Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released March 20, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). February Milk Production up 2.4 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during February totaled 17.4 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from February 2023. However, adjusting production for the additional day due to leap year causes February milk production to be down 1.1 percent on a per day basis. January revised production, at 18.3 billion pounds, was down 1.0 percent from January 2023. The January revision represented a decrease of 6 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,955 pounds for February, 58 pounds above February 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.88 million head, 61,000 head less than February 2023, but 8,000 head more than January 2024. February Milk Production in the United States up 2.2 Percent Milk production in the United States during February totaled 18.1 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent from February 2023. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,941 pounds for February, 60 pounds above February 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.33 million head, 89,000 head less than February 2023, but 10,000 head more than January 2024. 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 6,035 56,837 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 8,878 1,897 1,955 16,953 17,357 2.4 March .........: 8,952 2,118 18,956 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 9,320 2,054 2,047 19,308 19,080 -1.2 February ......: 9,419 9,330 1,881 1,941 17,718 18,105 2.2 March .........: 9,433 2,100 19,811 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: 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 .........: 194 196 2,000 2,060 388 404 4.1 California ......: 1,718 1,710 1,905 1,965 3,273 3,360 2.7 Colorado ........: 201 198 1,995 2,065 401 409 2.0 Florida .........: 91 98 1,715 1,735 156 170 9.0 Georgia .........: 92 87 1,840 1,850 169 161 -4.7 Idaho ...........: 668 663 1,935 1,965 1,293 1,303 0.8 Illinois ........: 79 79 1,710 1,785 135 141 4.4 Indiana .........: 189 190 1,845 1,870 349 355 1.7 Iowa ............: 240 240 1,915 1,990 460 478 3.9 Kansas ..........: 178 172 1,850 1,905 329 328 -0.3 : Michigan ........: 435 439 2,135 2,185 929 959 3.2 Minnesota .......: 455 448 1,795 1,850 817 829 1.5 New Mexico ......: 280 243 1,955 2,030 547 493 -9.9 New York ........: 630 630 1,950 2,000 1,229 1,260 2.5 Ohio ............: 252 254 1,730 1,785 436 453 3.9 Oregon ..........: 124 114 1,620 1,640 201 187 -7.0 Pennsylvania ....: 466 465 1,675 1,710 781 795 1.8 South Dakota ....: 189 208 1,750 1,825 331 380 14.8 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 ......: 257 257 1,865 1,910 479 491 2.5 Wisconsin .......: 1,270 1,270 1,935 2,015 2,457 2,559 4.2 : 24-State Total ..: 8,939 8,878 1,897 1,955 16,953 17,357 2.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: January 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 .......: 194 196 2,115 2,125 410 417 1.7 California ....: 1,719 1,710 2,055 2,070 3,533 3,540 0.2 Colorado ......: 200 198 2,205 2,205 441 437 -0.9 Florida .......: 89 98 1,790 1,835 159 180 13.2 Georgia .......: 92 88 1,990 1,925 183 169 -7.7 Idaho .........: 664 663 2,120 2,080 1,408 1,379 -2.1 Illinois ......: 79 79 1,850 1,855 146 147 0.7 Indiana .......: 188 190 2,030 2,000 382 380 -0.5 Iowa ..........: 240 240 2,095 2,110 503 506 0.6 Kansas ........: 175 173 2,040 2,030 357 351 -1.7 : Michigan ......: 435 439 2,345 2,320 1,020 1,018 -0.2 Minnesota .....: 455 449 1,970 1,955 896 878 -2.0 New Mexico ....: 282 240 2,155 2,130 608 511 -16.0 New York ......: 630 630 2,135 2,115 1,345 1,332 -1.0 Ohio ..........: 251 255 1,885 1,885 473 481 1.7 Oregon ........: 124 115 1,760 1,730 218 199 -8.7 Pennsylvania ..: 466 465 1,820 1,795 848 835 -1.5 South Dakota ..: 187 208 1,925 1,925 360 400 11.1 Texas .........: 650 635 2,230 2,195 1,450 1,394 -3.9 Utah ..........: 91 89 1,945 1,950 177 174 -1.7 : Vermont .......: 118 116 1,855 1,820 219 211 -3.7 Virginia ......: 68 67 1,780 1,800 121 121 - Washington ....: 255 257 2,030 2,035 518 523 1.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,270 2,125 2,135 2,699 2,711 0.4 : 24-State Total : 8,922 8,870 2,071 2,062 18,474 18,294 -1.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 17.4 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 30 0 101 8 15 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.1 5 0 14 4 16 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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