2 January 2026

📰 In This Issue:

Headlines
Join us for the 2026 GDC Pre-Conference Symposium
Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative Grant Opportunities
2026 Spotlight Symposium on Milk Quality
USDA Announces Commodity Payment Rates for Farm Bridge Assistance Program
GMP Classifieds
Julie Walker Honored with Agricultural Advocate Award from Ag Central Co-op
Calendar of Events
GMP Associate Membership

Headlines

Join Us for the 2026 GDC Pre-Conference Symposium

The Pre-Conference Symposium is returning to the 2026 Georgia Dairy Conference Monday, January 19th at 9:30 AM. This two-hour informal session will focus on What's New and What's Next in the Dairy Industry. We invite all of our farmers and guests to attend this educational opportunity, sponsored by our friends at FerAppease, Alta Genetics, Agrarian Solutions, and Agri-Services Agency. Modeled as our own version of "Dairy TedTalks," the Pre-Conference Symposium will focus on new technology and services that are driving the dairy industry forward. Be sure to stop by the symposium to hear from our outstanding lineup of speakers.

Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative Grant Opportunities

Check out these two grant opportunities through the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative. Georgia Milk Producers members can take advantage of discounted grant writing assistance through GMPs partnership with Lasso, a grant-writing and research firm. GMP members interested in applying for or learning more about the SDBII grants can contact Nicole Rojas at nicole@joinlasso.com or email Bryce Trotter at bryce@gamilk.org to learn more about how GMP members can take advantage of this member benefit.

The Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant provides reimbursement funds to permitted dairy farm businesses located in the Southeast who are seeking funds to make farm facility updates.

Grant amount and Match Required:

Maximum award: $100,000
Required match: 25% cash match of the requested funds
Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis; items purchased before the award/contract are not eligible.

Eligible Project Areas:

Heat-stress mitigation & cooling upgrades
Milk cooling, storage & transportation improvements
Modernization of milk harvesting
Feed & forage storage/handling upgrades
Animal housing improvements
Water, waste & manure management

Restrictions:

Construction or building improvements
Purchase of general-purpose equipment or vehicles
Salaries or wages as match or reimbursable expenses
Any purchase made before the award contract is fully executed
Building materials and lease-to-own arrangements

The Precision Technology and Management Grant provides reimbursement funds to permitted dairy farm businesses located in the Southeast.

Priority will be given to:

Entities that received direct technical assistance through SBDII
Dairy businesses with linked access to other forms of assistance

Reimbursement:

Applicants who are selected to receive a grant award will be awarded funds on a reimbursement basis. Reimbursement requests must be supported with a canceled check or credit card statement and an appropriate invoice marked “paid” and showing a balance reflecting the payment.

Both application deadlines are March 4, 2026.

2026 GDC Spotlight Symposium on Milk Quality

We're excited to offer a new series this year at the Georgia Dairy Conference. On Tuesday morning during our regularly scheduled general session seminars, we will have a Spotlight Symposium on Milk Quality, bringing together some of the US dairy industry's leading experts on milk quality, mastitis treatment, and prevention. For the first time, the Georgia Dairy Conference will take a deep dive into this major production topic, bringing producers several industry leading points of view on the best practices to achieve higher milk quality, reduce dependence on antibiotics, and prevent mastitis altogether.

USDA Announces Commodity Payment Rates for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program

On New Year's Eve, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The administration announced at the beginning of December that it was dedicating $12 Billion in one-time "bridge payments" to assist program commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by "record-high input and production costs, zero new trade deals, and a forgotten rural America."

The announced commodities and per acre payment rates are as followed:

• Barley: $20.51

• Canola: $23.57

• Chickpeas (Large): $26.46

• Chickpeas (Small): $33.36

• Corn: $44.36

• Cotton: $117.35

• Flax: $8.05

• Lentils: $23.98

• Mustard: $23.21

• Oats: $81.75

• Peanuts: $55.65

• Peas: $19.60

• Rice: $132.89

• Safflower: $24.86

• Sesame: $13.68

• Sorghum: $48.11

• Soybeans: $30.88

• Sunflower: $17.32

• Wheat: $39.35

All intended row crop uses are eligible for the bridge payments except grazing, volunteer stands, experimental, green manure, crops left standing and abandoned or cover crops. Crop insurance linkage is not required. $11 billion of the total $12 billion appropriation will be directed towards row crops with $1 billion set aside for specialty crops (the announcement for specialty crops will be announced at a later date).

For more information about the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA), visit www.fsa.usda.gov/fba.

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.

Learn more about the GMP Associate Membership Program

Until Next Time,

GMP