21 November 2024

In this Issue:

• Headlines
• GA Farmers Can Apply for Hurricane Relief through Weathered But Strong Campaign
• SDBII To Take Grant Applications in January
• Commissioner Harper Joins Dairy Open House in Murray County
• Upcoming Events
• GMP Classifieds
• USDA Has 1 More Info Session on FMMO Changes/Process
• SE Dairy Producers Checkoff Info Session - Dec 4
• Register for 2025 GDC

Headlines

articles and press releases of interest this week

• Mexico Remains America’s Top Dairy Customer
• Plant-Based Milks Aren’t “Nutritionally Equivalent” to Dairy Milk, Recent Study Shows
• Some in the U.S. Farm Industry are Alarmed by Trump’s Embrace of RFK Jr. and Tariffs
• Oregon Reports First H5 Case in Farm Worker, California Reports 5 More
• Milk Production Resilient Despite Tight Heifer Supply Concerns
• State of the Industry: Butter Category Has its Ups and Downs
• Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Now Up Odds for Expanding US Trade/Economic War with China
• Ag Groups Say Stabenow’s Lame-Duck Farm Bill is Lame; Gets Lambasted for Timing, Details
• Beef-on-Dairy: This Iowa Dairy’s Strategic Strategy for Success
• Progressive Dairy’s Top-25-Read Articles of 2024
• AI Enables Cameras to Put “New Eyes” on Your Cows
• Progressive Dairy Weekly Digest: California Air Resources Board Approves Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program Updates
• Every Woman’s Marathon: A Celebration of Strength, Inclusivity and Community
• Center for Dairy Excellence Has Several Sustainability and On-Farm Grant Opportunities for Dairy Producers
• Food Prices Worried Most Voters, But Will Trump’s Plans Lower Grocery Bills?
• Rumors of More Candidates for Ag Secretary
• Stabenow Releases Lame-Duck Farm Bill Text
• Kemp Seeking $12.2B in Federal Relief for Helene Damage
• Ossoff Calls for Congress to Pass Agricultural Disaster Assistance by End of Year

Weathered But Strong: Now Taking Applications

The Weathered But Strong Hurricane Relief Fund is now taking applications for assistance from farms that experienced damage from Hurricane Helene. The deadline for applications is December 31, 2024 and the goal is for review to take place in January with payouts beginning in February. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Eligible farmers must hold a current valid GATE card number issued through the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
• All farming operations impacted by Hurricane Helene may apply but priority will be given to the counties that make up the disaster declaration.
• Designated Disaster Relief Counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilkes

Farmers can apply for assistance at supportgeorgiafarmers.org/application. If producers have any questions about the application or process, you can email grants@gafoundationag.org or email Bryce (bryce@gamilk.org) with Georgia Milk Producers. 

The Weathered But Strong Campaign is also still taking donations as they aim to raise an additional $500,000 before the end of the year. If you would like to support the campaign and Georgia’s ag community, click the “donate” button below.

SDBII Grant Opportunities Coming Up

The Southern Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (SDBII) recently held an informational webinar for its upcoming Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant and Precision Technology Investment Grant. 

SDBII will start taking applications January 1st through March 5th, 2025 for those two grant opportunities. Permitted dairy farms in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV, and Puerto Rico are eligible to apply. 

The Farm Infrastructure Grant has a maximum award amount of $100,000 with a matching funds requirement of 25% (i.e. applicant most demonstrate $25,000 in available matching funds for a $100,000 request). 

The Precision Technology Investment Grant has a maximum award amount of $150,000 with a 25% matching requirement. 

The SBII webpage has more information on both grants, their requirements, eligible and ineligible expenses, and examples of possible projects farmers could apply for. 

Georgia Dairy farmers can learn more by clicking the video link above to watch the webinar and contact Georgia Milk Producers (bryce@gamilk.org) or UGA’s Dr. Jillian Bohlen (jfain@uga.edu) for assistance with the grant application. Georgia Milk and UGA Dairy Science are happy and willing to help our member farms through the process.

Southern Dairy Business Innovation Initiative Website

H5N1 Update

Biosecurity Resources for Dairy Farmers

Avian Influenza Case Count (as of 11/21/24)

California - 398

Colorado - 64

Idaho - 35

Iowa - 13

Kansas - 4

Michigan - 29

Minnesota - 9

New Mexico - 9

North Carolina - 1

Ohio - 1

Oklahoma - 2

South Dakota - 7

Texas - 26

Utah - 13

Wyoming - 1

Commissioner Harper Joins Dairy Open House and Tour

DeLeval and AgCentral Co-Op hosted a community open house at Harrison Dairy in Murray County to showcase the farm’s new 70-stall rotary parlor and free stall barn. Georgia Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper and representatives from the Georgia Department of Agriculture joined the open house later that afternoon and toured the new facility.



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 vidoes.

Dairy Farm for Sale in Screven County (GA) -

Green Meadows Dairy for sale. 986 acres (600 irrigated), 60-stall rotary parlor, 1,000 cow feed pad, 8 pivots,

Call Leo Ruijne for more details 806-292-9909 or email leo@unitedagllc.com

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

USDA to Hold 1 More Info Session on FMMO Reform

The USDA AMS is hosting the final of 3 separate FMMO informational sessions via Zoom for all interested parties on Monday, November 25 at 11:00 AM eastern time.

You can access the info session at this link HERE or by visiting the AMS FMMO Reform Page



Southeast Dairy Checkoff Info Session

The Southeast Dairy Producer’s Check-Off Program is the research and educational checkoff program for southeastern dairy farmers. House at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the checkoff program works with scientists and extension specialists from Universities around the Southeast including UF, UGA, Clemson, and Auburn. It is one of the few opportunities for dairy farmers in the southeast to fund research directly related to dairy production in the region. 

The Milk Check-Off Program team is inviting all Southeastern dairy farmers to participate in an info session on December 4th to hear from current committee and faculty members about the program, its research initiatives, and how you can continue to support research to benefit dairy production in the Southeast.

Check out the flyer above or email Matti Moyer (matti.moyer@ufl.edu) for more information.



Don't Forget to Register for the 2025 Georgia Dairy Conference

GMP Board of Directors Tours UGA FoodPIC Center at UGA Griffin Campus

The Georgia Milk Producers Board of Directors met for its November directors meeting at the University of Georgia Griffin campus. After the meeting, Dr. Jim Gratzek took the board members on a tour of the Food Product Innovation & Commercialization (FoodPIC) Center to discuss possible partnerships with the University and Georgia's dairy industry. Dr. Gratzek is the director of the center and a Food Science and Technology faculty member at the UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Until Next Time,

Bryce Trotter