Spring Farm Days Are in Full Swing for GA's Mobile Dairy Classroom
Picture above is from Butts County - Photo Credit: Michael Davis, Jackson Press
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Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
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Georgia Dairy Producers Unanimously Approve GA ACCM for Three More Years
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Georgia dairy producers voted unanimously to continue the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk (ACCM) for an additional three years during a mail referendum held March 1 through March 30.
The referendum passed overwhelmingly with 52 farms voting unanimously (100 percent) in favor of ACCM. State law requires that at least 66 percent (2/3) of the producers voting must vote in favor of continuing the organization. Overall 140 ballots were mailed to producers for the referendum and 88 ballots were not returned. By comparison, in 2016, 224 ballots were mailed with 85 ballots voting in favor of ACCM and three against.
Federal law requires U.S. dairy producers to pay 15 cents per hundredweight into the national dairy check-off program to drive increased sales of and demand for dairy products and ingredients. With the approval of ACCM, 10 cents of the 15 cents per hundredweight that producers invest will remain at the state level. The Georgia ACCM was created in 1969 and is recognized as a qualified program under the rules of the Federal Milk Marketing Order. This allows the money collected to be used for state dairy promotion and education programs.
Currently ACCM funds The Dairy Alliance, a statewide retail milk marketing campaign in all Georgia Kroger stores, and soon a retail milk promotion program with a major convenience store chain in Atlanta. In addition, ACCM supports the Mobile Dairy Classroom, the Georgia Farm Bureau "Farm Monitor", the Milk On My Mind Campaign, the Georgia National Fair Dairy Exhibit and product promotion (milk) during key state events.
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From
Progressive Dairyman Editor Dave Natzke
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The Social Security Administration (SSA) has resumed issuing
“Employer Correction Request Notices,”
commonly known as Social Security number “no-match” letters. These notices alert employers of mismatches between submitted Internal Revenue Service W-2 form information and SSA records.
In guidance provided to dairy producers in a
“client alert”
by Kelly Fortier, an immigration attorney with Michael Best, employers should not ignore the requests, but don’t immediately take an adverse action against the employee either.
“Failure to take action on the requests could serve as evidence of constructive knowledge of unauthorized employment under immigration rules,” she warned.
Full Story Here >>>
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April Dixie Dairy Report
From Calvin Covington, Dairy Consultant
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To download a copy of the April 2019 Dixie Dairy Report, Click below>>>:
This month's report covers milk production, domestic and global dairy demand, commodity prices, blend prices and dairy farm numbers in U.S. and Southeast.
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Get Prepped for Hay Season
From Carole Knight, Dairy Herd Management, UGA Extension
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As temperatures begin to creep up and spring starts to arrive, it is time to start thinking about the coming hay season. Timing is everything when it comes to high-quality hay production. A pre-harvest inspection of your hay making equipment can help make up valuable time and hopefully cut back on downtime later on. Here are some tips and things to check on before you make your first bale.
Read Full Story Here>>>
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Economist: Dairy program a ‘game changer’
By Susan Crowell, Farm and Dairy
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Milk producers are caught in a difficult market right now, and individual dairy farmer numbers are dropping.
In the federal milk marketing order that covers part of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the number of dairy farms in January was 4,311, down 411 farms in one year.
But
Dr. Marin Bozic,
a dairy economist with the University of Minnesota, says there’s something all milk producers can, and should, do to help their bottom lines: sign up for the new dairy revenue protection program.
“This is a program that will improve your bottom line.”
“Everybody has been battered the past few years,” Bozic said. “This is a program that will improve your bottom line.”
Read Full Story Here>>>
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Beef. Is It Really What's for Dinner?
From GA Farm Bureau
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Senator Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla) sponsored
SB 211
, restricting foods from being mislabeled as meat when those products are not truly meat. There has been a concerning trend of misleading food alternatives on grocery shelves. While these have a place in the market, it is irresponsible to allow them to represent their products as the quality foods they seek to replace.
We have seen this practice by vegetarian and dairy alternative companies, but now animal cell-cultured proteins are being grown in a lab and marketed as "meat." This is unacceptable and infringes on the years of research and branding achieved by self-funded checkoff dollars to establish high consumer expectations of our livestock producers.
Sen. Harper worked diligently to pass SB 211 through the Senate on March 7, and it now resides in the House for further discussion. There is strong support for this measure, but the bill is going to be held until next year to allow discussion with grocers and food marketers. We hope to continue productive talks with impacted groups over the summer to self-address the issue and provide adequate time for compliance to take place. Additionally, there has been action on the federal level by USDA and FDA to regulate cell-cultured protein, and this time will allow for these regulations to develop and be incorporated in SB 211.
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The GA Farm Monitor from March 30th features GA Milk's DRP Meeting in Macon and Highlights the Milk Makes Amazing Campaign
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Congressman Austin Scott, speaks on the House Floor this week expressing frustration over Washington's inability to get a disaster assistance deal completed for Hurricane Michael
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It started with a napkin and a sketch
By Mark Rodgers, GA Dairy Farmer, Hoard's Dairyman
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We finally placed two robots in our new main robot barn this week. A little over two years ago at the Western Dairy Management Conference, I was sitting at a table talking to two dairymen from Wisconsin who had just given presentations on their robotic milking facilities.
I drew a sketch of our southeastern U.S. conventional freestall barn that houses our 385 milking cows. I asked, “Can I convert this barn to robotics? How would you renovate it most effectively?”
My two new Wisconsin pals along with some DeLaval robotic consultants went to work sketching on cocktail napkins. Forty sketches later, we had several ideas that we agreed might work.
Read Full Blog Post Here >>>
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Southeast Milk Prices Up $1.78/cwt from Last Year
From Andrew P Griffith, Dairy Herd Management
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Milk Price and Utilization: The Southeast Uniform milk price for February was $18.35, up $0.08 from January and $1.78 higher than February 2018. The Appalachian Uniform milk price was $18.00, up $0.18 from January and $1.69 higher than February 2018. February’s Class III price was $13.89, down $0.07 from January, and $0.49 higher than February a year ago. The Class IV price was up $0.38 from January to $15.86, and $3.01 higher than February 2018. The Class I Mover price for April is $15.76, down $0.22 from March. The milk/feed ratio for February was 2.07, 0.02 higher than January.
Southeast Class I utilization was 70.33%, down 5.61% from January, and 2.27% higher than February a year ago. The Uniform butterfat price was $2.5348, up 0.99 cents from last month and 11.52 cents higher than February 2018. The February Class I price was $19.10. March Class I price is $19.78. Appalachian Class I utilization was 72.11%, down 3.72% from January, and 3.33% higher than February a year ago. The Uniform butterfat price was $2.5356, up 1.16 cents from last month and 11.77 cents higher than February 2019. The February Class I price was $18.70.
Full story here>>>
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EMCs Authorized to Provide Rural Broadband
From GA Farm Bureau
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The Georgia General Assembly has been focusing on rural Georgia and how to spark economic growth in these areas of the state. The passage of SB 2 was one of the priorities of the General Assembly, as well as, Georgia Farm Bureau. Senate Bill 2 passed both chambers of the General Assembly and is now sitting on the Governor's desk waiting to be signed. Although this legislation is not going to be the silver bullet that solves the rural broadband issue it is definitely a great start to helping rural areas get access to broadband. SB 2 sets up important provisions that allow EMCs to start providing broadband in rural areas. This bill provides statutory clarity for EMCs to provide broadband services through an affiliate and lease excess fiber capacity to 3
rd
party retail providers. A big feature of this bill allows for EMCs to seek grants and loans through USDA that are specifically for rural broadband. This bill also allows all existing EMC electric easements to also be used for communications purposes. The EMCs having the opportunity to help serve rural communities is one step closer to bridging the gap between urban and rural Georgia.
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Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
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UGA/UF Corn Silage and Forage Field Day
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The 2019
UGA and UF Corn Silage and Forage Field Day
will be held in Tifton, Georgia on June 20. The program starts at 8 AM and concludes with field demonstrations after lunch. The event includes a test plot tour along with educational stops that cover topics like pest control, grazing management and forage quality. A discussion concerning best management practices for making corn silage will also be held. The event will be held at the UGA Tifton Conference Center in Tifton.
To register click here
-
there is no charge to attend, registration is needed for refreshments and lunch
.
View Brochure and Agenda Here>>>
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April 25 - GA FFA State Convention, Macon
June 1 - Putnam Dairy Festival, Eatonton
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TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at [email protected]
For Sale:
2016 Tatoma Vertical Twin Screw Mixer. Equipped with Front Discharge and Side Discharge Extension - $37,500.00. Please contact Jim or Stephanie Waite 334-222-7957 for more information.
Calves wanted:
Competitive pricing with a 6 day a week pick up. Will buy bulls and heifers of all ages. Peter's Cattle Co. 470-255-8515
Young Stock Supervisor wanted
- Hart Agriculture Waynesboro GA
Grazing 500-1000 animals, Must be familiar with rotational grazing and breeding. Please contact Maggie 352-507-2042 or
[email protected]
Dairy Manager wanted
- Hart Agriculture Waynesboro GA
300-700 milking cows, 60 bale rotary, New Zealand style grazing system. Please contact Maggie 352-507-2042 or
[email protected]
Bull Calves WANTED:
Competitive pricing with 6 day a week pickup. Brandon Mason Cattle Company 912-632-4490
For HIRE:
Southeast DHIA has a position to fill in the West Central Georgia area for a FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIAN. Responsibilities include data collection on area dairy farms during milking time. S chedule is somewhat flexible but the hours are non-typical. S ome travel and out-of-town work likely. Applicants should be comfortable with computers and software and have good communication and organizational skills as well as reliable transportation. Pickup Truck required. I f interested send a resume to
[email protected]
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 Sale:
3000 gallon Surge/Westfalia milk tank and wash system. Three phase condensers. 2002 model. Excellent condition. John B Gay, 478-494-5107
WANTED
: DeLaval Westfalia Neck Transponders: TN Dairy seeking used Westfalia neck band transponders. Please contact Bill or Peggy Howell if interested at 423-972-9254 or 423-371-3032.
WANTED:
Looking for used pasteurizing and bottling equipment in working condition; Linda and Darrell Rankins, Jr.;
334-745-2357
(best times: mid-day and after 8 p.m.)
For Sale:
Jersey cows, heifers and calves for sale. Registered with AJCA, all ages! Contact Matt Holton at 770-718-8271, call or text. Dawsonville, GA.
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.
Bullcalves Wanted :
Looking for Bullcalves to purchase - Barron Tench 864-844-2295 or
[email protected]
TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at [email protected]
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