Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released January 23, 2020, 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 24 major States during December totaled 17.4 billion pounds, up 0.9 percent from December 2018. November revised production at 16.7 billion pounds, was up 0.9 percent from November 2018. The November revision represented an increase of 4 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,978 pounds for December, 14 pounds above December 2018. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.81 million head, 16,000 head more than December 2018, but unchanged from November 2019. October-December Milk Production up 0.8 Percent Milk production in the United States during the October - December quarter totaled 53.8 billion pounds, up 0.8 percent from the October - December quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.34 million head, 18,000 head more than the July - September quarter, but 22,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2018-2019 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,435 9,344 5,766 5,827 54,399 54,450 0.1 April-June ......: 9,418 9,327 5,928 5,980 55,831 55,778 -0.1 July-September ..: 9,383 9,319 5,752 5,824 53,969 54,272 0.6 October-December : 9,359 9,337 5,703 5,764 53,376 53,822 0.8 : Annual ..........: 9,399 9,332 23,149 23,395 217,575 218,322 0.3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2018-2019 [May not add due to rounding] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,856 8,805 1,973 2,009 17,469 17,685 1.2 February ......: 8,855 8,805 1,817 1,834 16,086 16,148 0.4 March .........: 8,849 8,788 2,033 2,041 17,994 17,940 -0.3 April .........: 8,844 8,788 1,976 1,999 17,475 17,570 0.5 May ...........: 8,848 8,790 2,051 2,064 18,151 18,146 - June ..........: 8,840 8,777 1,961 1,979 17,336 17,374 0.2 July ..........: 8,829 8,779 1,977 1,995 17,454 17,518 0.4 August ........: 8,826 8,789 1,968 1,987 17,372 17,466 0.5 September .....: 8,807 8,801 1,880 1,913 16,561 16,836 1.7 October .......: 8,807 8,810 1,931 1,957 17,005 17,239 1.4 November ......: 8,802 8,814 1,876 1,891 16,514 16,670 0.9 December ......: 8,798 8,814 1,964 1,978 17,282 17,435 0.9 : Annual ........: 8,830 8,797 23,407 23,647 206,699 208,027 0.6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2018-2019 [May not add due to rounding] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,438 9,352 1,953 1,989 18,437 18,600 0.9 February ......: 9,436 9,350 1,799 1,816 16,973 16,981 - March .........: 9,430 9,330 2,014 2,022 18,989 18,869 -0.6 April .........: 9,418 9,330 1,955 1,978 18,412 18,458 0.2 May ...........: 9,422 9,332 2,030 2,043 19,131 19,064 -0.4 June ..........: 9,414 9,319 1,943 1,959 18,288 18,256 -0.2 July ..........: 9,392 9,319 1,952 1,970 18,329 18,355 0.1 August ........: 9,389 9,317 1,943 1,963 18,245 18,287 0.2 September .....: 9,368 9,322 1,857 1,891 17,395 17,630 1.4 October .......: 9,367 9,333 1,908 1,936 17,873 18,070 1.1 November ......: 9,358 9,339 1,854 1,871 17,348 17,475 0.7 December ......: 9,353 9,339 1,941 1,957 18,155 18,277 0.7 : Annual ........: 9,399 9,332 23,149 23,395 217,575 218,322 0.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: December 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 205 193 2,060 2,045 422 395 -6.4 California ......: 1,730 1,725 1,970 1,985 3,408 3,424 0.5 Colorado ........: 178 189 2,195 2,180 391 412 5.4 Florida .........: 116 116 1,665 1,685 193 195 1.0 Georgia .........: 81 81 1,810 1,830 147 148 0.7 Idaho ...........: 614 635 2,060 2,055 1,265 1,305 3.2 Illinois ........: 85 82 1,770 1,810 150 148 -1.3 Indiana .........: 181 176 1,890 1,905 342 335 -2.0 Iowa ............: 220 215 2,035 2,065 448 444 -0.9 Kansas ..........: 161 167 1,970 1,990 317 332 4.7 : Michigan ........: 422 427 2,205 2,205 931 942 1.2 Minnesota .......: 450 445 1,850 1,870 833 832 -0.1 New Mexico ......: 325 330 2,060 2,070 670 683 1.9 New York ........: 625 626 1,990 2,025 1,244 1,268 1.9 Ohio ............: 253 252 1,780 1,810 450 456 1.3 Oregon ..........: 125 127 1,735 1,710 217 217 - Pennsylvania ....: 505 483 1,695 1,745 856 843 -1.5 South Dakota ....: 122 127 1,900 1,900 232 241 3.9 Texas ...........: 544 578 1,985 2,030 1,080 1,173 8.6 Utah ............: 100 97 1,920 1,910 192 185 -3.6 : Vermont .........: 126 124 1,785 1,805 225 224 -0.4 Virginia ........: 79 74 1,620 1,675 128 124 -3.1 Washington ......: 280 282 2,025 2,000 567 564 -0.5 Wisconsin .......: 1,271 1,263 2,025 2,015 2,574 2,545 -1.1 : 24-State Total ..: 8,798 8,814 1,964 1,978 17,282 17,435 0.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: November 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : from : : : : : : : 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 205 193 1,920 1,910 394 369 -6.3 California ....: 1,731 1,725 1,890 1,895 3,272 3,269 -0.1 Colorado ......: 178 190 2,090 2,085 372 396 6.5 Florida .......: 118 117 1,540 1,570 182 184 1.1 Georgia .......: 81 81 1,730 1,755 140 142 1.4 Idaho .........: 612 634 1,995 1,995 1,221 1,265 3.6 Illinois ......: 85 82 1,660 1,700 141 139 -1.4 Indiana .......: 181 175 1,810 1,825 328 319 -2.7 Iowa ..........: 220 216 1,965 1,960 432 423 -2.1 Kansas ........: 160 165 1,890 1,915 302 316 4.6 : Michigan ......: 422 428 2,120 2,125 895 910 1.7 Minnesota .....: 451 446 1,750 1,770 789 789 - New Mexico ....: 326 331 1,950 1,965 636 650 2.2 New York ......: 623 626 1,910 1,940 1,190 1,214 2.0 Ohio ..........: 253 252 1,710 1,730 433 436 0.7 Oregon ........: 125 127 1,655 1,645 207 209 1.0 Pennsylvania ..: 509 485 1,610 1,665 819 808 -1.3 South Dakota ..: 122 127 1,820 1,825 222 232 4.5 Texas .........: 542 574 1,890 1,960 1,024 1,125 9.9 Utah ..........: 100 97 1,870 1,860 187 180 -3.7 : Vermont .......: 126 124 1,690 1,725 213 214 0.5 Virginia ......: 80 73 1,555 1,600 124 117 -5.6 Washington ....: 280 281 1,935 1,930 542 542 - Wisconsin .....: 1,272 1,265 1,925 1,915 2,449 2,422 -1.1 : 24-State Total : 8,802 8,814 1,876 1,891 16,514 16,670 0.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 July - September 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : July - September milk cows 1/ : July - September milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama .......: 5.5 4.5 15.0 12.0 -20.0 Alaska ........: 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.6 -25.0 Arizona .......: 206.0 194.0 1,138.0 1,079.0 -5.2 Arkansas ......: 5.5 5.0 16.0 15.0 -6.3 California ....: 1,733.0 1,728.0 9,820.0 10,003.0 1.9 Colorado ......: 178.0 188.0 1,161.0 1,222.0 5.3 Connecticut ...: 19.5 19.0 104.0 104.0 - Delaware ......: 4.9 4.0 21.1 16.2 -23.2 Florida .......: 119.0 116.0 531.0 537.0 1.1 Georgia .......: 80.0 80.0 411.0 409.0 -0.5 : Hawaii ........: 2.0 0.8 7.8 0.6 -92.3 Idaho .........: 610.0 627.0 3,898.0 4,035.0 3.5 Illinois ......: 90.0 83.0 444.0 412.0 -7.2 Indiana .......: 183.0 175.0 1,016.0 978.0 -3.7 Iowa ..........: 220.0 217.0 1,300.0 1,294.0 -0.5 Kansas ........: 160.0 162.0 927.0 947.0 2.2 Kentucky ......: 53.0 49.0 227.0 213.0 -6.2 Louisiana .....: 11.0 10.0 31.0 27.0 -12.9 Maine .........: 30.0 29.0 156.0 156.0 - Maryland ......: 45.0 42.0 219.0 200.0 -8.7 : Massachusetts .: 11.0 10.0 51.0 47.0 -7.8 Michigan ......: 423.0 427.0 2,789.0 2,854.0 2.3 Minnesota .....: 451.0 447.0 2,478.0 2,508.0 1.2 Mississippi ...: 8.5 8.0 28.0 27.0 -3.6 Missouri ......: 82.0 77.0 276.0 254.0 -8.0 Montana .......: 12.0 11.5 69.0 66.0 -4.3 Nebraska ......: 59.0 58.0 353.0 345.0 -2.3 Nevada ........: 32.0 33.0 184.0 188.0 2.2 New Hampshire .: 12.0 11.0 61.0 59.0 -3.3 New Jersey ....: 5.5 4.7 26.0 23.0 -11.5 : New Mexico ....: 328.0 325.0 2,047.0 2,045.0 -0.1 New York ......: 622.0 627.0 3,773.0 3,802.0 0.8 North Carolina : 43.0 41.0 219.0 213.0 -2.7 North Dakota ..: 15.5 14.5 85.0 83.0 -2.4 Ohio ..........: 258.0 250.0 1,357.0 1,345.0 -0.9 Oklahoma ......: 40.0 41.0 170.0 170.0 - Oregon ........: 122.0 124.0 638.0 656.0 2.8 Pennsylvania ..: 519.0 485.0 2,614.0 2,461.0 -5.9 Rhode Island ..: 0.7 0.7 3.0 2.7 -10.0 South Carolina : 13.5 11.0 53.0 45.0 -15.1 : South Dakota ..: 121.0 124.0 685.0 712.0 3.9 Tennessee .....: 36.0 31.0 143.0 126.0 -11.9 Texas .........: 539.0 567.0 3,242.0 3,455.0 6.6 Utah ..........: 101.0 97.0 596.0 574.0 -3.7 Vermont .......: 127.0 126.0 669.0 673.0 0.6 Virginia ......: 82.0 74.0 389.0 349.0 -10.3 Washington ....: 277.0 281.0 1,708.0 1,746.0 2.2 West Virginia .: 7.0 6.0 27.0 22.0 -18.5 Wisconsin .....: 1,274.0 1,267.0 7,756.0 7,724.0 -0.4 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 35.8 37.0 3.4 : United States .: 9,383.0 9,319.0 53,969.0 54,272.0 0.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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: Preliminary October - December 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October - December milk cows 1/ : October - December milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama .......: 5.0 4.0 16.0 12.0 -25.0 Alaska ........: 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.8 33.3 Arizona .......: 205.0 193.0 1,208.0 1,131.0 -6.4 Arkansas ......: 5.0 5.0 16.0 15.0 -6.3 California ....: 1,731.0 1,725.0 9,997.0 10,040.0 0.4 Colorado ......: 178.0 190.0 1,148.0 1,218.0 6.1 Connecticut ...: 19.5 19.5 104.0 106.0 1.9 Delaware ......: 4.5 3.8 20.1 16.7 -16.9 Florida .......: 117.0 117.0 545.0 558.0 2.4 Georgia .......: 81.0 81.0 422.0 429.0 1.7 : Hawaii ........: 1.7 0.8 5.3 0.6 -88.7 Idaho .........: 612.0 633.0 3,767.0 3,892.0 3.3 Illinois ......: 85.0 82.0 435.0 424.0 -2.5 Indiana .......: 181.0 175.0 1,010.0 984.0 -2.6 Iowa ..........: 220.0 216.0 1,326.0 1,306.0 -1.5 Kansas ........: 160.0 165.0 927.0 972.0 4.9 Kentucky ......: 53.0 49.0 233.0 223.0 -4.3 Louisiana .....: 11.0 10.0 32.0 30.0 -6.3 Maine .........: 29.0 28.0 151.0 147.0 -2.6 Maryland ......: 44.0 42.0 215.0 209.0 -2.8 : Massachusetts .: 10.5 10.0 48.0 48.0 - Michigan ......: 422.0 428.0 2,752.0 2,806.0 2.0 Minnesota .....: 451.0 446.0 2,438.0 2,448.0 0.4 Mississippi ...: 8.0 8.0 28.0 29.0 3.6 Missouri ......: 81.0 77.0 270.0 254.0 -5.9 Montana .......: 12.0 12.0 65.0 64.0 -1.5 Nebraska ......: 59.0 58.0 354.0 354.0 - Nevada ........: 33.0 32.0 184.0 179.0 -2.7 New Hampshire .: 12.0 11.0 60.0 57.0 -5.0 New Jersey ....: 5.5 4.7 25.0 24.0 -4.0 : New Mexico ....: 326.0 330.0 1,965.0 2,007.0 2.1 New York ......: 623.0 626.0 3,673.0 3,743.0 1.9 North Carolina : 43.0 41.0 224.0 217.0 -3.1 North Dakota ..: 15.0 14.5 82.0 80.0 -2.4 Ohio ..........: 254.0 252.0 1,331.0 1,343.0 0.9 Oklahoma ......: 40.0 41.0 180.0 174.0 -3.3 Oregon ........: 125.0 127.0 638.0 646.0 1.3 Pennsylvania ..: 510.0 484.0 2,532.0 2,478.0 -2.1 Rhode Island ..: 0.7 0.6 2.7 2.6 -3.7 South Carolina : 14.0 11.0 55.0 47.0 -14.5 : South Dakota ..: 122.0 127.0 682.0 713.0 4.5 Tennessee .....: 36.0 31.0 143.0 130.0 -9.1 Texas .........: 542.0 574.0 3,149.0 3,440.0 9.2 Utah ..........: 100.0 97.0 573.0 556.0 -3.0 Vermont .......: 126.0 124.0 660.0 661.0 0.2 Virginia ......: 80.0 73.0 380.0 360.0 -5.3 Washington ....: 280.0 281.0 1,680.0 1,675.0 -0.3 West Virginia .: 7.0 6.0 25.0 21.0 -16.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,272.0 1,265.0 7,563.0 7,514.0 -0.6 Wyoming .......: 6.0 6.0 35.8 37.2 3.9 : United States .: 9,359.0 9,337.0 53,376.0 53,822.0 0.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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. 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 53.8 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 3 124 14 6 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 0 28 14 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Heidi Lanouette - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 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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