26 March 2026

Headlines

• U.S. Bovine Semen Slipped 4% in 2025, Exports Hit Record $327M
• Five Impacts of the Middle East Crisis on Global Dairy
• Dairy Market Drivers: Consumer Demand for Protein; Gas Prices Rising; and Butter in a Minute!
• Trump Administration Acknowledges it Needs Immigrant Farmworkers as it Moves to Cut Their Pay
• USDA Promotes New, ‘Voluntary Product of USA’ Label
• Florida’s New Farm Bill Aims to Protect Agriculture and Support Farmers
• The Invisible Perimeter: High Tech Biosecurity in the Age of Bird Flu
• The Cows, The Cows, The Cows: Inside the High-Speed Surge of US Milk Production
• US Farm Biogas Capture More Than Doubles in Five Years
• Mississippi Becomes First State to Ban Lab-Grown Milk With New Law
• Chefs Call for Farm Bill Priorities To Tackle Rising Food Prices and Farmer Viability
• Chobani to Invest $567 Million in Michigan Facility Expansion
• Coca-Cola Spends $650 Million to Expand Fairlife Production
• Survey Reveals Dairy Producer Concerns Over GHG Data Requests
• Senate to Begin Work on Farm Bill Within Weeks, Chairman Says

GMP Dairy Management Webinar Series: OSHA Compliance on the Farm

Dairy farmers must follow government rules and regulations regarding livestock movement, food safety, and manure handling, among other things. On top of all the specific rules for dairy farms, all employers of a certain size must follow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations around employee safety and well-being. AgriTrust of Georgia and Georgia Milk Producers will provide GMP members with an overview of the OSHA regulations farms must follow to prevent and report accidents and best management practices for reducing accidents and risk to employers on the farm.

Wednesday, April 8

11:00 AM

Zoom Webinar: Register Here



About AgriTrust of Georgia: AgriTrust of Georgia is a self-insured workers' compensation insurance program that serves agribusinesses across the state in a variety of industries. In addition to workers' compensation insurance coverage, AgriTrust offers policy, claims, and loss control services, plus a number of benefits and educational resources for its members.

About Georgia Milk Producers: Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. is the farmer-funded trade association representing Georgia's dairy industry. GMP advocates on behalf of Georgia dairy farm families and provides continuing education opportunities to dairy producers as part of its broader mission to support, sustain, and grow Georgia's dairy industry.

See You Tomorrow for the 16th Annual GDYF Golf Tournament

The Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation (GDYF) Annual Golf Tournament is a significant fundraiser for the dairy youth programs in the state of Georgia. It's not too late to plan to participate! Registration opens tomorrow at 10:30 AM and you can register in person at the course. Teams of four play in friendly competition to support GDYF. The tournament is hosted by the GDYF Junior Board who volunteer in running all aspects of the competition. Sponsors donate by registering teams, buying signage at holes, and are recognized through our Facebook page. The tournament is a true team effort to have a fun day golfing while supporting our Georgia dairy youth. The golf tournament will take place tomorrow on Friday, March 27th at Hard Labor Creek Golf Course.

• Address: Hard Labor Creek Golf Course 1400 Knox Chapel Road Social Circle, GA 30025
• 10:30 AM - Registration Opens and Lunch Served
• 12:00 PM - Tee Time
• For registrations contact GDYF at gadairyyouth@gmail.com or call 706-343-6997

Hurricane Helene Block Grant (HBG) Program - Apply Now

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is taking applications from eligible producers for losses related to Hurricane Helene. The block grant program will be open until April 27th, 2026. HBG covers dairy, beef, pecan, blueberry, citrus, nursery plant, plasticulture and bareground specialty crop producers, and timber landowners. Dairy losses covered include reduced milk production following the storm, lost revenue from decreased conception rates following the storm, damage to structures housing livestock and feed commodities, losses related to increased cases of mastitis, and damage to irrigation infrastructure.

Producers need to provide records documenting milk production, conception rates/pregnancy checks, mastitis cases and treatment, the milking herd size, feed purchases/losses, and repair costs for structures and irrigation. Photographs showing damage will also be very helpful in proving loss claims. Farmers should also provide records of inurance claims and payments received for storm damage.

All producers will be asked for documentation related to property records, lease agreements, and business organization in order to qualify.

Helpful Documents

General HBG Info Sheet

HBG FAQs

Info Sheet - Dairy Cattle and Milk Losses

Info Sheet - Dairy Structures

Info Sheet - Beef Conception Loss

Info Sheet - Irrigation

Info Sheet - General Infrastructure

Click here to view all losses eligible for compensation. To read more about the Helene Block Grant program and access the application, visit www.farmrecovery.com.

For questions about the block grant, producers can contact the Department of Agriculture directly at 404-656-3630 or hbg@agr.georgia.gov.

Feeding the Economy: How Food and Agriculture Power the US Economy

The following is from Feeding the Economy. 

The U.S. food and agriculture sector is one of the nation’s most powerful economic engines. The 2026 Feeding the Economy report shows the industries support nearly 49 million jobs — about one in five American jobs — and generate more than $10.4 trillion in economic activity, accounting for nearly 20% of total U.S. output.

 It begins on nearly 2 million farms and ranches that span two out of every five American acres. But agriculture’s economic reach extends far beyond the farm. Nearly 200,000 food manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities employ food scientists, engineers, production workers, logistics specialists, and truck drivers who keep products moving safely and efficiently, ensuring American families have access to reliable, affordable food. 

The journey continues through more than 1 million restaurants and foodservice establishments and roughly 200,000 retail food stores, anchoring local economies and driving consumer spending in communities nationwide. From farm to factory and truck to table, food and agriculture’s impact sustains jobs, powers commerce, and strengthens communities across America.

Download the full report by visiting the website here.

USDA's New & Voluntary 'Product of USA' Label

On Tuesday, the USDA announced a nationwide public awareness campaign to promote its new “Product of USA” label for food products. Revealed on National Agriculture Day, the goal of the new voluntary product label is to improve consumer understanding, transparency, and trust across the food chain. The new label may only be used on products that are born, grown, and processed entirely in the United States. This new label policy supports American farmers by ensuring fair competition and giving consumers clear, accurate information about where their food is coming from. 

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

March 26 - Fields of Opportunity: Exploring Careers in Agriculture

Virtual - Register here

March 27 - GDYF Golf Tournament

Hard Labor Creek State Park, Social Circle, GA

April 8 - OSHA Compliance Training for Farms Webinar

Register Here

May 16 - Big Sandy Creek Farm Dairy Dash 5k

Madison, GA - Register here

Until Next Time,

GMP