Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released May 18, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). April Milk Production down 0.9 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during April totaled 18.3 billion pounds, down 0.9 percent from April 2021. March revised production, at 18.8 billion pounds, was down 0.3 percent from March 2021. The March revision represented an increase of 23 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,054 pounds for April, 1 pound below April 2021. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.91 million head, 78,000 head less than April 2021, but unchanged from March 2022. April Milk Production in the United States down 1.0 Percent Milk production in the United States during April totaled 19.2 billion pounds, down 1.0 percent from April 2021. Production per cow in the United States averaged 2,037 pounds for April, unchanged from April 2021. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.40 million head, 98,000 head less than April 2021, but unchanged from March 2022. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2021-2022 [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 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,466 9,383 6,005 5,999 56,847 56,286 -1.0 April-June ......: 9,503 6,119 58,147 July-September ..: 9,442 5,914 55,836 October-December : 9,381 5,909 55,428 : Annual ..........: 9,448 23,948 226,258 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2021-2022 [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 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 8,938 8,874 2,067 2,051 18,477 18,198 -1.5 February ......: 8,954 8,887 1,884 1,885 16,871 16,755 -0.7 March .........: 8,970 8,909 2,106 2,114 18,888 18,835 -0.3 April .........: 8,987 8,909 2,055 2,054 18,467 18,299 -0.9 May ...........: 8,996 2,106 18,949 June ..........: 8,991 2,011 18,078 July ..........: 8,983 2,034 18,272 August ........: 8,939 2,004 17,910 September .....: 8,909 1,935 17,239 October .......: 8,892 2,003 17,812 November ......: 8,888 1,939 17,232 December ......: 8,880 2,024 17,971 : Annual ........: 8,944 24,169 216,166 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2021-2022 [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 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : January .......: 9,450 9,367 2,049 2,033 19,365 19,040 -1.7 February ......: 9,466 9,380 1,868 1,869 17,685 17,533 -0.9 March .........: 9,482 9,402 2,088 2,097 19,797 19,713 -0.4 April .........: 9,500 9,402 2,037 2,037 19,350 19,150 -1.0 May ...........: 9,507 2,088 19,855 June ..........: 9,501 1,994 18,942 July ..........: 9,483 2,014 19,097 August ........: 9,438 1,984 18,721 September .....: 9,405 1,916 18,018 October .......: 9,387 1,984 18,623 November ......: 9,382 1,920 18,015 December ......: 9,373 2,005 18,790 : Annual ........: 9,448 23,948 226,258 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: April 2021 and 2022 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .........: 201 200 2,185 2,185 439 437 -0.5 California ......: 1,719 1,721 2,120 2,105 3,644 3,623 -0.6 Colorado ........: 205 203 2,165 2,165 444 439 -1.1 Florida .........: 110 98 1,805 1,785 199 175 -12.1 Georgia .........: 82 91 1,915 1,930 157 176 12.1 Idaho ...........: 653 653 2,105 2,105 1,375 1,375 - Illinois ........: 83 80 1,880 1,880 156 150 -3.8 Indiana .........: 195 187 2,000 2,000 390 374 -4.1 Iowa ............: 228 229 2,040 2,050 465 469 0.9 Kansas ..........: 175 171 2,005 2,010 351 344 -2.0 : Michigan ........: 444 427 2,280 2,290 1,012 978 -3.4 Minnesota .......: 462 453 1,895 1,905 875 863 -1.4 New Mexico ......: 333 292 2,140 2,125 713 621 -12.9 New York ........: 626 620 2,100 2,105 1,315 1,305 -0.8 Ohio ............: 260 250 1,840 1,840 478 460 -3.8 Oregon ..........: 126 128 1,755 1,775 221 227 2.7 Pennsylvania ....: 475 467 1,840 1,830 874 855 -2.2 South Dakota ....: 152 177 1,885 1,890 287 335 16.7 Texas ...........: 620 643 2,155 2,175 1,336 1,399 4.7 Utah ............: 96 94 1,945 1,945 187 183 -2.1 : Vermont .........: 119 118 1,825 1,820 217 215 -0.9 Virginia ........: 73 70 1,770 1,800 129 126 -2.3 Washington ......: 276 264 2,025 2,005 559 529 -5.4 Wisconsin .......: 1,274 1,273 2,075 2,075 2,644 2,641 -0.1 : 24-State Total ..: 8,987 8,909 2,055 2,054 18,467 18,299 -0.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 2021 and 2022 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : from : : : : : : : 2021 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 200 200 2,260 2,255 452 451 -0.2 California ....: 1,720 1,721 2,165 2,165 3,724 3,726 0.1 Colorado ......: 204 203 2,230 2,230 455 453 -0.4 Florida .......: 109 98 1,880 1,870 205 183 -10.7 Georgia .......: 81 90 2,010 2,030 163 183 12.3 Idaho .........: 652 653 2,135 2,140 1,392 1,397 0.4 Illinois ......: 83 80 1,940 1,940 161 155 -3.7 Indiana .......: 194 187 2,065 2,065 401 386 -3.7 Iowa ..........: 227 229 2,115 2,125 480 487 1.5 Kansas ........: 175 171 2,080 2,060 364 352 -3.3 : Michigan ......: 442 427 2,345 2,355 1,036 1,006 -2.9 Minnesota .....: 462 453 1,970 1,975 910 895 -1.6 New Mexico ....: 333 295 2,165 2,215 721 653 -9.4 New York ......: 626 620 2,140 2,150 1,340 1,333 -0.5 Ohio ..........: 260 250 1,910 1,920 497 480 -3.4 Oregon ........: 126 128 1,795 1,810 226 232 2.7 Pennsylvania ..: 475 467 1,880 1,870 893 873 -2.2 South Dakota ..: 147 177 1,940 1,945 285 344 20.7 Texas .........: 618 640 2,180 2,245 1,347 1,437 6.7 Utah ..........: 96 94 1,970 1,965 189 185 -2.1 : Vermont .......: 119 118 1,870 1,870 223 221 -0.9 Virginia ......: 73 70 1,820 1,830 133 128 -3.8 Washington ....: 278 265 2,060 2,080 573 551 -3.8 Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,273 2,140 2,140 2,718 2,724 0.2 : 24-State Total : 8,970 8,909 2,106 2,114 18,888 18,835 -0.3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.4 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 0.4 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 ..............: 0.4 0.6 52 8 181 16 8 : All Milk cows ................: 0.2 0.3 12 1 30 15 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs .............. (202) 720-3106 Logan Hartley-Sanguinett - Sheep and Goats ... (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (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. Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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