Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released October 20, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). September Milk Production up 2.4 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during September totaled 17.2 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from September 2019. August revised production, at 17.8 billion pounds, was up 1.9 percent from August 2019. The August revision represented an increase of 1 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,944 pounds for September, 36 pounds above September 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.85 million head, 46,000 head more than September 2019, and 6,000 head more than August 2020. July-September Milk Production up 2.0 Percent Milk production in the United States during the July - September quarter totaled 55.3 billion pounds, up 2.0 percent from the July - September quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.36 million head, 1,000 head less than the April - June quarter, but 39,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2019-2020 [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 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : from : : : : : : : 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,346 9,374 5,823 5,988 54,423 56,130 3.1 April-June ......: 9,331 9,362 5,971 5,981 55,716 55,997 0.5 July-September ..: 9,322 9,361 5,818 5,910 54,237 55,328 2.0 October-December : 9,345 5,779 54,006 : Annual ..........: 9,336 23,391 218,382 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2019-2020 [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 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : from : : : : : : : 2019 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,805 8,834 2,010 2,033 17,699 17,956 1.5 February ......: 8,803 8,848 1,833 1,925 16,132 17,031 5.6 March .........: 8,789 8,857 2,038 2,084 17,916 18,455 3.0 April .........: 8,788 8,852 1,996 2,008 17,544 17,778 1.3 May ...........: 8,790 8,836 2,063 2,043 18,137 18,049 -0.5 June ..........: 8,784 8,827 1,974 1,981 17,342 17,486 0.8 July ..........: 8,785 8,840 1,997 2,024 17,542 17,891 2.0 August ........: 8,789 8,845 1,984 2,008 17,439 17,764 1.9 September .....: 8,805 8,851 1,908 1,944 16,796 17,206 2.4 October .......: 8,819 1,962 17,299 November ......: 8,817 1,894 16,699 December ......: 8,816 1,987 17,517 : Annual ........: 8,799 23,646 208,062 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2019-2020 [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 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : from : : : : : : : 2019 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,354 9,361 1,990 2,015 18,612 18,860 1.3 February ......: 9,352 9,375 1,814 1,908 16,966 17,890 5.4 March .........: 9,333 9,385 2,019 2,065 18,845 19,380 2.8 April .........: 9,332 9,375 1,975 1,992 18,433 18,675 1.3 May ...........: 9,333 9,360 2,042 2,025 19,058 18,955 -0.5 June ..........: 9,327 9,350 1,954 1,964 18,225 18,367 0.8 July ..........: 9,315 9,357 1,973 2,001 18,375 18,725 1.9 August ........: 9,318 9,361 1,960 1,986 18,267 18,595 1.8 September .....: 9,333 9,366 1,885 1,923 17,595 18,008 2.3 October .......: 9,347 1,940 18,135 November ......: 9,345 1,873 17,506 December ......: 9,343 1,966 18,365 : Annual ........: 9,336 23,391 218,382 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: September 2019 and 2020 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : from : : : : : : : 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 196 195 1,825 1,795 358 350 -2.2 California ......: 1,725 1,721 1,860 1,925 3,209 3,313 3.2 Colorado ........: 189 199 2,110 2,160 399 430 7.8 Florida .........: 116 111 1,415 1,425 164 158 -3.7 Georgia .........: 80 79 1,640 1,650 131 130 -0.8 Idaho ...........: 630 645 2,060 2,070 1,298 1,335 2.9 Illinois ........: 83 83 1,600 1,650 133 137 3.0 Indiana .........: 175 185 1,835 1,890 321 350 9.0 Iowa ............: 217 219 1,970 2,005 427 439 2.8 Kansas ..........: 163 171 1,910 1,940 311 332 6.8 : Michigan ........: 428 428 2,170 2,220 929 950 2.3 Minnesota .......: 447 442 1,810 1,880 809 831 2.7 New Mexico ......: 329 327 2,030 2,025 668 662 -0.9 New York ........: 627 626 1,970 2,000 1,235 1,252 1.4 Ohio ............: 252 254 1,735 1,800 437 457 4.6 Oregon ..........: 124 123 1,700 1,690 211 208 -1.4 Pennsylvania ....: 485 482 1,650 1,690 800 815 1.9 South Dakota ....: 126 139 1,865 1,900 235 264 12.3 Texas ...........: 570 598 1,995 2,025 1,137 1,211 6.5 Utah ............: 97 95 1,925 1,925 187 183 -2.1 : Vermont .........: 125 120 1,750 1,725 219 207 -5.5 Virginia ........: 74 74 1,555 1,575 115 117 1.7 Washington ......: 281 279 2,005 1,995 563 557 -1.1 Wisconsin .......: 1,266 1,256 1,975 2,005 2,500 2,518 0.7 : 24-State Total ..: 8,805 8,851 1,908 1,944 16,796 17,206 2.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: August 2019 and 2020 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : from : : : : : : : 2019 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 195 196 1,860 1,830 363 359 -1.1 California ....: 1,725 1,721 1,925 1,955 3,321 3,365 1.3 Colorado ......: 187 198 2,200 2,225 411 441 7.3 Florida .......: 116 111 1,560 1,570 181 174 -3.9 Georgia .......: 80 80 1,690 1,700 135 136 0.7 Idaho .........: 628 645 2,185 2,190 1,372 1,413 3.0 Illinois ......: 83 83 1,670 1,705 139 142 2.2 Indiana .......: 175 185 1,900 1,970 333 364 9.3 Iowa ..........: 217 218 2,030 2,070 441 451 2.3 Kansas ........: 162 170 1,955 1,995 317 339 6.9 : Michigan ......: 427 428 2,265 2,310 967 989 2.3 Minnesota .....: 447 442 1,895 1,965 847 869 2.6 New Mexico ....: 326 326 2,085 2,055 680 670 -1.5 New York ......: 627 626 2,050 2,070 1,285 1,296 0.9 Ohio ..........: 250 254 1,830 1,865 458 474 3.5 Oregon ........: 124 123 1,780 1,775 221 218 -1.4 Pennsylvania ..: 485 482 1,710 1,745 829 841 1.4 South Dakota ..: 124 138 1,940 1,970 241 272 12.9 Texas .........: 567 593 2,030 2,080 1,151 1,233 7.1 Utah ..........: 96 95 1,995 1,975 192 188 -2.1 : Vermont .......: 126 121 1,800 1,775 227 215 -5.3 Virginia ......: 74 74 1,590 1,640 118 121 2.5 Washington ....: 281 279 2,090 2,075 587 579 -1.4 Wisconsin .....: 1,267 1,257 2,070 2,080 2,623 2,615 -0.3 : 24-State Total : 8,789 8,845 1,984 2,008 17,439 17,764 1.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised April - June 2019 and 2020 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April - June milk cows 1/ : April - June milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 5.0 3.5 17.0 12.0 -29.4 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 196.0 197.0 1,217.0 1,231.0 1.2 Arkansas .......: 5.5 5.0 19.0 18.0 -5.3 California .....: 1,726.0 1,722.0 10,330.0 10,416.0 0.8 Colorado .......: 184.0 196.0 1,206.0 1,278.0 6.0 Connecticut ....: 19.5 19.0 108.0 109.0 0.9 Delaware .......: 4.2 3.8 19.2 18.7 -2.6 Florida ........: 115.0 113.0 619.0 594.0 -4.0 Georgia ........: 83.0 82.0 457.0 449.0 -1.8 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 620.0 644.0 3,937.0 4,096.0 4.0 Illinois .......: 84.0 82.0 455.0 455.0 - Indiana ........: 179.0 177.0 1,061.0 1,060.0 -0.1 Iowa ...........: 219.0 218.0 1,344.0 1,343.0 -0.1 Kansas .........: 162.0 168.0 961.0 986.0 2.6 Kentucky .......: 51.0 48.0 252.0 252.0 - Louisiana ......: 10.5 10.0 37.0 37.0 - Maine ..........: 30.0 27.0 162.0 152.0 -6.2 Maryland .......: 43.0 42.0 217.0 223.0 2.8 : Massachusetts ..: 10.5 10.0 49.0 50.0 2.0 Michigan .......: 425.0 428.0 2,920.0 2,919.0 - Minnesota ......: 448.0 443.0 2,527.0 2,524.0 -0.1 Mississippi ....: 8.5 8.5 34.0 36.0 5.9 Missouri .......: 79.0 76.0 303.0 301.0 -0.7 Montana ........: 11.5 11.5 65.0 64.0 -1.5 Nebraska .......: 58.0 59.0 354.0 364.0 2.8 Nevada .........: 33.0 31.0 195.0 190.0 -2.6 New Hampshire ..: 11.5 11.0 62.0 60.0 -3.2 New Jersey .....: 4.8 4.7 26.0 25.0 -3.8 : New Mexico .....: 323.0 328.0 2,103.0 2,006.0 -4.6 New York .......: 627.0 626.0 3,869.0 3,856.0 -0.3 North Carolina .: 43.0 41.0 236.0 229.0 -3.0 North Dakota ...: 14.5 14.5 83.0 82.0 -1.2 Ohio ...........: 249.0 253.0 1,389.0 1,408.0 1.4 Oklahoma .......: 42.0 42.0 192.0 194.0 1.0 Oregon .........: 122.0 124.0 655.0 657.0 0.3 Pennsylvania ...: 493.0 483.0 2,604.0 2,616.0 0.5 Rhode Island ...: 0.7 0.5 2.7 2.6 -3.7 South Carolina .: 12.0 10.5 55.0 52.0 -5.5 : South Dakota ...: 123.0 134.0 694.0 765.0 10.2 Tennessee ......: 32.0 30.0 145.0 142.0 -2.1 Texas ..........: 564.0 590.0 3,520.0 3,652.0 3.8 Utah ...........: 98.0 96.0 576.0 563.0 -2.3 Vermont ........: 126.0 123.0 687.0 656.0 -4.5 Virginia .......: 75.0 75.0 386.0 391.0 1.3 Washington .....: 278.0 279.0 1,722.0 1,719.0 -0.2 West Virginia ..: 6.0 6.0 23.0 23.0 - Wisconsin ......: 1,269.0 1,258.0 7,784.0 7,673.0 -1.4 Wyoming ........: 6.0 7.5 36.5 46.5 27.4 : Other States 3/ : 1.0 0.9 0.9 1.3 44.4 : United States ..: 9,331.0 9,362.0 55,716.0 55,997.0 0.5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 July - September 2019 and 2020 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : July - September milk cows 1/ : July - September milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 4.5 3.2 12.0 9.0 -25.0 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 195.0 196.0 1,099.0 1,082.0 -1.5 Arkansas .......: 5.0 5.0 15.0 14.0 -6.7 California .....: 1,725.0 1,721.0 9,920.0 10,146.0 2.3 Colorado .......: 188.0 198.0 1,222.0 1,314.0 7.5 Connecticut ....: 19.0 19.0 104.0 105.0 1.0 Delaware .......: 4.0 3.8 16.2 16.4 1.2 Florida ........: 116.0 111.0 537.0 515.0 -4.1 Georgia ........: 80.0 80.0 409.0 408.0 -0.2 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 628.0 645.0 4,041.0 4,173.0 3.3 Illinois .......: 83.0 83.0 412.0 424.0 2.9 Indiana ........: 175.0 184.0 985.0 1,069.0 8.5 Iowa ...........: 217.0 218.0 1,300.0 1,335.0 2.7 Kansas .........: 162.0 170.0 947.0 1,006.0 6.2 Kentucky .......: 49.0 47.0 213.0 216.0 1.4 Louisiana ......: 10.0 9.5 27.0 27.0 - Maine ..........: 29.0 27.0 157.0 147.0 -6.4 Maryland .......: 42.0 41.0 197.0 206.0 4.6 : Massachusetts ..: 10.0 10.0 47.0 48.0 2.1 Michigan .......: 427.0 428.0 2,854.0 2,928.0 2.6 Minnesota ......: 447.0 442.0 2,503.0 2,564.0 2.4 Mississippi ....: 8.0 8.5 27.0 28.0 3.7 Missouri .......: 77.0 75.0 258.0 253.0 -1.9 Montana ........: 11.5 11.5 66.0 64.0 -3.0 Nebraska .......: 58.0 59.0 345.0 356.0 3.2 Nevada .........: 33.0 31.0 193.0 190.0 -1.6 New Hampshire ..: 11.0 11.0 59.0 57.0 -3.4 New Jersey .....: 4.8 4.7 24.0 24.0 - : New Mexico .....: 327.0 326.0 2,042.0 1,989.0 -2.6 New York .......: 627.0 626.0 3,805.0 3,847.0 1.1 North Carolina .: 41.0 40.0 213.0 209.0 -1.9 North Dakota ...: 15.0 14.5 83.0 83.0 - Ohio ...........: 251.0 254.0 1,350.0 1,406.0 4.1 Oklahoma .......: 41.0 41.0 170.0 170.0 - Oregon .........: 124.0 123.0 656.0 648.0 -1.2 Pennsylvania ...: 485.0 482.0 2,461.0 2,521.0 2.4 Rhode Island ...: 0.7 0.5 2.7 2.7 - South Carolina .: 11.0 10.0 45.0 42.0 -6.7 : South Dakota ...: 124.0 138.0 711.0 800.0 12.5 Tennessee ......: 31.0 29.0 126.0 126.0 - Texas ..........: 567.0 594.0 3,455.0 3,662.0 6.0 Utah ...........: 97.0 95.0 574.0 560.0 -2.4 Vermont ........: 126.0 121.0 674.0 638.0 -5.3 Virginia .......: 74.0 74.0 352.0 361.0 2.6 Washington .....: 281.0 279.0 1,746.0 1,730.0 -0.9 West Virginia ..: 6.0 6.0 22.0 22.0 - Wisconsin ......: 1,267.0 1,257.0 7,722.0 7,735.0 0.2 Wyoming ........: 6.0 8.0 37.0 50.5 36.5 : Other States 3/ : 1.0 0.8 0.9 1.0 11.1 : United States ..: 9,322.0 9,361.0 54,237.0 55,328.0 2.0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 55.3 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 48 3 184 12 8 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 8 0 26 14 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .......... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 Seth Riggins - Hogs and Pigs ................. (202) 720-3106 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. 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