28 January 2025

In this Issue:

• Headlines
• Update on H5N1
• Obituary for Emory Young
• FMMO Changes Will Take Effect June 1
• DMC Signups Begin January 29
• Upcoming Events
• GMP Classifieds
• Georgia Legislative Session Begins
• Market Administrator Bulletin

Headlines

articles and press releases of interest this week

• Trump’s USDA Takes Shape
• Wisconsin Experts Say New Policies on Trade, Immigration Could Hurt Farmers
• House Ag Chairman Reintroduces Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act
• Retail Milk Prices Ticked Upward in 2024
• Effort to Get More Milk in Military Renewed
• FDA: More Than a Dozen Cats Dead or Sickened by Bird Flu in Raw Pet Food
• Trump’s Agriculture Secretary Nominee Lays out “Day One’ Priorities for USDA
• Trump Pick to Lead USDA Eyes Payments to Farmers to Cover Trade Losses from Tariffs
• AgMoos: Covington’s Southeast Milk Market Outlook from 2025 GDC
• The Impact of Immigration Reform on U.S. Dairy Farms
• Heifer Shortage Slows Growth in Milk Production

H5N1 Update

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is currently managing two HPAI detections in commercial poultry operations in Elbert County Georgia. The two poultry premises are within yards of each other, so GDA is maintaining the same exclusion and surveillance perimeters for both. At this time there is no evidence to suggest this strain of avian influenza is the same strain found in dairy cattle in other parts of the state. This is the third case of HPAI in Georgia so far this year and the first detection on a commercial poultry operation in Georgia since the nationwide HPAI outbreak began in 2022. 

GMP is in communication with GDA and the State Veterinarian to discuss how dairy farms are impacted by GDA response measures.

NMPF - FARM Program H5N1 Webinar

Join the National Milk Producers Federation and the National Dairy FARM Program on February 4 at 12:00 PM for a webinar featuring updates on USDA’s milk testing strategy, latest research about H5N1’s impact and transmission, vaccine development, and resources available to producers.

Register for the Webinar HERE.

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

To learn more about USDA’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock.

GA Dairyman Emory Young Passes Away at 74

Longtime Georgia dairy farmer and GMP member Emory Young passed away last week at the age of 74. Emory owned and operated Young’s Dairy in Tennille, GA for the better part of 50 years. Off the farm, Emory was an active member of the SUDIA/Dairy Alliance board for many years. 

You can view Emory’s obituary HERE. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Emory’s church home, Mt. Gilead Primitive Baptist Church in Tennille, GA.

FMMO Changes Take Effect June 1

On January 16, USDA AMS announced the final rule updating the federal milk marketing orders (FMMOs). This is the culmination of a months long process which began in 2023 with a national hearing in Carmel, Indiana followed by months of written comments and feedback from petitioners and industry representatives. This month, USDA determined that producers in all 11 federal orders approved of the updates to skim milk composition factors, removing the 500 lbs. Barrel cheddar cheese price from the dairy product mandatory reporting survey, updating make allowances for Class III and Class IV products, returning to the higher of Class I mover, updating Class I differentials across the country, and establishing an ESL mover for Class I products.

The changes to the federal order system will take effect June 1, 2025 with the exception of the skim milk composition factor changes which will be implemented on December 1, 2025.

DMC Signup Starts Tomorrow

USDA Farm Service Agency will begin enrolling producers in the Dairy Margin Program (DMC) on January 29 through March 31. Producers who are interested in enrolling in DMC for 2025 should contact their local USDA Service Center. 

Currently the DMC Decision Tool (dmc.dairymarkets.org) forecasts margins to remain above $13/cwt for the rest of the year. Farmers can calculate potential premiums, see forecasted prices and benefits projections HERE.



GMP Classifieds

7 Valve Federal Filler for Sale in Hall County (GA) - $30,000

Used mechanical filler for sale. Good Condition. Great for Start-Up Processing Plant. Email gcdairy@gmail.com for more details, photos, and videos.

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

Georgia General Assembly Convenes for 2025 Legislative Session

The Georgia General Assembly convened its 2025 legislative session on Monday, January 13. Typically the legislature holds joint budget hearings the week of the Georgia Dairy Conference, but last week’s winter storm disrupted business at the capitol. Currently the legislature is set to convene after 40 legislative (business) days on Friday, April 4. 

The House and Senate Ag Committee leadership remains unchanged with Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) and Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) serving as chairmen again. Sens. Lee Anderson (R-Grovetown) and Larry Walker (R-Perry) will serve as Vice Chairman and Secretary on the senate side while Joe Campbell (R-Camilla) and David Huddleston (R-Roopville) will serve in the same roles on the house side.

The Governor revealed his budget proposal during the first week of the session. Georgia law dictates the Governor gets to set the revenues estimate for the upcoming fiscal year and make the opening salvo in the budget process. The House has begun holding subcommittee meetings on the amended FY ‘25 and the full FY ‘26 budgets. The Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development as well as the Forestry Commission, Agricultural Exposition Authority, and Diagnostic Poultry Lab fall under the Subcommittee on Economic Development. This Subcommittee has a new Chairman, Rep. Steven Meeks (R-Screven) after Chairlady Penny Houston retired at the end of the last term. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper presented the Department of Agriculture’s budget to the subcommittee on Monday of this week. 

Bills of Interest:

HB 82 - Georgia Guest Worker Act by Reps. Reeves, Martinez, Oliver, Powell, Werkheisier, and Hutchinson.

A bill creating a state-operated guest worker program under GA DOL. 

Status: Assigned to House Industry & Labor Committee

HB 90 - CUVA Acreage Cap Increase by Reps. Dickey, Efstration, Hagan, Buckner

A bill to increase the acreage cap from 2,000 to 4,000 for land to be assessed and taxed that qualifies as a conservation use property. 

Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee

SB 21 - End Sanctuary Cities by Sens. Tillery, Brass, Walker, Harbin, Burns, and others.

A bill to prohibit counties, municipalities, or other governmental entities from enacting sanctuary policies regarding immigration.

Status: Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee

Market Administrator Bulletin

From the Market Administrator’s monthly Market Information Bulletin: 

Southeast Market Summary

The minimum order uniform price for payment to producers supplying the Southeast Order marketing area during December 2024 is $24.18 per hundredweight for milk with a 3.5% butterfat test in Fulton County, Georgia. This is .965 times the uniform skim milk price of $14.13 per hundredweight plus 3.5 times the uniform butterfat price of $3.0125 per pound. Payment to producers may be adjusted by location differentials, if applicable, and by properly authorized deductions. Receipts of producer milk during December 2024 totaled 297.9 million pounds. There were 15 regulated pool distributing plants, 1 pool supply plant, and 9 cooperative associations submitting reports of receipts and utilization that were included in the computation of the uniform prices for December 2024. Total in-area Class I route disposition was 313.0 million pounds in December 2024, an increase of 6.3 million pounds from December 2023.

Read the January Market Information Bulletin for FO 6 & 7



GA Agricultural Leader Charles Hall Passes Away

Georgia agriculture leader Charles Hall passed away last week. Charles founded Association Services Group which represented the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Georgia Green Industry Association, Georgia Watermelon Association, among other ag groups. Hall built a career on representing Georgia farmers, and he had a tremendous impact on the specialty crop industry.

Charles Hall Obituary

Until Next Time,

Bryce Trotter