15 January 2026

Headlines

• 2025 NMPF Dairy Data Highlights
• Annual Butter Consumption Hits Historic Highs
• US EPA will reassess safety of herbicide paraquat, says its chief
• 2026: A Year for the Cattle Market Record Books
• ARC/PLC Enrollment Delayed Until After 2026 Planting Season
• Rethinking Labor: Three Ways to Cut Cost in 2026
• Lawmakers Tell Farm Bureau it’s Time to Reform Immigration Law
• RFK Jr.’s new food pyramid heads to school cafeterias as advocates cry for more funding
• 2026 Could be a Tough Year for Dairy Producers
• Strong dairy exports can’t offset price pressure in USDA outlook
• USDA Delivers Dairy Support at Farm Bureau Convention as Members Set Priorities, Reelect Duvall
• Will Dairy Margin Coverage Deliver Payments in 2026? Analysts Say Yes

Generator Grant Opportunity Through GDA

Georgia dairy farmers may have the opportunity to receive cost-share funding for the purchase of emergency generators. In partnership with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), GMP has been working to find additional resources for dairy farms that are impacted by major weather events like Hurricane Helene in 2024. The Emergency Management division of GDA is seeking applications from Georgia dairy farmers to apply for assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA).

How Will the Grant Work?

The Georgia Department of Agriculture will apply for funds for critical agricultural infrastructure (which includes dairy farms per GDA) through GEMA. GEMA is granted funding every year from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare for natural disasters. These Hazard Mitigation grants are designed to be proactive in nature by enabling critical infrastructure to operate after a major weather event. If approved by both GDA and GEMA, a dairy farm could receive a 75/25 cost share where the farm is required to cover only 25% of the purchase and installation costs for new generators.

Dairy Farms Will Be Required to:

• Agree to a maintenance plan and on-farm inspections to ensure the farm is following the maintenance plan for the generator
• Provide attestation that the farm can fund the mandatory 25% cost share
• Complete the full application and supplement forms (linked below)
• Agree to various terms and conditions as outlined by FEMA, GEMA, and GDA

What is in the application:

• A cover letter addressed to the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Commissioner Tyler J. Harper that includes
• The total budget request (any pre-award costs such as electrician costs to prepare for installation may be included but listed separately as “pre-award” reimbursement)
• Acknowledgment that the producer must follow a written maintenance plan
• Acknowledgement of the 25% cost share requirement
• A Budget outlining costs of purchasing and installing a generator
• Purchase price of generator
• Costs of installing transfer switch
• Costs of installing a fuel tank
• Costs of earthwork and installing concrete pad for fixed generators
• Quotes from vendors to support prices in the budget
• Information about previous power outages from major weather events
• A pre-application packet including:
• A detailed map show where the generator will be stored/located on the property (and photos of the location)
• Information about whether the location of the generator will be in a floodplain
• Ground disturbance information if earthwork is required for installation as well as dimensions for any concrete work
• Fuel storage and spill clean up plans
• Letter of support from the local Emergency Management Authority

We acknowledge that this grant will require a lot of paperwork and a lot of time to complete. GDA has worked with GEMA to extend the deadline for this funding opportunity to March 9, 2026. Please take a look at the application materials linked below. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Bryce Trotter or Bethany Dyer (bryce@gamilk.org, 229-221-3906) or (bethany@gamilk.org, 770-324-1260).

• Generator Application Checklist
• Generator Ground Disturbance Information
• Pre-Application for Generator
• Generator Data Sheet
• SF424D-2025 Construction Assurances
• SF424B-2025 Non-Construction Assurances

Enrollment is Open for the 2026 DMC Program

Enrollment for the 2026 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program is now open through Thursday, February 26th. DMC provides a  risk-management safety net for dairy producers by offering protection for small and mid-sized farms and catastrophic coverage for larger operations. 

The 2026 DMC includes key updates from the One Big, Beautiful Bill. All enrolled farms will establish a new production history. Operations marketing milk on or before Jan. 1, 2023, will use their highest milk marketings from 2021, 2022, or 2023, while newer operations will use their first year of marketings. Tier 1 coverage has expanded to 6 million pounds (up from 5 million), with premium rates unchanged. In addition, producers can now lock in coverage for six years (2026–2031) and receive a 25% premium discount.

Enrollment requires submitting an application through your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. 

USDA’s DMC Webpage

DMC Fact Sheet

Enrollment Opens for 2026 DMC Program

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Signing

Yesterday on Wednesday, January 14th, President Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (S.222) into law as the first bill signing of 2026. This law restores access to whole milk in US schools. This law gives schools the option of serving whole or two percent milk as part of the USDA reimbursable school lunch and breakfast programs. 

The law aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030, which reintroduced full-fat dairy as part of a healthy diet. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that whole milk supports children’s nutrition while benefiting dairy producers and rural communities. The administration highlighted broader efforts to strengthen the farm economy and noted that dairy prices declined last year, making products like butter and cheese more affordable.

The legislation received bipartisan support from leaders in both the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees. USDA implementation begins immediately, with guidance already issued to schools and additional rulemaking underway. USDA will also update Child Nutrition Programs to align school meals with the new dietary guidelines.

Further Reading: 

Whole Milk is Back: President Trump Signs Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

Trump Signs a Law Returning Whole Milk to School Lunches

Conference Meeting Reminders for GMP Members

We are excited to see everyone in Savannah in just 4 days! We are looking forward to another great conference this year. We had over 550 registrations as of close of business Thursday. Here are a few updates to help you plan for the conference:

ACC for Milk Meeting: On Monday morning at 7:00 AM, the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk (ACCM) will have its biannual business meeting in the Chatham Room (2nd floor next to the Blue Bistro restaurant in the hotel). Chairman James Coble invites all Georgia dairy farmers to attend and listen to updates on the checkoff and promotional programs funded by your 10 cent checkoff.

GMP Board of Directors Meeting: At 8:00 AM, the Georgia Milk Producers Board of Directors will have its quarterly business meeting in the Oglethorpe Room (just down the hall from the ACCM meeting). All Georgia dairy farmers are invited to attend that meeting as well.

If you would like to attend either or both of the ACCM or GMP Directors meetings, please RSVP to Bryce Trotter (bryce@gamilk.org) so that we can get a headcount.

GMP Annual Membership Meeting: At 3:30 on Monday, in between the general session seminars, GMP will have its annual membership meeting to vote on Statewide Directors for a two year term. This short meeting should take no more than 5 minutes, but we need as many GA dairy farmers as possible to attend so that we have a quorum.

SDBII Grants Open for Dairy Producers

Check out these two grant opportunities through the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative.

1. The SDBII Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant supports dairy producers looking to upgrade or modernize farm facilities to improve efficiency, productivity, animal comfort, and long-term sustainability.

• Examples of Eligible Projects:

1. Heat-stress mitigation & cooling upgrades
2. Milk cooling, storage & transportation improvements
3. Modernization of milk harvesting
4. Feed & forage storage/handling upgrades
5. Animal housing improvements
6. Water, waste & manure management 

• Grant Amount + Requirements:

1. Maximum award: $100,000
2. Required match: 25% cash match of the requested funds

1. The SDBII Precision Technology and Management Grant provides reimbursement funding to licensed dairy farms to support investments in precision technologies and management systems that improve efficiency, sustainability, and long-term profitability.

• What this grant supports:

1. Improving animal health, well-being, performance
2. Enhancing labor efficiency
3. Reducing energy costs or environmental impacts

• Examples of Eligible Projects:

1. Wearable cow-monitoring systems
2. GPS-enabled technologies for planting, harvesting, or manure application
3. Virtual fencing systems
4. Technology-driven feed, forage, or pasture management tools

• Grant Amount + Requirements:

1. Maximum award: $150,000
2. Required cash match: 25% of the requested grant funds

The application deadline is March 4, 2026. You can read more about the grants and review all the program rules at sdbii.tennessee.edu.

Grant Writing Assistance for Farms

The Dairy Alliance has announced a new pilot program to assist farms in its eight-state territory who are seeking public grant funding for on-farm improvements. Under this initiative, up to 10 farms will be eligible to receive free grant writing assistance through TDA’s partnership with Lasso, a grant-writing firm specializing in working with agricultural producers. To learn more about this opportunity please contact Mekenzie Panhans with The Dairy Alliance (mpanhans@thedairyalliance.com) or Lasso at molly@joinlasso.com.

Clarification from Last Week’s newsletter: Georgia Milk Producers has an existing agreement with Lasso to provide discounted grant-writing services to GMP member farms. GMP members are also eligible to participate in The Dairy Alliance’s pilot program, but funding is limited and only 10 farms from across the TDA region will be selected for the pilot. GMP members interested in either opportunity should contact Mekenzie with The Dairy Alliance or Bryce (bryce@gamilk.org) with GMP to discuss their options and eligibility.

GMP Classifieds

PARLOR EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

Robot Dairy Selling Conventional Parlor Equipment:

• 3" lowline for double 12 parlor
• DeLaval MPCs
• pulsators
• MC30 claws with 06 shells
• MM27 Milk meters
• power supply boxes
• vertical wash vat with KOM controller.



All in good working order. Call: 706.831.7738

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

January 19-21 - Georgia Dairy Conference

Marriott Savannah Riverfront Hotel - Savannah, GA

January 23 - 2026 Georgia Ag Forecast

UGA Tifton Conference Center - Tifton, GA

February 4 - Georgia Agribusiness Council Legislative Breakfast

Georgia Freight Depot - Atlanta, GA

February 10 - Georgia Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol

Georgia State Capitol - Atlanta, GA

February 16 - February Florida Snowbirds - The 2026 Dairy Old Timer’s Breakfast

O’Brien’s Irish Pub - Brandon, FL - Register and Learn More

March 4 - Deadline for SDBII Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant & Precision Technology and Management Grant

March 9 - Deadline for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Until Next Time,

GMP