Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released July 22, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). June Milk Production up 2.4 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during June totaled 18.9 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from June 2025. May revised production, at 19.7 billion pounds, was up 2.2 percent from May 2025. The May revision represented a decrease of 43 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,051 pounds for June, 7 pounds above June 2025. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 9.23 million head, 185,000 head more than June 2025, and 18,000 head more than May 2026. April-June Milk Production up 2.4 Percent Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 60.2 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.67 million head, 44,000 head more than the January - March quarter, and 192,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2025-2026 [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 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : : : : : 2025 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,410 9,622 6,043 6,091 56,865 58,603 3.1 April-June ......: 9,474 9,666 6,205 6,227 58,783 60,194 2.4 July-September ..: 9,543 6,100 58,208 October-December : 9,564 6,044 57,802 : Annual ..........: 9,498 24,390 231,658 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2025-2026 [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 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : : : : : 2025 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,954 9,170 2,058 2,082 18,423 19,095 3.6 February ......: 8,966 9,175 1,899 1,912 17,030 17,546 3.0 March .........: 8,995 9,198 2,126 2,138 19,124 19,662 2.8 April .........: 9,017 9,218 2,069 2,080 18,659 19,175 2.8 May ...........: 9,043 9,213 2,134 2,141 19,298 19,724 2.2 June ..........: 9,046 9,231 2,044 2,051 18,489 18,930 2.4 July ..........: 9,082 2,088 18,967 August ........: 9,113 2,066 18,827 September .....: 9,142 1,994 18,230 October .......: 9,137 2,049 18,726 November ......: 9,130 1,981 18,088 December ......: 9,139 2,056 18,787 : Annual ........: 9,064 24,564 222,648 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2025-2026 [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 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : : : : : 2025 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,391 9,610 2,044 2,068 19,194 19,875 3.5 February ......: 9,404 9,614 1,887 1,900 17,746 18,263 2.9 March .........: 9,434 9,641 2,112 2,123 19,925 20,465 2.7 April .........: 9,455 9,664 2,055 2,065 19,432 19,960 2.7 May ...........: 9,481 9,658 2,120 2,126 20,097 20,529 2.1 June ..........: 9,485 9,677 2,030 2,036 19,254 19,705 2.3 July ..........: 9,511 2,072 19,706 August ........: 9,543 2,050 19,560 September .....: 9,574 1,978 18,942 October .......: 9,566 2,035 19,469 November ......: 9,559 1,967 18,804 December ......: 9,566 2,042 19,529 : Annual ........: 9,498 24,390 231,658 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: June 2025 and 2026 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : : : : : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 191 197 2,040 2,050 390 404 3.6 California ......: 1,710 1,714 2,005 2,005 3,429 3,437 0.2 Colorado ........: 211 221 2,155 2,165 455 478 5.1 Florida .........: 97 101 1,805 1,810 175 183 4.6 Georgia .........: 87 89 1,960 2,030 171 181 5.8 Idaho ...........: 715 729 2,150 2,155 1,537 1,571 2.2 Illinois ........: 75 76 1,830 1,835 137 139 1.5 Indiana .........: 191 198 1,990 1,995 380 395 3.9 Iowa ............: 242 245 2,060 2,070 499 507 1.6 Kansas ..........: 206 240 1,975 1,980 407 475 16.7 : Michigan ........: 452 466 2,290 2,300 1,035 1,072 3.6 Minnesota .......: 444 452 1,980 1,995 879 902 2.6 New Mexico ......: 238 239 2,035 2,035 484 486 0.4 New York ........: 641 651 2,150 2,150 1,378 1,400 1.6 Ohio ............: 254 255 1,890 1,890 480 482 0.4 Oregon ..........: 118 127 1,770 1,780 209 226 8.1 Pennsylvania ....: 460 455 1,740 1,760 800 801 0.1 South Dakota ....: 233 245 1,925 1,935 449 474 5.6 Texas ...........: 696 725 2,160 2,175 1,503 1,577 4.9 Utah ............: 96 100 1,985 1,990 191 199 4.2 : Vermont .........: 113 113 1,830 1,840 207 208 0.5 Virginia ........: 67 66 1,720 1,730 115 114 -0.9 Washington ......: 239 237 2,010 2,015 480 478 -0.4 Wisconsin .......: 1,270 1,290 2,125 2,125 2,699 2,741 1.6 : 24-State Total ..: 9,046 9,231 2,044 2,051 18,489 18,930 2.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: May 2025 and 2026 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : : : : : 2025 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 191 197 2,185 2,205 417 434 4.1 California ....: 1,710 1,714 2,085 2,115 3,565 3,625 1.7 Colorado ......: 210 219 2,235 2,240 469 491 4.7 Florida .......: 97 101 1,915 1,905 186 192 3.2 Georgia .......: 87 88 2,065 2,135 180 188 4.4 Idaho .........: 710 727 2,210 2,215 1,569 1,610 2.6 Illinois ......: 76 76 1,945 1,940 148 147 -0.7 Indiana .......: 194 197 2,075 2,070 403 408 1.2 Iowa ..........: 244 245 2,160 2,160 527 529 0.4 Kansas ........: 202 240 2,080 2,085 420 500 19.0 : Michigan ......: 453 464 2,400 2,390 1,087 1,109 2.0 Minnesota .....: 444 452 2,065 2,075 917 938 2.3 New Mexico ....: 239 237 2,165 2,175 517 515 -0.4 New York ......: 638 651 2,225 2,220 1,420 1,445 1.8 Ohio ..........: 258 254 1,960 1,960 506 498 -1.6 Oregon ........: 116 127 1,830 1,840 212 234 10.4 Pennsylvania ..: 462 452 1,835 1,830 848 827 -2.5 South Dakota ..: 233 243 1,995 1,990 465 484 4.1 Texas .........: 694 722 2,265 2,265 1,572 1,635 4.0 Utah ..........: 97 100 2,040 2,045 198 205 3.5 : Vermont .......: 113 112 1,915 1,915 216 214 -0.9 Virginia ......: 67 66 1,840 1,850 123 122 -0.8 Washington ....: 240 237 2,080 2,105 499 499 - Wisconsin .....: 1,268 1,292 2,235 2,225 2,834 2,875 1.4 : 24-State Total : 9,043 9,213 2,134 2,141 19,298 19,724 2.2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised January - March 2025 and 2026 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona ........: 192.0 194.0 1,234.0 1,250.0 1.3 California .....: 1,710.0 1,711.0 10,079.0 10,362.0 2.8 Colorado .......: 208.0 215.0 1,338.0 1,391.0 4.0 Florida ........: 95.0 97.0 533.0 544.0 2.1 Georgia ........: 85.0 88.0 518.0 547.0 5.6 Idaho ..........: 700.0 725.0 4,358.0 4,514.0 3.6 Illinois .......: 77.0 76.0 427.0 427.0 - Indiana ........: 192.0 199.0 1,135.0 1,182.0 4.1 Iowa ...........: 244.0 245.0 1,497.0 1,517.0 1.3 Kansas .........: 183.0 232.0 1,099.0 1,400.0 27.4 : Kentucky .......: 41.0 37.0 210.0 194.0 -7.6 Maine ..........: 24.0 24.0 137.0 133.0 -2.9 Maryland .......: 38.0 38.0 206.0 204.0 -1.0 Michigan .......: 445.0 464.0 3,051.0 3,185.0 4.4 Minnesota ......: 441.0 453.0 2,585.0 2,657.0 2.8 Missouri .......: 55.0 55.0 191.0 191.0 - Nebraska .......: 49.0 51.0 307.0 315.0 2.6 Nevada .........: 32.0 35.0 198.0 217.0 9.6 New Mexico .....: 240.0 231.0 1,517.0 1,454.0 -4.2 New York .......: 632.0 651.0 4,022.0 4,116.0 2.3 : North Carolina .: 35.0 36.0 207.0 213.0 2.9 Ohio ...........: 252.0 256.0 1,424.0 1,447.0 1.6 Oklahoma .......: 43.0 46.0 206.0 221.0 7.3 Oregon .........: 116.0 123.0 604.0 640.0 6.0 Pennsylvania ...: 464.0 453.0 2,482.0 2,417.0 -2.6 South Dakota ...: 222.0 242.0 1,276.0 1,394.0 9.2 Tennessee ......: 22.0 22.0 104.0 103.0 -1.0 Texas ..........: 683.0 717.0 4,445.0 4,705.0 5.8 Utah ...........: 94.0 99.0 534.0 567.0 6.2 Vermont ........: 113.0 113.0 618.0 621.0 0.5 : Virginia .......: 66.0 66.0 354.0 358.0 1.1 Washington .....: 252.0 236.0 1,495.0 1,405.0 -6.0 Wisconsin ......: 1,265.0 1,294.0 7,952.0 8,203.0 3.2 : Other States 3/ : 99.8 97.8 521.6 508.6 -2.5 : United States ..: 9,410.0 9,622.0 56,865.0 58,603.0 3.1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. 3/ Other States includes states not published. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary April - June 2025 and 2026 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April - June milk cows 1/ : April - June milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona ........: 191.0 197.0 1,224.0 1,268.0 3.6 California .....: 1,710.0 1,714.0 10,465.0 10,582.0 1.1 Colorado .......: 210.0 220.0 1,378.0 1,446.0 4.9 Florida ........: 96.0 101.0 541.0 570.0 5.4 Georgia ........: 87.0 88.0 528.0 555.0 5.1 Idaho ..........: 710.0 728.0 4,606.0 4,733.0 2.8 Illinois .......: 76.0 76.0 428.0 433.0 1.2 Indiana ........: 191.0 198.0 1,161.0 1,202.0 3.5 Iowa ...........: 243.0 245.0 1,535.0 1,551.0 1.0 Kansas .........: 201.0 240.0 1,223.0 1,465.0 19.8 : Kentucky .......: 40.0 37.0 215.0 199.0 -7.4 Maine ..........: 24.0 24.0 140.0 137.0 -2.1 Maryland .......: 39.0 41.0 210.0 220.0 4.8 Michigan .......: 451.0 465.0 3,159.0 3,257.0 3.1 Minnesota ......: 443.0 452.0 2,678.0 2,744.0 2.5 Missouri .......: 54.0 55.0 204.0 208.0 2.0 Nebraska .......: 50.0 50.0 314.0 315.0 0.3 Nevada .........: 34.0 36.0 215.0 228.0 6.0 New Mexico .....: 239.0 238.0 1,510.0 1,508.0 -0.1 New York .......: 639.0 651.0 4,173.0 4,251.0 1.9 : North Carolina .: 35.0 36.0 210.0 214.0 1.9 Ohio ...........: 255.0 255.0 1,466.0 1,469.0 0.2 Oklahoma .......: 43.0 46.0 206.0 220.0 6.8 Oregon .........: 117.0 126.0 625.0 679.0 8.6 Pennsylvania ...: 462.0 453.0 2,488.0 2,451.0 -1.5 South Dakota ...: 232.0 243.0 1,357.0 1,424.0 4.9 Tennessee ......: 22.0 22.0 105.0 105.0 - Texas ..........: 693.0 723.0 4,586.0 4,800.0 4.7 Utah ...........: 97.0 100.0 577.0 601.0 4.2 Vermont ........: 113.0 112.0 632.0 630.0 -0.3 : Virginia .......: 67.0 66.0 361.0 358.0 -0.8 Washington .....: 243.0 236.0 1,494.0 1,454.0 -2.7 Wisconsin ......: 1,268.0 1,293.0 8,251.0 8,398.0 1.8 : Other States 3/ : 98.6 98.6 518.1 518.6 0.1 : United States ..: 9,474.0 9,666.0 58,783.0 60,194.0 2.4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. 3/ Other States includes states not published. 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 60.2 billion pounds by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.2 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 ..............: 0.1 0.2 67 4 175 8 12 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 8 1 17 9 11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Estimation Branch Contacts For more information about specific commodities, please contact the Estimation Branch staff members below. You can also email inquiries to nass@usda.gov. Anthony Prillaman, Associate Deputy Administrator............................................................................... (202) 720-2127 Darin Jantzi, Section Chief..................................................................................................... (701) 412-5953 Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Eggs, Hogs and Pigs, Layers, Sheep and Goats Jeff Lemmons, Section Chief..................................................................................................... (202) 973-3272 Cattle, Cattle on Feed, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage Fleming Gibson, Section Chief (Acting).......................................................................................... (202) 236-2428 Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Dairy Products, Livestock Slaughter, Poultry Slaughter, Trout, Turkey Hatchery, Turkey Raised Julie Weber, Section Chief...................................................................................................... (202) 317-0165 Cost of Pollination, Egg Products, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Milk Production Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Cornell's Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS's and other agency's archived reports. 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