Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released May 20, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). April Milk Production down 0.2 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during April totaled 18.3 billion pounds, down 0.2 percent from April 2023. March revised production, at 18.9 billion pounds, was down 0.5 percent from March 2023. The March revision represented an increase of 78 million pounds or 0.4 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,064 pounds for April, 8 pounds above April 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.89 million head, 55,000 head less than April 2023, and 6,000 head less than March 2024. April Milk Production in the United States down 0.4 Percent Milk production in the United States during April totaled 19.1 billion pounds, down 0.4 percent from April 2023. Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,049 pounds for April, 9 pounds above April 2023. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.34 million head, 74,000 head less than April 2023, and 8,000 head less than March 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 9,338 6,035 6,100 56,837 56,964 0.2 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 8,892 2,118 2,122 18,956 18,865 -0.5 April .........: 8,941 8,886 2,056 2,064 18,386 18,341 -0.2 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 9,348 2,100 2,105 19,811 19,681 -0.7 April .........: 9,414 9,340 2,040 2,049 19,204 19,135 -0.4 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: April 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 .........: 196 193 2,185 2,185 428 422 -1.4 California ......: 1,717 1,708 2,060 2,075 3,537 3,544 0.2 Colorado ........: 205 203 2,165 2,175 444 442 -0.5 Florida .........: 92 100 1,805 1,845 166 185 11.4 Georgia .........: 92 85 1,960 1,965 180 167 -7.2 Idaho ...........: 669 668 2,105 2,105 1,408 1,406 -0.1 Illinois ........: 79 79 1,860 1,880 147 149 1.4 Indiana .........: 189 190 2,010 2,005 380 381 0.3 Iowa ............: 239 243 2,065 2,105 494 512 3.6 Kansas ..........: 180 174 2,000 1,990 360 346 -3.9 : Michigan ........: 436 439 2,310 2,305 1,007 1,012 0.5 Minnesota .......: 454 446 1,925 1,955 874 872 -0.2 New Mexico ......: 282 235 2,135 2,120 602 498 -17.3 New York ........: 630 630 2,130 2,130 1,342 1,342 - Ohio ............: 252 255 1,875 1,885 473 481 1.7 Oregon ..........: 125 117 1,770 1,770 221 207 -6.3 Pennsylvania ....: 466 465 1,835 1,830 855 851 -0.5 South Dakota ....: 189 212 1,895 1,895 358 402 12.3 Texas ...........: 645 640 2,190 2,135 1,413 1,366 -3.3 Utah ............: 90 90 1,930 1,940 174 175 0.6 : Vermont .........: 118 115 1,820 1,800 215 207 -3.7 Virginia ........: 67 67 1,800 1,830 121 123 1.7 Washington ......: 261 260 2,035 2,035 531 529 -0.4 Wisconsin .......: 1,268 1,272 2,095 2,140 2,656 2,722 2.5 : 24-State Total ..: 8,941 8,886 2,056 2,064 18,386 18,341 -0.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 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 2,280 440 440 - California ....: 1,717 1,709 2,120 2,140 3,640 3,657 0.5 Colorado ......: 203 203 2,230 2,235 453 454 0.2 Florida .......: 92 100 1,900 1,925 175 193 10.3 Georgia .......: 92 85 2,040 2,025 188 172 -8.5 Idaho .........: 669 668 2,160 2,145 1,445 1,433 -0.8 Illinois ......: 79 79 1,930 1,950 152 154 1.3 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 2,085 372 365 -1.9 : Michigan ......: 435 439 2,380 2,370 1,035 1,040 0.5 Minnesota .....: 454 446 1,990 2,005 903 894 -1.0 New Mexico ....: 281 240 2,220 2,200 624 528 -15.4 New York ......: 630 630 2,170 2,185 1,367 1,377 0.7 Ohio ..........: 252 255 1,945 1,930 490 492 0.4 Oregon ........: 126 116 1,820 1,820 229 211 -7.9 Pennsylvania ..: 466 465 1,870 1,870 871 870 -0.1 South Dakota ..: 189 212 1,940 1,950 367 413 12.5 Texas .........: 660 643 2,280 2,225 1,505 1,431 -4.9 Utah ..........: 90 90 1,960 1,970 176 177 0.6 : Vermont .......: 118 115 1,860 1,860 219 214 -2.3 Virginia ......: 67 67 1,865 1,860 125 125 - Washington ....: 260 260 2,080 2,080 541 541 - Wisconsin .....: 1,269 1,270 2,155 2,185 2,735 2,775 1.5 : 24-State Total : 8,952 8,892 2,118 2,122 18,956 18,865 -0.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 18.3 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 36 5 101 9 15 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.1 6 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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