Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released July 20, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). June Milk Production up 1.3 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during June totaled 17.2 billion pounds, up 1.3 percent from June 2017. May revised production at 18.0 billion pounds, was up 1.1 percent from May 2017. The May revision represented an increase of 40 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,964 pounds for June, 23 pounds above June 2017. This is the highest production per cow for the month of June since the 23 State series began in 2003. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.75 million head, 12,000 head more than June 2017, but unchanged from May 2018. April-June Milk Production up 0.8 Percent Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 55.8 billion pounds, up 0.8 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.40 million head, 3,000 head less than the January - March quarter, but 4,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2017-2018 [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 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : from : : : : : : : 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,369 9,406 5,717 5,780 53,562 54,367 1.5 April-June ......: 9,399 9,403 5,888 5,933 55,344 55,790 0.8 July-September ..: 9,402 5,687 53,473 October-December : 9,398 5,649 53,087 : Annual ..........: 9,392 22,941 215,466 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 23 Selected States: 2017-2018 [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 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : from : : : : : : : 2017 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,691 8,744 1,955 1,979 16,993 17,302 1.8 February ......: 8,696 8,745 1,799 1,821 15,645 15,922 1.8 March .........: 8,714 8,738 2,016 2,038 17,564 17,812 1.4 April .........: 8,722 8,738 1,972 1,979 17,200 17,294 0.5 May ...........: 8,730 8,745 2,037 2,056 17,783 17,976 1.1 June ..........: 8,733 8,745 1,941 1,964 16,947 17,174 1.3 July ..........: 8,734 1,972 17,224 August ........: 8,741 1,946 17,014 September .....: 8,737 1,850 16,162 October .......: 8,731 1,914 16,710 November ......: 8,734 1,859 16,235 December ......: 8,736 1,943 16,978 : Annual ........: 8,725 23,204 202,455 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2017-2018 [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 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : from : : : : : : : 2017 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,359 9,408 1,937 1,959 18,128 18,431 1.7 February ......: 9,365 9,408 1,783 1,803 16,694 16,961 1.6 March .........: 9,383 9,401 1,997 2,018 18,740 18,975 1.3 April .........: 9,392 9,400 1,952 1,957 18,332 18,397 0.4 May ...........: 9,401 9,404 2,016 2,033 18,952 19,123 0.9 June ..........: 9,404 9,404 1,920 1,943 18,060 18,270 1.2 July ..........: 9,404 1,943 18,268 August ........: 9,404 1,919 18,049 September .....: 9,399 1,825 17,156 October .......: 9,395 1,891 17,769 November ......: 9,398 1,837 17,260 December ......: 9,400 1,921 18,058 : Annual ........: 9,392 22,941 215,466 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: June 2017 and 2018 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : from : : : : : : : 2017 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 204 207 2,080 2,070 424 428 0.9 California ......: 1,749 1,735 1,880 1,905 3,288 3,305 0.5 Colorado ........: 160 177 2,170 2,170 347 384 10.7 Florida .........: 124 122 1,725 1,690 214 206 -3.7 Idaho ...........: 601 607 2,090 2,090 1,256 1,269 1.0 Illinois ........: 93 93 1,720 1,720 160 160 - Indiana .........: 187 186 1,905 1,905 356 354 -0.6 Iowa ............: 217 220 1,975 1,955 429 430 0.2 Kansas ..........: 151 158 1,865 1,920 282 303 7.4 Michigan ........: 427 423 2,220 2,270 948 960 1.3 : Minnesota .......: 458 453 1,805 1,815 827 822 -0.6 New Mexico ......: 332 333 2,095 2,120 696 706 1.4 New York ........: 624 623 2,010 2,040 1,254 1,271 1.4 Ohio ............: 262 257 1,785 1,790 468 460 -1.7 Oregon ..........: 124 121 1,740 1,735 216 210 -2.8 Pennsylvania ....: 525 521 1,725 1,735 906 904 -0.2 South Dakota ....: 118 121 1,840 1,865 217 226 4.1 Texas ...........: 515 526 1,975 2,060 1,017 1,084 6.6 Utah ............: 95 100 2,000 2,020 190 202 6.3 Vermont .........: 129 127 1,765 1,785 228 227 -0.4 : Virginia ........: 87 84 1,625 1,635 141 137 -2.8 Washington ......: 273 277 2,025 2,040 553 565 2.2 Wisconsin .......: 1,278 1,274 1,980 2,010 2,530 2,561 1.2 : 23-State Total ..: 8,733 8,745 1,941 1,964 16,947 17,174 1.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: May 2017 and 2018 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : from : : : : : : : 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 204 207 2,240 2,215 457 459 0.4 California ....: 1,753 1,735 2,005 2,035 3,515 3,531 0.5 Colorado ......: 159 175 2,215 2,240 352 392 11.4 Florida .......: 124 122 1,865 1,830 231 223 -3.5 Idaho .........: 600 607 2,130 2,140 1,278 1,299 1.6 Illinois ......: 93 93 1,860 1,850 173 172 -0.6 Indiana .......: 187 187 2,055 2,060 384 385 0.3 Iowa ..........: 217 220 2,055 2,060 446 453 1.6 Kansas ........: 150 158 1,930 2,050 290 324 11.7 Michigan ......: 427 423 2,315 2,330 989 986 -0.3 : Minnesota .....: 459 454 1,870 1,880 858 854 -0.5 New Mexico ....: 329 332 2,210 2,190 727 727 - New York ......: 624 624 2,120 2,100 1,323 1,310 -1.0 Ohio ..........: 262 257 1,905 1,890 499 486 -2.6 Oregon ........: 124 121 1,790 1,810 222 219 -1.4 Pennsylvania ..: 525 523 1,855 1,825 974 954 -2.1 South Dakota ..: 117 121 1,915 1,940 224 235 4.9 Texas .........: 513 525 2,075 2,160 1,064 1,134 6.6 Utah ..........: 95 99 2,040 2,060 194 204 5.2 Vermont .......: 129 127 1,855 1,845 239 234 -2.1 : Virginia ......: 87 84 1,775 1,760 154 148 -3.9 Washington ....: 273 277 2,080 2,110 568 584 2.8 Wisconsin .....: 1,279 1,274 2,050 2,090 2,622 2,663 1.6 : 23-State Total : 8,730 8,745 2,037 2,056 17,783 17,976 1.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised January - March 2017 and 2018 [May not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama .......: 6.5 5.5 26.0 21.0 -19.2 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.7 -22.2 Arizona .......: 200.0 206.0 1,297.0 1,330.0 2.5 Arkansas ......: 6.0 6.0 22.0 21.0 -4.5 California ....: 1,755.0 1,737.0 10,038.0 10,312.0 2.7 Colorado ......: 156.0 169.0 1,003.0 1,096.0 9.3 Connecticut ...: 19.0 19.0 104.0 108.0 3.8 Delaware ......: 5.0 5.0 24.8 25.2 1.6 Florida .......: 123.0 124.0 678.0 663.0 -2.2 Georgia .......: 84.0 85.0 502.0 479.0 -4.6 : Hawaii ........: 2.4 2.1 9.4 10.2 8.5 Idaho .........: 597.0 605.0 3,477.0 3,629.0 4.4 Illinois ......: 93.0 93.0 490.0 495.0 1.0 Indiana .......: 186.0 187.0 1,061.0 1,076.0 1.4 Iowa ..........: 216.0 220.0 1,267.0 1,294.0 2.1 Kansas ........: 152.0 155.0 876.0 910.0 3.9 Kentucky ......: 56.0 57.0 271.0 277.0 2.2 Louisiana .....: 12.0 12.0 47.0 46.0 -2.1 Maine .........: 30.0 30.0 155.0 151.0 -2.6 Maryland ......: 47.0 46.0 247.0 247.0 - : Massachusetts .: 11.5 11.5 54.0 50.0 -7.4 Michigan ......: 425.0 427.0 2,757.0 2,758.0 - Minnesota .....: 460.0 455.0 2,445.0 2,442.0 -0.1 Mississippi ...: 9.0 9.0 40.0 37.0 -7.5 Missouri ......: 85.0 84.0 318.0 313.0 -1.6 Montana .......: 13.5 13.0 71.0 70.0 -1.4 Nebraska ......: 60.0 60.0 355.0 366.0 3.1 Nevada ........: 31.0 32.0 165.0 180.0 9.1 New Hampshire .: 13.5 12.5 72.0 64.0 -11.1 New Jersey ....: 6.5 6.0 31.0 30.0 -3.2 : New Mexico ....: 326.0 334.0 2,042.0 2,111.0 3.4 New York ......: 621.0 625.0 3,694.0 3,613.0 -2.2 North Carolina : 45.0 45.0 251.0 249.0 -0.8 North Dakota ..: 15.5 15.5 83.0 82.0 -1.2 Ohio ..........: 262.0 261.0 1,388.0 1,375.0 -0.9 Oklahoma ......: 38.0 39.0 188.0 190.0 1.1 Oregon ........: 124.0 123.0 622.0 613.0 -1.4 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 525.0 2,751.0 2,753.0 0.1 Rhode Island ..: 0.8 0.8 3.1 3.1 - South Carolina : 15.0 15.0 68.0 68.0 - : South Dakota ..: 117.0 119.0 645.0 651.0 0.9 Tennessee .....: 41.0 39.0 184.0 178.0 -3.3 Texas .........: 500.0 516.0 2,988.0 3,147.0 5.3 Utah ..........: 93.0 97.0 517.0 552.0 6.8 Vermont .......: 129.0 128.0 680.0 667.0 -1.9 Virginia ......: 87.0 87.0 442.0 437.0 -1.1 Washington ....: 274.0 275.0 1,582.0 1,636.0 3.4 West Virginia .: 8.0 7.0 33.0 30.0 -9.1 Wisconsin .....: 1,280.0 1,275.0 7,462.0 7,476.0 0.2 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 34.8 34.8 - : United States .: 9,369.0 9,406.0 53,562.0 54,367.0 1.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary April - June 2017 and 2018 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April - June milk cows 1/ : April - June milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama .......: 6.5 5.5 26.0 21.0 -19.2 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 - Arizona .......: 204.0 207.0 1,331.0 1,342.0 0.8 Arkansas ......: 6.0 6.0 22.0 21.0 -4.5 California ....: 1,752.0 1,735.0 10,243.0 10,289.0 0.4 Colorado ......: 159.0 175.0 1,043.0 1,154.0 10.6 Connecticut ...: 18.5 19.5 106.0 112.0 5.7 Delaware ......: 5.0 4.9 24.3 25.1 3.3 Florida .......: 124.0 122.0 672.0 646.0 -3.9 Georgia .......: 84.0 83.0 488.0 456.0 -6.6 : Hawaii ........: 2.3 2.1 10.7 10.7 - Idaho .........: 599.0 606.0 3,726.0 3,787.0 1.6 Illinois ......: 93.0 93.0 501.0 499.0 -0.4 Indiana .......: 187.0 187.0 1,104.0 1,106.0 0.2 Iowa ..........: 217.0 220.0 1,308.0 1,321.0 1.0 Kansas ........: 151.0 158.0 869.0 939.0 8.1 Kentucky ......: 56.0 56.0 277.0 272.0 -1.8 Louisiana .....: 12.0 11.5 44.0 44.0 - Maine .........: 30.0 30.0 163.0 160.0 -1.8 Maryland ......: 48.0 46.0 247.0 248.0 0.4 : Massachusetts .: 11.5 11.5 55.0 53.0 -3.6 Michigan ......: 427.0 423.0 2,885.0 2,881.0 -0.1 Minnesota .....: 459.0 454.0 2,516.0 2,495.0 -0.8 Mississippi ...: 9.0 9.0 38.0 36.0 -5.3 Missouri ......: 85.0 84.0 344.0 344.0 - Montana .......: 13.5 13.0 73.0 70.0 -4.1 Nebraska ......: 60.0 60.0 362.0 367.0 1.4 Nevada ........: 32.0 32.0 181.0 186.0 2.8 New Hampshire .: 13.5 12.5 72.0 66.0 -8.3 New Jersey ....: 6.5 6.0 31.0 29.0 -6.5 : New Mexico ....: 330.0 333.0 2,128.0 2,156.0 1.3 New York ......: 624.0 624.0 3,845.0 3,817.0 -0.7 North Carolina : 45.0 44.0 247.0 245.0 -0.8 North Dakota ..: 16.0 15.5 89.0 86.0 -3.4 Ohio ..........: 262.0 257.0 1,448.0 1,415.0 -2.3 Oklahoma ......: 39.0 40.0 192.0 188.0 -2.1 Oregon ........: 124.0 121.0 652.0 640.0 -1.8 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 523.0 2,828.0 2,788.0 -1.4 Rhode Island ..: 0.8 0.7 3.3 3.0 -9.1 South Carolina : 15.0 15.0 66.0 66.0 - : South Dakota ..: 117.0 121.0 658.0 684.0 4.0 Tennessee .....: 40.0 38.0 183.0 172.0 -6.0 Texas .........: 513.0 524.0 3,106.0 3,317.0 6.8 Utah ..........: 95.0 99.0 566.0 598.0 5.7 Vermont .......: 129.0 127.0 697.0 684.0 -1.9 Virginia ......: 87.0 84.0 449.0 430.0 -4.2 Washington ....: 273.0 277.0 1,664.0 1,709.0 2.7 West Virginia .: 8.0 7.0 34.0 29.0 -14.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,279.0 1,274.0 7,691.0 7,747.0 0.7 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 34.8 35.8 2.9 : United States .: 9,399.0 9,403.0 55,344.0 55,790.0 0.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 55.8 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 38 0 111 12 7 : All milk cows ................: 0.0 0.1 3 0 7 5 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) 690-3236 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. 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.