24 September 2025

Headlines

• Georgia Milk Producers Provide Funds to Place Bulk Milk Dispensers in Georgia Schools
• School Meals are Missing Whole Milk
• Unlock the Secret to Superior Milk Quality in 2025
• Effective Ways to Enhance Profitability Through Diversification and Innovation
• Feed Efficiency: A Basic Metric for a Complex System
• Mexico Boosts Controls on Cattle After New Screwworm Case Found Near US Border
• Mexico Confirms Case of New World Screwworm in Nuevo Leon, Mexico
• The Dairy Boom: 2025’s Year of Milk, Momentum, and More
• US Farmers and Ranchers Raise More Food with Fewer Resources
• USDA Reveals Plan to Support Agricultural Trade
• Trump, Ag, and Canadian Trade View
• USDA Terminates Redundant Food Insecurity Survey
• Butter Prices Decline
• Farm Safety Week: Road Safety and Agriculture As We Age
• ICE’s Role Includes Taking Note of I-9s

GMP Commits to Spending $200,000 Towards Placing Bulk Milk Dispensers in Schools

For Immediate Release - September 24, 2025

WATKINSVILLE, GA - The Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. (Georgia Milk), the trade association representing dairy farmers in Georgia, has announced a $200,000 commitment to support the purchase and placement of bulk milk dispensers in cafeterias across Georgia. Georgia Milk will partner with The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit organization funded by dairy farm families across the Southeast, to expand their existing dairy optimization grants that serve to improve the school milk experience. This commitment will help Georgia schools install an estimated 30 bulk milk dispensers. “School feeding programs are critical to ensuring our children are building strong bones and healthy immune systems,” said Matt Johnson, President of Georgia Milk’s board of directors and a dairy farmer from Climax, Georgia. “Our dairy farmers are investing in these programs  to cultivate healthier school environments and get students excited about drinking milk. Our hope is that Georgia students will enjoy drinking milk at school and become lifelong milk drinkers because of it.”

The Dairy Alliance Youth Wellness staff work closely with school nutrition directors to promote the benefits of milk and dairy foods. Among their education and promotion activities, The Dairy Alliance offers grants to schools interested in purchasing bulk milk dispensers. The $200,000 in funding from Georgia Milk will bolster the existing grant program that eliminates a key concern for school nutrition directors and school administrators: funding. With these funds, schools will be able to secure a bulk milk dispenser and the necessary equipment and accessories to service and maintain the equipment. Will McWhirter, The Dairy Alliance’s Youth Wellness Manager for Georgia said the dispensers have several benefits for schools. “The Dairy Alliance’s Dairy Optimization grants encourage school systems to try new things to deliver even more nutritious dairy products and milk to students. Bulk milk dispensers are a great option for schools looking to serve colder, fresher milk or reduce waste from single-use cartons.”

Roughly three-quarters of children aged two through eighteen do not consume the daily recommended amount of dairy. Real-world trials at participating schools within The Dairy Alliance’s service area show a significant increase in fluid milk consumption in schools that transition away from traditional open-top coolers and cartons of milk. One case study in a Virginia public school saw milk consumption increase by as much as 52% due to decreased waste and increased interest from students. In similar trials across the southeast, schools consistently report an average increase in milk consumption of 14 percent. “The USDA Agricultural Research Service found in 2017 that 77 percent of the milk school-aged children consumed came from school cafeterias,” The Dairy Alliance’s McWhirter said. “By providing our students with a fresher, colder product that is also easy for the nutrition staff to maintain, we can ensure more Georgia children are getting the 13 essential nutrients they need through real dairy milk.”

School nutrition directors and administrators interested in installing bulk milk dispensers in their cafeterias can contact The Dairy Alliance for more information on the grant program by emailing wmcwhirter@thedairyalliance.com. 

Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. is a nonprofit dairy advocacy organization dedicated to supporting, sustaining, and growing the dairy industry in Georgia. For more information on Georgia Milk and the Georgia dairy industry, visit www.gamilk.org or follow Georgia Milk Producers on Facebook or GaMilkProducers on Instagram and X. 

The Dairy Alliance is a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families of the Southeast. We work diligently with dairy farmers, schools, sports teams, health professionals, local organizations, state leaders, the media, and the public to promote dairy foods and knowledge about the dairy industry. Our efforts center in eight states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

References: 

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7599715/
• https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=337158

Mexico Confirms Case of New World Screwworm 70 Miles South of US Border

A new case of New World Screwworm has been confirmed in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S. border. It’s the northernmost detection of the outbreak and poses a serious threat to the American cattle & livestock industry. The infected animal was moved from southern Mexico, highlighting the risk of disease spread through animal movement. In response, the USDA is leading a five-pronged national strategy involving advanced surveillance, border protection, innovation in fly control, public education, and international coordination. Ports of entry for livestock from Mexico remain closed, and no NWS has yet been detected in the United States. The USDA is preparing to release sterile flies near the border and invest in new facilities and technologies. Residents near the border are urged to monitor animals for signs of infestation and report any suspicious cases immediately.

The National Milk Producers Federation has published an informational sheet that can be used as a resource for preventing, identifying, and treating the disease. 

How to identify NWS? 

The adult screwworm fly is about the size of a common housefly (or slightly larger), with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along its back.

What to look for in your herd: 

NWS flies are attracted to wounds. Animals that have recently given birth, suffered an injury, or

had a surgical procedure (such as dehorning or branding) are most at risk. Untreated umbilical

cords of newborn animals and foot lesions are commonly infested sites, as are tick bites.

Watch for symptoms:

• Presence of fly larvae (maggots) in wounds or other body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia or the navel of newborn animals

• Wounds with bloody discharge and foul odor

• Signs of pain including depression, irritability, head shaking, not eating, and isolation

• The smell of decay

Producers who suspect a case of NWS infestation should immediately quarantine affected animals and report the case to their local veterinarian, State Animal Health Official or USDA.

Office of the Georgia State Veterinarian

AnimalHealth@agr.georgia.gov

Tel: (404) 656-3667



To read the full NMPF informational sheet, click here.

References: 

• Mexico Confirms Case of New World Screwworm in Nuevo Leon, Mexico
• NMPF New World Screwworm Fact Sheet

Farm Bill - Take Action Now

The following is from Georgia Farm Bureau.

The 2025 Farm Bill is hanging in the balance, and Georgia's farmers need your voice now! The future of the farm bill is in a state of limbo, and Congress must act immediately to protect our agricultural community. Help protect Georgia agriculture in this critical time by contacting your congressional representatives today and demand action on key priorities.  

The current farm bill was passed in 2018 and within two years made obsolete by the arrival of COVID-19 and the economic pitfalls that followed. The farm bill has remained in this state through two extensions and may be extended a third time unless action is taken. Now that Congress has the opportunity to modernize a new farm bill, our request must be united to ensure our priorities are included in the 2025 farm bill. Below is our list of priorities addressing issues not covered by the Big Beautiful Bill.  

• Suspend outdated permanent price support authority to prevent reliance on obsolete policies. 
• Fully fund the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and other voluntary conservation programs to ensure their continuity; incentivize food banks and access programs to purchase local specialty crops. 
• Establish a profit loss program to protect fruit and vegetable growers from losses due to below-market imports. 
• Increase Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits to support farm growth. 
• Enact a legislative fix to block state laws like California's Proposition 12 from dictating national farming practices. 
• Amend the Hurricane Insurance Protection - Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement to incorporate land grant university weather data for county payment triggers.  
• 

Georgia's farming future hangs in the balance! Call or email your representatives now--your advocacy is vital to secure a Farm Bill that defends our livelihoods! Pre-drafted comments are available by clicking below which highlights the above mentioned priorities. Feel free to edit your comments to provide them with a more personal touch.

Click here to find and contact your representatives.

Rethinking Manure Management with 360Rain: Expanding Application Windows and Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency Webinar

Georgia dairy producers in need of certified waste operator credits can earn credit hours by attending this virtual presentation and webinar. The Georgia Department of Agriculture's Ag Inputs Division will share continuing education opportunities with dairy producers as they become available. For more information on how you can qualify for CE credits by attending this webinar, email JR Joshi at JR.Joshi@agr.georgia.gov.

This webinar will explore how the 360Rain autonomous irrigation system is being used as a new tool for manure management. By enabling in-season manure application, 360Rain opens opportunities to better match nitrogen availability with crop uptake, reduce manure storage time (and associated methane emissions), and even provide supplemental irrigation. We’ll discuss lessons learned from early adopters, the challenges of implementing a new system, and the potential to shift manure management toward more efficient and sustainable practices.

Managing manure nutrients effectively is always a balancing act between storage capacity, weather, and crop nutrient needs. New technology like 360Rain, originally designed for irrigation, offers a new window for manure application: in-season delivery of nutrients and water right when the crop needs them. This webinar will highlight how 360Rain is being adapted for manure application, the management and engineering considerations for successful adoption, and what farmers are learning from early implementation.



An application for continuing education credit for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) and members of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) will be submitted.

September 26, 2025 at 2:30 pm ET (1:30 CT; 12:30 MT; and 11:30 a.m. PT) 

Register Here

GMP Classifieds

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

October 2-12 - Georgia National Fair and Livestock Shows

The Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, Perry, GA

October 14-16 - Sunbelt Ag Expo

Spence Field - Moultrie, GA

October 15th - Sunbelt Dairy Showdown

Dairy Pavilion - Moultrie, GA

October 28-29 - Southeast Dairy Sustainability Forum

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton at The Battery, Atlanta, Georgia

November 7 - Georgia Agribusiness Council Harvest Celebration

The Classic Center - Athens, GA

December 7-9 - Georgia Farm Bureau Convention

Jekyll Island Conference Center - Jekyll Island, GA

January 19-21 - Georgia Dairy Conference

Marriott Savannah Riverfront Hotel - Savannah, GA

Until Next Time,

GMP