Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released October 21, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). September Milk Production up 1.6 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during September totaled 16.8 billion pounds, up 1.6 percent from September 2018. August revised production at 17.5 billion pounds, was up 0.5 percent from August 2018. The August revision represented an increase of 32 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,913 pounds for September, 33 pounds above September 2018. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.80 million head, 11,000 head less than September 2018, but 7,000 head more than August 2019. July-September Milk Production up 0.5 Percent Milk production in the United States during the July - September quarter totaled 54.3 billion pounds, up 0.5 percent from the July - September quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.32 million head, 10,000 head less than the April - June quarter, and 66,000 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 9,344 5,766 5,827 54,399 54,450 0.1 April-June ......: 9,418 9,327 5,928 5,980 55,831 55,778 -0.1 July-September ..: 9,383 9,317 5,752 5,824 53,969 54,261 0.5 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 - 24 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 .......: 8,856 8,805 1,973 2,009 17,469 17,685 1.2 February ......: 8,855 8,805 1,817 1,834 16,086 16,148 0.4 March .........: 8,849 8,788 2,033 2,041 17,994 17,940 -0.3 April .........: 8,844 8,788 1,976 1,999 17,475 17,570 0.5 May ...........: 8,848 8,790 2,051 2,064 18,151 18,146 - June ..........: 8,840 8,777 1,961 1,979 17,336 17,374 0.2 July ..........: 8,829 8,779 1,977 1,995 17,454 17,518 0.4 August ........: 8,826 8,789 1,968 1,987 17,372 17,466 0.5 September .....: 8,807 8,796 1,880 1,913 16,561 16,829 1.6 October .......: 8,807 1,931 17,005 November ......: 8,802 1,876 16,514 December ......: 8,798 1,964 17,282 : Annual ........: 8,830 23,407 206,699 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. 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 9,352 1,953 1,989 18,437 18,600 0.9 February ......: 9,436 9,350 1,799 1,816 16,973 16,981 - March .........: 9,430 9,330 2,014 2,022 18,989 18,869 -0.6 April .........: 9,418 9,330 1,955 1,978 18,412 18,458 0.2 May ...........: 9,422 9,332 2,030 2,043 19,131 19,064 -0.4 June ..........: 9,414 9,319 1,943 1,959 18,288 18,256 -0.2 July ..........: 9,392 9,319 1,952 1,970 18,329 18,355 0.1 August ........: 9,389 9,317 1,943 1,963 18,245 18,290 0.2 September .....: 9,368 9,315 1,857 1,891 17,395 17,616 1.3 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: September 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 .........: 206 195 1,795 1,805 370 352 -4.9 California ......: 1,732 1,727 1,860 1,895 3,222 3,273 1.6 Colorado ........: 178 188 2,115 2,110 376 397 5.6 Florida .........: 118 116 1,380 1,415 163 164 0.6 Georgia .........: 80 79 1,610 1,595 129 126 -2.3 Idaho ...........: 610 627 2,045 2,060 1,247 1,292 3.6 Illinois ........: 88 83 1,570 1,600 138 133 -3.6 Indiana .........: 182 175 1,770 1,800 322 315 -2.2 Iowa ............: 220 217 1,920 1,950 422 423 0.2 Kansas ..........: 160 162 1,870 1,895 299 307 2.7 : Michigan ........: 422 428 2,115 2,165 893 927 3.8 Minnesota .......: 451 446 1,770 1,810 798 807 1.1 New Mexico ......: 327 327 2,005 2,045 656 669 2.0 New York ........: 621 627 1,950 1,965 1,211 1,232 1.7 Ohio ............: 255 251 1,680 1,725 428 433 1.2 Oregon ..........: 122 125 1,690 1,705 206 213 3.4 Pennsylvania ....: 517 485 1,610 1,650 832 800 -3.8 South Dakota ....: 121 126 1,840 1,865 223 235 5.4 Texas ...........: 540 570 1,925 1,995 1,040 1,137 9.3 Utah ............: 100 96 1,920 1,915 192 184 -4.2 : Vermont .........: 126 125 1,720 1,745 217 218 0.5 Virginia ........: 81 73 1,520 1,560 123 114 -7.3 Washington ......: 277 281 1,995 2,005 553 563 1.8 Wisconsin .......: 1,273 1,267 1,965 1,985 2,501 2,515 0.6 : 24-State Total ..: 8,807 8,796 1,880 1,913 16,561 16,829 1.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: August 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 .......: 206 195 1,835 1,860 378 363 -4.0 California ....: 1,734 1,728 1,905 1,940 3,303 3,352 1.5 Colorado ......: 178 187 2,210 2,200 393 411 4.6 Florida .......: 119 116 1,515 1,560 180 181 0.6 Georgia .......: 79 80 1,760 1,690 139 135 -2.9 Idaho .........: 610 627 2,170 2,185 1,324 1,370 3.5 Illinois ......: 90 83 1,675 1,670 151 139 -7.9 Indiana .......: 184 175 1,880 1,895 346 332 -4.0 Iowa ..........: 220 217 1,995 2,030 439 441 0.5 Kansas ........: 160 162 1,970 1,955 315 317 0.6 : Michigan ......: 423 427 2,240 2,265 948 967 2.0 Minnesota .....: 451 447 1,860 1,895 839 847 1.0 New Mexico ....: 328 324 2,100 2,100 689 680 -1.3 New York ......: 622 627 2,055 2,050 1,278 1,285 0.5 Ohio ..........: 258 250 1,790 1,830 462 458 -0.9 Oregon ........: 122 124 1,760 1,780 215 221 2.8 Pennsylvania ..: 519 485 1,700 1,710 882 829 -6.0 South Dakota ..: 121 124 1,915 1,940 232 241 3.9 Texas .........: 540 567 2,035 2,030 1,099 1,151 4.7 Utah ..........: 101 96 2,000 1,995 202 192 -5.0 : Vermont .......: 127 126 1,785 1,800 227 227 - Virginia ......: 83 74 1,585 1,575 132 117 -11.4 Washington ....: 277 281 2,075 2,090 575 587 2.1 Wisconsin .....: 1,274 1,267 2,060 2,070 2,624 2,623 - : 24-State Total : 8,826 8,789 1,968 1,987 17,372 17,466 0.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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: Revised April - June 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April - June milk cows 1/ : April - June 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 18.0 -14.3 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.5 -28.6 Arizona .......: 208.0 197.0 1,307.0 1,237.0 -5.4 Arkansas ......: 6.0 5.0 21.0 18.0 -14.3 California ....: 1,735.0 1,728.0 10,289.0 10,463.0 1.7 Colorado ......: 176.0 184.0 1,152.0 1,206.0 4.7 Connecticut ...: 19.5 19.5 111.0 108.0 -2.7 Delaware ......: 4.9 4.2 25.1 19.2 -23.5 Florida .......: 121.0 115.0 641.0 618.0 -3.6 Georgia .......: 83.0 83.0 454.0 457.0 0.7 : Hawaii ........: 2.1 0.8 10.7 0.8 -92.5 Idaho .........: 609.0 619.0 3,837.0 3,933.0 2.5 Illinois ......: 93.0 84.0 503.0 454.0 -9.7 Indiana .......: 184.0 178.0 1,078.0 1,045.0 -3.1 Iowa ..........: 220.0 217.0 1,330.0 1,325.0 -0.4 Kansas ........: 158.0 162.0 944.0 961.0 1.8 Kentucky ......: 56.0 51.0 272.0 252.0 -7.4 Louisiana .....: 11.5 10.5 43.0 37.0 -14.0 Maine .........: 30.0 30.0 160.0 161.0 0.6 Maryland ......: 46.0 43.0 245.0 217.0 -11.4 : Massachusetts .: 11.5 10.5 53.0 49.0 -7.5 Michigan ......: 423.0 425.0 2,869.0 2,918.0 1.7 Minnesota .....: 454.0 448.0 2,510.0 2,527.0 0.7 Mississippi ...: 9.0 8.5 36.0 34.0 -5.6 Missouri ......: 83.0 79.0 335.0 303.0 -9.6 Montana .......: 12.5 11.5 70.0 65.0 -7.1 Nebraska ......: 60.0 58.0 367.0 354.0 -3.5 Nevada ........: 32.0 33.0 186.0 190.0 2.2 New Hampshire .: 12.5 11.5 65.0 62.0 -4.6 New Jersey ....: 6.0 4.8 29.0 26.0 -10.3 : New Mexico ....: 333.0 322.0 2,157.0 2,102.0 -2.5 New York ......: 624.0 627.0 3,823.0 3,869.0 1.2 North Carolina : 44.0 43.0 245.0 236.0 -3.7 North Dakota ..: 15.5 14.5 85.0 83.0 -2.4 Ohio ..........: 261.0 248.0 1,445.0 1,374.0 -4.9 Oklahoma ......: 40.0 42.0 185.0 192.0 3.8 Oregon ........: 121.0 122.0 642.0 655.0 2.0 Pennsylvania ..: 523.0 493.0 2,780.0 2,589.0 -6.9 Rhode Island ..: 0.7 0.7 3.0 2.8 -6.7 South Carolina : 14.5 12.0 66.0 55.0 -16.7 : South Dakota ..: 121.0 123.0 687.0 693.0 0.9 Tennessee .....: 38.0 32.0 170.0 145.0 -14.7 Texas .........: 535.0 564.0 3,315.0 3,511.0 5.9 Utah ..........: 100.0 98.0 596.0 576.0 -3.4 Vermont .......: 127.0 126.0 684.0 687.0 0.4 Virginia ......: 84.0 75.0 429.0 384.0 -10.5 Washington ....: 277.0 278.0 1,712.0 1,722.0 0.6 West Virginia .: 7.0 6.0 29.0 23.0 -20.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,274.0 1,269.0 7,778.0 7,784.0 0.1 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 35.8 36.5 2.0 : United States .: 9,418.0 9,327.0 55,831.0 55,778.0 -0.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary July - September 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : July - September milk cows 1/ : July - September 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 4.5 15.0 13.0 -13.3 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.6 -25.0 Arizona .......: 206.0 195.0 1,138.0 1,084.0 -4.7 Arkansas ......: 5.5 5.0 16.0 14.0 -12.5 California ....: 1,733.0 1,728.0 9,820.0 10,003.0 1.9 Colorado ......: 178.0 187.0 1,161.0 1,220.0 5.1 Connecticut ...: 19.5 19.0 104.0 104.0 - Delaware ......: 4.9 4.0 21.1 16.2 -23.2 Florida .......: 119.0 116.0 531.0 537.0 1.1 Georgia .......: 80.0 80.0 411.0 404.0 -1.7 : Hawaii ........: 2.0 0.8 7.8 0.6 -92.3 Idaho .........: 610.0 626.0 3,898.0 4,031.0 3.4 Illinois ......: 90.0 83.0 444.0 412.0 -7.2 Indiana .......: 183.0 175.0 1,016.0 978.0 -3.7 Iowa ..........: 220.0 217.0 1,300.0 1,294.0 -0.5 Kansas ........: 160.0 162.0 927.0 943.0 1.7 Kentucky ......: 53.0 49.0 227.0 211.0 -7.0 Louisiana .....: 11.0 10.0 31.0 27.0 -12.9 Maine .........: 30.0 29.0 156.0 158.0 1.3 Maryland ......: 45.0 42.0 219.0 200.0 -8.7 : Massachusetts .: 11.0 10.0 51.0 47.0 -7.8 Michigan ......: 423.0 427.0 2,789.0 2,852.0 2.3 Minnesota .....: 451.0 447.0 2,478.0 2,501.0 0.9 Mississippi ...: 8.5 8.0 28.0 26.0 -7.1 Missouri ......: 82.0 77.0 276.0 254.0 -8.0 Montana .......: 12.0 11.5 69.0 65.0 -5.8 Nebraska ......: 59.0 58.0 353.0 345.0 -2.3 Nevada ........: 32.0 33.0 184.0 188.0 2.2 New Hampshire .: 12.0 11.0 61.0 59.0 -3.3 New Jersey ....: 5.5 4.7 26.0 23.0 -11.5 : New Mexico ....: 328.0 325.0 2,047.0 2,045.0 -0.1 New York ......: 622.0 627.0 3,773.0 3,802.0 0.8 North Carolina : 43.0 41.0 219.0 213.0 -2.7 North Dakota ..: 15.5 14.5 85.0 83.0 -2.4 Ohio ..........: 258.0 250.0 1,357.0 1,345.0 -0.9 Oklahoma ......: 40.0 41.0 170.0 170.0 - Oregon ........: 122.0 124.0 638.0 658.0 3.1 Pennsylvania ..: 519.0 485.0 2,614.0 2,461.0 -5.9 Rhode Island ..: 0.7 0.7 3.0 2.7 -10.0 South Carolina : 13.5 11.0 53.0 45.0 -15.1 : South Dakota ..: 121.0 124.0 685.0 712.0 3.9 Tennessee .....: 36.0 31.0 143.0 124.0 -13.3 Texas .........: 539.0 567.0 3,242.0 3,455.0 6.6 Utah ..........: 101.0 96.0 596.0 571.0 -4.2 Vermont .......: 127.0 126.0 669.0 673.0 0.6 Virginia ......: 82.0 74.0 389.0 349.0 -10.3 Washington ....: 277.0 281.0 1,708.0 1,746.0 2.2 West Virginia .: 7.0 6.0 27.0 22.0 -18.5 Wisconsin .....: 1,274.0 1,267.0 7,756.0 7,737.0 -0.2 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 35.8 37.0 3.4 : United States .: 9,383.0 9,317.0 53,969.0 54,261.0 0.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 54.3 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 37 3 124 14 6 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 0 28 14 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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@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 Lanouette - 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. 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