Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released April 22, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March Milk Production down 0.1 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 17.8 billion pounds, down 0.1 percent from March 2018. February revised production at 16.0 billion pounds, was up 0.4 percent from February 2018. The February revision represented a decrease of 37 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 2,044 pounds for March, 10 pounds above March 2018. This is the highest production per cow for the month of March since the 23 State series began in 2003. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.71 million head, 50,000 head less than March 2018, and 9,000 head less than February 2019. January-March Milk Production up 0.2 Percent Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 54.5 billion pounds, up 0.2 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.35 million head, 8,000 head less than the October - December quarter, and 84,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2018-2019 [May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,435 9,351 5,766 5,828 54,399 54,502 0.2 April-June ......: 9,418 5,928 55,831 July-September ..: 9,383 5,752 53,969 October-December : 9,359 5,703 53,376 : Annual ..........: 9,399 23,149 217,575 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 23 Selected States: 2018-2019 [May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,771 8,723 1,973 2,009 17,308 17,526 1.3 February ......: 8,770 8,723 1,817 1,834 15,936 16,000 0.4 March .........: 8,764 8,714 2,034 2,044 17,826 17,815 -0.1 April .........: 8,760 1,977 17,318 May ...........: 8,765 2,053 17,995 June ..........: 8,758 1,963 17,195 July ..........: 8,748 1,979 17,311 August ........: 8,747 1,970 17,233 September .....: 8,727 1,883 16,432 October .......: 8,726 1,933 16,870 November ......: 8,721 1,878 16,374 December ......: 8,717 1,966 17,135 : Annual ........: 8,748 23,426 204,933 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2018-2019 [May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,438 9,356 1,953 1,988 18,437 18,604 0.9 February ......: 9,436 9,354 1,799 1,816 16,973 16,985 0.1 March .........: 9,430 9,344 2,014 2,024 18,989 18,913 -0.4 April .........: 9,418 1,955 18,412 May ...........: 9,422 2,030 19,131 June ..........: 9,414 1,943 18,288 July ..........: 9,392 1,952 18,329 August ........: 9,389 1,943 18,245 September .....: 9,368 1,857 17,395 October .......: 9,367 1,908 17,873 November ......: 9,358 1,854 17,348 December ......: 9,353 1,941 18,155 : Annual ........: 9,399 23,149 217,575 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: March 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 211 201 2,205 2,200 465 442 -4.9 California ......: 1,738 1,729 2,065 2,090 3,589 3,614 0.7 Colorado ........: 173 182 2,230 2,205 386 401 3.9 Florida .........: 123 116 1,895 1,915 233 222 -4.7 Idaho ...........: 607 616 2,085 2,085 1,266 1,284 1.4 Illinois ........: 93 84 1,875 1,865 174 157 -9.8 Indiana .........: 185 181 1,995 1,970 369 357 -3.3 Iowa ............: 220 217 2,070 2,070 455 449 -1.3 Kansas ..........: 157 164 2,040 2,000 320 328 2.5 Michigan ........: 425 424 2,260 2,275 961 965 0.4 : Minnesota .......: 454 450 1,865 1,890 847 851 0.5 New Mexico ......: 334 322 2,220 2,210 741 712 -3.9 New York ........: 625 627 2,020 2,060 1,263 1,292 2.3 Ohio ............: 262 252 1,875 1,850 491 466 -5.1 Oregon ..........: 121 124 1,750 1,780 212 221 4.2 Pennsylvania ....: 524 495 1,830 1,805 959 893 -6.9 South Dakota ....: 120 124 1,900 1,900 228 236 3.5 Texas ...........: 530 557 2,105 2,120 1,116 1,181 5.8 Utah ............: 99 99 1,955 1,960 194 194 - Vermont .........: 128 126 1,805 1,855 231 234 1.3 : Virginia ........: 86 76 1,765 1,755 152 133 -12.5 Washington ......: 275 278 2,070 2,040 569 567 -0.4 Wisconsin .......: 1,274 1,270 2,045 2,060 2,605 2,616 0.4 : 23-State Total ..: 8,764 8,714 2,034 2,044 17,826 17,815 -0.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: February 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 212 202 1,960 1,950 416 394 -5.3 California ....: 1,738 1,730 1,860 1,870 3,233 3,235 0.1 Colorado ......: 170 182 1,985 1,990 337 362 7.4 Florida .......: 124 116 1,700 1,700 211 197 -6.6 Idaho .........: 607 615 1,875 1,875 1,138 1,153 1.3 Illinois ......: 93 85 1,670 1,690 155 144 -7.1 Indiana .......: 186 181 1,760 1,770 327 320 -2.1 Iowa ..........: 220 220 1,860 1,870 409 411 0.5 Kansas ........: 156 163 1,820 1,795 284 293 3.2 Michigan ......: 427 424 2,015 2,050 860 869 1.0 : Minnesota .....: 455 450 1,670 1,710 760 770 1.3 New Mexico ....: 334 322 1,975 1,970 660 634 -3.9 New York ......: 625 627 1,805 1,840 1,128 1,154 2.3 Ohio ..........: 262 253 1,665 1,655 436 419 -3.9 Oregon ........: 123 124 1,555 1,595 191 198 3.7 Pennsylvania ..: 525 500 1,630 1,610 856 805 -6.0 South Dakota ..: 119 124 1,700 1,730 202 215 6.4 Texas .........: 530 553 1,845 1,905 978 1,053 7.7 Utah ..........: 99 100 1,755 1,760 174 176 1.1 Vermont .......: 128 126 1,625 1,665 208 210 1.0 : Virginia ......: 87 78 1,570 1,545 137 121 -11.7 Washington ....: 275 278 1,850 1,815 509 505 -0.8 Wisconsin .....: 1,275 1,270 1,825 1,860 2,327 2,362 1.5 : 23-State Total : 8,770 8,723 1,817 1,834 15,936 16,000 0.4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised October - December 2017 and 2018 [May not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October - December milk cows 1/ : October - December milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama .......: 6.0 5.0 19.0 16.0 -15.8 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.6 -14.3 Arizona .......: 210.0 205.0 1,243.0 1,208.0 -2.8 Arkansas ......: 6.0 5.0 18.0 16.0 -11.1 California ....: 1,742.0 1,731.0 9,809.0 9,997.0 1.9 Colorado ......: 166.0 178.0 1,074.0 1,148.0 6.9 Connecticut ...: 20.0 19.5 108.0 104.0 -3.7 Delaware ......: 5.0 4.5 22.5 20.1 -10.7 Florida .......: 124.0 117.0 577.0 545.0 -5.5 Georgia .......: 85.0 81.0 434.0 422.0 -2.8 : Hawaii ........: 2.1 1.7 9.0 5.3 -41.1 Idaho .........: 600.0 612.0 3,612.0 3,767.0 4.3 Illinois ......: 93.0 85.0 476.0 435.0 -8.6 Indiana .......: 187.0 181.0 1,049.0 1,010.0 -3.7 Iowa ..........: 219.0 220.0 1,308.0 1,326.0 1.4 Kansas ........: 153.0 160.0 886.0 927.0 4.6 Kentucky ......: 56.0 53.0 257.0 233.0 -9.3 Louisiana .....: 12.0 11.0 37.0 32.0 -13.5 Maine .........: 30.0 29.0 153.0 151.0 -1.3 Maryland ......: 47.0 44.0 233.0 215.0 -7.7 : Massachusetts .: 11.5 10.5 50.0 48.0 -4.0 Michigan ......: 428.0 422.0 2,773.0 2,752.0 -0.8 Minnesota .....: 456.0 451.0 2,433.0 2,438.0 0.2 Mississippi ...: 9.0 8.0 30.0 28.0 -6.7 Missouri ......: 84.0 81.0 292.0 270.0 -7.5 Montana .......: 13.0 12.0 71.0 65.0 -8.5 Nebraska ......: 60.0 59.0 366.0 354.0 -3.3 Nevada ........: 32.0 33.0 181.0 184.0 1.7 New Hampshire .: 12.5 12.0 64.0 60.0 -6.3 New Jersey ....: 6.0 5.5 29.0 25.0 -13.8 : New Mexico ....: 330.0 326.0 2,002.0 1,965.0 -1.8 New York ......: 625.0 623.0 3,638.0 3,673.0 1.0 North Carolina : 45.0 43.0 234.0 224.0 -4.3 North Dakota ..: 16.0 15.0 85.0 82.0 -3.5 Ohio ..........: 264.0 254.0 1,367.0 1,331.0 -2.6 Oklahoma ......: 41.0 40.0 178.0 180.0 1.1 Oregon ........: 124.0 125.0 618.0 638.0 3.2 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 510.0 2,655.0 2,532.0 -4.6 Rhode Island ..: 0.8 0.7 3.2 2.7 -15.6 South Carolina : 15.0 14.0 59.0 55.0 -6.8 : South Dakota ..: 117.0 122.0 649.0 682.0 5.1 Tennessee .....: 40.0 36.0 168.0 143.0 -14.9 Texas .........: 525.0 542.0 2,976.0 3,149.0 5.8 Utah ..........: 97.0 100.0 557.0 573.0 2.9 Vermont .......: 128.0 126.0 671.0 660.0 -1.6 Virginia ......: 87.0 80.0 428.0 380.0 -11.2 Washington ....: 274.0 280.0 1,614.0 1,680.0 4.1 West Virginia .: 7.0 7.0 29.0 25.0 -13.8 Wisconsin .....: 1,277.0 1,272.0 7,526.0 7,563.0 0.5 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 33.9 35.8 5.6 : United States .: 9,419.0 9,359.0 53,105.0 53,376.0 0.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary January - March 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama .......: 5.5 5.0 21.0 19.0 -9.5 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.5 -28.6 Arizona .......: 212.0 202.0 1,325.0 1,263.0 -4.7 Arkansas ......: 6.0 5.0 21.0 17.0 -19.0 California ....: 1,738.0 1,730.0 10,307.0 10,361.0 0.5 Colorado ......: 171.0 181.0 1,096.0 1,161.0 5.9 Connecticut ...: 19.0 19.5 108.0 109.0 0.9 Delaware ......: 5.0 4.5 25.2 21.6 -14.3 Florida .......: 124.0 116.0 664.0 629.0 -5.3 Georgia .......: 85.0 82.0 479.0 472.0 -1.5 : Hawaii ........: 2.1 1.1 10.2 1.7 -83.3 Idaho .........: 606.0 615.0 3,647.0 3,716.0 1.9 Illinois ......: 93.0 85.0 496.0 456.0 -8.1 Indiana .......: 186.0 181.0 1,057.0 1,027.0 -2.8 Iowa ..........: 220.0 219.0 1,312.0 1,317.0 0.4 Kansas ........: 156.0 163.0 910.0 941.0 3.4 Kentucky ......: 57.0 52.0 277.0 254.0 -8.3 Louisiana .....: 12.0 11.0 46.0 41.0 -10.9 Maine .........: 30.0 29.0 151.0 156.0 3.3 Maryland ......: 46.0 43.0 246.0 218.0 -11.4 : Massachusetts .: 11.5 10.5 50.0 48.0 -4.0 Michigan ......: 427.0 424.0 2,758.0 2,786.0 1.0 Minnesota .....: 455.0 450.0 2,442.0 2,474.0 1.3 Mississippi ...: 9.0 8.5 37.0 36.0 -2.7 Missouri ......: 84.0 80.0 313.0 289.0 -7.7 Montana .......: 12.5 11.5 70.0 64.0 -8.6 Nebraska ......: 60.0 59.0 366.0 357.0 -2.5 Nevada ........: 32.0 33.0 180.0 190.0 5.6 New Hampshire .: 12.5 12.0 63.0 61.0 -3.2 New Jersey ....: 6.0 5.0 30.0 26.0 -13.3 : New Mexico ....: 334.0 323.0 2,116.0 2,036.0 -3.8 New York ......: 625.0 627.0 3,613.0 3,709.0 2.7 North Carolina : 45.0 43.0 249.0 238.0 -4.4 North Dakota ..: 15.5 14.5 82.0 80.0 -2.4 Ohio ..........: 262.0 253.0 1,399.0 1,339.0 -4.3 Oklahoma ......: 41.0 40.0 190.0 190.0 - Oregon ........: 123.0 125.0 613.0 641.0 4.6 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 498.0 2,739.0 2,571.0 -6.1 Rhode Island ..: 0.8 0.7 3.0 2.6 -13.3 South Carolina : 15.0 13.0 68.0 59.0 -13.2 : South Dakota ..: 119.0 124.0 651.0 690.0 6.0 Tennessee .....: 39.0 34.0 178.0 151.0 -15.2 Texas .........: 530.0 553.0 3,146.0 3,363.0 6.9 Utah ..........: 99.0 100.0 557.0 563.0 1.1 Vermont .......: 128.0 126.0 667.0 674.0 1.0 Virginia ......: 87.0 77.0 437.0 385.0 -11.9 Washington ....: 275.0 279.0 1,636.0 1,645.0 0.6 West Virginia .: 7.0 6.5 30.0 24.0 -20.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,275.0 1,270.0 7,482.0 7,594.0 1.5 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 34.8 35.9 3.2 : United States .: 9,435.0 9,351.0 54,399.0 54,502.0 0.2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: Primary data used to determine these estimates were obtained from a sample of producers. Individual States maintain a list of all known milk producers and information on the size of their herd. States use all known sources of producers to ensure that their lists are as complete as possible. Generally, all large producers and a sample of small producers are included in the survey. Questionnaires are mailed to producers near the end of the month to obtain data for the first day of the month. Additional reports are obtained by telephone, as needed, to supplement the mail response. Where feasible, States utilize state and federal administrative data to estimate milk production. This eliminates duplication of data gathering by different government agencies. Indications of milk cow inventory are also obtained in the January Cattle Surveys. Estimation Procedures: Regional Field Offices prepare these estimates by using a combination of survey indications, historic trends, and any available administrative data. Individual State estimates are reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness. Revision Policy: Milk production, milk per cow, and number of milk cows are subject to revision the following month after initial publication for monthly States or the following quarter for the quarterly States. Normally, administrative data from Federal Market Orders, State Departments of Agriculture, or other sources are the main basis for revisions. However, administrative data for all States may not be available in time for these revisions. Estimates are again subject to revisions in February each year based on additional administrative data. In the event that additional changes are necessary, a third revision is possible in February the following year. Estimates are again reviewed after data from the five-year Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions are made after that date. Reliability: Since all operations with dairy animals are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. The effects of these errors cannot be measured directly. They are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the estimates in this report, the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items on the next page. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past performance and is computed using the differences between first and final estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for milk production estimates over the past 20 quarters is 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 54.5 billion pounds by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.2 percent. Reliability of Quarterly Milk Production Estimates [Based on data for the past 20 quarters] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Quarters : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent -------- 1,000 -------- ----- number ----- : : Milk production ..............: 0.1 0.2 40 3 124 14 6 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 0 28 16 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 690-8632 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 720-4448 Heidi Gleich - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ........ (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Seth Riggins - Hogs and Pigs ................. (202) 720-3106 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Cornell's Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS's and other agency's archived reports. The new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from the new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. To continue receiving the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the new website, create a new account and re-subscribe to the reports. If you need instructions to set up an account or subscribe, they are located at: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/help. You should whitelist notifications@usda-esmis.library.cornell.edu in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.