 67% lower.
Read more here>>>
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As Americans sour on milk, could these famous dairy brands disappear from your fridge?
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Americans have soured on traditional milk, and the fallout is spilling into the dairy aisle.
As consumers increasingly turn to milk alternatives and
thousands of dairy farms are collapsing
, milk producers are now faltering, too, putting thousands of jobs at risk and threatening their brands.
The recent
Chapter 11 bankruptcies
of two major milk producers, Dean Foods and Borden Dairy, have shown how a sharp decline in milk sales poses an existential threat to leading dairy brands like Land O' Lakes and TruMoo.
Read more here>>>
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A
Federal Register notice
regarding the new Form I-9 was published on Jan. 31, and the USCIS began accepting the updated on the same day. Employers may use the previous form until April 30, 2020. After that date, they can only use the new form with the “10/21/2019” date (located in the lower left corner of the form).
This new version contains minor changes to the form and its instructions. The changes clarify who can act as an authorized representative on behalf of an employer, clarifies acceptable documents for Form I-9, updates the process for requesting paper Forms I-9, updates USCIS website addresses and updates the Department of Homeland Security privacy notice.
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Increased Exports, Production Challenges Could Push Milk Prices Higher
From Anna Lisa-Laca, Dairy Herd Management
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The feed quality hangover from 2019 crops is well-documented and is starting to hit milk production metrics throughout the country. Could it be enough to move the needle on prices? One analyst says increased demand from China and reduced fat production because of feed issues could push milk prices higher this year.
“We're still balancing the bigger supplies overall along with the demand pace, so demand right now in the United States continues to be kind of about the same,” Naomi Blohm of Stewart-Peterson told “AgDay TV” host Clinton Griffiths. “What we're hoping for is continued export market increases. That'll be of course dependent on Phase One, but the phase-one deal is supposed to show an increasing demand for milk powder and for whey powder so that's really important to be aware of.”
Additionally, markets are hoping for more cheese demand, because that’s what led the marketplace higher in 2019. When it comes to milk production, Blohm says it is leveling off. However, what she’s most interested to keep an eye on is component issues related to feed challenges.
Read more here>>>
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Dairy Drinks Bring High-Quality Protein to the Grab-and-Go Beverage Case. It’s about Time!
From Donna Berry, Berry on Dairy
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Have you visited a Fresh Thyme? The grab-and-go beverage case (at front of store) contains a plethora of drinks, everything from kombucha to coconut water to diet cola. While the store focuses on fresh, natural and better-for-you, it’s not Whole Foods. There’s no forbidden ingredient list. The store caters to its varied customers and tries to offer something for everyone. The consumer is the boss.
There’s room in that beverage case for dairy drinks, not to be confused with flavored milk. (There’s room for that, too.) The dairy drinks that make sense for Fresh Thyme and other smaller specialty food players are those that provide added value in terms of nutrition, energy and health benefits. Functionality is driving beverage growth and dairy can play in this space.
“Our industry is changing and indeed the world is changing,” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association, at the Dairy Forum on Jan. 27, 2020.
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Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
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March 25-26 - Certified Waste Operator Training, Athens
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TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com
UPDATED 1/31/20
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
The following are
FOR SALE
from Archie Felder. For more information call 1-803-682-3426 :
40 ready to breed heifers - 14 to 15 months old
40 yearlings - 12 to 13 months old
(24000 2x, AI Sired)
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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