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📰 In This Issue:
- Headlines
- Georgia Dairy Conference Recap
- Pete Gelber Named 2026 Georgia Farmer of the Year
- Reminder: Dairy Margin Coverage Enrollment Open Until Feb. 26th
- NMPF Dairy Market Report
- USDA Value-Added Producer Grant
- The Market Administrator's Monthly Newsletter
- GMP Classifieds
- Calendar of Events
- GMP Associate Membership
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Georgia Dairy Conference Recap | |
From GMP Executive Director, Bryce Trotter:
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Georgia Dairy Conference in Savannah. We had over 600 individuals register for the conference this year with over 100 different sponsor companies and exhibitors. I also want to recognize our GMP staff and volunteers who managed to organize and run our conference smoothly and successfully. Big thank you’s are owed to Kellay Watson, Bethany Dyer, Jacklen Collins, Hannah Forthe, Faith Shiver, and Riley Stockman.
Congratulations are due to our 2026 Bobby Walker Award winner, Dr. Paul Johnson. Dr. Johnson is co-owner of Providence Dairy in Climax, GA. Paul has served as Program Chair of the Georgia Dairy Conference for the past seven years, taking the lead in finding and coordinating our general session seminar speakers.
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Help us make the 2027 Georgia Dairy Conference even better! Take 5 minutes to fill out our attendee survey by clicking the button above and enter a drawing for a $100 visa gift card.
SAVE THE DATE: 2027 GDC January 18-20
| Pete Gelber Named 2026 Georgia Farmer of the Year | On January 23rd, 2026 at the Georgia Ag Forecast Meeting, Georgia dairy farmer Pete Gelber was announced as the Georgia Farmer of the Year. Gelber owns and operates Barrington Dairy and Highbrighton Dairy in Macon County. Macon County Extension Agent, Madison Luke, nominated Pete for this honor. This fall at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA, Pete will compete against nominees from neighboring southeastern states for the title of 2026 Southeastern Farmer of the Year. All nominees will be recognized and the winner announced at the Farmer of the Year Luncheon at the Sunbelt Ag Expo on October 20, 2026. | Reminder: Dairy Margin Coverage Enrollment Open Until Feb. 26th | |
Dairy farmers can sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) now until Feb 26, 2026. The program allows producers to purchase coverage against USDA FSA’s calculated margin between all-milk price (calculated by FSA) and a representative feed costs including corn, soybean meal, and premium alfalfa hay.
Changes to the program will allow producers to establish updated production histories for the highest of years 2021, 2022, or 2023, purchase Tier 1 (reduced premiums) coverage for up to 6 million lbs., and allow producers to purchase catastrophic coverage for milk above the 6 million lbs. Tier 1 cap while selecting higher coverage for the first 6 million lbs. Under Tier 1.
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The following is from the National Milk Producers Federation.
Strong milk production remains the central driver of milk markets, with Sept.-Nov. 2025 production up 4 percent year-over-year on a liquid basis and 4.9 percent on a milk solids basis. The abundance is driving increased product production, which is outpacing domestic demand. Butter, anhydrous milk fat (AMF) and cheese export growth are providing some relief, but excess supply continues to weigh on producer prices. As milk prices fall, feed costs are rising, leading NMPF to anticipate that DMC payments will fall below the $9.50/cwt coverage level in December and continue at lower levels into 2026.
The Consumer Price Index held steady at 2.7 percent annually in December, which grocery prices rising 2.4 percent, meanwhile, retail dairy product prices moved in the opposite direction, falling slightly in December compared to a year ago. However, commercial use of most dairy products fell slightly year-over year as food service foot traffic falls and retail gains fail to bridge the gap.
To read the full report, click here.
| USDA Value-Added Producer Grant | |
The USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program just opened, and applications are due April 15th. VAPG provides funding to help producers generate new products, expand marketing opportunities, and increase revenue through value-added activities.
Two grant types are available:
1) Planning Grants (for early-stage planning + readiness)
- Covers: feasibility studies, business plans, and marketing plans for value-added products
- Max award: up to $50,000
- Good fit for: producers who are still validating the concept, market, and operational plan before investing in execution
2) Working Capital Grants (for implementation + market launch/expansion)
- Covers: eligible processing/marketing expenses such as labor, packaging/labeling, marketing and promotional costs, distribution, and other operating costs tied to producing/marketing a value-added product
- Max award: up to $200,000
- Good fit for: producers who have a clear go-to-market plan and are ready to sell, scale, or enter new markets
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There are 4 different types of Working Capital grants - you can find more information on page 66 of this deck.

If you’re interested in exploring this opportunity and would like support with eligibility, project development, or application preparation, Lasso can help guide you through the process.

The Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. has partnered with Lasso, a grant-writing firm specializing in helping farmers find and win grant funding for their farms, to help Georgia Milk members win more grant funding. The Dairy Alliance has also partnered with Lasso for a pilot program. If you are interested in working with a professional grant writing team for the SDBII grants or the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant, feel free to contact bryce@gamilk.org or contact Molly Wheaton at Lasso (molly@joinlasso.com).
| The Market Administrator's Monthly Newsletter | |
The following is an excerpt from the Market Administrator’s Monthly Newsletter:

Class I Insights for F.O. 5,6,&7
In December, the Appalachian Marketing Area reported 333.4 million pounds of Class I producer milk, representing 76.14% of total producer receipts. In-area Class I route disposition totaled 274.7 million pounds in FO 5. The Florida Marketing Area had 180.6 million pounds of Class I producer milk, accounting for 83.04% of receipts. Total in-area Class I route disposition was 225.3 million pounds. The Southeast Marketing Area reported 223.4 million pounds of Class I producer milk, or 75.94% of receipts. FO 7 in-area Class I route disposition totaled 314.4 million pounds. The consistently high Class I utilization across these areas highlights the region’s continued reliance on fluid milk sales as a key driver of the market.
To read the full newsletter including uniform prices, for the three orders and dairy outlook for 2026, click here.
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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. | |
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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
March 12 - Steak Biscuit Day at the Capitol with Georgia Cattlemen's Association
| | 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, BMO Bank, and Papillon.
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