Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released June 20, 2025, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). May Milk Production up 1.7 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during May totaled 19.1 billion pounds, up 1.7 percent from May 2024. April revised production, at 18.6 billion pounds, was up 1.7 percent from April 2024. The April revision represented an increase of 17 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,125 pounds for May, 7 pounds above May 2024. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 9.00 million head, 118,000 head more than May 2024, and 6,000 head more than April 2025. May Milk Production in the United States up 1.6 Percent Milk production in the United States during May totaled 19.9 billion pounds, up 1.6 percent from May 2024. Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,110 pounds for May, 7 pounds above May 2024. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.45 million head, 114,000 head more than May 2024, and 5,000 head more than April 2025. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2024-2025 [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 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,338 9,402 6,098 6,038 56,943 56,772 -0.3 April-June ......: 9,330 6,145 57,333 July-September ..: 9,341 6,004 56,085 October-December : 9,360 5,930 55,507 : Annual ..........: 9,342 24,178 225,868 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2024-2025 [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 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,871 8,950 2,062 2,056 18,293 18,401 0.6 February ......: 8,888 8,955 1,961 1,900 17,432 17,011 -2.4 March .........: 8,892 8,976 2,121 2,125 18,861 19,075 1.1 April .........: 8,890 8,998 2,059 2,069 18,305 18,618 1.7 May ...........: 8,886 9,004 2,118 2,125 18,821 19,137 1.7 June ..........: 8,878 2,012 17,861 July ..........: 8,886 2,045 18,175 August ........: 8,903 2,040 18,164 September .....: 8,911 1,969 17,544 October .......: 8,927 2,019 18,025 November ......: 8,919 1,936 17,270 December ......: 8,916 2,018 17,996 : Annual ........: 8,897 24,362 216,747 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2024-2025 [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 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,324 9,389 2,047 2,042 19,083 19,173 0.5 February ......: 9,343 9,396 1,946 1,886 18,185 17,725 -2.5 March .........: 9,347 9,420 2,105 2,110 19,675 19,874 1.0 April .........: 9,336 9,440 2,044 2,053 19,082 19,385 1.6 May ...........: 9,331 9,445 2,103 2,110 19,624 19,930 1.6 June ..........: 9,323 1,998 18,627 July ..........: 9,326 2,029 18,918 August ........: 9,344 2,023 18,906 September .....: 9,353 1,952 18,261 October .......: 9,367 2,004 18,775 November ......: 9,359 1,922 17,988 December ......: 9,355 2,004 18,744 : Annual ........: 9,342 24,178 225,868 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: May 2024 and 2025 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 192 191 2,185 2,190 420 418 -0.5 California ......: 1,708 1,710 2,095 2,055 3,578 3,514 -1.8 Colorado ........: 203 210 2,230 2,240 453 470 3.8 Florida .........: 100 95 1,780 1,885 178 179 0.6 Georgia .........: 85 87 1,945 2,045 165 178 7.9 Idaho ...........: 666 697 2,160 2,190 1,439 1,526 6.0 Illinois ........: 78 75 1,930 1,930 151 145 -4.0 Indiana .........: 189 189 2,055 2,070 388 391 0.8 Iowa ............: 243 244 2,150 2,155 522 526 0.8 Kansas ..........: 173 199 2,065 2,075 357 413 15.7 : Michigan ........: 438 447 2,375 2,400 1,040 1,073 3.2 Minnesota .......: 446 441 2,020 2,035 901 897 -0.4 New Mexico ......: 238 239 2,170 2,165 516 517 0.2 New York ........: 630 638 2,230 2,230 1,405 1,423 1.3 Ohio ............: 253 253 1,930 1,970 488 498 2.0 Oregon ..........: 118 116 1,840 1,830 217 212 -2.3 Pennsylvania ....: 465 464 1,825 1,830 849 849 - South Dakota ....: 212 230 1,975 1,995 419 459 9.5 Texas ...........: 645 690 2,235 2,275 1,442 1,570 8.9 Utah ............: 91 94 2,030 2,025 185 190 2.7 : Vermont .........: 114 113 1,885 1,915 215 216 0.5 Virginia ........: 67 67 1,820 1,840 122 123 0.8 Washington ......: 260 250 2,105 2,115 547 529 -3.3 Wisconsin .......: 1,272 1,265 2,220 2,230 2,824 2,821 -0.1 : 24-State Total ..: 8,886 9,004 2,118 2,125 18,821 19,137 1.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: April 2024 and 2025 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from : : : : : : : 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 193 191 2,180 2,185 421 417 -1.0 California ....: 1,709 1,710 2,065 2,030 3,529 3,471 -1.6 Colorado ......: 203 209 2,170 2,170 441 454 2.9 Florida .......: 102 95 1,875 1,910 191 181 -5.2 Georgia .......: 85 87 1,965 2,040 167 177 6.0 Idaho .........: 669 697 2,110 2,110 1,412 1,471 4.2 Illinois ......: 79 76 1,880 1,880 149 143 -4.0 Indiana .......: 189 189 1,995 2,000 377 378 0.3 Iowa ..........: 243 244 2,095 2,085 509 509 - Kansas ........: 173 196 1,980 2,020 343 396 15.5 : Michigan ......: 438 444 2,310 2,315 1,012 1,028 1.6 Minnesota .....: 446 442 1,945 1,995 867 882 1.7 New Mexico ....: 235 240 2,120 2,120 498 509 2.2 New York ......: 630 635 2,140 2,165 1,348 1,375 2.0 Ohio ..........: 255 253 1,880 1,920 479 486 1.5 Oregon ........: 118 116 1,765 1,760 208 204 -1.9 Pennsylvania ..: 465 464 1,805 1,810 839 840 0.1 South Dakota ..: 212 230 1,900 1,925 403 443 9.9 Texas .........: 640 690 2,135 2,190 1,366 1,511 10.6 Utah ..........: 91 94 1,935 1,945 176 183 4.0 : Vermont .......: 115 113 1,800 1,850 207 209 1.0 Virginia ......: 67 67 1,825 1,840 122 123 0.8 Washington ....: 261 251 2,040 2,050 532 515 -3.2 Wisconsin .....: 1,272 1,265 2,130 2,145 2,709 2,713 0.1 : 24-State Total : 8,890 8,998 2,059 2,069 18,305 18,618 1.7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 0.3 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 19.1 billion pounds by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.6 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 ..............: 0.3 0.6 50 0 139 12 11 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 10 2 25 11 13 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter .............. (202) 690-8632 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed, Dairy Products .. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows............. (202) 720-3278 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs ....................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ................... (202) 720-4448 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. The national 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" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. 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