Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released July 22, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). June Milk Production up 0.1 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during June totaled 17.3 billion pounds, up 0.1 percent from June 2018. May revised production at 18.1 billion pounds, was down slightly from May 2018. The May revision represented an increase of 18 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,976 pounds for June, 15 pounds above June 2018. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.78 million head, 62,000 head less than June 2018, and 12,000 head less than May 2019. April-June Milk Production down 0.1 Percent Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 55.8 billion pounds, down 0.1 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.33 million head, 15,000 head less than the January - March quarter, and 89,000 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 9,329 5,928 5,976 55,831 55,752 -0.1 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 - 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 8,778 1,961 1,976 17,336 17,348 0.1 July ..........: 8,829 1,977 17,454 August ........: 8,826 1,968 17,372 September .....: 8,807 1,880 16,561 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 9,333 2,030 2,043 19,131 19,064 -0.4 June ..........: 9,414 9,323 1,943 1,955 18,288 18,230 -0.3 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: June 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 .........: 206 196 2,005 2,010 413 394 -4.6 California ......: 1,735 1,728 1,905 1,935 3,305 3,344 1.2 Colorado ........: 177 187 2,160 2,165 382 405 6.0 Florida .........: 120 115 1,675 1,695 201 195 -3.0 Georgia .........: 82 82 1,715 1,715 141 141 - Idaho ...........: 610 619 2,095 2,105 1,278 1,303 2.0 Illinois ........: 93 84 1,720 1,750 160 147 -8.1 Indiana .........: 184 177 1,885 1,910 347 338 -2.6 Iowa ............: 220 217 1,975 1,995 435 433 -0.5 Kansas ..........: 159 162 1,935 1,935 308 313 1.6 : Michigan ........: 423 425 2,240 2,280 948 969 2.2 Minnesota .......: 453 447 1,835 1,875 831 838 0.8 New Mexico ......: 332 321 2,130 2,140 707 687 -2.8 New York ........: 623 627 2,050 2,040 1,277 1,279 0.2 Ohio ............: 260 246 1,800 1,820 468 448 -4.3 Oregon ..........: 121 122 1,750 1,760 212 215 1.4 Pennsylvania ....: 521 490 1,720 1,710 896 838 -6.5 South Dakota ....: 122 123 1,875 1,875 229 231 0.9 Texas ...........: 536 565 2,020 2,025 1,083 1,144 5.6 Utah ............: 101 98 1,975 1,970 199 193 -3.0 : Vermont .........: 127 126 1,785 1,795 227 226 -0.4 Virginia ........: 84 75 1,610 1,650 135 124 -8.1 Washington ......: 277 278 2,050 2,045 568 569 0.2 Wisconsin .......: 1,274 1,268 2,030 2,030 2,586 2,574 -0.5 : 24-State Total ..: 8,840 8,778 1,961 1,976 17,336 17,348 0.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: May 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 .......: 208 198 2,145 2,145 446 425 -4.7 California ....: 1,735 1,728 2,035 2,070 3,531 3,577 1.3 Colorado ......: 177 185 2,215 2,220 392 411 4.8 Florida .......: 122 115 1,830 1,850 223 213 -4.5 Georgia .......: 83 83 1,885 1,870 156 155 -0.6 Idaho .........: 610 619 2,170 2,170 1,324 1,343 1.4 Illinois ......: 93 84 1,890 1,860 176 156 -11.4 Indiana .......: 184 179 2,010 2,010 370 360 -2.7 Iowa ..........: 220 217 2,060 2,090 453 454 0.2 Kansas ........: 158 162 2,050 2,020 324 327 0.9 : Michigan ......: 423 425 2,330 2,350 986 999 1.3 Minnesota .....: 454 448 1,895 1,925 860 862 0.2 New Mexico ....: 332 322 2,190 2,230 727 718 -1.2 New York ......: 624 627 2,100 2,110 1,310 1,323 1.0 Ohio ..........: 262 248 1,900 1,900 498 471 -5.4 Oregon ........: 121 122 1,810 1,835 219 224 2.3 Pennsylvania ..: 523 493 1,825 1,800 954 887 -7.0 South Dakota ..: 121 123 1,940 1,910 235 235 - Texas .........: 535 565 2,120 2,115 1,134 1,195 5.4 Utah ..........: 101 98 2,015 2,010 204 197 -3.4 : Vermont .......: 127 126 1,845 1,855 234 234 - Virginia ......: 84 76 1,760 1,750 148 133 -10.1 Washington ....: 277 278 2,110 2,115 584 588 0.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,274 1,269 2,090 2,095 2,663 2,659 -0.2 : 24-State Total : 8,848 8,790 2,051 2,064 18,151 18,146 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 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 1,262.0 -4.8 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 1,160.0 5.8 Connecticut ...: 19.0 19.5 108.0 109.0 0.9 Delaware ......: 5.0 4.5 25.2 21.6 -14.3 Florida .......: 124.0 116.0 664.0 625.0 -5.9 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 3,723.0 2.1 Illinois ......: 93.0 85.0 496.0 457.0 -7.9 Indiana .......: 186.0 181.0 1,057.0 1,027.0 -2.8 Iowa ..........: 220.0 219.0 1,312.0 1,318.0 0.5 Kansas ........: 156.0 163.0 910.0 934.0 2.6 Kentucky ......: 57.0 52.0 277.0 253.0 -8.7 Louisiana .....: 12.0 11.0 46.0 40.0 -13.0 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 2,792.0 1.2 Minnesota .....: 455.0 449.0 2,442.0 2,465.0 0.9 Mississippi ...: 9.0 8.5 37.0 35.0 -5.4 Missouri ......: 84.0 79.0 313.0 285.0 -8.9 Montana .......: 12.5 11.5 70.0 64.0 -8.6 Nebraska ......: 60.0 59.0 366.0 355.0 -3.0 Nevada ........: 32.0 33.0 180.0 190.0 5.6 New Hampshire .: 12.5 11.5 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 3,705.0 2.5 North Carolina : 45.0 43.0 249.0 236.0 -5.2 North Dakota ..: 15.5 14.5 82.0 80.0 -2.4 Ohio ..........: 262.0 252.0 1,399.0 1,337.0 -4.4 Oklahoma ......: 41.0 41.0 190.0 190.0 - Oregon ........: 123.0 124.0 613.0 637.0 3.9 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 498.0 2,739.0 2,564.0 -6.4 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 ..: 119.0 124.0 651.0 689.0 5.8 Tennessee .....: 39.0 33.0 178.0 150.0 -15.7 Texas .........: 530.0 553.0 3,146.0 3,363.0 6.9 Utah ..........: 99.0 99.0 557.0 559.0 0.4 Vermont .......: 128.0 126.0 667.0 674.0 1.0 Virginia ......: 87.0 77.0 437.0 385.0 -11.9 Washington ....: 275.0 278.0 1,636.0 1,640.0 0.2 West Virginia .: 7.0 6.5 30.0 24.0 -20.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,275.0 1,270.0 7,482.0 7,588.0 1.4 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 34.8 35.9 3.2 : United States .: 9,435.0 9,344.0 54,399.0 54,450.0 0.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 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 .......: 208.0 198.0 1,307.0 1,242.0 -5.0 Arkansas ......: 6.0 5.0 21.0 17.0 -19.0 California ....: 1,735.0 1,728.0 10,289.0 10,463.0 1.7 Colorado ......: 176.0 185.0 1,152.0 1,208.0 4.9 Connecticut ...: 19.5 19.5 111.0 108.0 -2.7 Delaware ......: 4.9 4.3 25.1 19.2 -23.5 Florida .......: 121.0 115.0 641.0 614.0 -4.2 Georgia .......: 83.0 83.0 454.0 453.0 -0.2 : Hawaii ........: 2.1 0.8 10.7 0.8 -92.5 Idaho .........: 609.0 619.0 3,837.0 3,925.0 2.3 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 1,323.0 -0.5 Kansas ........: 158.0 162.0 944.0 960.0 1.7 Kentucky ......: 56.0 51.0 272.0 250.0 -8.1 Louisiana .....: 11.5 10.5 43.0 37.0 -14.0 Maine .........: 30.0 30.0 160.0 166.0 3.8 Maryland ......: 46.0 43.0 245.0 219.0 -10.6 : 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 2,522.0 0.5 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 58.0 367.0 352.0 -4.1 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 ....: 333.0 321.0 2,157.0 2,100.0 -2.6 New York ......: 624.0 627.0 3,823.0 3,869.0 1.2 North Carolina : 44.0 43.0 245.0 234.0 -4.5 North Dakota ..: 15.5 14.5 85.0 83.0 -2.4 Ohio ..........: 261.0 248.0 1,445.0 1,377.0 -4.7 Oklahoma ......: 40.0 42.0 185.0 192.0 3.8 Oregon ........: 121.0 122.0 642.0 654.0 1.9 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 ..: 121.0 123.0 687.0 692.0 0.7 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 98.0 596.0 579.0 -2.9 Vermont .......: 127.0 126.0 684.0 687.0 0.4 Virginia ......: 84.0 76.0 429.0 387.0 -9.8 Washington ....: 277.0 278.0 1,712.0 1,721.0 0.5 West Virginia .: 7.0 6.0 29.0 23.0 -20.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,274.0 1,269.0 7,778.0 7,771.0 -0.1 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 35.8 36.5 2.0 : United States .: 9,418.0 9,329.0 55,831.0 55,752.0 -0.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 40 3 124 14 6 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 0 28 15 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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