Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released March 21, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). February Milk Production down 0.7 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during February totaled 16.7 billion pounds, down 0.7 percent from February 2021. January revised production, at 18.2 billion pounds, was down 1.5 percent from January 2021. The January revision represented a decrease of 19 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,887 pounds for February, 3 pounds above February 2021. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.88 million head, 77,000 head less than February 2021, but 3,000 head more than January 2022. February Milk Production in the United States down 1.0 Percent Milk production in the United States during February totaled 17.5 billion pounds, down 1.0 percent from February 2021. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,869 pounds for February, 1 pound above February 2021. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.37 million head, 96,000 head less than February 2021, but 3,000 head more than January 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 6,005 56,847 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 8,877 1,884 1,887 16,871 16,747 -0.7 March .........: 8,970 2,106 18,888 April .........: 8,987 2,055 18,467 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 2,032 19,365 19,030 -1.7 February ......: 9,466 9,370 1,868 1,869 17,685 17,515 -1.0 March .........: 9,482 2,088 19,797 April .........: 9,500 2,037 19,350 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: February 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 .........: 200 193 2,000 1,990 400 384 -4.0 California ......: 1,720 1,721 1,935 1,930 3,328 3,322 -0.2 Colorado ........: 203 202 1,995 2,000 405 404 -0.2 Florida .........: 108 103 1,695 1,695 183 175 -4.4 Georgia .........: 80 88 1,790 1,840 143 162 13.3 Idaho ...........: 652 652 1,910 1,910 1,245 1,245 - Illinois ........: 83 80 1,725 1,720 143 138 -3.5 Indiana .........: 193 187 1,820 1,830 351 342 -2.6 Iowa ............: 224 225 1,905 1,900 427 428 0.2 Kansas ..........: 174 169 1,860 1,850 324 313 -3.4 : Michigan ........: 441 428 2,100 2,100 926 899 -2.9 Minnesota .......: 461 453 1,780 1,755 821 795 -3.2 New Mexico ......: 336 292 1,955 1,955 657 571 -13.1 New York ........: 626 620 1,905 1,910 1,193 1,184 -0.8 Ohio ............: 260 248 1,700 1,720 442 427 -3.4 Oregon ..........: 125 125 1,605 1,600 201 200 -0.5 Pennsylvania ....: 475 468 1,680 1,690 798 791 -0.9 South Dakota ....: 143 170 1,755 1,745 251 297 18.3 Texas ...........: 618 633 1,950 1,985 1,205 1,257 4.3 Utah ............: 96 94 1,770 1,770 170 166 -2.4 : Vermont .........: 120 119 1,660 1,660 199 198 -0.5 Virginia ........: 74 71 1,600 1,615 118 115 -2.5 Washington ......: 278 263 1,850 1,865 514 490 -4.7 Wisconsin .......: 1,264 1,273 1,920 1,920 2,427 2,444 0.7 : 24-State Total ..: 8,954 8,877 1,884 1,887 16,871 16,747 -0.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: January 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 .......: 200 194 2,160 2,145 432 416 -3.7 California ....: 1,720 1,720 2,095 2,055 3,603 3,535 -1.9 Colorado ......: 203 202 2,215 2,205 450 445 -1.1 Florida .......: 109 103 1,825 1,800 199 185 -7.0 Georgia .......: 80 86 1,950 1,995 156 172 10.3 Idaho .........: 648 652 2,095 2,095 1,358 1,366 0.6 Illinois ......: 84 80 1,870 1,865 157 149 -5.1 Indiana .......: 193 186 2,000 2,015 386 375 -2.8 Iowa ..........: 222 225 2,105 2,095 467 471 0.9 Kansas ........: 174 169 2,065 2,050 359 346 -3.6 : Michigan ......: 440 430 2,310 2,285 1,016 983 -3.2 Minnesota .....: 457 456 1,955 1,915 893 873 -2.2 New Mexico ....: 337 295 2,140 2,150 721 634 -12.1 New York ......: 625 620 2,100 2,090 1,313 1,296 -1.3 Ohio ..........: 259 248 1,875 1,865 486 463 -4.7 Oregon ........: 125 124 1,760 1,750 220 217 -1.4 Pennsylvania ..: 475 468 1,840 1,810 874 847 -3.1 South Dakota ..: 142 170 1,955 1,940 278 330 18.7 Texas .........: 616 628 2,160 2,195 1,331 1,378 3.5 Utah ..........: 95 94 1,970 1,935 187 182 -2.7 : Vermont .......: 120 119 1,835 1,815 220 216 -1.8 Virginia ......: 74 71 1,760 1,760 130 125 -3.8 Washington ....: 278 261 2,035 2,020 566 527 -6.9 Wisconsin .....: 1,262 1,273 2,120 2,095 2,675 2,667 -0.3 : 24-State Total : 8,938 8,874 2,067 2,051 18,477 18,198 -1.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 16.7 billion pounds by more than 0.4 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.7 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 0.7 57 4 181 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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