Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released April 22, 2025, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March Milk Production up 1.0 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during March totaled 19.0 billion pounds, up 1.0 percent from March 2024. February revised production, at 17.0 billion pounds, was down 2.4 percent from February 2024. The February revision represented an increase of 26 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,125 pounds for March, 4 pounds above March 2024. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.96 million head, 72,000 head more than March 2024, and 9,000 head more than February 2025. January-March Milk Production down 0.3 Percent Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 56.7 billion pounds, down 0.3 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.40 million head, 36,000 head more than the October - December quarter, and 58,000 head more than the same period last year. 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 9,396 6,098 6,039 56,943 56,746 -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 8,964 2,121 2,125 18,861 19,049 1.0 April .........: 8,890 2,059 18,305 May ...........: 8,886 2,118 18,821 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 9,404 2,105 2,111 19,675 19,848 0.9 April .........: 9,336 2,044 19,082 May ...........: 9,331 2,103 19,624 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: March 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 .........: 193 192 2,280 2,275 440 437 -0.7 California ......: 1,709 1,710 2,140 2,095 3,657 3,582 -2.1 Colorado ........: 203 208 2,235 2,235 454 465 2.4 Florida .........: 100 95 1,925 1,960 193 186 -3.6 Georgia .........: 85 85 2,025 2,100 172 179 4.1 Idaho ...........: 668 697 2,145 2,145 1,433 1,495 4.3 Illinois ........: 79 77 1,950 1,940 154 149 -3.2 Indiana .........: 190 191 2,045 2,050 389 392 0.8 Iowa ............: 242 245 2,150 2,125 520 521 0.2 Kansas ..........: 174 182 2,095 2,095 365 381 4.4 : Michigan ........: 439 443 2,370 2,380 1,040 1,054 1.3 Minnesota .......: 446 440 2,005 2,030 894 893 -0.1 New Mexico ......: 240 242 2,200 2,215 528 536 1.5 New York ........: 630 630 2,185 2,215 1,377 1,395 1.3 Ohio ............: 255 252 1,930 1,970 492 496 0.8 Oregon ..........: 116 116 1,820 1,810 211 210 -0.5 Pennsylvania ....: 465 464 1,860 1,865 865 865 - South Dakota ....: 212 221 1,950 1,965 413 434 5.1 Texas ...........: 643 688 2,225 2,275 1,431 1,565 9.4 Utah ............: 91 91 1,960 1,965 178 179 0.6 : Vermont .........: 115 113 1,860 1,905 214 215 0.5 Virginia ........: 67 66 1,860 1,890 125 125 - Washington ......: 260 251 2,080 2,065 541 518 -4.3 Wisconsin .......: 1,270 1,265 2,185 2,195 2,775 2,777 0.1 : 24-State Total ..: 8,892 8,964 2,121 2,125 18,861 19,049 1.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: February 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 .......: 193 192 2,070 2,015 400 387 -3.3 California ....: 1,709 1,709 1,970 1,850 3,367 3,162 -6.1 Colorado ......: 201 208 2,070 2,005 416 417 0.2 Florida .......: 98 95 1,750 1,760 172 167 -2.9 Georgia .......: 86 85 1,850 1,920 159 163 2.5 Idaho .........: 665 697 1,970 1,945 1,310 1,356 3.5 Illinois ......: 79 77 1,785 1,730 141 133 -5.7 Indiana .......: 190 191 1,870 1,840 355 351 -1.1 Iowa ..........: 242 245 2,000 1,900 484 466 -3.7 Kansas ........: 174 181 1,935 1,870 337 338 0.3 : Michigan ......: 439 443 2,200 2,125 966 941 -2.6 Minnesota .....: 448 440 1,860 1,825 833 803 -3.6 New Mexico ....: 243 240 2,030 1,975 493 474 -3.9 New York ......: 630 630 2,010 1,985 1,266 1,251 -1.2 Ohio ..........: 254 252 1,785 1,760 453 444 -2.0 Oregon ........: 116 116 1,655 1,620 192 188 -2.1 Pennsylvania ..: 465 464 1,710 1,670 795 775 -2.5 South Dakota ..: 210 221 1,825 1,790 383 396 3.4 Texas .........: 645 683 2,110 2,040 1,361 1,393 2.4 Utah ..........: 90 91 1,820 1,770 164 161 -1.8 : Vermont .......: 116 113 1,725 1,700 200 192 -4.0 Virginia ......: 67 66 1,710 1,675 115 111 -3.5 Washington ....: 258 251 1,930 1,845 498 463 -7.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,265 2,025 1,960 2,572 2,479 -3.6 : 24-State Total : 8,888 8,955 1,961 1,900 17,432 17,011 -2.4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised October - December 2023 and 2024 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October - December milk cows 1/ : October - December milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 2.0 2.0 5.5 6.0 9.1 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 199.0 189.0 1,196.0 1,137.0 -4.9 Arkansas .......: 2.3 2.0 6.5 5.5 -15.4 California .....: 1,710.0 1,709.0 10,013.0 9,365.0 -6.5 Colorado .......: 197.0 205.0 1,277.0 1,329.0 4.1 Connecticut ....: 17.5 17.5 104.0 104.0 - Delaware .......: 2.6 2.6 11.4 11.2 -1.8 Florida ........: 99.0 97.0 485.0 477.0 -1.6 Georgia ........: 88.0 85.0 471.0 496.0 5.3 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 663.0 680.0 4,068.0 4,290.0 5.5 Illinois .......: 79.0 77.0 418.0 412.0 -1.4 Indiana ........: 190.0 190.0 1,118.0 1,129.0 1.0 Iowa ...........: 239.0 244.0 1,460.0 1,500.0 2.7 Kansas .........: 175.0 180.0 1,043.0 1,071.0 2.7 Kentucky .......: 43.0 41.0 211.0 200.0 -5.2 Louisiana ......: 7.0 7.0 22.0 21.0 -4.5 Maine ..........: 24.0 24.0 129.0 133.0 3.1 Maryland .......: 40.0 38.0 210.0 201.0 -4.3 : Massachusetts ..: 9.0 9.0 43.0 44.0 2.3 Michigan .......: 439.0 440.0 2,970.0 3,025.0 1.9 Minnesota ......: 450.0 441.0 2,575.0 2,569.0 -0.2 Mississippi ....: 5.5 5.0 16.0 14.5 -9.4 Missouri .......: 60.0 56.0 201.0 185.0 -8.0 Montana ........: 9.0 8.5 50.0 48.0 -4.0 Nebraska .......: 53.0 49.0 326.0 309.0 -5.2 Nevada .........: 32.0 31.0 188.0 197.0 4.8 New Hampshire ..: 9.5 9.5 50.0 50.0 - New Jersey .....: 4.0 3.8 21.0 20.0 -4.8 : New Mexico .....: 255.0 241.0 1,528.0 1,461.0 -4.4 New York .......: 630.0 630.0 3,953.0 3,988.0 0.9 North Carolina .: 38.0 37.0 217.0 203.0 -6.5 North Dakota ...: 10.5 9.5 60.0 56.0 -6.7 Ohio ...........: 255.0 251.0 1,406.0 1,409.0 0.2 Oklahoma .......: 37.0 40.0 167.0 184.0 10.2 Oregon .........: 120.0 115.0 616.0 593.0 -3.7 Pennsylvania ...: 466.0 465.0 2,401.0 2,409.0 0.3 Rhode Island ...: 0.5 0.5 2.3 2.1 -8.7 South Carolina .: 8.0 8.0 35.0 35.0 - : South Dakota ...: 202.0 215.0 1,155.0 1,259.0 9.0 Tennessee ......: 25.0 24.0 114.0 107.0 -6.1 Texas ..........: 635.0 675.0 4,086.0 4,408.0 7.9 Utah ...........: 88.0 91.0 507.0 522.0 3.0 Vermont ........: 116.0 113.0 619.0 616.0 -0.5 Virginia .......: 68.0 66.0 350.0 342.0 -2.3 Washington .....: 257.0 256.0 1,531.0 1,504.0 -1.8 West Virginia ..: 4.5 4.0 16.5 14.5 -12.1 Wisconsin ......: 1,270.0 1,266.0 7,962.0 7,980.0 0.2 Wyoming ........: 9.0 9.0 62.0 62.9 1.5 : Other States 3/ : 0.8 0.9 1.7 2.0 17.6 : United States ..: 9,344.0 9,360.0 55,478.0 55,507.0 0.1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 January - March 2024 and 2025 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 2.5 (D) 8.0 (D) (NA) Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 194.0 192.0 1,257.0 1,236.0 -1.7 Arkansas .......: 2.3 (D) 7.5 (D) (NA) California .....: 1,709.0 1,710.0 10,562.0 10,096.0 -4.4 Colorado .......: 201.0 207.0 1,307.0 1,336.0 2.2 Connecticut ....: 17.5 (D) 107.0 (D) (NA) Delaware .......: 2.6 (D) 12.9 (D) (NA) Florida ........: 99.0 95.0 545.0 532.0 -2.4 Georgia ........: 86.0 85.0 498.0 516.0 3.6 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 665.0 698.0 4,125.0 4,342.0 5.3 Illinois .......: 79.0 77.0 442.0 426.0 -3.6 Indiana ........: 190.0 191.0 1,124.0 1,131.0 0.6 Iowa ...........: 241.0 245.0 1,510.0 1,497.0 -0.9 Kansas .........: 174.0 181.0 1,053.0 1,087.0 3.2 Kentucky .......: 43.0 41.0 223.0 208.0 -6.7 Louisiana ......: 8.0 (D) 29.0 (D) (NA) Maine ..........: 24.0 24.0 134.0 137.0 2.2 Maryland .......: 40.0 38.0 222.0 209.0 -5.9 : Massachusetts ..: 9.0 (D) 44.0 (D) (NA) Michigan .......: 439.0 443.0 3,024.0 3,018.0 -0.2 Minnesota ......: 448.0 440.0 2,605.0 2,576.0 -1.1 Mississippi ....: 5.5 (D) 19.0 (D) (NA) Missouri .......: 59.0 56.0 209.0 199.0 -4.8 Montana ........: 9.0 (D) 51.0 (D) (NA) Nebraska .......: 51.0 49.0 315.0 306.0 -2.9 Nevada .........: 32.0 32.0 190.0 200.0 5.3 New Hampshire ..: 9.5 (D) 52.0 (D) (NA) New Jersey .....: 4.0 (D) 22.0 (D) (NA) : New Mexico .....: 241.0 240.0 1,532.0 1,516.0 -1.0 New York .......: 630.0 630.0 3,975.0 4,007.0 0.8 North Carolina .: 38.0 36.0 228.0 207.0 -9.2 North Dakota ...: 10.0 (D) 58.0 (D) (NA) Ohio ...........: 255.0 252.0 1,426.0 1,423.0 -0.2 Oklahoma .......: 39.0 41.0 188.0 195.0 3.7 Oregon .........: 116.0 116.0 602.0 604.0 0.3 Pennsylvania ...: 465.0 464.0 2,495.0 2,482.0 -0.5 Rhode Island ...: 0.5 (D) 2.3 (D) (NA) South Carolina .: 8.0 (D) 39.0 (D) (NA) : South Dakota ...: 211.0 220.0 1,196.0 1,261.0 5.4 Tennessee ......: 25.0 23.0 118.0 105.0 -11.0 Texas ..........: 641.0 683.0 4,186.0 4,443.0 6.1 Utah ...........: 90.0 91.0 516.0 517.0 0.2 Vermont ........: 116.0 113.0 625.0 618.0 -1.1 Virginia .......: 67.0 66.0 361.0 355.0 -1.7 Washington .....: 258.0 252.0 1,562.0 1,492.0 -4.5 West Virginia ..: 4.0 (D) 15.0 (D) (NA) Wisconsin ......: 1,270.0 1,265.0 8,058.0 7,950.0 -1.3 Wyoming ........: 9.0 (D) 62.0 (D) (NA) : Other States 3/ : 0.8 99.7 1.7 518.6 (NA) : United States ..: 9,338.0 9,396.0 56,943.0 56,746.0 -0.3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 56.7 billion pounds by more than 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.3 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 ..............: 0.2 0.3 77 4 184 10 10 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 1 29 9 11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Vacant, Head, Livestock Section Vacant - Dairy Products Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ... (202) 690-8632 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ....... (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. 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. 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