Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released March 20, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). February Milk Production up 1.0 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during February totaled 16.9 billion pounds, up 1.0 percent from February 2022. January revised production, at 18.5 billion pounds, was up 1.5 percent from January 2022. The January revision represented an increase of 5 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,892 pounds for February, 7 pounds above February 2022. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.94 million head, 54,000 head more than February 2022, and 12,000 head more than January 2023. February Milk Production in the United States up 0.8 Percent Milk production in the United States during February totaled 17.7 billion pounds, up 0.8 percent from February 2022. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,877 pounds for February, 7 pounds above February 2022. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.42 million head, 37,000 head more than February 2022, and 12,000 head more than January 2023. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2022-2023 [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 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : from : : : : : : : 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head --- pounds -- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,384 6,000 56,305 April-June ......: 9,411 6,144 57,822 July-September ..: 9,408 5,999 56,438 October-December : 9,404 5,944 55,897 : Annual ..........: 9,402 24,087 226,462 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2022-2023 [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 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : from : : : : : : : 2022 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,876 8,927 2,051 2,069 18,205 18,474 1.5 February ......: 8,885 8,939 1,885 1,892 16,750 16,910 1.0 March .........: 8,908 2,113 18,827 April .........: 8,908 2,053 18,291 May ...........: 8,921 2,115 18,871 June ..........: 8,915 2,027 18,074 July ..........: 8,920 2,060 18,373 August ........: 8,927 2,040 18,212 September .....: 8,927 1,957 17,470 October .......: 8,931 2,016 18,005 November ......: 8,924 1,951 17,413 December ......: 8,918 2,029 18,093 : Annual ........: 8,913 24,300 216,584 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2022-2023 [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 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : from : : : : : : : 2022 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,367 9,405 2,034 2,053 19,050 19,305 1.3 February ......: 9,380 9,417 1,870 1,877 17,540 17,675 0.8 March .........: 9,404 2,096 19,715 April .........: 9,404 2,036 19,147 May ...........: 9,417 2,098 19,755 June ..........: 9,413 2,010 18,920 July ..........: 9,413 2,038 19,180 August ........: 9,406 2,022 19,016 September .....: 9,406 1,939 18,242 October .......: 9,412 1,998 18,809 November ......: 9,404 1,934 18,184 December ......: 9,396 2,012 18,904 : Annual ........: 9,402 24,087 226,462 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: February 2022 and 2023 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : from : : : : : : : 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 196 194 2,010 2,010 394 390 -1.0 California ......: 1,720 1,723 1,925 1,905 3,311 3,282 -0.9 Colorado ........: 202 200 1,990 1,990 402 398 -1.0 Florida .........: 99 88 1,675 1,675 166 147 -11.4 Georgia .........: 89 94 1,820 1,840 162 173 6.8 Idaho ...........: 652 667 1,905 1,925 1,242 1,284 3.4 Illinois ........: 80 79 1,720 1,710 138 135 -2.2 Indiana .........: 187 189 1,830 1,845 342 349 2.0 Iowa ............: 226 240 1,910 1,910 432 458 6.0 Kansas ..........: 170 176 1,850 1,845 315 325 3.2 : Michigan ........: 428 435 2,100 2,130 899 927 3.1 Minnesota .......: 453 455 1,775 1,785 804 812 1.0 New Mexico ......: 292 280 1,955 1,955 571 547 -4.2 New York ........: 620 630 1,915 1,940 1,187 1,222 2.9 Ohio ............: 248 252 1,720 1,730 427 436 2.1 Oregon ..........: 127 124 1,620 1,620 206 201 -2.4 Pennsylvania ....: 468 466 1,670 1,675 782 781 -0.1 South Dakota ....: 175 187 1,750 1,740 306 325 6.2 Texas ...........: 633 655 1,985 2,025 1,257 1,326 5.5 Utah ............: 94 92 1,770 1,770 166 163 -1.8 : Vermont .........: 119 118 1,660 1,665 198 196 -1.0 Virginia ........: 71 68 1,615 1,610 115 109 -5.2 Washington ......: 263 257 1,865 1,865 490 479 -2.2 Wisconsin .......: 1,273 1,270 1,915 1,925 2,438 2,445 0.3 : 24-State Total ..: 8,885 8,939 1,885 1,892 16,750 16,910 1.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: January 2022 and 2023 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : from : : : : : : : 2022 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 194 194 2,115 2,115 410 410 - California ....: 1,720 1,724 2,055 2,050 3,535 3,534 (Z) Colorado ......: 202 200 2,205 2,205 445 441 -0.9 Florida .......: 103 89 1,800 1,790 185 159 -14.1 Georgia .......: 87 92 2,000 1,990 174 183 5.2 Idaho .........: 652 664 2,095 2,120 1,366 1,408 3.1 Illinois ......: 80 79 1,865 1,850 149 146 -2.0 Indiana .......: 186 188 2,015 2,030 375 382 1.9 Iowa ..........: 225 240 2,095 2,095 471 503 6.8 Kansas ........: 169 175 2,050 2,040 346 357 3.2 : Michigan ......: 430 434 2,285 2,340 983 1,016 3.4 Minnesota .....: 456 455 1,935 1,975 882 899 1.9 New Mexico ....: 295 282 2,150 2,155 634 608 -4.1 New York ......: 620 630 2,090 2,135 1,296 1,345 3.8 Ohio ..........: 248 251 1,865 1,885 463 473 2.2 Oregon ........: 125 124 1,750 1,760 219 218 -0.5 Pennsylvania ..: 468 466 1,810 1,820 847 848 0.1 South Dakota ..: 170 187 1,940 1,925 330 360 9.1 Texas .........: 628 650 2,195 2,230 1,378 1,450 5.2 Utah ..........: 94 92 1,935 1,935 182 178 -2.2 : Vermont .......: 119 118 1,815 1,845 216 218 0.9 Virginia ......: 71 68 1,760 1,780 125 121 -3.2 Washington ....: 261 255 2,020 2,030 527 518 -1.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,273 1,270 2,095 2,125 2,667 2,699 1.2 : 24-State Total : 8,876 8,927 2,051 2,069 18,205 18,474 1.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (Z) Less than half of the unit shown. 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 16.9 billion pounds by more than 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.4 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 ..............: 0.2 0.4 36 3 93 10 14 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 7 0 29 10 11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products......................................................................... (202) 690-3347 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs...................................................................... (202) 720-3106 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats .. 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