2020 | June 12 GMP E Newsletter
Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
June Dairy Month 
By Lane O. Ely, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, UGA

June is Dairy Month. It is an unusual holiday event since it is a month long. The program was started in 1937. When it started it was called “National Dairy Month” and ran from June 10 to July 10. It was sponsored by chain stores to the theme of “Keep Youthful – Drink Milk”. The National Dairy Council (NDC) supported the idea to help increase demand as production rose in many areas where cows went on pasture in the late spring and school ended. The NDC supplied promotional material to 6,300 stores that participated in the first program.

In 1939, “June Dairy Month” became the official title and the focus was on the increased use of dairy products. The effort was funded with a 1 cent per pound of butterfat check off in June.

How times have changed with the cost of the checkoff. During the war years, the focus was on usage and how to obtain an adequate supply of dairy products due to rationing. After the war, efforts returned to increasing sale and regaining the lost butter sales.
In 1955, the American Dairy Association (ADA) took over control of the June Dairy Month
program. The emphasis was changed to sales promotion for dairy products and became a year around program with promotions for different dairy products.

June Dairy Month also evolved into a celebration of the dairy industry. Many communities have developed festivals, parades, cattle shows, princess contests for June Dairy Month with sponsorship of local business and distribution of dairy products. Even though it is still designed to increase sales of dairy products, June Dairy Month is also a celebration of our dairy industry.

Today with covid19 and the change in our habits has made this an unusual June Dairy Month. Milk consumption is down, school is online, restaurants closed and travel limited. As our economy reopens, an ice cream cone would be a good way to celebrate.
Recording of USDA Webinar Available Soon, Slides posted
From USDA FSA

Yesterday, FSA held a webinar on the CFAP National Program Specialists to discuss what dairy and non-specialty crop producers should know to sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) which ends August 28, 2020. THey also reviewed the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) process and how to submit additional commodities for consideration to USDA before the June 22, 2020 request for information deadline.  Presentation slides are posted here and a recording link will be available soon here>>>.
Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Wrap-Up Webinar
From Penn State Extension
If you received a Paycheck Protection Program Loan, please join us for the Paycheck Protection Program Forgiveness Wrap-Up live webinar to learn the latest guidance on how to apply for loan forgiveness and what documentation is needed for your application. This webinar will walk participants through the forgiveness application process and will include up to date information to assist you in completing your Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness application.

  • When Wed., Jun. 24, 2020 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET)

  • Webinar Access: The link to access the webinar is provided immediately upon completion of registration in your registration confirmation email.

This webinar is applicable to all recipients of a Paycheck Protection Program Loan including sole proprietors, independent contractors, LLCs, farm and food business owners, and other small business owners. This event is being offered at no charge to participants. Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.


SBA and Treasury’s Rule and Application for Loan Forgiveness under PPP - From Michael Best Strategies

Last month, the SBA and Department of Treasury released the PPP  loan forgiveness application  and  Interim Final Rule on Loan Forgiveness . Read our firm’s  alert  on highlights and considerations for borrowers on the application. The interim rule and application clarifies some questions on period of review for loan forgiveness, how to determine payroll and non-payroll costs paid and incurred during the loan period, reductions in loan forgiveness, among other issues. Borrowers will need to work closely with their lender to ensure loan forgiveness. R ead here>>>
Listen to Got Milk? from Georgia Farm Bureau's: Growing On Podcast on Apple Podcasts

In this episode, Jay, Katie, and John discuss dairy! The month of June is Dairy Month and so Katie spoke with Nicole Duvall and Farrah Newberry with the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. They talk about their organization and discuss their roles in serving milk producers here in the state. 

John spoke with Lanier Dabruzzi, a registered dietician with the Dairy Alliance. They discuss the benefits of dairy in the diet and just how beneficial it is to our overall health and well-being.
Georgia beef producers to vote on continuation of state check-off
From GA Farm Bureau

Georgia beef producers will vote in a mail referendum scheduled for June 1-30 on whether they will renew the assessment they currently pay to fund the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Beef established by the Georgia legislature at the request of Georgia cattlemen in 2014.

Georgia Beef producers approved by vote a marketing order that established a $1 per head assessment on all cattle sold in Georgia for beef with a value over $100. This includes beef breeds as well as dairy breeds sold to be used for beef.

By law, beef producers must vote every three years to determine if they want to continue the market order. Georgia beef producers re-affirmed the market order in 2017.

Funds from the assessments are used to fund research, education, and promotion projects for the Georgia cattle producers. In the five years since the assessment began, more than $2.5 million has been committed to research projects with the University of Georgia that help producers with production issues and for state education and promotion programs which benefit Georgia beef producers.

Beef producers should receive a ballot in the mail, but if they do not by June 10, they can call 404-656-3680 or go to  www.GABeefBallot.com . Ballots and the back of the return envelope must be filled out for the ballot to be considered as eligible. Ballots must also be postmarked by June 30.  
2020 Corn Silage Virtual Tour
Sponsored by University of Georgia and University of Florida

Join UF and UGA Animal Science and Agronomy faculty along with our guests from 14 companies showcasing the best corn hybrids for silage in Florida this June 11.Our special thanks for Dekalb, Syngenta, Croplan Genetics, Sun Prairie Seeds, Pioneer, Dyna-Gro, Local Seed, Seedway, REV Brand, Augusta Seeds, Phoenix, MorCorn, AgraTech and UF corn breeding program.

More information on previous events at: https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/courses/csfd/
Bozic: Need for risk management emphasized
By Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke
Lessons learned from COVID-19 show the importance of using dairy risk management tools when planning for unanticipated events, warns Marin Bozic, University of Minnesota dairy economist.

In a recent  “Dairy Market Outlook and Risk Management Strategies” webinar,  Bozic describes the dairy market roller coaster that started with the coronavirus-related closure of businesses in the food service industry and riding out through the dairy product price rally. The video webinar was hosted by Northwest Farm Credit Services.

Two possible pictures are emerging: a fairly rapid and large economic recovery, or an extended period of economic and geopolitical turmoil. Bozic is leaning toward the latter.

In addition to global factors, changes in the domestic dairy industry, including increased cheese processing capacity from plants at St. Johns, Michigan, and Lake Norden, South Dakota, will affect markets by potentially adding to an already heavy cheese supply.

With that market uncertainty, Bozic said use of risk management tools is on the rise: About 40% of annual U.S. milk marketings are covered by either the Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) and Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) programs. As much as 25% of July-September 2020 quarterly milk production is already covered under Dairy-RP.

As the level of coverage increases to a critical threshold, the government – and the dairy industry itself – may not be situated to receive or even accept federal disaster assistance, leaving producers not using risk management on the outside. For that reason, Bozic urged producers to embrace existing risk management tools.

At minimum, all producers should use DMC Tier I at the maximum coverage level ($9.50 per cwt). Using Dairy-RP, look for distance opportunities for break-even protection; in the last 60-90 days, look at purchasing coverage to mitigate losses. Consider layering in coverage a “strategy of minimal regret” while leaving upside opportunity. Read more here>>>
By Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke
U.S. dairy producers received about $337 million in direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) as of June 8, according to a weekly update from the USDA. Payment applications processed by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices stands at 7,706.

The FSA began taking applications May 26. Since the start of the application period, the top 10 states for CFAP dairy payments were:

  • Wisconsin: $79.9 million – 1,741 applicants
  • California: $44.3 million – 339 applicants
  • New York: $38.3 million – 941 applicants
  • Pennsylvania: $23.6 million – 768 applicants
  • Michigan: $21.7 million – 372 applicants
  • Ohio: $9.9 million – 338 applicants
  • Iowa: $8.8 million – 299 applicants
  • Oregon: $8.5 million – 84 applicants
  • Texas: $8.5 million – 106 applicants
  • Idaho: $8.5 million – 127 applicants

Find the complete list  here .
In addition to dairy, payments totaled $676.2 million to livestock producers, $368.1 million to producers of non-specialty crops and $24.8 million to producers of specialty crops.
Applications will be accepted through Aug. 28, 2020, with application numbers and program payments announced each Monday on the CFAP website. Read more here>>>
Dean Foods (Estate) Makes Payment of April Settlement Checks to Previous Dean Independent Producers
By Julie Walker, MilkSheds Blog
JUNE 8th, 2020:  Southeast area farmers, previous Dean Independent producers, report that they have received funds via electronic deposit into their bank accounts.  This action follows several letters from producer organizations both to the Court and to the Committee for Unsecured Creditors.

Please scroll for the letter from the American Farm Bureau Federation sent to the Court.
 
On behalf of the (former) Dean independent producers, we say “THANKS” to the Judge David Jones, the Court, Dean Foods estate officials, and to all who advocated on their behalf.

At this time, it is not known if dairy co-ops or the FMMO Producer Settlement Funds have received the balance of the funds owed to them by the Dean Foods Estate.   Read more here>>>
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 [email protected]
Is breakfast at home back to stay?
By Jessi Devenyns , Food Dive
As busy consumers  have desired more convenience  from their food, the popularity of on-the-go breakfast options, like bars,  have skyrocketed  in recent years. But coronavirus  hit the pause button  on that trend.

Growth in portable breakfast options has begun  to shift  as families decide to sit down and take the time to eat a prepared breakfast at home while in lockdown. This trend has not only resulted in the revival of dishes more typically reserved for the weekends, such as pancakes and sausage, but there has also been a  resurgence in cereal , a segment that has had  soggy sales for years . Cereal giants  Kellogg  and  General Mills  saw sales rise in the category during this time. 

Cereal has always remained on shopping lists, and now consumers are buying more. Shopkick's 2019 cereal survey revealed 96% of consumers  buy it almost every time they shop . And now that kids are home all day and parents are providing both breakfast and snacks daily, cereal sales have experienced a significant lift. Over the two months ending April 25, cereal sales increased 34%, according to  Nielsen data reported by AdAge . Read more here>>>
This cow’s antibodies could be the newest weapon against COVID-19
By Mitch Leslie, Sciencemag.org

The latest recruits in the fight against COVID-19 are munching hay in a South Dakota barn. A biotech company has coaxed genetically modified cows to pump out human antibodies that subdue SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing the deadly disease, and it plans to start clinical trials of them this summer.

“This is promising,” says Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. “We want to have as many countermeasures as we can.” Read more here>>>
By Donna Berry, Berry on Dairy

Congratulations to the Class of 2020…the new norm generation. Their lives have been turned completely upside down and are forever changed. They are the customer to focus on.

My heart goes out to all parents who have been celebrating graduations through video streams and drive-by commencement ceremonies. That’s on my family’s plan this weekend when my youngest graduates from high school. Congratulations!

In the past few months during quarantine, curfew and boredom, these young adults had to grow up quickly. Their eating habits have changed. Marketers of all types of products have taken note and are adjusting their offerings and their business to better appeal to this demographic.

It’s no longer Millennials and Gen Z. They are the 2020ers. Read more here>>>
Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
Upcoming Events >>>
GA Dairy Classifieds
TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at [email protected]

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.

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