Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released September 20, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). August Milk Production up 1.1 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during August totaled 18.0 billion pounds, up 1.1 percent from August 2020. July revised production, at 18.3 billion pounds, was up 2.0 percent from July 2020. The July revision represented a decrease of 18 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,007 pounds for August, 3 pounds below August 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.97 million head, 112,000 head more than August 2020, but 20,000 head less than July 2021. August Milk Production in the United States up 1.1 Percent Milk production in the United States during August totaled 18.8 billion pounds, up 1.1 percent from August 2020. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,987 pounds for August, 1 pound below August 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.48 million head, 106,000 head more than August 2020, but 19,000 head less than July 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 9,458 5,990 6,003 56,174 56,776 1.1 April-June ......: 9,364 9,503 5,988 6,118 56,070 58,139 3.7 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 8,985 2,009 2,054 17,787 18,454 3.7 May ...........: 8,838 8,996 2,044 2,107 18,061 18,953 4.9 June ..........: 8,834 8,993 1,984 2,012 17,530 18,091 3.2 July ..........: 8,854 8,989 2,024 2,033 17,919 18,275 2.0 August ........: 8,857 8,969 2,010 2,007 17,799 18,002 1.1 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 9,445 2,016 2,047 18,877 19,330 2.4 February ......: 9,377 9,458 1,908 1,868 17,895 17,666 -1.3 March .........: 9,391 9,472 2,066 2,088 19,402 19,780 1.9 April .........: 9,377 9,497 1,993 2,035 18,684 19,330 3.5 May ...........: 9,360 9,509 2,027 2,088 18,972 19,855 4.7 June ..........: 9,355 9,503 1,968 1,995 18,414 18,954 2.9 July ..........: 9,372 9,499 2,001 2,013 18,756 19,122 2.0 August ........: 9,374 9,480 1,988 1,987 18,632 18,840 1.1 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: August 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 .........: 200 199 1,850 1,850 370 368 -0.5 California ......: 1,721 1,720 1,960 1,975 3,373 3,397 0.7 Colorado ........: 198 203 2,225 2,225 441 452 2.5 Florida .........: 111 108 1,570 1,545 174 167 -4.0 Georgia .........: 80 82 1,700 1,730 136 142 4.4 Idaho ...........: 645 654 2,190 2,185 1,413 1,429 1.1 Illinois ........: 83 82 1,720 1,720 143 141 -1.4 Indiana .........: 189 197 1,970 1,970 372 388 4.3 Iowa ............: 218 226 2,070 2,050 451 463 2.7 Kansas ..........: 170 171 1,995 1,995 339 341 0.6 : Michigan ........: 428 445 2,320 2,320 993 1,032 3.9 Minnesota .......: 445 461 1,955 1,930 870 890 2.3 New Mexico ......: 326 311 2,055 1,955 670 608 -9.3 New York ........: 626 628 2,070 2,070 1,296 1,300 0.3 Ohio ............: 254 260 1,865 1,860 474 484 2.1 Oregon ..........: 124 125 1,775 1,770 220 221 0.5 Pennsylvania ....: 482 475 1,745 1,770 841 841 - South Dakota ....: 138 160 1,970 1,975 272 316 16.2 Texas ...........: 593 625 2,080 2,035 1,233 1,272 3.2 Utah ............: 95 97 1,975 1,995 188 194 3.2 : Vermont .........: 121 120 1,775 1,775 215 213 -0.9 Virginia ........: 74 73 1,640 1,620 121 118 -2.5 Washington ......: 279 269 2,075 2,010 579 541 -6.6 Wisconsin .......: 1,257 1,278 2,080 2,100 2,615 2,684 2.6 : 24-State Total ..: 8,857 8,969 2,010 2,007 17,799 18,002 1.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: July 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 .......: 200 199 1,935 1,930 387 384 -0.8 California ....: 1,721 1,721 2,015 1,995 3,468 3,433 -1.0 Colorado ......: 198 203 2,235 2,225 443 452 2.0 Florida .......: 111 109 1,650 1,610 183 175 -4.4 Georgia .......: 81 82 1,755 1,780 142 146 2.8 Idaho .........: 645 654 2,210 2,190 1,425 1,432 0.5 Illinois ......: 83 83 1,745 1,770 145 147 1.4 Indiana .......: 188 197 1,950 1,970 367 388 5.7 Iowa ..........: 218 228 2,040 2,060 445 470 5.6 Kansas ........: 169 172 1,980 2,005 335 345 3.0 : Michigan ......: 428 445 2,310 2,320 989 1,032 4.3 Minnesota .....: 445 462 1,940 1,945 863 899 4.2 New Mexico ....: 326 321 2,015 2,000 657 642 -2.3 New York ......: 626 630 2,075 2,120 1,299 1,336 2.8 Ohio ..........: 254 260 1,870 1,870 475 486 2.3 Oregon ........: 124 125 1,815 1,800 225 225 - Pennsylvania ..: 482 475 1,795 1,795 865 853 -1.4 South Dakota ..: 137 159 1,930 1,970 264 313 18.6 Texas .........: 590 625 2,065 2,085 1,218 1,303 7.0 Utah ..........: 95 97 1,985 2,010 189 195 3.2 : Vermont .......: 122 120 1,770 1,825 216 219 1.4 Virginia ......: 74 73 1,660 1,650 123 120 -2.4 Washington ....: 280 271 2,120 2,035 594 551 -7.2 Wisconsin .....: 1,257 1,278 2,070 2,135 2,602 2,729 4.9 : 24-State Total : 8,854 8,989 2,024 2,033 17,919 18,275 2.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 18.0 billion pounds by more than 0.4 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.6 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 0.6 51 0 150 18 5 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 10 0 26 20 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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