Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released April 21, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March Milk Production up 2.4 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during March totaled 18.3 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from March 2019. February revised production at 17.0 billion pounds, was up 5.6 percent from February 2019. The February revision represented a decrease of 7 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Adjusting February production for the additional day due to leap year causes February revised production to be up 1.9 percent on a per day basis. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,072 pounds for March, 34 pounds above March 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.85 million head, 64,000 head more than March 2019, and 5,000 head more than February 2020. January-March Milk Production up 2.9 Percent Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 56.0 billion pounds, up 2.9 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.37 million head, 27,000 head more than the October - December quarter, and 26,000 head more than the same period last year. 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 9,372 5,823 5,976 54,423 56,006 2.9 April-June ......: 9,331 5,971 55,716 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 8,853 2,038 2,072 17,916 18,340 2.4 April .........: 8,788 1,996 17,544 May ...........: 8,790 2,063 18,137 June ..........: 8,784 1,974 17,342 July ..........: 8,785 1,997 17,542 August ........: 8,789 1,984 17,439 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 17,886 5.4 March .........: 9,333 9,380 2,019 2,053 18,845 19,260 2.2 April .........: 9,332 1,975 18,433 May ...........: 9,333 2,042 19,058 June ..........: 9,327 1,954 18,225 July ..........: 9,315 1,973 18,375 August ........: 9,318 1,960 18,267 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: March 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 .........: 201 197 2,195 2,225 441 438 -0.7 California ......: 1,726 1,723 2,070 2,100 3,573 3,618 1.3 Colorado ........: 182 193 2,200 2,230 400 430 7.5 Florida .........: 116 115 1,880 1,875 218 216 -0.9 Georgia .........: 82 82 2,010 2,025 165 166 0.6 Idaho ...........: 618 647 2,095 2,105 1,295 1,362 5.2 Illinois ........: 84 82 1,880 1,940 158 159 0.6 Indiana .........: 180 176 1,985 2,045 357 360 0.8 Iowa ............: 219 218 2,075 2,110 454 460 1.3 Kansas ..........: 163 170 1,970 2,030 321 345 7.5 : Michigan ........: 425 428 2,285 2,320 971 993 2.3 Minnesota .......: 448 445 1,880 1,910 842 850 1.0 New Mexico ......: 322 332 2,210 2,195 712 729 2.4 New York ........: 627 626 2,055 2,100 1,288 1,315 2.1 Ohio ............: 251 253 1,855 1,915 466 484 3.9 Oregon ..........: 122 125 1,780 1,775 217 222 2.3 Pennsylvania ....: 495 485 1,795 1,870 889 907 2.0 South Dakota ....: 124 129 1,895 1,945 235 251 6.8 Texas ...........: 557 590 2,125 2,180 1,184 1,286 8.6 Utah ............: 98 98 1,940 1,960 190 192 1.1 : Vermont .........: 126 124 1,855 1,870 234 232 -0.9 Virginia ........: 76 75 1,760 1,830 134 137 2.2 Washington ......: 277 280 2,030 2,070 562 580 3.2 Wisconsin .......: 1,270 1,260 2,055 2,070 2,610 2,608 -0.1 : 24-State Total ..: 8,789 8,853 2,038 2,072 17,916 18,340 2.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: February 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 .......: 202 196 1,960 2,080 396 408 3.0 California ....: 1,726 1,723 1,860 1,960 3,210 3,377 5.2 Colorado ......: 182 193 1,990 2,065 362 399 10.2 Florida .......: 116 116 1,700 1,770 197 205 4.1 Georgia .......: 82 82 1,800 1,855 148 152 2.7 Idaho .........: 618 647 1,875 1,965 1,159 1,271 9.7 Illinois ......: 85 82 1,690 1,790 144 147 2.1 Indiana .......: 181 176 1,770 1,870 320 329 2.8 Iowa ..........: 220 217 1,890 1,975 416 429 3.1 Kansas ........: 163 169 1,795 1,905 293 322 9.9 : Michigan ......: 424 427 2,055 2,150 871 918 5.4 Minnesota .....: 450 445 1,700 1,780 765 792 3.5 New Mexico ....: 322 333 1,970 2,025 634 674 6.3 New York ......: 627 626 1,840 1,945 1,154 1,218 5.5 Ohio ..........: 253 253 1,660 1,760 420 445 6.0 Oregon ........: 124 127 1,595 1,640 198 208 5.1 Pennsylvania ..: 500 483 1,605 1,725 803 833 3.7 South Dakota ..: 124 129 1,725 1,835 214 237 10.7 Texas .........: 553 585 1,910 2,005 1,056 1,173 11.1 Utah ..........: 99 97 1,755 1,820 174 177 1.7 : Vermont .......: 126 124 1,665 1,725 210 214 1.9 Virginia ......: 78 76 1,545 1,670 121 127 5.0 Washington ....: 278 282 1,815 1,930 505 544 7.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,260 1,860 1,930 2,362 2,432 3.0 : 24-State Total : 8,803 8,848 1,833 1,925 16,132 17,031 5.6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2018 and 2019 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October - December milk cows 1/ : October - December milk production 2/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2018 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 5.0 4.0 16.0 12.0 -25.0 Alaska .........: 0.2 (D) 0.6 (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 205.0 196.0 1,203.0 1,189.0 -1.2 Arkansas .......: 5.0 5.0 16.0 15.0 -6.3 California .....: 1,731.0 1,725.0 9,988.0 10,023.0 0.4 Colorado .......: 178.0 190.0 1,148.0 1,219.0 6.2 Connecticut ....: 19.5 19.5 104.0 107.0 2.9 Delaware .......: 4.5 3.8 20.1 16.7 -16.9 Florida ........: 117.0 117.0 544.0 565.0 3.9 Georgia ........: 81.0 81.0 422.0 433.0 2.6 : Hawaii .........: 1.7 (D) 5.3 (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 612.0 634.0 3,767.0 3,916.0 4.0 Illinois .......: 85.0 82.0 435.0 424.0 -2.5 Indiana ........: 181.0 176.0 1,016.0 997.0 -1.9 Iowa ...........: 220.0 216.0 1,328.0 1,318.0 -0.8 Kansas .........: 160.0 165.0 927.0 977.0 5.4 Kentucky .......: 53.0 49.0 233.0 223.0 -4.3 Louisiana ......: 11.0 10.0 32.0 31.0 -3.1 Maine ..........: 29.0 28.0 151.0 147.0 -2.6 Maryland .......: 44.0 42.0 215.0 208.0 -3.3 : Massachusetts ..: 10.5 10.0 48.0 48.0 - Michigan .......: 422.0 427.0 2,752.0 2,811.0 2.1 Minnesota ......: 451.0 446.0 2,438.0 2,446.0 0.3 Mississippi ....: 8.0 8.0 28.0 30.0 7.1 Missouri .......: 81.0 77.0 270.0 254.0 -5.9 Montana ........: 12.0 12.0 65.0 64.0 -1.5 Nebraska .......: 59.0 58.0 354.0 355.0 0.3 Nevada .........: 33.0 32.0 184.0 184.0 - New Hampshire ..: 12.0 11.0 60.0 57.0 -5.0 New Jersey .....: 5.5 4.7 25.0 24.0 -4.0 : New Mexico .....: 326.0 330.0 1,965.0 2,006.0 2.1 New York .......: 623.0 626.0 3,673.0 3,743.0 1.9 North Carolina .: 43.0 41.0 224.0 217.0 -3.1 North Dakota ...: 15.0 15.0 82.0 80.0 -2.4 Ohio ...........: 254.0 252.0 1,331.0 1,343.0 0.9 Oklahoma .......: 40.0 41.0 180.0 179.0 -0.6 Oregon .........: 125.0 127.0 638.0 644.0 0.9 Pennsylvania ...: 509.0 484.0 2,525.0 2,478.0 -1.9 Rhode Island ...: 0.7 0.6 2.6 2.6 - South Carolina .: 14.0 11.0 55.0 47.0 -14.5 : South Dakota ...: 122.0 127.0 683.0 717.0 5.0 Tennessee ......: 36.0 31.0 143.0 130.0 -9.1 Texas ..........: 542.0 577.0 3,157.0 3,503.0 11.0 Utah ...........: 100.0 97.0 573.0 554.0 -3.3 Vermont ........: 126.0 124.0 662.0 662.0 - Virginia .......: 80.0 74.0 380.0 365.0 -3.9 Washington .....: 280.0 281.0 1,680.0 1,675.0 -0.3 West Virginia ..: 7.0 6.0 25.0 21.0 -16.0 Wisconsin ......: 1,272.0 1,264.0 7,563.0 7,507.0 -0.7 Wyoming ........: 6.0 6.0 35.8 37.2 3.9 : Other States 3/ : (NA) 1.1 (NA) 1.2 (NA) : United States ..: 9,358.0 9,345.0 53,372.0 54,006.0 1.2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 2019 and 2020 [May not add due to rounding] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January - March milk cows 1/ : January - March milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : Change : : : : : from : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million pounds percent : Alabama ........: 5.0 4.0 19.0 15.0 -21.1 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 202.0 195.0 1,264.0 1,258.0 -0.5 Arkansas .......: 5.5 5.0 18.0 18.0 - California .....: 1,727.0 1,723.0 10,291.0 10,521.0 2.2 Colorado .......: 181.0 192.0 1,160.0 1,251.0 7.8 Connecticut ....: 19.5 20.0 109.0 114.0 4.6 Delaware .......: 4.5 3.8 21.6 19.0 -12.0 Florida ........: 116.0 116.0 625.0 636.0 1.8 Georgia ........: 82.0 82.0 472.0 479.0 1.5 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 618.0 646.0 3,737.0 3,981.0 6.5 Illinois .......: 85.0 82.0 457.0 459.0 0.4 Indiana ........: 181.0 176.0 1,030.0 1,036.0 0.6 Iowa ...........: 220.0 217.0 1,329.0 1,341.0 0.9 Kansas .........: 163.0 169.0 934.0 1,011.0 8.2 Kentucky .......: 52.0 49.0 253.0 251.0 -0.8 Louisiana ......: 11.0 10.0 40.0 40.0 - Maine ..........: 29.0 28.0 155.0 149.0 -3.9 Maryland .......: 43.0 42.0 218.0 225.0 3.2 : Massachusetts ..: 10.5 10.0 48.0 52.0 8.3 Michigan .......: 424.0 427.0 2,800.0 2,885.0 3.0 Minnesota ......: 449.0 445.0 2,455.0 2,483.0 1.1 Mississippi ....: 8.5 8.5 35.0 37.0 5.7 Missouri .......: 79.0 77.0 285.0 280.0 -1.8 Montana ........: 11.5 12.0 64.0 64.0 - Nebraska .......: 59.0 58.0 355.0 364.0 2.5 Nevada .........: 33.0 31.0 190.0 185.0 -2.6 New Hampshire ..: 11.5 11.0 60.0 61.0 1.7 New Jersey .....: 5.0 4.7 26.0 26.0 - : New Mexico .....: 323.0 333.0 2,036.0 2,114.0 3.8 New York .......: 627.0 626.0 3,705.0 3,824.0 3.2 North Carolina .: 43.0 41.0 236.0 238.0 0.8 North Dakota ...: 14.5 14.5 80.0 80.0 - Ohio ...........: 252.0 253.0 1,343.0 1,398.0 4.1 Oklahoma .......: 41.0 41.0 190.0 195.0 2.6 Oregon .........: 124.0 126.0 637.0 650.0 2.0 Pennsylvania ...: 498.0 483.0 2,565.0 2,606.0 1.6 Rhode Island ...: 0.7 0.6 2.6 2.8 7.7 South Carolina .: 13.0 11.0 59.0 55.0 -6.8 : South Dakota ...: 124.0 129.0 688.0 738.0 7.3 Tennessee ......: 33.0 31.0 150.0 144.0 -4.0 Texas ..........: 553.0 587.0 3,372.0 3,714.0 10.1 Utah ...........: 99.0 97.0 558.0 552.0 -1.1 Vermont ........: 126.0 124.0 674.0 674.0 - Virginia .......: 77.0 76.0 387.0 398.0 2.8 Washington .....: 278.0 281.0 1,640.0 1,701.0 3.7 West Virginia ..: 6.5 6.0 24.0 23.0 -4.2 Wisconsin ......: 1,270.0 1,260.0 7,588.0 7,617.0 0.4 Wyoming ........: 6.0 6.5 35.9 40.0 11.4 : Other States 3/ : 1.3 1.0 2.1 1.5 -28.6 : United States ..: 9,346.0 9,372.0 54,423.0 56,006.0 2.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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. 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 56.0 billion pounds by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.2 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 ..............: 0.1 0.2 39 3 124 12 8 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 0 26 15 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Heidi Lanouette - 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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