Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews |
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By Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke
With the two-year anniversary of the implementation of the change in the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) Class I skim milk price formula near, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is closer to asking the USDA for an emergency expedited hearing to address the issue. Proposals from other organizations regarding the Class I pricing formula and other FMMO reforms may be forthcoming as well.
Under provisions approved in the 2018 Farm Bill, the change in the FMMO Class I skim milk price formula was effective May 1, 2019, and remains in place at least two years (until April 30, 2021) and until modified through a further action by Congress or administratively through a FMMO hearing process.
In a meeting on April 16, the NMPF executive committee received an update on the so-called “Class I mover” and approved a proposal that would require the USDA to recalculate that formula every two years using milk pricing factors during the previous 24 months.
The committee also directed NMPF staff to move forward with a request to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to hold an emergency national FMMO hearing to consider the proposal.
NMPF’s board of directors was scheduled to meet Friday, April 23, to ratify the executive committee’s actions.
NMPF had been in discussion with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the trade association for dairy processors, but was unable to reach consensus agreement about how to proceed on the issue. Read more here>>>
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From Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke
Progressive Dairy recently reviewed March 2021 Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) negative producer price differentials (PPDs).
The article included key points of a webinar featuring Marin Bozic, University of Minnesota dairy economist, hosted by the Minnesota Milk Producers Association (MMPA) and Wisconsin-based Dairy Business Association (DBA), April 13. To watch the YouTube video, click here. Future MMPA/DBA webinar topics will discuss FMMO pricing formulas, advance pricing, make allowances, creating a “hedgeable” milk pricing system and more.
Additional FMMO information will be available via a Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law webinar, scheduled for April 27, noon – 1 p.m. (Eastern time). The “Quarterly Dairy Industry Legal Update” webinar will feature Andrew Novakovic, Cornell University ag economy professor emeritus, discussing legal and regulatory developments in the U.S. dairy industry in the first quarter of calendar year 2021, with a focus on FMMO reform. To register for this webinar, go to the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law website and click on the events tab, or click here. Read more here>>>
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Government Lets Air Out of the Milk Markets This Week
From The Bullvine
USDA ends the Farmers to Families Food Box program after May, squelching hope surrounding the kind of government spending that propelled the cheese and Class III markets to unsustainable heights in 2020.
The government let a little air out of the milk markets this week. Most Class III and Class IV futures contracts lost between 10 and 30ȼ. For the past six weeks, cheese prices have climbed ever higher thanks to accelerating demand from restaurants and speculation that USDA would continue to buy and donate dairy at a heady clip. But on Tuesday USDA announced that it would end the Farmers to Families Food Box program after May, squelching hopes – and fears – surrounding the kind of government spending that propelled the cheese and Class III markets to unsustainable heights in 2020. Although the cheese markets staged a comeback today, they finished lower than where they began the week. CME spot Cheddar blocks dropped a nickel to $1.78 per pound. Barrels ultimately fell just a quarter-cent and closed at $1.69. Butter also weakened. Spot butter slipped 3ȼ to $1.85. Read more here>>>
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Expanded ‘Right to Farm’ protections pass
From Renzo Downey, Florida Politics
The bill is a priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson, a lifelong egg farmer.
The House has passed a bill to protect farming operations from nuisance lawsuits, preparing that legislation for the Governor’s signature.
By a 110-7 vote, with only a handful of Democrats in opposition, members have passed an update (SB 88) to Florida’s Right to Farm Act, a priority of the Senate to moderate lawsuits against farmers. The law is meant to protect farmers from people who move into rural communities and then file complaints against farmers.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has until April 29 to act on the bill.
Rep. Jayer Williamson, a Pace Republican and electrician, said shepherding Sen. Jason Brodeur‘s bill through the House was a learning experience for him because he’s not a farmer.
“I might talk like one and I might walk like one,” he added. “You can look at me and tell I definitely enjoy partaking in the fruits of their labor, but I’m not a farmer.”
However, he urged members to “thank a farmer” by voting yes on the measure.
The bill would restrict certain types of civil lawsuits based on farming activities, require plaintiffs to prove noncompliance with state or federal requirements and limit who may file nuisance lawsuits against farmers. For negligence, trespassing, personal injury and strict liability lawsuits, as well as nuisance suits, plaintiffs must provide clear and convincing evidence the farming activity does not comply with state and federal environmental laws, regulations or best management practices.
Nuisance suits would also be restricted to plaintiffs located within a half-mile of the activity or structure that is targeted in the suit. Plaintiffs that sue over activities deemed legal could be asked to pay the defendant farm’s attorney fees. Read more here>>>
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From Fields to Feed: Preventing and Mitigating Mold Growth and Mycotoxin Contamination
Mother Nature isn’t the only force that can inflict daunting production challenges and economic losses upon farmers and livestock producers. Nearly 25% of the world’s crops are impacted by mycotoxins — harmful compounds that are natural byproducts of certain molds — and the impact, if unmitigated, is felt throughout the food chain, from the farm field to animal feed to the world’s food supply.
Dr. Scott Bascom, Senior Technical Services Manager – Dairy, Phibro Animal Health Corporation, explores the connection between mycotoxins and global food security in the webinar titled “Mycotoxins and Food Security: Looking Beyond the Impacts of Mycotoxins on Animal Agriculture.” The webinar is the second of Phibro’s seven-part MYCOmpass™ webinar series, is available for download on the Phibro Academy website, academy.pahc.com, and can be accessed here: https://academy.pahc.com/catalog/info/id:350.
“The closer you are to animal agriculture, the more you realize the concern of mycotoxins and their costly impact on all facets of our food system,” Bascom says. “In the U.S., where food is plentiful, we don’t often think about threats to our food supply, but mycotoxins are very prevalent and can take a huge toll on both economics and health if unabated.”
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GA Dairy Managers Series on Dragline Fundamentals in May
This workshop will cover team roles and responsibilities, along with safety considerations for manure application operators. These include how to safely operate equipment, handle the lay-flat hose, operate the dragline in the field and how to remain conscious of environmental concerns when pumping. Those attending will receive two continuing education hours for Animal Feeding Operator/Planner Certification. This meeting is open to dairymen, managers, and industry - free of charge and will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Limited seats are available and please preregister for lunch by calling our office at 706-310-0020. Click here for more information>>>
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White House dances around a big contributor to climate change: Agriculture
By Ryan McCrimmon, Politico
President Joe Biden needs the help of the powerful farm industry to reach his sky-high climate goals. But his plans for cutting agricultural emissions might not have enough teeth to take a big bite out of global warming.
Biden on Thursday pledged a drastic reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. But the White House hasn’t set any specific targets yet for agriculture, which accounts for 10 percent of all U.S. emissions, according to the EPA. Those discharges mostly stem from fertilizers, livestock and manure.
“To be realistic, the administration has to look at cutting some of the existing emissions,” said Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), who sits on the House Agriculture Committee. “We are going to have to talk about cutting emissions from farms and changing some of the practices.” Read more here>>>
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April 2021 Dairy Market Report
From NMPF& DMI
Domestic dairy-product use is increasing with signs that the country is making another run at moving on from the COVID-19 pandemic, with growing ranks of the vaccinated, gradual recovery of food service and staged resumption of in-person schooling raising milk-price forecasts for later this year. But these positive developments are in a race with new virus variants and premature relaxation of behavioral measures to protect against transmission. Internationally, U.S. dairy exports surged in February, while dairy imports have dropped to multi-year lows as a percentage of domestic milk solids production.
Still, milk prices remain well below a year ago, and payments under the Dairy Margin Coverage Program remain significant. Rising demand isn’t keeping pace with milk production, and stocks of major dairy products are rising, making higher prices more the product of hope for brighter days than of market fundamentals, making effective risk management crucial. Read more 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
Seeking fulltime farm worker at heifer replacement farm in Eatonton, GA. If interested, please contact Mike Rainey at 706-473-0730.
Seeking Beef and dairy crossed bullcalves/heifers bottled or weaned. Please contact Victoria Rowland at 404-922-0938 or 423-946-5869
Will Raise Heifers for GA Dairy Farms: Hello we are located in Southern Illinois and have an abundance of pasture and cheap feed available looking to contract with a dairy to grow heifers for them, out location offers mild climate and we are just 558 miles from Montezuma Ga. Please contact 817-528-6645 very reasonable daily rates.
For Sale- DeLaval 84 Vacuum Pump on Stand, Oil Reclaimer, 10 HP- 3 Phase Electric Motor. New Bearings, New Oil Seal, New Belts. $2000
For sale - Please contact Archie Felder for more information at 803-682-3426:
- Dairy Tech Bay Pasturizer - $4,000
- Tidenberg Hydraulic Hoof Table (like new) - $5,000
- Claas Silage Choppers - 960 1875 cutterhead hours, 4WD, 600 orbis, HD300 PU - $180,000
- Koomin John Deere Corn Header adapter for Claus Silage Chopper Used - $6,000
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
Bull Calves WANTED: Competitive pricing with 6 day a week pickup. Brandon Mason Cattle Company 912-632-4490
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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.
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