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đź“° In This Issue:
- Headlines
- One Big, Beautiful Bill
- GA Senate Elects New Leadership
- GMP Classifieds
- Sunbelt Dairy Showdown
- How Milk Helped America Win the Revolutionary War
- Upcoming Events Calendar
- William C. "Bill" Baisley "Sumpin' Big" Scholarship
- GMP Associate Membership
| | "One Big, Beautiful Bill" Passes in The Senate | |
Tuesday evening, the U.S. Senate passed a major piece of legislation for the agribusiness sector, the Reconciliation Bill, also known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote, approving the legislation with a 51-50 vote. The bill provides significant priorities for farmers and ranchers nationwide.
The bill is now back in the House, and is expected to be voted on by July 4th.
The bill aims to support farmers and ranchers across the country, with many vital agricultural topics addressed.
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Renewing the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program through 2031; updating DMC’s production history calculation to be based on the highest production year of 2021, 2022, or 2023; and extending the ability for producers to receive a 25% premium discount for locking in their coverage for the duration of the bill.
- Providing mandatory funding for USDA to conduct mandatory dairy processing cost surveys every two years to provide better data to inform future make allowance conversations.
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Addressing the affordability of federal crop insurance coverage for producers, including support for beginning farmers and ranchers.
- Strengthening the producer safety net by investing in modifications to the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage commodity programs that are more responsive to the current economic environment.
- Folding remaining Inflation Reduction Act conservation dollars into the farm bill baseline, resulting in increased, continued funding for popular programs like EQIP
- Increasing funding for animal health programs that help to prevent, control, and eradicate animal diseases
- Making the 199A tax deduction permanent enabling dairy farmer-owned cooperatives to continue either passing the deduction back to their farmers or reinvesting it in their cooperatives
Further Reading:
| Georgia Senate Elects New Leadership | |
The following is an excerpt from the Ag Outlook Newsletter by our friends at the Georgia Agribusiness Council.

In mid-June, former Senate Ag Committee Chairman Senator Larry Walker, III (R-Perry) was chosen by the Georgia Senate’s Republican Caucus as the President Pro Tem-elect. He will be officially elected to the position when the 2026 legislative session begins in January, when by Senate rules, the position will be voted upon by the whole Senate. The change in leadership is a result of Senate rules that require the office to be vacated in the event the president pro tem declares his or her intention to run for an office other than his or her current seat. The previous President Pro Tem, Senator John Kennedy (R-Macon), began his campaign for Lieutenant Governor earlier this month. Pro Tem-elect is a longtime friend of the Council and has always been an avid supporter of Georgia agriculture.
The Majority Caucus also elected Senator Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) as the Majority Leader after Senator Steve Gooch announced his campaign for Lieutenant Governor in May. Senator Anavitarte previously served as the Majority Caucus Chair and has been very active in supporting agriculture and rural issues during his time in the Georgia Senate.
Congratulations to Sen. Walker and Sen. Anavitarte. We look forward to continuing to work with these leaders on ag issues in the future. The Republican Caucus will hold additional elections within the next 40 days to fill the newly created vacancies.
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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.

| | 2025 Sunbelt Dairy Showdown - Submit Your Videos Now | |
High schoolers in 4-H and FFA - Think you’ve got what it takes to take home the title of 2025 Sunbelt Dairy Showdown Champion???
Apply now for a chance to compete in the legen-dairy milking competition at the 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia. This two-part competition challenges students to create a short educational video using the phrase “Milk’s Got Game.” If your video is selected as a finalist, 2-4 high school students will get to represent your chapter in the live milking competition on October 15th to compete for the grand prize and title of 2025 Sunbelt Dairy Showdown Champions.
Finalists will receive free single-day passes to the Sunbelt Ag Expo, a dairy-themed swag bag, and a donation to their 4-H or FFA chapter courtesy of Georgia Milk Producers, Inc., Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation, and United Dairy Farmers of Florida. See the attached form (Link to form on Google docs) for full contest rules and information before applying.
Mark your calendars, grab a glass of milk, and start brainstorming! The deadline for submission is September 5th, 2025.
If you have any questions, email Audri Crews at acrews@thedairyalliance.com.
| How Milk Helped America Win the War for Independence | | |
The following is from an article by “The Dairy Guy”, published by Dairymoos.com.
During the Revolutionary War, milk wasn’t just a beverage —it was an essential component of the American soldier’s daily rations. As soon as George Washington assumed command, the Continental Congress formalized a standardized daily allowance for soldiers, which included 16 oz of whole milk. This substantial portion provided troops with a robust supply of calories, protein, and vital nutrients—far surpassing modern standards for recovery beverages. In fact, that same quantity of milk today is known to optimize muscle repair, replenish glycogen stores, and maintain performance—offering a scientifically backed edge for soldiers on the move.
British forces in America struggled to access fresh dairy. Instead, their diets relied on long-shelf-life staples—flour, salted meats, and minimal butter, lacking the daily milk Continental soldiers had. Reports from the era recount massive quantities of discarded butter, cheese, and meat that were declared “unfit for His Majesty’s troops” . The Continental Army’s access to fresh milk not only kept their soldiers healthier and better nourished but also highlighted the nutritional advantages rooted in dairy. The American “milk advantage” became a quiet, but powerful, contributor to their ultimate victory.

Read here to learn more about how milk played a vital role in the Revolutionary War.
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Calendar of Events: What to Look Forward to this Summer | |
July 31 - August 1 - Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference
The Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference will be held July 31 & August 1 at the University of Tennessee's Agricultural and Natural Resources Building in Knoxville, TN. Each year, the Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference provides educational and networking opportunities for dairy business owners, researchers, Extension professionals, and industry partners.
To learn more about the conference, view the conference agenda, and register CLICK HERE.
August 14 - Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Conference
The Classic Center, Athens, GA
September 16 & 17 - Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum
UGA Tifton Conference Center
Registration Coming Soon

| | William C. “Bill’ Baisley “Sumpin’ Big” Scholarship | | |
The following is an excerpt from the Ag Outlook Newsletter by our friends at the Georgia Agribusiness Council.
GAC is proud to announce the release of the William C. "Bill" Baisley "Sumpin' Big" Scholarship applications for 2025. This $1,000 scholarship is offered to up to three students needing financial assistance studying for an agricultural career at a college in Georgia.
Mr. Baisley, a longtime friend of GAC, former GAC Chairman, and member of the Board of Directors, had a passion for the future of agriculture and those looking to advance it. Bill used the phrase “Sumpin' Big” as a way to move ideas forward. We honor him with this scholarship and look forward to helping a student who is moving our industry forward.
Please share this scholarship application with a college student or high school senior in Georgia needing financial assistance and studying in the areas of agriculture or natural resources. The scholarship application is due postmarked or emailed to the GAC office on or before October 1, 2025.
Click here for the scholarship application.
| | 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, and BMO Bank.
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