Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released February 20, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). December Milk Production up 0.9 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 17.1 billion pounds, up 0.9 percent from December 2017. November revised production at 16.4 billion pounds, was up 0.8 percent from November 2017. The November revision represented a decrease of 3 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,966 pounds for December, 23 pounds above December 2017. This is the highest production per cow for the month of December since the 23 State series began in 2003. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.72 million head, 21,000 head less than December 2017, and 2,000 head less than November 2018. October-December Milk Production up 0.5 Percent Milk production in the United States during the October - December quarter totaled 53.3 billion pounds, up 0.5 percent from the October - December quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.36 million head, 18,000 head less than the July - September quarter, and 41,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2017-2018 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 9,402 5,888 5,936 55,344 55,808 0.8 July-September ..: 9,402 9,375 5,687 5,755 53,473 53,952 0.9 October-December : 9,398 9,357 5,649 5,702 53,087 53,349 0.5 : Annual ..........: 9,392 9,385 22,941 23,173 215,466 217,476 0.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 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 8,743 1,941 1,969 16,947 17,214 1.6 July ..........: 8,734 8,734 1,972 1,982 17,224 17,315 0.5 August ........: 8,741 8,736 1,946 1,973 17,014 17,235 1.3 September .....: 8,737 8,724 1,850 1,880 16,162 16,403 1.5 October .......: 8,731 8,726 1,914 1,932 16,710 16,856 0.9 November ......: 8,734 8,717 1,859 1,877 16,235 16,363 0.8 December ......: 8,736 8,715 1,943 1,966 16,978 17,133 0.9 : Annual ........: 8,725 8,734 23,204 23,451 202,455 204,825 1.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 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 1,956 18,332 18,390 0.3 May ...........: 9,401 9,404 2,016 2,033 18,952 19,114 0.9 June ..........: 9,404 9,402 1,920 1,947 18,060 18,304 1.4 July ..........: 9,404 9,378 1,943 1,955 18,268 18,334 0.4 August ........: 9,404 9,379 1,919 1,946 18,049 18,250 1.1 September .....: 9,399 9,367 1,825 1,854 17,156 17,368 1.2 October .......: 9,395 9,366 1,891 1,907 17,769 17,857 0.5 November ......: 9,398 9,354 1,837 1,853 17,260 17,337 0.4 December ......: 9,400 9,351 1,921 1,942 18,058 18,155 0.5 : Annual ........: 9,392 9,385 22,941 23,173 215,466 217,476 0.9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: December 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 .........: 203 205 2,110 2,060 428 422 -1.4 California ......: 1,741 1,730 1,935 1,980 3,369 3,425 1.7 Colorado ........: 166 178 2,225 2,195 369 391 6.0 Florida .........: 124 116 1,675 1,665 208 193 -7.2 Idaho ...........: 600 614 2,010 2,060 1,206 1,265 4.9 Illinois ........: 93 85 1,770 1,750 165 149 -9.7 Indiana .........: 187 181 1,900 1,890 355 342 -3.7 Iowa ............: 220 220 2,010 2,005 442 441 -0.2 Kansas ..........: 153 161 1,965 1,970 301 317 5.3 Michigan ........: 428 422 2,180 2,205 933 931 -0.2 : Minnesota .......: 456 450 1,810 1,850 825 833 1.0 New Mexico ......: 332 325 2,075 2,060 689 670 -2.8 New York ........: 625 625 1,950 1,990 1,219 1,244 2.1 Ohio ............: 264 253 1,740 1,740 459 440 -4.1 Oregon ..........: 124 125 1,675 1,735 208 217 4.3 Pennsylvania ....: 525 505 1,735 1,695 911 856 -6.0 South Dakota ....: 118 122 1,865 1,900 220 232 5.5 Texas ...........: 515 542 2,000 1,990 1,030 1,079 4.8 Utah ............: 97 100 1,935 1,920 188 192 2.1 Vermont .........: 128 126 1,775 1,785 227 225 -0.9 : Virginia ........: 87 79 1,680 1,620 146 128 -12.3 Washington ......: 274 280 1,975 2,025 541 567 4.8 Wisconsin .......: 1,276 1,271 1,990 2,025 2,539 2,574 1.4 : 23-State Total ..: 8,736 8,715 1,943 1,966 16,978 17,133 0.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: November 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 .......: 204 204 1,960 1,930 400 394 -1.5 California ....: 1,743 1,731 1,825 1,890 3,181 3,272 2.9 Colorado ......: 164 178 2,135 2,090 350 372 6.3 Florida .......: 124 118 1,515 1,540 188 182 -3.2 Idaho .........: 600 612 1,955 1,995 1,173 1,221 4.1 Illinois ......: 93 85 1,670 1,640 155 139 -10.3 Indiana .......: 187 181 1,855 1,810 347 328 -5.5 Iowa ..........: 219 220 1,935 1,915 424 421 -0.7 Kansas ........: 153 160 1,880 1,890 288 302 4.9 Michigan ......: 428 422 2,115 2,120 905 895 -1.1 : Minnesota .....: 456 451 1,725 1,750 787 789 0.3 New Mexico ....: 330 326 1,985 1,950 655 636 -2.9 New York ......: 625 623 1,895 1,940 1,184 1,209 2.1 Ohio ..........: 264 253 1,675 1,665 442 421 -4.8 Oregon ........: 124 125 1,620 1,655 201 207 3.0 Pennsylvania ..: 525 509 1,660 1,600 872 814 -6.7 South Dakota ..: 117 122 1,795 1,820 210 222 5.7 Texas .........: 515 539 1,890 1,900 973 1,024 5.2 Utah ..........: 97 100 1,880 1,870 182 187 2.7 Vermont .......: 128 126 1,705 1,690 218 213 -2.3 : Virginia ......: 87 80 1,610 1,555 140 124 -11.4 Washington ....: 274 280 1,900 1,935 521 542 4.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,277 1,272 1,910 1,925 2,439 2,449 0.4 : 23-State Total : 8,734 8,717 1,859 1,877 16,235 16,363 0.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised July - September 2017 and 2018 [May not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : July - September milk cows 1/ : July - September 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 5.5 18.0 15.0 -16.7 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.8 33.3 Arizona .......: 204.0 205.0 1,162.0 1,146.0 -1.4 Arkansas ......: 6.0 5.5 17.0 16.0 -5.9 California ....: 1,746.0 1,734.0 9,708.0 9,821.0 1.2 Colorado ......: 161.0 176.0 1,069.0 1,161.0 8.6 Connecticut ...: 18.5 19.5 102.0 106.0 3.9 Delaware ......: 5.0 4.9 21.2 21.1 -0.5 Florida .......: 124.0 119.0 569.0 530.0 -6.9 Georgia .......: 84.0 80.0 416.0 411.0 -1.2 : Hawaii ........: 2.2 2.0 9.8 8.9 -9.2 Idaho .........: 602.0 607.0 3,818.0 3,863.0 1.2 Illinois ......: 93.0 92.0 462.0 451.0 -2.4 Indiana .......: 187.0 184.0 1,040.0 1,020.0 -1.9 Iowa ..........: 218.0 220.0 1,294.0 1,292.0 -0.2 Kansas ........: 152.0 160.0 868.0 927.0 6.8 Kentucky ......: 55.0 53.0 236.0 227.0 -3.8 Louisiana .....: 12.0 11.0 32.0 31.0 -3.1 Maine .........: 30.0 30.0 159.0 157.0 -1.3 Maryland ......: 48.0 45.0 226.0 219.0 -3.1 : Massachusetts .: 11.5 11.0 52.0 51.0 -1.9 Michigan ......: 428.0 423.0 2,816.0 2,786.0 -1.1 Minnesota .....: 458.0 451.0 2,473.0 2,492.0 0.8 Mississippi ...: 9.0 8.5 29.0 28.0 -3.4 Missouri ......: 85.0 82.0 286.0 276.0 -3.5 Montana .......: 13.5 12.5 73.0 69.0 -5.5 Nebraska ......: 60.0 59.0 361.0 353.0 -2.2 Nevada ........: 32.0 32.0 182.0 184.0 1.1 New Hampshire .: 13.0 12.0 65.0 61.0 -6.2 New Jersey ....: 6.0 5.5 28.0 26.0 -7.1 : New Mexico ....: 331.0 328.0 2,040.0 2,043.0 0.1 New York ......: 624.0 622.0 3,734.0 3,773.0 1.0 North Carolina : 44.0 43.0 220.0 219.0 -0.5 North Dakota ..: 16.0 15.5 88.0 85.0 -3.4 Ohio ..........: 263.0 256.0 1,393.0 1,351.0 -3.0 Oklahoma ......: 39.0 40.0 170.0 172.0 1.2 Oregon ........: 123.0 122.0 637.0 638.0 0.2 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 519.0 2,683.0 2,616.0 -2.5 Rhode Island ..: 0.8 0.7 3.4 3.0 -11.8 South Carolina : 14.5 13.5 54.0 53.0 -1.9 : South Dakota ..: 118.0 121.0 666.0 685.0 2.9 Tennessee .....: 39.0 36.0 158.0 143.0 -9.5 Texas .........: 515.0 535.0 2,984.0 3,239.0 8.5 Utah ..........: 97.0 100.0 575.0 597.0 3.8 Vermont .......: 129.0 127.0 680.0 669.0 -1.6 Virginia ......: 87.0 82.0 417.0 389.0 -6.7 Washington ....: 275.0 277.0 1,671.0 1,708.0 2.2 West Virginia .: 7.5 7.0 31.0 27.0 -12.9 Wisconsin .....: 1,278.0 1,274.0 7,641.0 7,756.0 1.5 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 34.7 35.8 3.2 : United States .: 9,402.0 9,375.0 53,473.0 53,952.0 0.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary 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 .......: 204.0 204.0 1,220.0 1,208.0 -1.0 Arkansas ......: 6.0 5.0 18.0 16.0 -11.1 California ....: 1,742.0 1,731.0 9,809.0 10,014.0 2.1 Colorado ......: 164.0 178.0 1,074.0 1,148.0 6.9 Connecticut ...: 19.0 19.5 108.0 105.0 -2.8 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 3,606.0 3,767.0 4.5 Illinois ......: 93.0 87.0 476.0 437.0 -8.2 Indiana .......: 187.0 181.0 1,059.0 1,010.0 -4.6 Iowa ..........: 219.0 220.0 1,303.0 1,297.0 -0.5 Kansas ........: 153.0 160.0 883.0 927.0 5.0 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 2,430.0 2,438.0 0.3 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 3,639.0 3,692.0 1.5 North Carolina : 45.0 43.0 234.0 224.0 -4.3 North Dakota ..: 15.5 15.0 85.0 82.0 -3.5 Ohio ..........: 264.0 253.0 1,362.0 1,300.0 -4.6 Oklahoma ......: 39.0 40.0 178.0 180.0 1.1 Oregon ........: 124.0 125.0 618.0 638.0 3.2 Pennsylvania ..: 525.0 510.0 2,676.0 2,527.0 -5.6 Rhode Island ..: 0.8 0.7 3.2 2.7 -15.6 South Carolina : 15.0 14.0 59.0 54.0 -8.5 : South Dakota ..: 117.0 122.0 649.0 682.0 5.1 Tennessee .....: 40.0 36.0 168.0 143.0 -14.9 Texas .........: 515.0 540.0 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 1,609.0 1,680.0 4.4 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 .: 9,398.0 9,357.0 53,087.0 53,349.0 0.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 53.3 billion pounds by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 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 0.1 36 0 111 11 8 : 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) 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. 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