Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released April 20, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March Milk Production down 0.4 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during March totaled 18.8 billion pounds, down 0.4 percent from March 2021. February revised production, at 16.8 billion pounds, was down 0.7 percent from February 2021. The February revision represented an increase of 8 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,113 pounds for March, 7 pounds above March 2021. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.90 million head, 68,000 head less than March 2021, but 15,000 head more than February 2022. January-March Milk Production down 1.0 Percent Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 56.3 billion pounds, down 1.0 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.38 million head, unchanged from the October - December quarter, but 85,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2021-2022 [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 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,466 9,381 6,005 5,998 56,847 56,263 -1.0 April-June ......: 9,503 6,119 58,147 July-September ..: 9,442 5,914 55,836 October-December : 9,381 5,909 55,428 : Annual ..........: 9,448 23,948 226,258 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2021-2022 [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 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,938 8,874 2,067 2,051 18,477 18,198 -1.5 February ......: 8,954 8,887 1,884 1,885 16,871 16,755 -0.7 March .........: 8,970 8,902 2,106 2,113 18,888 18,812 -0.4 April .........: 8,987 2,055 18,467 May ...........: 8,996 2,106 18,949 June ..........: 8,991 2,011 18,078 July ..........: 8,983 2,034 18,272 August ........: 8,939 2,004 17,910 September .....: 8,909 1,935 17,239 October .......: 8,892 2,003 17,812 November ......: 8,888 1,939 17,232 December ......: 8,880 2,024 17,971 : Annual ........: 8,944 24,169 216,166 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2021-2022 [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 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,450 9,367 2,049 2,033 19,365 19,040 -1.7 February ......: 9,466 9,380 1,868 1,869 17,685 17,533 -0.9 March .........: 9,482 9,395 2,088 2,096 19,797 19,690 -0.5 April .........: 9,500 2,037 19,350 May ...........: 9,507 2,088 19,855 June ..........: 9,501 1,994 18,942 July ..........: 9,483 2,014 19,097 August ........: 9,438 1,984 18,721 September .....: 9,405 1,916 18,018 October .......: 9,387 1,984 18,623 November ......: 9,382 1,920 18,015 December ......: 9,373 2,005 18,790 : Annual ........: 9,448 23,948 226,258 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: March 2021 and 2022 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 200 198 2,260 2,250 452 446 -1.3 California ......: 1,720 1,721 2,165 2,175 3,724 3,743 0.5 Colorado ........: 204 202 2,230 2,230 455 450 -1.1 Florida .........: 109 98 1,880 1,870 205 183 -10.7 Georgia .........: 81 88 2,010 2,010 163 177 8.6 Idaho ...........: 652 652 2,135 2,135 1,392 1,392 - Illinois ........: 83 81 1,940 1,940 161 157 -2.5 Indiana .........: 194 187 2,065 2,065 401 386 -3.7 Iowa ............: 227 227 2,115 2,130 480 484 0.8 Kansas ..........: 175 170 2,080 2,060 364 350 -3.8 : Michigan ........: 442 427 2,345 2,355 1,036 1,006 -2.9 Minnesota .......: 462 453 1,970 1,955 910 886 -2.6 New Mexico ......: 333 296 2,165 2,210 721 654 -9.3 New York ........: 626 620 2,140 2,140 1,340 1,327 -1.0 Ohio ............: 260 250 1,910 1,920 497 480 -3.4 Oregon ..........: 126 127 1,795 1,805 226 229 1.3 Pennsylvania ....: 475 467 1,880 1,870 893 873 -2.2 South Dakota ....: 147 177 1,940 1,930 285 342 20.0 Texas ...........: 618 640 2,180 2,245 1,347 1,437 6.7 Utah ............: 96 94 1,970 1,965 189 185 -2.1 : Vermont .........: 119 119 1,870 1,855 223 221 -0.9 Virginia ........: 73 71 1,820 1,830 133 130 -2.3 Washington ......: 278 264 2,060 2,085 573 550 -4.0 Wisconsin .......: 1,270 1,273 2,140 2,140 2,718 2,724 0.2 : 24-State Total ..: 8,970 8,902 2,106 2,113 18,888 18,812 -0.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: February 2021 and 2022 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 200 198 2,000 2,020 400 400 - California ....: 1,720 1,721 1,935 1,925 3,328 3,313 -0.5 Colorado ......: 203 202 1,995 1,990 405 402 -0.7 Florida .......: 108 99 1,695 1,675 183 166 -9.3 Georgia .......: 80 88 1,790 1,840 143 162 13.3 Idaho .........: 652 652 1,910 1,905 1,245 1,242 -0.2 Illinois ......: 83 80 1,725 1,720 143 138 -3.5 Indiana .......: 193 187 1,820 1,830 351 342 -2.6 Iowa ..........: 224 226 1,905 1,910 427 432 1.2 Kansas ........: 174 170 1,860 1,850 324 315 -2.8 : Michigan ......: 441 428 2,100 2,100 926 899 -2.9 Minnesota .....: 461 453 1,780 1,775 821 804 -2.1 New Mexico ....: 336 292 1,955 1,955 657 571 -13.1 New York ......: 626 620 1,905 1,910 1,193 1,184 -0.8 Ohio ..........: 260 248 1,700 1,720 442 427 -3.4 Oregon ........: 125 127 1,605 1,620 201 206 2.5 Pennsylvania ..: 475 468 1,680 1,670 798 782 -2.0 South Dakota ..: 143 175 1,755 1,750 251 306 21.9 Texas .........: 618 633 1,950 1,985 1,205 1,257 4.3 Utah ..........: 96 94 1,770 1,770 170 166 -2.4 : Vermont .......: 120 119 1,660 1,660 199 198 -0.5 Virginia ......: 74 71 1,600 1,615 118 115 -2.5 Washington ....: 278 263 1,850 1,865 514 490 -4.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,264 1,273 1,920 1,915 2,427 2,438 0.5 : 24-State Total : 8,954 8,887 1,884 1,885 16,871 16,755 -0.7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 October - December 2020 and 2021 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October - December milk cows 1/ : October - December milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 3.0 3.0 10.0 8.0 -20.0 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 199.0 194.0 1,208.0 1,165.0 -3.6 Arkansas .......: 5.0 4.5 14.0 13.0 -7.1 California .....: 1,720.0 1,719.0 10,225.0 10,289.0 0.6 Colorado .......: 201.0 201.0 1,306.0 1,303.0 -0.2 Connecticut ....: 19.0 18.5 108.0 104.0 -3.7 Delaware .......: 3.7 2.8 16.4 11.4 -30.5 Florida ........: 111.0 105.0 535.0 511.0 -4.5 Georgia ........: 81.0 82.0 437.0 449.0 2.7 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 646.0 651.0 3,978.0 4,014.0 0.9 Illinois .......: 84.0 81.0 446.0 428.0 -4.0 Indiana ........: 191.0 186.0 1,122.0 1,089.0 -2.9 Iowa ...........: 219.0 225.0 1,352.0 1,377.0 1.8 Kansas .........: 172.0 168.0 1,023.0 1,003.0 -2.0 Kentucky .......: 47.0 45.0 219.0 214.0 -2.3 Louisiana ......: 10.0 9.0 31.0 28.0 -9.7 Maine ..........: 27.0 26.0 143.0 136.0 -4.9 Maryland .......: 43.0 41.0 221.0 206.0 -6.8 : Massachusetts ..: 10.0 9.5 49.0 47.0 -4.1 Michigan .......: 435.0 434.0 2,925.0 2,908.0 -0.6 Minnesota ......: 454.0 461.0 2,583.0 2,613.0 1.2 Mississippi ....: 8.0 7.0 30.0 23.0 -23.3 Missouri .......: 75.0 69.0 256.0 230.0 -10.2 Montana ........: 11.0 11.0 62.0 59.0 -4.8 Nebraska .......: 60.0 58.0 369.0 351.0 -4.9 Nevada .........: 33.0 32.0 201.0 193.0 -4.0 New Hampshire ..: 11.0 10.5 57.0 54.0 -5.3 New Jersey .....: 4.6 4.2 24.0 21.0 -12.5 : New Mexico .....: 334.0 295.0 2,060.0 1,782.0 -13.5 New York .......: 626.0 624.0 3,803.0 3,812.0 0.2 North Carolina .: 40.0 39.0 217.0 222.0 2.3 North Dakota ...: 15.0 15.0 82.0 82.0 - Ohio ...........: 257.0 250.0 1,411.0 1,361.0 -3.5 Oklahoma .......: 41.0 39.0 174.0 176.0 1.1 Oregon .........: 125.0 125.0 645.0 644.0 -0.2 Pennsylvania ...: 481.0 470.0 2,533.0 2,453.0 -3.2 Rhode Island ...: 0.5 0.5 2.7 2.4 -11.1 South Carolina .: 10.0 9.0 42.0 38.0 -9.5 : South Dakota ...: 140.0 166.0 812.0 961.0 18.3 Tennessee ......: 29.0 27.0 129.0 118.0 -8.5 Texas ..........: 610.0 625.0 3,824.0 3,929.0 2.7 Utah ...........: 95.0 94.0 551.0 539.0 -2.2 Vermont ........: 120.0 120.0 636.0 629.0 -1.1 Virginia .......: 74.0 71.0 372.0 359.0 -3.5 Washington .....: 279.0 262.0 1,665.0 1,551.0 -6.8 West Virginia ..: 6.0 5.0 21.0 19.0 -9.5 Wisconsin ......: 1,259.0 1,277.0 7,711.0 7,846.0 1.8 Wyoming ........: 8.0 9.0 51.8 56.2 8.5 : Other States 3/ : 0.8 0.9 1.3 1.2 -7.7 : United States ..: 9,434.0 9,381.0 55,694.0 55,428.0 -0.5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (NA) Not available. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. 3/ Other States includes Alaska and Hawaii. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary January - March 2021 and 2022 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 3.0 3.0 12.0 10.0 -16.7 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 200.0 197.0 1,284.0 1,262.0 -1.7 Arkansas .......: 5.0 4.5 17.0 13.0 -23.5 California .....: 1,720.0 1,721.0 10,655.0 10,591.0 -0.6 Colorado .......: 203.0 202.0 1,310.0 1,297.0 -1.0 Connecticut ....: 19.0 18.0 112.0 108.0 -3.6 Delaware .......: 3.0 2.8 14.5 13.0 -10.3 Florida ........: 109.0 100.0 587.0 534.0 -9.0 Georgia ........: 80.0 87.0 462.0 511.0 10.6 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 651.0 652.0 3,995.0 4,000.0 0.1 Illinois .......: 83.0 80.0 461.0 444.0 -3.7 Indiana ........: 193.0 187.0 1,138.0 1,103.0 -3.1 Iowa ...........: 224.0 226.0 1,374.0 1,387.0 0.9 Kansas .........: 174.0 170.0 1,047.0 1,011.0 -3.4 Kentucky .......: 47.0 44.0 239.0 226.0 -5.4 Louisiana ......: 10.0 9.0 38.0 33.0 -13.2 Maine ..........: 27.0 26.0 146.0 137.0 -6.2 Maryland .......: 43.0 41.0 231.0 218.0 -5.6 : Massachusetts ..: 10.0 9.5 50.0 48.0 -4.0 Michigan .......: 441.0 428.0 2,978.0 2,888.0 -3.0 Minnesota ......: 460.0 454.0 2,624.0 2,563.0 -2.3 Mississippi ....: 8.0 7.0 32.0 25.0 -21.9 Missouri .......: 72.0 69.0 260.0 242.0 -6.9 Montana ........: 11.0 10.5 61.0 57.0 -6.6 Nebraska .......: 59.0 57.0 362.0 351.0 -3.0 Nevada .........: 33.0 32.0 201.0 196.0 -2.5 New Hampshire ..: 10.5 10.5 58.0 55.0 -5.2 New Jersey .....: 4.4 4.3 24.0 23.0 -4.2 : New Mexico .....: 335.0 294.0 2,099.0 1,859.0 -11.4 New York .......: 626.0 620.0 3,846.0 3,807.0 -1.0 North Carolina .: 40.0 39.0 239.0 237.0 -0.8 North Dakota ...: 15.0 14.5 82.0 80.0 -2.4 Ohio ...........: 260.0 249.0 1,425.0 1,370.0 -3.9 Oklahoma .......: 40.0 39.0 178.0 181.0 1.7 Oregon .........: 125.0 126.0 647.0 652.0 0.8 Pennsylvania ...: 475.0 468.0 2,565.0 2,502.0 -2.5 Rhode Island ...: 0.5 0.5 2.6 2.5 -3.8 South Carolina .: 9.5 9.0 44.0 42.0 -4.5 : South Dakota ...: 144.0 174.0 814.0 978.0 20.1 Tennessee ......: 29.0 27.0 135.0 124.0 -8.1 Texas ..........: 617.0 634.0 3,883.0 4,072.0 4.9 Utah ...........: 96.0 94.0 546.0 533.0 -2.4 Vermont ........: 120.0 119.0 642.0 635.0 -1.1 Virginia .......: 74.0 71.0 381.0 370.0 -2.9 Washington .....: 278.0 263.0 1,653.0 1,567.0 -5.2 West Virginia ..: 5.0 5.0 19.0 19.0 - Wisconsin ......: 1,265.0 1,273.0 7,820.0 7,829.0 0.1 Wyoming ........: 8.0 9.0 52.0 56.1 7.9 : Other States 3/ : 0.8 1.0 1.7 1.3 -23.5 : United States ..: 9,466.0 9,381.0 56,847.0 56,263.0 -1.0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (NA) Not available. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. 3/ Other States includes Alaska and Hawaii. 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 56.3 billion pounds by more than 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.3 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 ..............: 0.2 0.3 66 7 215 14 6 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 10 1 26 16 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) 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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