Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released May 20, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). April Milk Production up 3.5 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during April totaled 18.4 billion pounds, up 3.5 percent from April 2020. March revised production, at 18.9 billion pounds, was up 2.2 percent from March 2020. The March revision represented an increase of 30 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,051 pounds for April, 42 pounds above April 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.98 million head, 121,000 head more than April 2020, and 15,000 head more than March 2021. April Milk Production in the United States up 3.3 Percent Milk production in the United States during April totaled 19.3 billion pounds, up 3.3 percent from April 2020. Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,033 pounds for April, 40 pounds above April 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.49 million head, 113,000 head more than April 2020, and 16,000 head more than March 2021. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2020-2021 [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 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : from : : : : : : : 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,378 9,460 5,990 6,002 56,174 56,775 1.1 April-June ......: 9,364 5,988 56,070 July-September ..: 9,380 5,908 55,419 October-December : 9,429 5,892 55,557 : Annual ..........: 9,388 23,777 223,220 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2020-2021 [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 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : from : : : : : : : 2020 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,837 8,934 2,034 2,065 17,974 18,446 2.6 February ......: 8,848 8,947 1,926 1,884 17,038 16,858 -1.1 March .........: 8,861 8,961 2,085 2,106 18,474 18,873 2.2 April .........: 8,855 8,976 2,009 2,051 17,787 18,410 3.5 May ...........: 8,838 2,044 18,061 June ..........: 8,834 1,984 17,530 July ..........: 8,854 2,024 17,919 August ........: 8,857 2,010 17,799 September .....: 8,877 1,941 17,226 October .......: 8,897 1,996 17,758 November ......: 8,914 1,938 17,274 December ......: 8,923 2,019 18,012 : Annual ........: 8,866 24,008 212,852 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2020-2021 [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 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : from : : : : : : : 2020 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,365 9,447 2,016 2,046 18,877 19,328 2.4 February ......: 9,377 9,460 1,908 1,868 17,895 17,667 -1.3 March .........: 9,391 9,474 2,066 2,088 19,402 19,780 1.9 April .........: 9,377 9,490 1,993 2,033 18,684 19,295 3.3 May ...........: 9,360 2,027 18,972 June ..........: 9,355 1,968 18,414 July ..........: 9,372 2,001 18,756 August ........: 9,374 1,988 18,632 September .....: 9,395 1,919 18,031 October .......: 9,414 1,976 18,603 November ......: 9,432 1,919 18,103 December ......: 9,442 1,997 18,851 : Annual ........: 9,388 23,777 223,220 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: April 2020 and 2021 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : from : : : : : : : 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 200 196 2,155 2,165 431 424 -1.6 California ......: 1,721 1,720 2,035 2,120 3,502 3,646 4.1 Colorado ........: 194 205 2,160 2,165 419 444 6.0 Florida .........: 115 109 1,805 1,805 208 197 -5.3 Georgia .........: 82 81 1,880 1,900 154 154 - Idaho ...........: 647 652 2,090 2,095 1,352 1,366 1.0 Illinois ........: 82 84 1,870 1,880 153 158 3.3 Indiana .........: 176 195 1,990 2,000 350 390 11.4 Iowa ............: 219 227 2,040 2,040 447 463 3.6 Kansas ..........: 169 175 1,960 1,995 331 349 5.4 : Michigan ........: 428 443 2,255 2,275 965 1,008 4.5 Minnesota .......: 445 462 1,850 1,905 823 880 6.9 New Mexico ......: 330 333 2,100 2,140 693 713 2.9 New York ........: 626 626 2,045 2,090 1,280 1,308 2.2 Ohio ............: 253 260 1,840 1,840 466 478 2.6 Oregon ..........: 125 126 1,760 1,760 220 222 0.9 Pennsylvania ....: 485 475 1,820 1,840 883 874 -1.0 South Dakota ....: 132 150 1,870 1,865 247 280 13.4 Texas ...........: 590 619 2,090 2,145 1,233 1,328 7.7 Utah ............: 97 95 1,930 1,945 187 185 -1.1 : Vermont .........: 124 119 1,800 1,825 223 217 -2.7 Virginia ........: 75 73 1,765 1,770 132 129 -2.3 Washington ......: 280 277 2,030 2,020 568 560 -1.4 Wisconsin .......: 1,260 1,274 2,000 2,070 2,520 2,637 4.6 : 24-State Total ..: 8,855 8,976 2,009 2,051 17,787 18,410 3.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: March 2020 and 2021 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : from : : : : : : : 2020 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 200 196 2,285 2,265 457 444 -2.8 California ....: 1,722 1,720 2,135 2,170 3,676 3,732 1.5 Colorado ......: 194 204 2,225 2,230 432 455 5.3 Florida .......: 116 109 1,885 1,880 219 205 -6.4 Georgia .......: 82 81 1,990 2,010 163 163 - Idaho .........: 647 652 2,135 2,135 1,381 1,392 0.8 Illinois ......: 82 83 1,940 1,940 159 161 1.3 Indiana .......: 176 194 2,045 2,065 360 401 11.4 Iowa ..........: 219 227 2,110 2,115 462 480 3.9 Kansas ........: 171 175 2,050 2,080 351 364 3.7 : Michigan ......: 428 442 2,335 2,345 999 1,036 3.7 Minnesota .....: 445 462 1,910 1,970 850 910 7.1 New Mexico ....: 332 333 2,195 2,165 729 721 -1.1 New York ......: 626 626 2,110 2,135 1,321 1,337 1.2 Ohio ..........: 253 260 1,900 1,910 481 497 3.3 Oregon ........: 127 126 1,780 1,795 226 226 - Pennsylvania ..: 485 475 1,870 1,880 907 893 -1.5 South Dakota ..: 129 147 1,960 1,940 253 285 12.6 Texas .........: 590 617 2,180 2,165 1,286 1,336 3.9 Utah ..........: 98 95 1,960 1,990 192 189 -1.6 : Vermont .......: 124 119 1,870 1,865 232 222 -4.3 Virginia ......: 75 73 1,830 1,820 137 133 -2.9 Washington ....: 280 278 2,070 2,060 580 573 -1.2 Wisconsin .....: 1,260 1,267 2,080 2,145 2,621 2,718 3.7 : 24-State Total : 8,861 8,961 2,085 2,106 18,474 18,873 2.2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 such as Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Dairy Market News. Indications of milk cow inventory are also obtained in the January Cattle Survey. 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 in the table below. 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 the 24 State milk production estimates over the past 24 months is 0.4 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 18.4 billion pounds by more than 0.4 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.7 percent. Reliability of Monthly Milk Production Estimates [Based on data for the past 24 months] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Months : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent -------- 1,000 -------- ----- number ----- : : Milk production ..............: 0.4 0.7 52 0 150 19 4 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 10 0 26 21 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) 692-0069 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 690-8632 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .......... (202) 720-3040 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs .............. (202) 720-3106 Logan Hartley-Sanguinett - Sheep and Goats ... (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 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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