SUDIA Announces New General Manager

The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) has announced that their  Board of Directors has appointed Doug Ackerman as their new General Manager, effective January 1, 2017.

Ackerman will succeed General Manager Cheryl Hayn, who will retire after more than 28 years of service with SUDIA.

"After a comprehensive search process which included reviewing over 150 résumés, the board is pleased to have found the best individual to represent our Southeastern dairy farmers," said South Carolina dairy farmer and SUDIA board president Glen Easter. "Once we spoke with Doug we knew he was the right person for the job due to his passion for the agriculture industry, extensive experience in retail and marketing and a proven history of leadership."

Ackerman is an Austin, Texas native who earned his Bachelors in Business Administration at Sam Houston State University and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Tampa. Ackerman has a unique background, with experience in retail, marketing, consumer packaged foods, state government, and over 22 years of leadership and service through the National Guard, including two deployments in the Global War on Terror.

Ackerman's career has been heavily involved in the agriculture and food production industries, working for chain-restaurant Pizza Inn, Florida-based supermarket Publix and most recently as the executive director for the Florida Department of Citrus.

"I am looking forward to working on behalf of our Southeastern dairy farmers and promoting delicious dairy products," Ackerman said. "There are lots of exciting opportunities in the dairy industry and I am eager to continue helping our dairy farmers meet the needs of consumers in the Southeast."
Why Big Pharma Wants to  Switch Billions of Farm Animals to Vaccines From Antibiotics
By  Jared S Hopkins, bloomberg.com

A sparkling and sprawling 48,000-square-foot two-story structure, decorated with artwork of animals etched onto interior glass walls, recently opened its doors 23 miles outside Indianapolis with one sole purpose: to keep the globe's 70 billion farm animals healthy.

That increasingly means less reliance on antibiotics for animals. So the new research center, built and operated by Elanco LLC, a unit Eli Lilly & Co., is focused exclusively on developing vaccines as alternatives. It's all part of a broader effort by the drug industry to join forces with the medical establishment to reduce use of antibiotics, as resistant superbugs become more prevalent in hospitals, nursing homes and other public spaces. Weaning animals from antibiotics in favor of vaccines has become central to that effort. Farm animals are fed about 80 percent of the antibiotics in the U.S., which make their way into the human body.     Read more
Farm Bureau Asks USDA for Emergency Dairy Assistance
Growing Georgia

Against a backdrop of plummeting farm-level milk prices and farm cash receipts for milk sales, the American Farm Bureau Federation this week asked the Agriculture Department to provide emergency assistance for the nation's dairy farmers.

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said AFBF supported a recent request from 61 members of Congress asking USDA to provide emergency assistance.

Duvall noted the U.S. all-milk price fell to $14.50 per hundredweight in May, the lowest level since 2009. In addition, he told the USDA, dairy farm cash receipts from milk sales have fallen $16 billion since the record highs of 2014.

"The decline in dairy farm revenue has led many dairy farm families to exit the industry," Duvall wrote. "In 2015 we lost 1,225 dairy farms - many of those small dairy farm operations where the average herd size is fewer than 200 milking cows."    Read more 
Chipotle sparks farmer outrage over soda cup
By  Amanda Radke in BEEF Daily
 
There's a reason most self-respecting farmers and ranchers choose places like Culver's instead of Chipotle when they are looking for a quick meal on the go -  Chipotle chooses to spread falsehoods and perpetuate fairy tales to make a buck while Culver's supports modern food production and how sound science, technology and commonsense help feed a growing planet.

Most recently, Chipotle has stirred up some backlash  on social media when a photo of a soda cup from the fast food chain went viral. The cup is covered from top to bottom in propaganda that reads: "When we think of dairy cows, most of us picture a vast countryside, rolling hills and cows happily grazing about. Sadly, most cows in the U.S. spend their days on concrete without access to pasture. In fact, they rarely go outside in general, making their chances of seeing a double rainbow pretty much impossible. We believe that cows should be out in the grass, talking about the weather and gossiping about cud and such. We source most of our cheese and sour cream from farms and suppliers that follow through on the pasture-raised promise, giving our friends (with dairy benefits) access to shelter and all the grazing they can handle, without antibiotics or growth hormones. What can we say? We like cows that dare to dairy differently."   Read more

One in four Americans say they have issues digesting milk-it's been so common that the percentage of lactose intolerant people is on a rapid rise. Today, over 40 million Americans have digestive issues from milk, roughly 33% according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

But one New Zealand based dairy company says it has a simple solution by bringing Americans back to cow's milk with their 'super milk.'     Read more 
Fall Forages Program
Jones & Putnam Counties
August 30, 2017 at 6 p.m.

Dr. Dennis Hancock, Assoc. Professor and State Extension Specialist- Forage Crops, and Dr. Patrick McCullough, Assoc. Professor and State Extension Specialist- Weed Science, will discuss various topics dealing with fall forages. Topics to be discussed include cool season forage development and utilization, variety selection, planting timing, management, fertility, weed identification, and weed control. 

One hour of commercial pesticide credit is available for categories 21 and 22; and one hour of private pesticide credit is available. The cutoff for registration is 5:00 pm on August 26. To register please call the Jones County Extension Office at 478-986-3958 or the Putnam County Extension Office at 706-485-4151. The fee to attend the program is $5.00.  Dinner will be served at 6:00.   Location: Putnam County Extension Office, 669 Godfrey Rd., Eatonton, GA 31024 .  Click here for more information
Yogurt in the U.S.: The Dairy Case is Evolving; Most New Innovations are Non-Greek
By  Donna Berry, berryondairy.blogspot.com/

Pictured here is a yogurt case in a Western Michigan beach town, a community of less than 2,000 households and home to four supermarkets. This is quite the impressive spread with many varied options.

Granted, during the summer months (I took the picture yesterday), the population of this town jumps from about 5,000 to 20,000, and product moves off the shelf fast. But what is to be noted is that the size of this yogurt case has not changed in the past two years. Winter, spring, summer or fall, it holds a lot of SKUs.

What has changed in the past two years is the yogurt case's composition, as this retailer continuously brings in new products and uses shelf tags to flag them. If they sell, they stay. If they don't, room is made for something else new. And just yesterday while visiting the store, it was very noticeable that Greek yogurt no longer jumps out at you.  Read more
Why do milk prices spike and crash because it's like oil
By  Dan Charles, whro.org

Milk prices are in the tank. You may not have noticed this, since prices in the supermarket have fallen only slightly. But on the farm, it's dramatic. 

Dairy farmers are getting about 20 percent less for their milk than they did last year; 40 percent less than when milk prices hit an all-time peak two years ago.

"We're losing money," says Dave Drennan, executive director of the Missouri Dairyman's Association. In Europe and Australia, dairy farmers have taken to the streets to protest their plight.

Big swings in milk prices aren't new. Prices were even  lower in 2006 and 2009. It's remarkable, in fact, just how volatile the dairy business is.      Read more
Three states receive half of May-June MPP-Dairy indemnity payments
By  Progressive Dairyman Editor Dave Natzke


Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa dairy producers will receive about half the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) indemnity money paid out for the May-June period, according to a state-by-state list released by USDA.
Of the $11.17 million distributed nationwide, $5.71 million will go to producers in those three states.
It's no regional conspiracy, just simple math. Payments are based on the level of coverage and the pounds of milk production enrolled in MPP-Dairy in 2016. Those states farmers led the nation in selecting margin insurance coverages in the $6, $6.50, $7, $7.50 and $8 per cwt ranges and protected the largest volume of milk production.

Read the full Progressive Dairyman article.
Agricultural Labor Relations Forum - November 1-2, 2016
UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center

Georgia Milk Producers is collaborating with the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association for the upcoming Agriculture Labor Relations Forum and Training in November.  The forum will provide the latest updates for growers, shippers, processors and other agricultural professionals regarding labor relations matters. Attendees will hear advice from industry experts to help comply with new and existing labor regulations.  Speaker topics include: Preparing for a wage and hour audit; what's new with worker protection standards; how to decide whether to use the H-2A program; clarification of the I-9 process; transportation guidelines and employer health care compliance.  Forum registration cost is $150.  For more information visit:    http://gfvga.org/georgia-ag-labor-relations-forum/  or call GFVGA at 706-845-8200.
4th Annual Southeast Quality Milk Initiative (SQMI) Meeting 
UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, GA
November 16 - 17, 2016

The 4th Annual Southeast Quality Milk Initiative (SQMI) Meeting will be hosted by the University of Georgia and held at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, GA on November 16 - 17, 2016. SQMI is a USDA-NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative funded grant designed to enable dairy farmers to move profitably toward production practices compatible with the concept of a sustainable dairy industry in the Southeast. This program is being developed by milk quality professionals from six Southeast Land-Grant Universities and targets challenged dairy farms and those operations producing superior quality milk as demonstration herds. To accomplish this, we have integrated outreach, education, and research initiatives to improve milk quality and contribute to lower costs and greater revenues on-farm.  Look for more information on the meeting soon!
GA Dairy Classifieds

For sale: IMEXX snap reader and printer to test for antibiotics in milk sample, bulk tank or individual cow test.  Valued at $2500.00 - will sell for $1500.00 or best offer. Will also trade for weaned heifer calves. Contact Gary @ 1-706-260-8614

Oakhill Dairy is currently seeking a individual to manage our heifer operation ( approximately 2500 head) in Smithville, Georgia. This position is responsible for weaned heifers through calving. This is a hands-on position that would require; employee management  (6-8 people), monitoring all aspects of heifer growth/breeding/health and keeping records of animals through PC Dart . Basic knowledge of feeding and some equipment is preferred. We are offering a competitive salary and housing to qualified individuals. Please contact Marty at  229-376-0179  or email resume to 
 
ISO: Used bulk tank or large water tank
Lynda Pearson in Hoschton, GA is in search of a used bulk tank (no refrigeration needed) or a larger water tank (1500 gallons).  Please contact her at  706-654-3364 if you interested.

Dairy Seeking Dairy Manager/Herdsman:
Sunrise Dairy in Eatonton is currently seeking a dairy manager/herdsman for their 1250-cow herd, housed in freestalls.  The ideal candidate must be able to manage dairy employees, herd health and reproduction, milking operations and oversee calves from birth to weaning. Ability to communicate in Spanish with their workforce is a plus.  Salary depending on qualifications.  Please email resumes to pharveyfarms@aol.com . 

Bullcalves Wanted : Looking for Bullcalves to purchase - Barron Tench 864-844-2295 or barron.tench@gmail.com     
GA Milk Producers|706.310.0020 |  gamilkproducers@gmail.com | www.gamilk.org
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