Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released April 20, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March Milk Production up 1.5 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 17.8 billion pounds, up 1.5 percent from March 2017. February revised production at 15.9 billion pounds, was up 1.8 percent from February 2017. The February revision represented a decrease of 12 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 2,038 pounds for March, 22 pounds above March 2017. 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 8.74 million head, 29,000 head more than March 2017, but 2,000 head less than February 2018. January-March Milk Production up 1.5 Percent Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 54.4 billion pounds, up 1.5 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.41 million head, 9,000 head more than the October - December quarter, and 38,000 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 9,407 5,717 5,781 53,562 54,385 1.5 April-June ......: 9,399 5,888 55,344 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 8,743 2,016 2,038 17,564 17,821 1.5 April .........: 8,722 1,972 17,200 May ...........: 8,730 2,037 17,783 June ..........: 8,733 1,941 16,947 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 9,407 1,937 1,959 18,128 18,433 1.7 February ......: 9,365 9,408 1,783 1,803 16,694 16,965 1.6 March .........: 9,383 9,406 1,997 2,019 18,740 18,987 1.3 April .........: 9,392 1,952 18,332 May ...........: 9,401 2,016 18,952 June ..........: 9,404 1,920 18,060 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: March 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 .........: 202 209 2,285 2,275 462 475 2.8 California ......: 1,755 1,737 1,995 2,070 3,501 3,596 2.7 Colorado ........: 158 169 2,235 2,245 353 379 7.4 Florida .........: 124 123 1,925 1,895 239 233 -2.5 Idaho ...........: 596 605 2,025 2,075 1,207 1,255 4.0 Illinois ........: 93 93 1,860 1,875 173 174 0.6 Indiana .........: 186 187 1,995 2,025 371 379 2.2 Iowa ............: 216 220 2,045 2,045 442 450 1.8 Kansas ..........: 153 155 2,030 2,025 311 314 1.0 Michigan ........: 425 426 2,265 2,280 963 971 0.8 : Minnesota .......: 459 454 1,855 1,855 851 842 -1.1 New Mexico ......: 327 334 2,220 2,215 726 740 1.9 New York ........: 622 625 2,055 2,020 1,278 1,263 -1.2 Ohio ............: 262 260 1,865 1,870 489 486 -0.6 Oregon ..........: 124 123 1,775 1,755 220 216 -1.8 Pennsylvania ....: 525 525 1,840 1,835 966 963 -0.3 South Dakota ....: 117 120 1,915 1,880 224 226 0.9 Texas ...........: 507 518 2,100 2,155 1,065 1,116 4.8 Utah ............: 94 97 1,950 1,985 183 193 5.5 Vermont .........: 129 128 1,820 1,805 235 231 -1.7 : Virginia ........: 87 86 1,795 1,760 156 151 -3.2 Washington ......: 273 275 2,020 2,070 551 569 3.3 Wisconsin .......: 1,280 1,274 2,030 2,040 2,598 2,599 - : 23-State Total ..: 8,714 8,743 2,016 2,038 17,564 17,821 1.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 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 .......: 200 207 2,050 2,015 410 417 1.7 California ....: 1,755 1,738 1,780 1,860 3,124 3,233 3.5 Colorado ......: 156 168 2,005 2,005 313 337 7.7 Florida .......: 123 124 1,730 1,695 213 210 -1.4 Idaho .........: 596 605 1,800 1,870 1,073 1,131 5.4 Illinois ......: 93 93 1,640 1,660 153 154 0.7 Indiana .......: 186 187 1,780 1,780 331 333 0.6 Iowa ..........: 216 220 1,830 1,830 395 403 2.0 Kansas ........: 151 155 1,805 1,830 273 284 4.0 Michigan ......: 425 427 2,030 2,015 863 860 -0.3 : Minnesota .....: 460 455 1,660 1,670 764 760 -0.5 New Mexico ....: 325 334 1,960 1,970 637 658 3.3 New York ......: 621 625 1,860 1,805 1,155 1,128 -2.3 Ohio ..........: 262 262 1,640 1,645 430 431 0.2 Oregon ........: 124 123 1,555 1,555 193 191 -1.0 Pennsylvania ..: 525 525 1,635 1,640 858 861 0.3 South Dakota ..: 117 119 1,715 1,700 201 202 0.5 Texas .........: 499 516 1,860 1,895 928 978 5.4 Utah ..........: 92 97 1,730 1,755 159 170 6.9 Vermont .......: 129 128 1,645 1,625 212 208 -1.9 : Virginia ......: 87 87 1,585 1,570 138 137 -0.7 Washington ....: 274 275 1,795 1,850 492 509 3.5 Wisconsin .....: 1,280 1,275 1,820 1,825 2,330 2,327 -0.1 : 23-State Total : 8,696 8,745 1,799 1,821 15,645 15,922 1.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2016 and 2017 [May not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October - December milk cows 1/ : October - December milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 : 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama .......: 7.0 6.0 21.0 19.0 -9.5 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.7 -22.2 Arizona .......: 196.0 204.0 1,203.0 1,220.0 1.4 Arkansas ......: 6.0 6.0 18.0 18.0 - California ....: 1,757.0 1,742.0 9,900.0 9,809.0 -0.9 Colorado ......: 154.0 164.0 999.0 1,074.0 7.5 Connecticut ...: 19.0 19.0 100.0 108.0 8.0 Delaware ......: 5.0 5.0 22.1 22.5 1.8 Florida .......: 121.0 124.0 580.0 577.0 -0.5 Georgia .......: 83.0 85.0 439.0 434.0 -1.1 : Hawaii ........: 2.4 2.1 8.4 9.0 7.1 Idaho .........: 599.0 600.0 3,626.0 3,606.0 -0.6 Illinois ......: 93.0 93.0 465.0 476.0 2.4 Indiana .......: 185.0 187.0 1,034.0 1,059.0 2.4 Iowa ..........: 215.0 219.0 1,256.0 1,303.0 3.7 Kansas ........: 149.0 153.0 854.0 883.0 3.4 Kentucky ......: 57.0 56.0 251.0 257.0 2.4 Louisiana .....: 12.0 12.0 35.0 37.0 5.7 Maine .........: 30.0 30.0 154.0 153.0 -0.6 Maryland ......: 47.0 47.0 234.0 233.0 -0.4 : Massachusetts .: 11.5 11.5 54.0 50.0 -7.4 Michigan ......: 423.0 428.0 2,695.0 2,773.0 2.9 Minnesota .....: 461.0 456.0 2,388.0 2,430.0 1.8 Mississippi ...: 9.5 9.0 32.0 30.0 -6.3 Missouri ......: 85.0 84.0 293.0 292.0 -0.3 Montana .......: 14.0 13.0 72.0 71.0 -1.4 Nebraska ......: 60.0 60.0 351.0 366.0 4.3 Nevada ........: 30.0 32.0 169.0 181.0 7.1 New Hampshire .: 13.5 12.5 70.0 64.0 -8.6 New Jersey ....: 6.5 6.0 30.0 29.0 -3.3 : New Mexico ....: 323.0 330.0 1,958.0 2,002.0 2.2 New York ......: 620.0 625.0 3,680.0 3,639.0 -1.1 North Carolina : 45.0 45.0 233.0 234.0 0.4 North Dakota ..: 16.0 15.5 86.0 85.0 -1.2 Ohio ..........: 262.0 264.0 1,373.0 1,362.0 -0.8 Oklahoma ......: 35.0 39.0 165.0 178.0 7.9 Oregon ........: 124.0 124.0 617.0 618.0 0.2 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 525.0 2,664.0 2,676.0 0.5 Rhode Island ..: 0.8 0.8 3.2 3.2 - South Carolina : 15.0 15.0 59.0 59.0 - : South Dakota ..: 116.0 117.0 644.0 649.0 0.8 Tennessee .....: 41.0 40.0 165.0 168.0 1.8 Texas .........: 490.0 515.0 2,796.0 2,976.0 6.4 Utah ..........: 92.0 97.0 528.0 557.0 5.5 Vermont .......: 129.0 128.0 675.0 671.0 -0.6 Virginia ......: 88.0 87.0 418.0 428.0 2.4 Washington ....: 275.0 274.0 1,625.0 1,609.0 -1.0 West Virginia .: 8.0 7.0 31.0 29.0 -6.5 Wisconsin .....: 1,278.0 1,277.0 7,419.0 7,526.0 1.4 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 35.7 33.9 -5.0 : United States .: 9,341.0 9,398.0 52,529.0 53,087.0 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: Preliminary 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 .......: 200.0 207.0 1,297.0 1,336.0 3.0 Arkansas ......: 6.0 6.0 22.0 21.0 -4.5 California ....: 1,755.0 1,738.0 10,038.0 10,314.0 2.7 Colorado ......: 156.0 168.0 1,003.0 1,089.0 8.6 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 1,296.0 2.3 Kansas ........: 152.0 155.0 876.0 904.0 3.2 Kentucky ......: 56.0 57.0 271.0 284.0 4.8 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 2,768.0 0.4 Minnesota .....: 460.0 455.0 2,445.0 2,437.0 -0.3 Mississippi ...: 9.0 9.0 40.0 36.0 -10.0 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 45.0 251.0 251.0 - North Dakota ..: 15.5 15.5 83.0 82.0 -1.2 Ohio ..........: 262.0 261.0 1,388.0 1,381.0 -0.5 Oklahoma ......: 38.0 39.0 188.0 188.0 - Oregon ........: 124.0 123.0 622.0 617.0 -0.8 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 ..: 117.0 119.0 645.0 649.0 0.6 Tennessee .....: 41.0 39.0 184.0 181.0 -1.6 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 87.0 442.0 436.0 -1.4 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 9,407.0 53,562.0 54,385.0 1.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 54.4 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 0 111 13 6 : All milk cows ................: 0.0 0.1 3 0 7 6 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) 720-3240 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. 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