Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released December 18, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). November Milk Production down 0.5 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during November totaled 17.3 billion pounds, down 0.5 percent from November 2022. October revised production, at 17.9 billion pounds, was down 0.6 percent from October 2022. The October revision represented a decrease of 37 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,948 pounds for November, 3 pounds below November 2022. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.90 million head, 26,000 head less than November 2022, and 9,000 head less than October 2023. November Milk Production in the United States down 0.6 Percent Milk production in the United States during November totaled 18.1 billion pounds, down 0.6 percent from November 2022. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,932 pounds for November, 2 pounds below November 2022. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.36 million head, 44,000 head less than November 2022, and 10,000 head less than October 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 9,427 6,000 6,031 56,305 56,855 1.0 April-June ......: 9,411 9,416 6,144 6,165 57,822 58,054 0.4 July-September ..: 9,408 9,377 5,999 5,981 56,438 56,083 -0.6 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 8,946 1,885 1,896 16,750 16,958 1.2 March .........: 8,908 8,959 2,113 2,117 18,827 18,962 0.7 April .........: 8,908 8,945 2,053 2,057 18,291 18,401 0.6 May ...........: 8,921 8,949 2,115 2,127 18,871 19,033 0.9 June ..........: 8,915 8,927 2,027 2,033 18,074 18,148 0.4 July ..........: 8,920 8,911 2,060 2,046 18,373 18,228 -0.8 August ........: 8,927 8,913 2,040 2,030 18,212 18,093 -0.7 September .....: 8,927 8,917 1,957 1,961 17,470 17,482 0.1 October .......: 8,931 8,907 2,016 2,010 18,005 17,899 -0.6 November ......: 8,924 8,898 1,951 1,948 17,413 17,330 -0.5 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 9,408 2,034 2,052 19,050 19,308 1.4 February ......: 9,380 9,429 1,870 1,880 17,540 17,724 1.0 March .........: 9,404 9,444 2,096 2,099 19,715 19,823 0.5 April .........: 9,404 9,425 2,036 2,039 19,147 19,217 0.4 May ...........: 9,417 9,425 2,098 2,110 19,755 19,884 0.7 June ..........: 9,413 9,399 2,010 2,016 18,920 18,953 0.2 July ..........: 9,413 9,379 2,038 2,026 19,180 19,000 -0.9 August ........: 9,406 9,376 2,022 2,011 19,016 18,856 -0.8 September .....: 9,406 9,376 1,939 1,944 18,242 18,227 -0.1 October .......: 9,412 9,370 1,998 1,993 18,809 18,675 -0.7 November ......: 9,404 9,360 1,934 1,932 18,184 18,080 -0.6 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: November 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 .........: 195 201 1,965 1,975 383 397 3.7 California ......: 1,724 1,713 1,930 1,910 3,327 3,272 -1.7 Colorado ........: 203 198 2,105 2,110 427 418 -2.1 Florida .........: 92 98 1,575 1,575 145 154 6.2 Georgia .........: 92 93 1,760 1,760 162 164 1.2 Idaho ...........: 661 663 2,000 2,000 1,322 1,326 0.3 Illinois ........: 79 79 1,710 1,720 135 136 0.7 Indiana .........: 186 190 1,920 1,915 357 364 2.0 Iowa ............: 239 239 2,000 2,010 478 480 0.4 Kansas ..........: 175 173 1,950 1,945 341 336 -1.5 : Michigan ........: 431 439 2,220 2,220 957 975 1.9 Minnesota .......: 454 451 1,870 1,870 849 843 -0.7 New Mexico ......: 282 255 1,960 1,950 553 497 -10.1 New York ........: 628 630 2,035 2,040 1,278 1,285 0.5 Ohio ............: 250 255 1,790 1,800 448 459 2.5 Oregon ..........: 123 119 1,670 1,680 205 200 -2.4 Pennsylvania ....: 467 466 1,700 1,680 794 783 -1.4 South Dakota ....: 185 198 1,860 1,860 344 368 7.0 Texas ...........: 653 635 2,065 2,075 1,348 1,318 -2.2 Utah ............: 92 92 1,850 1,850 170 170 - : Vermont .........: 118 116 1,755 1,725 207 200 -3.4 Virginia ........: 69 69 1,635 1,660 113 115 1.8 Washington ......: 255 256 1,920 1,900 490 486 -0.8 Wisconsin .......: 1,271 1,270 2,030 2,035 2,580 2,584 0.2 : 24-State Total ..: 8,924 8,898 1,951 1,948 17,413 17,330 -0.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: October 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 .......: 195 201 1,935 1,960 377 394 4.5 California ....: 1,724 1,713 1,975 1,935 3,405 3,315 -2.6 Colorado ......: 205 198 2,170 2,175 445 431 -3.1 Florida .......: 94 100 1,550 1,570 146 157 7.5 Georgia .......: 92 93 1,810 1,775 167 165 -1.2 Idaho .........: 662 663 2,120 2,080 1,403 1,379 -1.7 Illinois ......: 79 79 1,735 1,745 137 138 0.7 Indiana .......: 186 191 1,980 1,965 368 375 1.9 Iowa ..........: 239 239 2,065 2,060 494 492 -0.4 Kansas ........: 175 173 2,015 2,010 353 348 -1.4 : Michigan ......: 428 439 2,300 2,290 984 1,005 2.1 Minnesota .....: 453 451 1,940 1,935 879 873 -0.7 New Mexico ....: 284 260 2,030 2,000 577 520 -9.9 New York ......: 627 630 2,105 2,130 1,320 1,342 1.7 Ohio ..........: 250 255 1,830 1,845 458 470 2.6 Oregon ........: 124 119 1,755 1,745 218 208 -4.6 Pennsylvania ..: 468 466 1,730 1,730 810 806 -0.5 South Dakota ..: 185 198 1,955 1,955 362 387 6.9 Texas .........: 655 635 2,150 2,175 1,408 1,381 -1.9 Utah ..........: 92 92 1,930 1,935 178 178 - : Vermont .......: 117 116 1,810 1,805 212 209 -1.4 Virginia ......: 69 69 1,670 1,700 115 117 1.7 Washington ....: 257 257 2,025 2,010 520 517 -0.6 Wisconsin .....: 1,271 1,270 2,100 2,120 2,669 2,692 0.9 : 24-State Total : 8,931 8,907 2,016 2,010 18,005 17,899 -0.6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 17.3 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 32 3 93 12 12 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.1 4 0 12 11 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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