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📰 In This Issue:
- Headlines
- Secretary Rollins Visits State Capitol
- Reminder: Hurricane Helene Block Grant Applications Opens March 16 - Producers Encouraged to Organize Documentation Ahead of Time
- GMP Dairy Management Webinar Series: OSHA Compliance on the Farm
- Steak Biscuit Day at the Capitol Recap
- NMPF Dairy Preparedness in the Face of New World Screwworm Webinar
- Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
- Fields of Opportuntity: Exploring Careers in Agriculture
- GMP Classifieds
- Calendar of Events
- GMP Board of Directors March Meeting
- Social Media Post of the Week
- GMP Associate Membership
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Secretary Rollins Visits State Capitol | |
On Tuesday, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joined Georgia leaders for a roundtable discussion and press conference on discussing the major issues facing Georgia farmers. In the roundtable discussion also featuring Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and members of the Georgia House and Senate Agriculture Committees, Secretary Rollins discussed the ongoing market challenges experienced by the timber industry, USDA initiatives to streamline services offered by the Farm Service Agency, challenges in finding secure labor sources, and disaster relief.
At the press conference following the roundtable, Governor Kemp and Commissioner Harper discussed Georgia’s response to Hurricane Helene and their appreciation to USDA for working to provide a comprehensive block grant to assist producers impacted by Helene. Secretary Rollins answered questions on rising fuel prices, trade issues, and input costs.
Our appreciation to Commissioner Harper and the Georgia Department of Agriculture for helping to arrange the roundtable discussion and coordinate the visit with the Governor’s office and USDA.
| Reminder: Hurricane Helene Block Grant Applications Open Monday March 16 - Producers Encouraged to Organize Documentation Ahead of Time | |
On Monday, the Georgia Department of Agriculture will begin taking applications from eligible producers for losses related to Hurricane Helene. This block grant program will cover 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 will 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 insurance 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 on Monday, March 16, 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.
| 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.
| Steak Biscuit Day at the Capitol | Yesterday was Steak Biscuit Day at the Georgia State Capitol. The annual event organized by the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association is considered one of the most popular days during the legislative session. Georgia Milk Producers partners with GCA and provides milk from Mountain Fresh Creamery as part of the breakfast. Despite inclement weather for much of the morning, the event continued indoors with great attendance from legislators and staff. The mobile dairy classroom also braved the rainy weather and capitol-goers got the opportunity to meet Elsie and Daisy. | NMPF Dairy Preparedness in the Face of New World Screwworm Webinar | |
Join NMPF and the National Dairy FARM Program for an hour-long webinar covering the latest on New World screwworm. Learn about the current situation, potential impacts on the dairy industry and how an outbreak could affect cattle movement. Speakers will discuss a Texas training pilot, share what signs to watch for in animals and provide practical steps dairy farmers and their teams can take now to prepare and minimize risk.
March 16th, 2026 2-3PM EST.
Register here.
| Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program | |
Farmers can now apply for one-time assistance as part of USDA’s $11 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance program. Eligible row-crop commodities include corn, sorghum, and other feed crops in addition to cotton, peanuts, and others. Dairy farmers can apply online or at their local FSA office for feed eligible crops grown in 2025, but they must submit the application in order to receive a payment.
Payments will be based on 2025 planted acres. Crop insurance linkage is not required to receive a payment. To learn more about Farmer Bridge Assistance and to apply online, click here.
| Fields of Opportunity: Exploring Careers in Agriculture | |
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Georgia Farm Bureau are partnering together for a virtual event, featuring current and future career opportunities in Georgia agriculture. The event is open to anyone interested in learning about the possibilities in agriculture including students, educators, parents, or industry professionals.
March 26th, 2026 at 6pm EDT
Register here.
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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. | |
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March 17th - GMP Board of Directors Meeting
Perry, GA

March 25 - Crop and Livestock Field Day
Cusseta, AL - Register here
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
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GMP Board of Directors March Meeting | |
All Georgia dairy farmers are invited to attend the GMP Board of Directors Meeting:
Tuesday, March 17 at 10:00 AM
Georgia Cattlemen’s HQ (101 Courtney Hodges Blvd., Perry, GA)
Email bryce@gamilk.org to RSVP.
| Social Media Post of the Week | | |
This week's post comes from The Mobile Dairy Classroom
The Mobile Dairy Classroom was on a visit at Bessie L. Baggett Elementary School in Powder Springs, GA when the Mayfield truck was making its delivery.
SEE THE POST HERE.
| | 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, BMO Bank, and Papillon.
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