5 July 2024

In this Issue:

• Headlines
• USDA Releases Proposed FMMO Changes
• HPAI Updates
• OSHA Releases Heat Rule for Workers
• George Washington's Dairy Herd
• Register for Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference
• Upcoming Events

Headlines

articles and press releases of interest this week

• OSHA Proposes Rule to Protect Workers Exposed to Extreme Heat
• Reasons the Dairy Industry is Upbeat About the Future
• More Evidence Pasteurization Inactivates H5N1 Virus in Milk
• NMPF: Co-Op Leadership Brings FMMO Modernization Success
• The Dairy Alliance and Publix Fuel Runners at Peachtree Road Race Health & Fitness Expo 
• 11Alive Features Dairy Alliance and “Hydrate with Milk” Message
• Profitability on US Dairy Farms Looking Up says Analyst with Daily Dairy Report

USDA Releases Proposed FMMO Changes

On Monday, USDA AMS released its proposed rule for Federal Milk Marketing Order reform. The draft document is 332 pages long, and most of the dairy world has spent the past few days studying the rule and analyzing its impacts on milk pricing. Friend of the E-News, Julie Walker, did a quick breakdown in the AgCentral Dairy Newsletter earlier this week and broke out some of the main policy changes:

• Milk Composition Factors: Update the factors to 3.3 percent true protein, 6 percent other solids, and 9.3 percent nonfat solids.
• Surveyed Commodity Products: Remove 500-pound barrel cheddar cheese prices from the Dairy Products Mandatory Reporting Program (DPMRP) survey and rely solely on the 40-pound block cheddar cheese price to determine the monthly average cheese price used in the formulas.
• Class III and Class IV Formula Factors: Update the manufacturing allowances to Cheese ($0.2504), Butter ($0.2257), Nonfat Dry Milk ($0.2268), and Dry Whey ($0.2653). This decision also proposed updating the butterfat recovery factor to 91 percent
• Base Class I Skim Milk Price: Update the formula as follows: the base Class I Skim Milk Price would be the higher-of the advanced Class III or Class IV skim milk prices for the month. Additionally, USDA is proposing adopting a Class I extended shelf life (ESL) adjustment equating to a Class I price for all ESL products to equal to the average-of mover, plus a 24-month rolling average adjuster with a 12-month lag. 
• Class I and Class II Differentials: Keep the $1.60 base differential and adopt modified location specific Class I differential values.

You can view USDA’s FMMO Recommended Decision Overview here for a summary of the currency and proposed rates and factors in the FMMOs.

USDA Proposed Pricing Formula Amendments to All 11 FMMOs: Recommended Decision Overview

The dairy industry has 60 days to comment on the proposed draft rules. After that USDA will have 60 days to review the comments and then issue a final decision based answering those comments. 

We anticipate a lot more analysis on the financial impact of the proposals in the coming days. Check back in here for more info on FMMO Reform

What They're Saying

National Milk Producers Federation Statement on USDA Proposal

American Farm Bureau Statement 

Edge Dairy Cooperative Statement

AgMoos:USDA Recommends Changes to Milk Pricing Formulas

Brownfield Ag News: AFBF Economist Talks FMMO Proposal



OSHA Releases Rules for Worker Heat Stress

Earlier this week the Occupational Safety & Health Administration finally released its “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” From our friends at the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association’s email blast on July 3:

The proposed standard would require employers to:

• Develop and implement a work site heat injury and illness prevention plan (HIIPP) with site-specific information to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplace.
• Identify heat hazards in both outdoor and indoor work sites.
• For outdoor work sites, employers would be required to monitor heat conditions by tracking local heat index forecasts or measuring heat index or wet bulb globe temperature.
• For indoor work sites, employers would be required to identify work areas with the potential for hazardous heat exposure, develop and implement a monitoring plan, and seek employee input.
• Implement control measures at or above the Initial Heat Trigger (i.e., a heat index of 80°F or a wet bulb globe temperature equal to the NIOSH Recommended Action Limit) that include providing employees with:
• Cool drinking water
• Break areas with cooling measures
• Indoor work area controls
• Acclimatization protocols for new and returning unacclimatized employees
• Paid rest breaks if needed to prevent overheating
• Regular and effective two-way communication.
• Implement additional control measures at or above the High Heat Trigger (i.e., heat index of 90°F or wet bulb globe temperature equal to the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit) that include providing employees:
• Mandatory rest breaks of 15 minutes at least every two hours (unpaid meal break may count as a rest break)
• Observation for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness
• A hazard alert to remind employees of key parts of the HIIPP
• Warning signs at indoor work areas with ambient temperatures that regularly exceed 120°F.

Georgia Milk Producers hosted an OSHA Heat Stress Workshop with AgriTrust of Georgia at the end of May. In that webinar, representatives from AgriTrust walked producers through the specifics of the heat injury and illness prevention plant (HIIPP) and ways dairy farmers can comply with OSHA’s requirements.

So what’s next?

OSHA will publish the rule to the federal register and ask for public comment. Undoubtedly industry groups and advocacy groups will leave countless comments in support and opposing the rule in its entirety or at least some of the specific requirements. From that point the public will have usually 60 to 90 days to leave comment. From there the agency will review comments, make changes as it deems necessary, and publish the revised rule.

Resources for OSHA Heat Stress Rules

Our friends at Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers has a resource page for producers. GMP members can email Bryce Trotter at bryce@gamilk.org for a copy of the GMP-AgriTrust webinar recording.

GFVGA Resource Page

Your Weekly HPAI Update

Avian Influenza Case Count (as of 6/27/24)

Idaho: 28

Colorado: 27

Michigan: 25

Texas: 21

Iowa: 12

New Mexico: 8

Minnesota: 7

South Dakota: 5

Kansas: 4

North Carolina: 1

Ohio: 1

Wyoming: 1

Dairy Worker in Colorado Tests Positive for H5N1

Colorado officials have diagnosed a fourth dairy farm worker with H5N1. Like previous cases of H5N1 in employees at dairies, the individual experienced pink eye and has since recovered.

Health Officials insist that the risk of infection from interaction with dairy cattle remains low and the overall risk to the general public is very low. 

Georgia Dairy Farms Can Get PPE from Georgia Dept. of Agriculture

While there are no cases of avian influenza in dairy cattle in Georgia, Georgia dairy farmers can obtain personal protective equipment from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Contact your dairy inspector for more information.

Resources for Dairy Producers

Information on Assistance for Farmers Affected by H5N1 in Dairy Cattle

USDA HPAI in Dairy Cattle Resource Page

USDA Order on Movement of Lactating Dairy Cattle

USDA Additional Guidance on Movement Order

USDA Movement Order FAQ

Secure Milk Supply Biosecurity Website

UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Email Guidance

Founding Father Saw Promise in Dairy Industry

Independence Day may have been yesterday, but we at the GMP E-News like to celebrate all week long. In looking for a patriotic themed dairy article, we found an interesting tidbit about George Washington and the dairy cows he kept at his home, Mount Vernon. From the official Mount Vernon history and visitor page, “Foods such as milk, cream, butter, and cheese were not only produced at Mount Vernon–they were occasionally sold as well, earning money for the estate. Just not as much as Washington had hoped for” (sounds relatable).

Read more about Washington’s interest in maintaining a dairy herd at his family estate and his plans to enter the dairy business in a big way HERE. 

Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference & Carolina Meat Conference coming this July

The annual Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference hosted by the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative will be held in conjunction with the Carolina Meat Conference on July 30-31 at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

The conference will feature keynote speakers from University of Tennessee, NC State University, and producer-processors offering insights on all things value-added processing. 

To learn more about the conference and register today at https://www.carolinameatconference.com/registration

GMP Classifieds

Dairy Farm for Sale in Screven County (GA) -

Green Meadows Dairy for sale. 986 acres (600 irrigated), 60-stall rotary parlor, 1,000 cow feed pad, 8 pivots,

Call Leo Ruijne for more details 806-292-9909 or email leo@unitedagllc.com

Special thank you to GMP E-News sponsor Kreeger & Associates LLC. Check out www.kreegerdairy.com or call 517-294-3484 to learn more about current listings and upcoming auction events.

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

Until Next Time,

Bryce Trotter