Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released April 22, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March Milk Production down 0.9 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during March totaled 18.8 billion pounds, down 0.9 percent from March 2023. February revised production, at 17.4 billion pounds, was up 2.9 percent from February 2023. The February revision represented an increase of 82 million pounds or 0.5 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Adjusting February production for the additional day due to leap year causes February revised production to be down 0.7 percent on a per day basis. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,115 pounds for March, 3 pounds below March 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.88 million head, 71,000 head less than March 2023, and 7,000 head less than February 2024. January-March Milk Production up 0.1 Percent Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 56.9 billion pounds, up 0.1 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.33 million head, 16,000 head less than the October - December quarter, and 85,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2023-2024 [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 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : from : : : : : : : 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,418 9,333 6,035 6,095 56,837 56,886 0.1 April-June ......: 9,410 6,164 58,004 July-September ..: 9,366 5,978 55,994 October-December : 9,349 5,940 55,529 : Annual ..........: 9,386 24,117 226,364 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2023-2024 [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 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : from : : : : : : : 2023 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,922 8,870 2,071 2,062 18,474 18,294 -1.0 February ......: 8,939 8,888 1,897 1,962 16,953 17,439 2.9 March .........: 8,952 8,881 2,118 2,115 18,956 18,787 -0.9 April .........: 8,941 2,056 18,386 May ...........: 8,945 2,125 19,006 June ..........: 8,925 2,033 18,141 July ..........: 8,909 2,045 18,216 August ........: 8,906 2,028 18,065 September .....: 8,907 1,958 17,444 October .......: 8,900 2,009 17,880 November ......: 8,891 1,947 17,311 December ......: 8,894 2,031 18,061 : Annual ........: 8,919 24,318 216,893 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2023-2024 [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 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : from : : : : : : : 2023 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,401 9,323 2,054 2,047 19,308 19,088 -1.1 February ......: 9,419 9,342 1,881 1,948 17,718 18,195 2.7 March .........: 9,433 9,335 2,100 2,100 19,811 19,603 -1.0 April .........: 9,414 2,040 19,204 May ...........: 9,418 2,108 19,852 June ..........: 9,397 2,016 18,948 July ..........: 9,368 2,027 18,985 August ........: 9,365 2,010 18,828 September .....: 9,366 1,941 18,181 October .......: 9,355 1,993 18,645 November ......: 9,345 1,932 18,051 December ......: 9,348 2,015 18,833 : Annual ........: 9,386 24,117 226,364 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: March 2023 and 2024 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : from : : : : : : : 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 194 193 2,270 2,275 440 439 -0.2 California ......: 1,717 1,709 2,120 2,145 3,640 3,666 0.7 Colorado ........: 203 201 2,230 2,230 453 448 -1.1 Florida .........: 92 97 1,900 1,870 175 181 3.4 Georgia .........: 92 87 2,040 2,000 188 174 -7.4 Idaho ...........: 669 665 2,160 2,145 1,445 1,426 -1.3 Illinois ........: 79 79 1,930 1,940 152 153 0.7 Indiana .........: 189 190 2,080 2,045 393 389 -1.0 Iowa ............: 240 242 2,130 2,150 511 520 1.8 Kansas ..........: 180 175 2,065 2,070 372 362 -2.7 : Michigan ........: 435 439 2,380 2,350 1,035 1,032 -0.3 Minnesota .......: 454 446 1,990 1,995 903 890 -1.4 New Mexico ......: 281 240 2,220 2,200 624 528 -15.4 New York ........: 630 630 2,170 2,165 1,367 1,364 -0.2 Ohio ............: 252 254 1,945 1,920 490 488 -0.4 Oregon ..........: 126 116 1,820 1,795 229 208 -9.2 Pennsylvania ....: 466 465 1,870 1,870 871 870 -0.1 South Dakota ....: 189 210 1,940 1,945 367 408 11.2 Texas ...........: 660 642 2,280 2,225 1,505 1,428 -5.1 Utah ............: 90 90 1,960 1,970 176 177 0.6 : Vermont .........: 118 116 1,860 1,845 219 214 -2.3 Virginia ........: 67 67 1,865 1,840 125 123 -1.6 Washington ......: 260 258 2,080 2,080 541 537 -0.7 Wisconsin .......: 1,269 1,270 2,155 2,175 2,735 2,762 1.0 : 24-State Total ..: 8,952 8,881 2,118 2,115 18,956 18,787 -0.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: February 2023 and 2024 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : from : : : : : : : 2023 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 194 193 2,000 2,070 388 400 3.1 California ....: 1,718 1,709 1,905 1,970 3,273 3,367 2.9 Colorado ......: 201 201 1,995 2,070 401 416 3.7 Florida .......: 91 98 1,715 1,750 156 172 10.3 Georgia .......: 92 87 1,840 1,850 169 161 -4.7 Idaho .........: 668 665 1,935 1,970 1,293 1,310 1.3 Illinois ......: 79 79 1,710 1,785 135 141 4.4 Indiana .......: 189 190 1,845 1,870 349 355 1.7 Iowa ..........: 240 242 1,915 2,000 460 484 5.2 Kansas ........: 178 174 1,850 1,935 329 337 2.4 : Michigan ......: 435 439 2,135 2,200 929 966 4.0 Minnesota .....: 455 448 1,795 1,865 817 836 2.3 New Mexico ....: 280 243 1,955 2,030 547 493 -9.9 New York ......: 630 630 1,950 2,010 1,229 1,266 3.0 Ohio ..........: 252 254 1,730 1,785 436 453 3.9 Oregon ........: 124 116 1,620 1,655 201 192 -4.5 Pennsylvania ..: 466 465 1,675 1,710 781 795 1.8 South Dakota ..: 189 210 1,750 1,825 331 383 15.7 Texas .........: 655 645 2,025 2,115 1,326 1,364 2.9 Utah ..........: 90 89 1,770 1,830 159 163 2.5 : Vermont .......: 118 116 1,665 1,725 196 200 2.0 Virginia ......: 68 67 1,640 1,710 112 115 2.7 Washington ....: 257 258 1,865 1,930 479 498 4.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,270 1,935 2,025 2,457 2,572 4.7 : 24-State Total : 8,939 8,888 1,897 1,962 16,953 17,439 2.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised October - December 2022 and 2023 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October - December milk cows 1/ : October - December milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 2.0 2.0 6.0 5.0 -16.7 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 195.0 200.0 1,167.0 1,199.0 2.7 Arkansas .......: 3.5 2.5 10.0 7.0 -30.0 California .....: 1,720.0 1,710.0 10,217.0 10,015.0 -2.0 Colorado .......: 204.0 197.0 1,315.0 1,277.0 -2.9 Connecticut ....: 18.5 17.5 105.0 104.0 -1.0 Delaware .......: 2.6 2.6 11.2 11.4 1.8 Florida ........: 92.0 99.0 448.0 485.0 8.3 Georgia ........: 92.0 90.0 504.0 487.0 -3.4 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 661.0 663.0 4,103.0 4,068.0 -0.9 Illinois .......: 79.0 79.0 414.0 418.0 1.0 Indiana ........: 186.0 190.0 1,095.0 1,118.0 2.1 Iowa ...........: 239.0 239.0 1,466.0 1,460.0 -0.4 Kansas .........: 175.0 176.0 1,045.0 1,045.0 - Kentucky .......: 45.0 43.0 222.0 211.0 -5.0 Louisiana ......: 8.0 7.0 25.0 22.0 -12.0 Maine ..........: 25.0 24.0 134.0 130.0 -3.0 Maryland .......: 40.0 40.0 205.0 210.0 2.4 : Massachusetts ..: 9.0 9.0 44.0 43.0 -2.3 Michigan .......: 432.0 439.0 2,936.0 2,980.0 1.5 Minnesota ......: 454.0 450.0 2,606.0 2,577.0 -1.1 Mississippi ....: 6.0 5.5 19.0 16.0 -15.8 Missouri .......: 65.0 60.0 218.0 201.0 -7.8 Montana ........: 10.0 9.0 53.0 50.0 -5.7 Nebraska .......: 57.0 53.0 356.0 326.0 -8.4 Nevada .........: 33.0 32.0 192.0 194.0 1.0 New Hampshire ..: 10.0 9.5 52.0 50.0 -3.8 New Jersey .....: 4.2 4.0 21.0 21.0 - : New Mexico .....: 282.0 255.0 1,705.0 1,528.0 -10.4 New York .......: 630.0 630.0 3,917.0 3,963.0 1.2 North Carolina .: 39.0 38.0 220.0 217.0 -1.4 North Dakota ...: 14.0 10.5 77.0 60.0 -22.1 Ohio ...........: 250.0 255.0 1,372.0 1,406.0 2.5 Oklahoma .......: 39.0 37.0 178.0 167.0 -6.2 Oregon .........: 123.0 120.0 635.0 616.0 -3.0 Pennsylvania ...: 467.0 466.0 2,432.0 2,401.0 -1.3 Rhode Island ...: 0.5 0.5 2.4 2.4 - South Carolina .: 9.0 8.0 38.0 35.0 -7.9 : South Dakota ...: 185.0 202.0 1,061.0 1,155.0 8.9 Tennessee ......: 26.0 25.0 117.0 114.0 -2.6 Texas ..........: 653.0 635.0 4,151.0 4,086.0 -1.6 Utah ...........: 92.0 89.0 525.0 510.0 -2.9 Vermont ........: 118.0 116.0 633.0 619.0 -2.2 Virginia .......: 68.0 68.0 343.0 350.0 2.0 Washington .....: 256.0 257.0 1,512.0 1,527.0 1.0 West Virginia ..: 5.0 4.5 18.0 16.0 -11.1 Wisconsin ......: 1,271.0 1,270.0 7,910.0 7,962.0 0.7 Wyoming ........: 9.0 9.0 61.0 62.0 1.6 : Other States 3/ : 0.8 0.8 1.1 1.7 54.5 : United States ..: 9,405.0 9,349.0 55,898.0 55,529.0 -0.7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 2023 and 2024 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 2.5 2.5 9.0 8.0 -11.1 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 194.0 194.0 1,238.0 1,256.0 1.5 Arkansas .......: 3.0 2.5 10.0 8.0 -20.0 California .....: 1,718.0 1,709.0 10,446.0 10,573.0 1.2 Colorado .......: 201.0 200.0 1,295.0 1,301.0 0.5 Connecticut ....: 18.5 17.5 109.0 107.0 -1.8 Delaware .......: 2.7 2.6 12.8 12.9 0.8 Florida ........: 91.0 98.0 490.0 533.0 8.8 Georgia ........: 92.0 87.0 540.0 504.0 -6.7 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 667.0 664.0 4,146.0 4,115.0 -0.7 Illinois .......: 79.0 79.0 433.0 441.0 1.8 Indiana ........: 189.0 190.0 1,124.0 1,124.0 - Iowa ...........: 240.0 241.0 1,474.0 1,510.0 2.4 Kansas .........: 178.0 174.0 1,058.0 1,050.0 -0.8 Kentucky .......: 46.0 43.0 245.0 224.0 -8.6 Louisiana ......: 8.0 8.0 30.0 29.0 -3.3 Maine ..........: 25.0 24.0 135.0 133.0 -1.5 Maryland .......: 40.0 40.0 213.0 219.0 2.8 : Massachusetts ..: 9.0 9.0 45.0 45.0 - Michigan .......: 435.0 439.0 2,984.0 3,016.0 1.1 Minnesota ......: 455.0 448.0 2,616.0 2,604.0 -0.5 Mississippi ....: 6.0 5.5 23.0 19.0 -17.4 Missouri .......: 64.0 60.0 223.0 212.0 -4.9 Montana ........: 9.5 9.0 53.0 51.0 -3.8 Nebraska .......: 55.0 51.0 340.0 314.0 -7.6 Nevada .........: 33.0 32.0 185.0 197.0 6.5 New Hampshire ..: 10.0 9.5 53.0 52.0 -1.9 New Jersey .....: 4.1 4.0 22.0 22.0 - : New Mexico .....: 281.0 241.0 1,779.0 1,532.0 -13.9 New York .......: 630.0 630.0 3,941.0 3,962.0 0.5 North Carolina .: 39.0 38.0 235.0 229.0 -2.6 North Dakota ...: 13.0 10.0 73.0 58.0 -20.5 Ohio ...........: 252.0 254.0 1,399.0 1,422.0 1.6 Oklahoma .......: 41.0 39.0 195.0 188.0 -3.6 Oregon .........: 125.0 116.0 648.0 599.0 -7.6 Pennsylvania ...: 466.0 465.0 2,500.0 2,500.0 - Rhode Island ...: 0.5 0.5 2.4 2.4 - South Carolina .: 8.5 8.0 41.0 39.0 -4.9 : South Dakota ...: 188.0 209.0 1,058.0 1,191.0 12.6 Tennessee ......: 26.0 25.0 123.0 118.0 -4.1 Texas ..........: 655.0 641.0 4,281.0 4,186.0 -2.2 Utah ...........: 90.0 89.0 512.0 514.0 0.4 Vermont ........: 118.0 116.0 634.0 625.0 -1.4 Virginia .......: 68.0 67.0 358.0 359.0 0.3 Washington .....: 257.0 258.0 1,538.0 1,558.0 1.3 West Virginia ..: 4.5 4.0 17.0 15.0 -11.8 Wisconsin ......: 1,270.0 1,270.0 7,891.0 8,045.0 2.0 Wyoming ........: 9.0 9.0 58.6 62.0 5.8 : Other States 3/ : 0.9 0.8 1.4 1.7 21.4 : United States ..: 9,418.0 9,333.0 56,837.0 56,886.0 0.1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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. 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 56.9 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 71 0 216 8 11 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 1 29 8 12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows (512) 501-3266 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products.. (202) 690-3347 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs............................................................. (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ......................................................... 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