Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released July 22, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). June Milk Production up 3.2 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during June totaled 18.1 billion pounds, up 3.2 percent from June 2020. May revised production, at 19.0 billion pounds, was up 4.9 percent from May 2020. The May revision represented an increase of 12 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,011 pounds for June, 27 pounds above June 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 9.00 million head, 161,000 head more than June 2020, but 1,000 head less than May 2021. April-June Milk Production up 3.7 Percent Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 58.1 billion pounds, up 3.7 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.51 million head, 47,000 head more than the January - March quarter, and 141,000 head more than the same period last year. 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 9,505 5,988 6,117 56,070 58,140 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 8,995 1,984 2,011 17,530 18,092 3.2 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 9,445 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 9,508 1,968 1,994 18,414 18,955 2.9 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: June 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 .........: 200 198 2,015 2,025 403 401 -0.5 California ......: 1,721 1,721 1,950 2,010 3,356 3,459 3.1 Colorado ........: 197 206 2,150 2,155 424 444 4.7 Florida .........: 111 110 1,675 1,685 186 185 -0.5 Georgia .........: 81 82 1,765 1,815 143 149 4.2 Idaho ...........: 640 654 2,105 2,135 1,347 1,396 3.6 Illinois ........: 83 83 1,795 1,800 149 149 - Indiana .........: 180 196 2,000 1,990 360 390 8.3 Iowa ............: 217 228 2,030 2,010 441 458 3.9 Kansas ..........: 168 175 1,915 1,965 322 344 6.8 : Michigan ........: 428 445 2,280 2,280 976 1,015 4.0 Minnesota .......: 442 462 1,915 1,890 846 873 3.2 New Mexico ......: 327 326 1,980 2,070 647 675 4.3 New York ........: 626 630 2,040 2,090 1,277 1,317 3.1 Ohio ............: 253 260 1,840 1,840 466 478 2.6 Oregon ..........: 124 126 1,765 1,745 219 220 0.5 Pennsylvania ....: 482 475 1,775 1,780 856 846 -1.2 South Dakota ....: 136 156 1,895 1,895 258 296 14.7 Texas ...........: 590 624 2,030 2,055 1,198 1,282 7.0 Utah ............: 96 97 1,955 1,985 188 193 2.7 : Vermont .........: 123 119 1,740 1,805 214 215 0.5 Virginia ........: 74 73 1,700 1,655 126 121 -4.0 Washington ......: 278 275 2,030 1,995 564 549 -2.7 Wisconsin .......: 1,257 1,274 2,040 2,070 2,564 2,637 2.8 : 24-State Total ..: 8,834 8,995 1,984 2,011 17,530 18,092 3.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 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 .......: 200 198 2,145 2,180 429 432 0.7 California ....: 1,721 1,721 2,070 2,170 3,562 3,735 4.9 Colorado ......: 196 206 2,220 2,225 435 458 5.3 Florida .......: 113 110 1,770 1,770 200 195 -2.5 Georgia .......: 82 82 1,855 1,890 152 155 2.0 Idaho .........: 643 654 2,165 2,205 1,392 1,442 3.6 Illinois ......: 82 83 1,875 1,890 154 157 1.9 Indiana .......: 176 196 2,030 2,050 357 402 12.6 Iowa ..........: 217 228 2,095 2,095 455 478 5.1 Kansas ........: 168 175 1,970 2,040 331 357 7.9 : Michigan ......: 428 445 2,310 2,335 989 1,039 5.1 Minnesota .....: 443 462 1,930 1,960 855 906 6.0 New Mexico ....: 328 330 2,030 2,140 666 706 6.0 New York ......: 626 630 2,075 2,155 1,299 1,358 4.5 Ohio ..........: 253 260 1,880 1,890 476 491 3.2 Oregon ........: 125 126 1,825 1,830 228 231 1.3 Pennsylvania ..: 483 475 1,815 1,880 877 893 1.8 South Dakota ..: 134 154 1,940 1,960 260 302 16.2 Texas .........: 590 622 2,075 2,175 1,224 1,353 10.5 Utah ..........: 96 97 2,000 2,030 192 197 2.6 : Vermont .......: 123 119 1,780 1,870 219 223 1.8 Virginia ......: 75 73 1,770 1,785 133 130 -2.3 Washington ....: 279 276 2,105 2,100 587 580 -1.2 Wisconsin .....: 1,257 1,274 2,060 2,145 2,589 2,733 5.6 : 24-State Total : 8,838 8,996 2,044 2,107 18,061 18,953 4.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2020 and 2021 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 4.0 3.0 14.0 12.0 -14.3 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 198.0 197.0 1,292.0 1,266.0 -2.0 Arkansas .......: 5.0 5.0 18.0 17.0 -5.6 California .....: 1,723.0 1,720.0 10,587.0 10,663.0 0.7 Colorado .......: 193.0 203.0 1,253.0 1,310.0 4.5 Connecticut ....: 19.5 19.0 114.0 112.0 -1.8 Delaware .......: 3.8 3.0 19.0 14.5 -23.7 Florida ........: 116.0 109.0 639.0 587.0 -8.1 Georgia ........: 82.0 80.0 476.0 463.0 -2.7 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 646.0 651.0 3,996.0 3,995.0 - Illinois .......: 82.0 83.0 459.0 461.0 0.4 Indiana ........: 176.0 193.0 1,036.0 1,138.0 9.8 Iowa ...........: 217.0 224.0 1,344.0 1,373.0 2.2 Kansas .........: 170.0 174.0 1,017.0 1,047.0 2.9 Kentucky .......: 49.0 47.0 251.0 239.0 -4.8 Louisiana ......: 10.0 10.0 39.0 38.0 -2.6 Maine ..........: 27.0 27.0 151.0 146.0 -3.3 Maryland .......: 42.0 43.0 225.0 230.0 2.2 : Massachusetts ..: 10.0 10.0 51.0 50.0 -2.0 Michigan .......: 427.0 441.0 2,891.0 2,978.0 3.0 Minnesota ......: 445.0 460.0 2,481.0 2,624.0 5.8 Mississippi ....: 8.5 8.0 37.0 32.0 -13.5 Missouri .......: 77.0 72.0 275.0 260.0 -5.5 Montana ........: 12.0 11.0 64.0 61.0 -4.7 Nebraska .......: 59.0 59.0 367.0 362.0 -1.4 Nevada .........: 31.0 31.0 190.0 189.0 -0.5 New Hampshire ..: 11.0 10.5 61.0 58.0 -4.9 New Jersey .....: 4.7 4.4 26.0 24.0 -7.7 : New Mexico .....: 333.0 335.0 2,114.0 2,099.0 -0.7 New York .......: 626.0 626.0 3,830.0 3,836.0 0.2 North Carolina .: 41.0 40.0 239.0 239.0 - North Dakota ...: 14.5 15.0 80.0 82.0 2.5 Ohio ...........: 253.0 260.0 1,395.0 1,425.0 2.2 Oklahoma .......: 42.0 40.0 200.0 178.0 -11.0 Oregon .........: 127.0 125.0 660.0 647.0 -2.0 Pennsylvania ...: 483.0 475.0 2,606.0 2,565.0 -1.6 Rhode Island ...: 0.6 0.5 2.7 2.5 -7.4 South Carolina .: 11.0 9.5 55.0 45.0 -18.2 : South Dakota ...: 129.0 144.0 740.0 816.0 10.3 Tennessee ......: 31.0 29.0 145.0 135.0 -6.9 Texas ..........: 587.0 616.0 3,714.0 3,851.0 3.7 Utah ...........: 97.0 95.0 555.0 544.0 -2.0 Vermont ........: 124.0 120.0 672.0 641.0 -4.6 Virginia .......: 76.0 74.0 398.0 381.0 -4.3 Washington .....: 281.0 278.0 1,701.0 1,653.0 -2.8 West Virginia ..: 6.0 5.0 23.0 19.0 -17.4 Wisconsin ......: 1,260.0 1,264.0 7,630.0 7,814.0 2.4 Wyoming ........: 6.5 8.0 40.0 52.0 30.0 : Other States 3/ : 1.0 0.8 1.4 1.7 21.4 : United States ..: 9,378.0 9,458.0 56,174.0 56,776.0 1.1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 April - June 2020 and 2021 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April - June milk cows 1/ : April - June milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 3.5 3.0 12.0 11.0 -8.3 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 200.0 198.0 1,263.0 1,262.0 -0.1 Arkansas .......: 5.0 5.0 18.0 17.0 -5.6 California .....: 1,721.0 1,721.0 10,420.0 10,840.0 4.0 Colorado .......: 196.0 206.0 1,278.0 1,346.0 5.3 Connecticut ....: 19.0 19.0 110.0 113.0 2.7 Delaware .......: 3.8 3.0 18.7 14.0 -25.1 Florida ........: 113.0 110.0 594.0 579.0 -2.5 Georgia ........: 82.0 82.0 449.0 461.0 2.7 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 643.0 654.0 4,091.0 4,213.0 3.0 Illinois .......: 82.0 83.0 456.0 462.0 1.3 Indiana ........: 177.0 196.0 1,067.0 1,182.0 10.8 Iowa ...........: 218.0 228.0 1,343.0 1,401.0 4.3 Kansas .........: 168.0 175.0 984.0 1,052.0 6.9 Kentucky .......: 48.0 46.0 253.0 243.0 -4.0 Louisiana ......: 10.0 9.5 37.0 35.0 -5.4 Maine ..........: 27.0 27.0 152.0 151.0 -0.7 Maryland .......: 42.0 43.0 223.0 228.0 2.2 : Massachusetts ..: 10.0 10.0 51.0 52.0 2.0 Michigan .......: 428.0 445.0 2,930.0 3,066.0 4.6 Minnesota ......: 443.0 462.0 2,524.0 2,654.0 5.2 Mississippi ....: 8.5 8.0 36.0 29.0 -19.4 Missouri .......: 76.0 72.0 301.0 283.0 -6.0 Montana ........: 11.5 11.0 64.0 62.0 -3.1 Nebraska .......: 59.0 59.0 364.0 361.0 -0.8 Nevada .........: 31.0 33.0 195.0 204.0 4.6 New Hampshire ..: 11.0 10.5 60.0 58.0 -3.3 New Jersey .....: 4.7 4.4 25.0 24.0 -4.0 : New Mexico .....: 328.0 330.0 2,006.0 2,094.0 4.4 New York .......: 626.0 629.0 3,856.0 3,986.0 3.4 North Carolina .: 41.0 40.0 229.0 236.0 3.1 North Dakota ...: 14.5 15.0 82.0 86.0 4.9 Ohio ...........: 253.0 260.0 1,408.0 1,447.0 2.8 Oklahoma .......: 42.0 40.0 194.0 177.0 -8.8 Oregon .........: 125.0 126.0 667.0 672.0 0.7 Pennsylvania ...: 483.0 475.0 2,616.0 2,613.0 -0.1 Rhode Island ...: 0.5 0.5 2.7 2.5 -7.4 South Carolina .: 10.5 9.0 52.0 42.0 -19.2 : South Dakota ...: 134.0 154.0 765.0 885.0 15.7 Tennessee ......: 30.0 29.0 142.0 136.0 -4.2 Texas ..........: 590.0 622.0 3,655.0 3,971.0 8.6 Utah ...........: 96.0 96.0 567.0 575.0 1.4 Vermont ........: 123.0 119.0 656.0 655.0 -0.2 Virginia .......: 75.0 73.0 391.0 380.0 -2.8 Washington .....: 279.0 276.0 1,719.0 1,689.0 -1.7 West Virginia ..: 6.0 5.0 23.0 19.0 -17.4 Wisconsin ......: 1,258.0 1,274.0 7,673.0 8,014.0 4.4 Wyoming ........: 7.5 8.5 46.5 55.7 19.8 : Other States 3/ : 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.3 8.3 : United States ..: 9,364.0 9,505.0 56,070.0 58,140.0 3.7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 58.1 billion pounds by more than 0.1 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 ..............: 0.1 0.3 57 4 215 13 7 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 0 26 16 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 - 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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