Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released September 17, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). August Milk Production up 1.9 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during August totaled 17.8 billion pounds, up 1.9 percent from August 2019. July revised production, at 17.9 billion pounds, was up 2.0 percent from July 2019. The July revision represented an increase of 91 million pounds or 0.5 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,009 pounds for August, 25 pounds above August 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.84 million head, 51,000 head more than August 2019, but unchanged from July 2020. August Milk Production in the United States up 1.8 Percent Milk production in the United States during August totaled 18.6 billion pounds, up 1.8 percent from August 2019. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,987 pounds for August, 27 pounds above August 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.36 million head, 42,000 head more than August 2019, but unchanged from July 2020. 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 5,818 54,237 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 8,840 1,984 2,009 17,439 17,763 1.9 September .....: 8,805 1,908 16,796 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 9,360 1,973 2,002 18,375 18,735 2.0 August ........: 9,318 9,360 1,960 1,987 18,267 18,600 1.8 September .....: 9,333 1,885 17,595 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: August 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 .........: 195 196 1,860 1,835 363 360 -0.8 California ......: 1,725 1,721 1,925 1,965 3,321 3,382 1.8 Colorado ........: 187 198 2,200 2,205 411 437 6.3 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 2,200 1,372 1,419 3.4 Illinois ........: 83 83 1,670 1,705 139 142 2.2 Indiana .........: 175 183 1,900 1,940 333 355 6.6 Iowa ............: 217 218 2,030 2,060 441 449 1.8 Kansas ..........: 162 169 1,955 2,000 317 338 6.6 : Michigan ........: 427 428 2,265 2,295 967 982 1.6 Minnesota .......: 447 442 1,895 1,960 847 866 2.2 New Mexico ......: 326 326 2,085 2,055 680 670 -1.5 New York ........: 627 626 2,050 2,065 1,285 1,293 0.6 Ohio ............: 250 254 1,830 1,865 458 474 3.5 Oregon ..........: 124 123 1,780 1,780 221 219 -0.9 Pennsylvania ....: 485 482 1,710 1,745 829 841 1.4 South Dakota ....: 124 137 1,940 1,950 241 267 10.8 Texas ...........: 567 590 2,030 2,090 1,151 1,233 7.1 Utah ............: 96 95 1,995 1,975 192 188 -2.1 : Vermont .........: 126 122 1,800 1,760 227 215 -5.3 Virginia ........: 74 74 1,590 1,640 118 121 2.5 Washington ......: 281 280 2,090 2,095 587 587 - Wisconsin .......: 1,267 1,257 2,070 2,080 2,623 2,615 -0.3 : 24-State Total ..: 8,789 8,840 1,984 2,009 17,439 17,763 1.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: July 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 1,940 1,905 378 373 -1.3 California ....: 1,725 1,721 1,965 2,015 3,390 3,468 2.3 Colorado ......: 187 198 2,205 2,235 412 443 7.5 Florida .......: 115 111 1,670 1,650 192 183 -4.7 Georgia .......: 81 81 1,765 1,755 143 142 -0.7 Idaho .........: 626 645 2,190 2,210 1,371 1,425 3.9 Illinois ......: 83 83 1,685 1,745 140 145 3.6 Indiana .......: 176 182 1,880 1,950 331 355 7.3 Iowa ..........: 217 218 1,990 2,040 432 445 3.0 Kansas ........: 162 169 1,970 1,980 319 335 5.0 : Michigan ......: 425 428 2,255 2,310 958 989 3.2 Minnesota .....: 447 442 1,895 1,955 847 864 2.0 New Mexico ....: 326 326 2,130 2,015 694 657 -5.3 New York ......: 627 626 2,050 2,075 1,285 1,299 1.1 Ohio ..........: 250 254 1,820 1,870 455 475 4.4 Oregon ........: 124 123 1,805 1,805 224 222 -0.9 Pennsylvania ..: 485 482 1,715 1,795 832 865 4.0 South Dakota ..: 123 137 1,910 1,930 235 264 12.3 Texas .........: 565 590 2,065 2,065 1,167 1,218 4.4 Utah ..........: 97 95 2,010 1,985 195 189 -3.1 : Vermont .......: 126 122 1,810 1,770 228 216 -5.3 Virginia ......: 74 74 1,605 1,660 119 123 3.4 Washington ....: 281 280 2,120 2,120 596 594 -0.3 Wisconsin .....: 1,268 1,257 2,050 2,070 2,599 2,602 0.1 : 24-State Total : 8,785 8,840 1,997 2,024 17,542 17,891 2.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 17.8 billion pounds by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.5 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 0.5 37 0 115 15 8 : All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.1 6 0 16 17 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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