17 December 2024

In this Issue:

• Headlines
• Update on National Milk Testing Program to Monitor H5N1 in Dairy
• Reminder: Two Relief Programs for Farmers Taking Apps Now
• Upcoming Events
• GMP Classifieds
• NMPF Statement on 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Report
• GATE Card Renewals Due for 2024-Expiring Cards
• December Dairy Market Report
• Register for 2025 GDC

Headlines

articles and press releases of interest this week

• Farm Bill Extension on the Line
• Schumer Vows to Protect Dairy Farmers from “Dairy Cliff”
• Research is Shifting the Conversation on Dairy Fat
• Authorities Probe Presumptive H5N1 Case for Connection to Raw Milk
• Dairy Markets Had a Lot of Data to Digest
• Purdue University: Farmer Sentiment Following U.S. Election Reaches Highest Levels Since May 2021
• Agriculture Groups Start Talks with Trump team on Tariffs, Immigration
• Biden Admin Has No Current Plans to Authorize a Bird Flu Vaccine for Humans
• Reduced Culling Propped Up US Herd by 5%
• Johnson Faces Brewing GOP Rebellion After Farm Aid Deal Collapses
• CoBank: Policy Will Shape Rural Economy in the Year Ahead
• Collapsed Farm Aid Deal Imperils Spending Package

Update on National Milk Testing Strategy and USDA Order on H5N1 Testing

As announced last week, the US Dept of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a new federal order requiring milk handlers, dairy farms, and dairy processing plants to cooperate with a national H5N1 surveillance program. The National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) calls on individual states to begin sampling farm bulk tanks or processing plant silos (or tankers arriving at plants) to monitor the state’s status for H5N1 in dairy cattle. 

APHIS’s stated goal is the eradication of H5N1 in dairy cattle by identifying and isolating the virus and preventing its continued spread to unaffected farms. A state will fall under one of 4 stages with the ultimate goal that all 48 contiguous states will demonstrate freedom from H5N1 infection and thus nationwide eradication of the virus among its dairy herds. Stage 1 will focus on silo-level testing to determine if states are or are not affected by H5N1. Affected states will then move to Stage 2 and Stage 3 which are state-specific surveillance plans to identify affected herds and implementing response measures to limit its spread, respectively. Unaffected or cleared states will move to Stage 4 where they are demonstrating ongoing absence of H5 in dairy cattle. Once all 48 states reach the fourth stage, the nation will move to Stage 5 where sampling will focus on demonstrating an absence of the virus by taking a risk-based approach.

The first six states to participate in the NMTS are starting to test this week with California, Colorado, Oregon, Michigan, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania leading the way. The remaining 42 states will work directly with APHIS to implement their state-oriented plans. Here in Georgia, our state veterinarian and the Georgia Department of Agriculture Dairy Division are finalizing a plan with USDA with input from the dairy and ag industry. Stay tuned for more details as GDA anticipates testing in Georgia to begin in January.

In other developing news, Nevada has joined the list of states with positive herds after a test run on December 6 tested positive. So far there is only one affected herd in Nevada. Meanwhile California continues to find new positive herds with 311 positives in the last 30 days. That brings the total cases nationwide to 860 across 16 states; California accounts for 645 of those total cases.

Resources for Dairy Producers

Information on Assistance for Farmers Affected by H5N1 in Dairy Cattle

USDA HPAI in Dairy Cattle Resource Page

USDA Order on Movement of Lactating Dairy Cattle

USDA Additional Guidance on Movement Order

USDA Movement Order FAQ

Secure Milk Supply Biosecurity Website

UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Email Guidance

To learn more about USDA’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock.

Reminder: Two Hurricane Relief Programs Taking Applications From Affected Farmers

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.

The Georgia Development Authority is accepting applications for low-interest loans to producers impacted by Hurricane Helene. The SAFETY 24 Program is the successor of the SAFETY 21 program started in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. See below for details on how to apply:

How to Apply:

• The application form and additional details can be found online at https://www.gdaonline.com/hurricane-helene-loan-program/
• Applications can be submitted online via email or via regular mail.
• Online applications should be sent to anita@gdaonline.com
• Printed applications should be sent to the below address:

Georgia Development Authority

1890 Highway 130

Monroe, Ga 39655

• Applications must include the following documents to be considered:
• SAFETY 24 Application Form
• SAFETY 24 Product Loss Verification
• This form is to be completed by your crop insurance agent, UGA Extension Service, Farm Service Agency, or a loan specialist.
• Operating Credit Continuity Agreement
• An agreement must be obtained from applicants’ primary operating credit provider stating that the primary operating credit provider will continue financing operating capital for the applicant, after the SAFETY 24 loan closes, for the next year of operation. If the operation does not require credit for operating capital and therefore a letter from a primary operating credit provider is not obtainable, a letter of intent from an entity the farm has a contractual relationship with stating that the entity will continue the contractual relationship with the farm will suffice.

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

Evidence-Based Report Sheds Light on Dairy's Role in US Diet

December 10, 2024

From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud:

"NMPF thanks the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for recognizing dairy’s important role in a healthy diet and its continued recommendation of three servings of dairy for Americans two years and older.

“Throughout this process, the committee looked carefully at the nutrition dairy products provide. The committee’s scientific review showed that reducing or eliminating dairy from the diet leads to undernourishment in key nutrients for millions of Americans. The review also made clear that expanding the food group to include additional plant-based alternative beverages outside of fortified soy is not supported by scientific evidence. Specifically, the committee noted “the direct substitution of plant-based milk alternatives for cow’s milk within the patterns may introduce unintended consequences for meeting other nutrient recommendations and may vary by product selected.” This is especially important, as the dietary guidelines greatly affect the food options available to children through school meals and other nutrition programs.

“NMPF also thanks the committee for acknowledging that dairy is an equitable option that provides accessible and affordable sources of essential nutrients to everyone, and that lactose-free and lactose-reduced dairy foods can provide those same nutrients for people who may not be able to tolerate regular dairy.

“We are disappointed that the committee only recommends consumption of unflavored milk, especially as they acknowledged that flavored milk contains beneficial nutrients and did not explicitly conclude any connection between flavored milk consumption and obesity risk.

“It is reassuring that the committee came to multiple conclusions supporting dairy that are backed by decades of scientific evidence. We encourage the agencies to look further into recent science supporting the benefits of whole milk in the diet. The committee found evidence that substituting higher-fat dairy with lower-fat dairy showed no association with cardiovascular disease morbidity, and it also found evidence of positive benefits for growth and bone health specifically related to whole milk consumption by young children. We see these conclusions as positive steps. We will continue to advocate for consideration of full-fat dairy in the final dietary guidelines expected to be released next year.”

Further Reading:

• Background on DGA (from AP)

GATE Card Renewals Due by December 31

The Georgia Department of Agriculture wants to remind all Georgia farmers that the General Agriculture Tax Exemption (GATE) program is accepting applications to renew your GATE card via the GDA website.

If you GATE card expires at the end of the year, you have until December 31 to apply for a new card without losing your GATE status. GDA issues new cards each year, so be sure to check when your GATE status expires. Retailers will not accept the 2024 card beginning in January.

To view your GATE status or renew your card for 2025, visit www.agr.georgia.gov/gate-program or call 855-FARM TAX (855-327-6829).

If your GATE card expires at the end of 2025 or 2026, GDA has already mailed your new card to your address on file. You do not need to request or renew your card at this time.



December Dairy Market Report

The following is an excerpt from the December Dairy Market Report from DM and NMPF. To read the full report including production figures and dairy product reports click HERE.

October’s Dairy Margin Coverage margin receded $0.40/cwt from its record level a month earlier to $15.17/ cwt, the second highest level since margin protection became dairy’s basic federal safety net mechanism. October fluid milk sales were 1.3% higher than a year earlier, which continued to keep past three-month and year-to-date sales growth positive. Yogurt and butter showed particularly strong U.S. consumption gains during August-October, despite both reaching their highest ever retail prices during the period. 

Following 16 consecutive months when U.S. dairy cows were below year-earlier numbers, USDA reported the national milking cow herd grew by 10,000 cows year-over-year in October. Together with other factors, this likely indicates a return to expansion mode for U.S. milk production. Stocks of all cheese dropped almost to pre-pandemic levels at the end of October, likely driven by constrained production growth and robust exports. Cheese price weakness was responsible for dropping the Class III price by almost $3/cwt in November from a month earlier.

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

There's still time to register for the 2025 Georgia Dairy Conference. This year's lineup of speakers includes experts on dairy management, markets, medicine, and promotion. We're also bringing back the very popular Pre-Conference Symposium to focus on "New Developments in Dairy" on Monday morning, January 20.

To learn more about this year's conference, the full agenda, and how you can register or sponsor, check out the links below!

Until Next Time,

Bryce Trotter