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📰 In This Issue:
- Headlines
- Congress Passes Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act
- USDA Announces January 15 National Batching Deadline for Major NRCS Conservation Programs
- Georgia Department of Agriculture Pre-Disaster Survey
- 2026 GDC Spotlight Symposium on Milk Quality
- Scholarship Opportunities for Ag and Dairy Students
- GMP Classifieds
- Calendar of Events
- GMP Interns Visit Schaapman Holsteins
- GMP Associate Membership
- Merry Christmas
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Congress Passes Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act | |
On Monday, December 15th, the US House of Representatives passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (S.222). This followed the Senate’s approval of the bill by unanimous consent on November 20th, 2025. The bill is now headed to the President’s desk for his signature or veto.

The push to return whole milk to schools has been a long-running grassroots campaign among dairy producers and supporters since changes to USDA school meal guidelines and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans listed skim and one-percent milk as the approved milk options for children and students. This bill, if signed into law, will give schools the option of serving whole or two percent milk as part of the USDA reimbursable school lunch and breakfast programs. Most schools have contracted out their milk supply for the remainder of the school year, but they could begin serving more milk options in the 2026/2027 school year.
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USDA Announces January 15 National Batching Deadline for Major NRCS Conservation Programs
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The following is from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the establishment of a national January 15, 2026, batching deadline for the first funding round of key conservation programs. This national batching date ensures producers have a clear, consistent timeline for participating in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA). This includes the new NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program, which provides targeted Farmer First assistance through EQIP and CSP.
NRCS programs are continuous sign-up programs, but due to the government shutdown, the agency is implementing an initial national batching period to ensure producers have access to funding and support.
Visit the website here to learn more.
| Georgia Department of Agriculture Pre-Disaster Survey | The Georgia Department of Agriculture is working to gather a detailed list of information regarding power and structural needs on each dairy in the state of Georgia. Please fill out this survey by clicking the button below. | 2026 GDC Spotlight Symposium on Milk Quality | We're excited to offer a new series this year at the Georgia Dairy Conference. On Tuesday morning during our regularly scheduled general session seminars, we will have a Spotlight Symposium on Milk Quality, bringing together some of the US dairy industry's leading experts on milk quality, mastitis treatment and prevention. For the first time, the Georgia Dairy Conference will take a deep dive into this major production topic, bringing producers several industry leading points of view on the best practices to achieve higher milk quality, reduce dependence on antibiotics, and prevent mastitis altogether. | Scholarship Opportunities for Ag & Dairy Students | |
Scholarships are opening up for the 2026-2027 school year. If you know a high school senior or current college student, be sure to share these agriculture and/or dairy related scholarships! Click on the title below to learn more about each scholarship and apply.

Georgia Association of Conservation Districts Scholarship
- Open to high school seniors, undergraduates or graduate students from Georgia at any accredited college, school, or university in the United States
- Application deadline: December 31st, 2025
DFA Cares Scholarship
- Open to seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students
- Application deadline: January 9th, 2026
GFB Georgia Foundation for Agriculture Scholarship
- Open to high school seniors, rising junior or seniors in college, and technical college students
- Application deadline: March 1st, 2026
| | 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. | |
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January 19-21 - Georgia Dairy Conference
Marriott Savannah Riverfront Hotel - Savannah, GA
February 16 - February Florida Snowbirds - The 2026 Dairy Old Timer’s Breakfast
O’Brien’s Irish Pub - Brandon, FL - Register and Learn More
| | GMP Interns Visit Schaapman Holsteins | | This past Friday, the GMP interns had the opportunity to visit Schaapman Holsteins in Abbeville, GA. During the tour, they learned about each aspect of the dairy’s operations. A big thank you to Ruben and Emily Schaapman for taking the time to host the tour and provide our interns with firsthand insight into the dairy industry! | | Thank You, Associate Members | | |
The mission of Georgia Milk Producers is to support, sustain, and grow the Georgia dairy industry. In addition to our partners in industry who support the Georgia Dairy Conference each January, we are also offering an opportunity for allied industry to partner with GMP year-round, network with producers throughout the year, and promote their companies outside of the conference. Thank you to our inaugural Associate Members, Dairy Farmers of America, FERA Animal Health, and BMO Bank.
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