13 August 2025

Headlines

• Butter and Butter Blends Now a $6B Market
• The Golden Age of Dairy
• NMPF Builds Dairy Momentum in Congress
• Farm Bureau Shares MAHA Recommendations
• World Food Prices at 2-Year High on Rising Meat and Edible Oils, FOA Says
• U.S. Powder and Whey Demand: Fad or Here to Stay?
• Flavored Milk in Schools Now has Nearly 60% Less Added Sugar Just in Time for the New School Year
• Why  Consumers Are Drifting Back to Dairy
• Court Upholds EPA Emission Reporting Exemption for Farms
• Cow’s Milk, as well as Russian Oil, Fuels the US-India Trade War
• Biomodality Explained: How it Impacts Your Farm
• U.S. Dairy Exports Surge Dramatically as Global Demand Soars
• House Ag Chairman Says Agriculture Workforce Visas Will Be Focus of Upcoming Legislation
• USDA Expects More Dairy Cows, Milk
• Florida Commissioner of Ag Encourages Drinking Pasteurized Milk Following Outbreak in “Pet Milk”
• Trump Teased a Solution for Farmers; It’s Likely Not Coming Soon
• Re-instated July Cattle Inventory Shows Continued Herd Contraction
• FDA Proposal Eliminates 18 Dairy Standards
• Real Estate Rising: Farmland Values Hit Record High
• Second MAHA Report’s Release Delayed

Be Prepared for Hurricane Season: Send in Your Utility Information

Hurricane season is upon us, and it’s important to prepare ahead of time for the possibility of a damaging storm. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have predicted an above-normal season for the Atlantic through the peak season of June-November. NOAA updated their number of expected storms to 13-18, including 2-5 major hurricanes (winds of 111 miles per hour or greater). Tropical storm Erin is currently forming in the Atlantic and is projected to develop into a hurricane later this week. We'll be tracking Erin as it approaches the Caribbean. You can follow the latest projections at nhc.noaa.gov.

For helpful resources on being prepared for a natural disaster, visit our website at www.gamilk.org and click on “Producer Resources.” There you’ll find information from the USDA, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, and the National Hurricane Center on ways to prepare ahead of time and handle destruction during and after a storm.

In GMP’s efforts to provide value to our members, we are also putting together a database of farm utility information. In the event of a natural disaster, we will use this information to communicate with the GDA and GEMA to get your farm on the priority restoration list. If you haven’t done so already, please respond to the email sent out by Bethany from last month regarding your farm’s utility information, or call her at 770-324-1260.

2025 Fall District Meetings

Dairy producers across Georgia are invited to attend the annual Fall District meetings for Georgia Milk Producers and The Dairy Alliance this September. The meetings will be held in each district across the state. Our organizations will hold district elections; report on industry issues and promotional efforts; and announce upcoming events. Dinner or lunch will be served at each location depending on the time the meeting is set to begin. For District 1, we will be doing a district tour. If your farm is in District 1, be on the lookout for more details soon.

To preregister for the district meeting of your choice, please contact the Bryce at 229-221-3906 or bryce@gamilk.org. We look forward to seeing you soon and value the input you share at our meetings.

District 1 - Farm Tours

District 2 - September 8th at 7pm - Doodlum's BBQ 18600 Main St, Woodbury, GA 30293

District 3 - September 15th at 7pm - Farmview Market 2610 Eatonton Rd, Madison, GA 30650

District 4 - September 16th at 12pm - UGA Teaching Dairy 1001 Walter Sams Rd, Winterville, GA 30683

District 5 - September 11th at 7pm - Oasis Coffee House 310 Spaulding Rd, Montezuma, GA 31063

District 6 - September 16th at 7pm - Burke Co Extension Auditorium 715 West 6th Street Waynesboro, GA 30830

District 7 - September 11th at 12pm - Sass! 420 W Jackson St, Thomasville, GA 31792

Georgia Achieves "Unaffected" Status in USDA National Milk Testing Program

The following is an update from the Georgia Department of Agriculture:

Thanks to the work of GDA’s Dairy Division and Animal Health teams in collaboration with Georgia milk producers, we have officially achieved “unaffected” status through the national milk testing strategy for H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle.

 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock/nmts

Commissioner Tyler J. Harper states that, “I am incredibly grateful for the support and collaboration of Georgia’s Milk Producers as we continue our participation in the National Milk Testing Strategy. Achieving “unaffected” status is a critical milestone for our state and our industry, and I am personally grateful for the industry’s close coordination with my staff at GDA.”

State Veterinarian Dr. Janemarie Hennebelle says, “Our participation in the National Milk Testing Strategy depends upon the cooperation and support of milk producers across the state. We could not have achieved this milestone without you. Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue our work to demonstrate Georgia’s freedom from HPAI in dairy cattle.”

Thank you, Georgia Milk Producers!

Background:

In March 2024, USDA APHIS confirmed the presence of H5N1 avian flu in dairy cattle in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico. Since then, there have been confirmed cases of H5N1 in dairy cattle in 17 states. USDA responded by issuing a national order restricting the movement of lactating dairy cows to those cows that have tested negative for H5N1. To date, USDA and its National Animal Health Laboratory Network partners have run nearly 295,000 tests for H5N1 in dairy cattle. The National Milk Testing Strategy was adopted by USDA and participating states in late 2024 to better determine the extent of H5N1 spread across the dairy industry and provide assurance to industry and trade partners that the U.S. is responding effectively to the virus. With Georgia's inclusion in the "unaffected" category, 25 of 45 participating states have demonstrated they are currently H5N1 free. 

2026 Georgia Dairy Conference Registration is OPEN

Registration is LIVE for the 2026 Georgia Dairy Conference. The conference will take place from January 19-21, 2026, at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. Join us for three days of education, networking, and fellowship. As the Southeast’s premier dairy conference, this is a must-attend event. Register by visiting our website at www.gadairyconference.com. For more details about the conference, download the Farmer and Guest or Sponsor Guide.

All Georgia Milk Producers members who currently pay dues to the GA Milk checkoff are eligible for free registration to the conference. To register you farm, family, and employees, CLICK HERE. You will receive a confirmation email from GMP with the hotel reservation link when your registration is processed. Use that link to book your room at our discounted room rate with the Marriott Savannah Riverfront.

Feel free to contact us directly at gadairyconference@gamilk.org.

GMP Classifieds

Available for sale - From Alday Family Farms

90 Head, more if needed.

100% Grass Fed, BRED Jerseys.

Happy to provide videos, photos and also welcome you down to see them for yourselves in person.

5M (40), 6M (30), 7/8M springers (20).

Please Call- 863-444-4385

Want to showcase your business to dairy producers and industry professionals across the Southeast and US? Email info@gamilk.org to learn more about how you can advertise in the GMP E-News.

Calendar of Events

August 14 - Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference

The Classic Center, Athens, GA

August 21 - Agriculture Chairmen's Ag Issues Summit

The Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, Perry, GA

Register HERE.

September 16 & 17 - Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum

UGA Tifton Conference Center

Registration: GeorgiaAgLaborForum.com

Fall District Meetings

September 8th - 7pm District 2: Doodlum's BBQ, Woodbury

September 11th - 12pm District 7 - Sass! Thomasville

September 11th - 7pm District 5 - Oasis Coffee House, Montezuma

September 15th - 7pm District 3 at Farmview Market, Madison

September 16th - 7pm District 6 - Burke Co Extension Auditorium, Waynesboro

September 16th - 12pm District 4 - UGA Teaching Dairy, Athens

TBD - District 1 - Farm Tours

October 2-12 - Georgia National Fair and Livestock Shows

The Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, Perry, GA

October 14-16 - Sunbelt Ag Expo

Spence Field - Moultrie, GA

Super Bowl Champion Coach Jon Gruden Reacts to UGA Protein Shakes

Until Next Time,

GMP