Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released August 19, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). July Milk Production up 1.5 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during July totaled 17.8 billion pounds, up 1.5 percent from July 2019. June revised production, at 17.5 billion pounds, was up 0.8 percent from June 2019. The June revision represented an increase of 59 million pounds or 0.3 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,016 pounds for July, 19 pounds above July 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.83 million head, 44,000 head more than July 2019, and 2,000 head more than June 2020. July Milk Production in the United States up 1.5 Percent Milk production in the United States during July totaled 18.6 billion pounds, up 1.5 percent from July 2019. Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,994 pounds for July, 21 pounds above July 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.35 million head, 37,000 head more than July 2019, and 2,000 head more than June 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 8,829 1,997 2,016 17,542 17,800 1.5 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 17,890 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 9,352 1,973 1,994 18,375 18,645 1.5 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: July 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 .........: 195 197 1,940 1,930 378 380 0.5 California ......: 1,725 1,721 1,965 1,980 3,390 3,408 0.5 Colorado ........: 187 197 2,205 2,215 412 436 5.8 Florida .........: 115 110 1,670 1,645 192 181 -5.7 Georgia .........: 81 81 1,765 1,755 143 142 -0.7 Idaho ...........: 626 640 2,190 2,190 1,371 1,402 2.3 Illinois ........: 83 83 1,685 1,745 140 145 3.6 Indiana .........: 176 180 1,880 1,950 331 351 6.0 Iowa ............: 217 217 1,990 2,035 432 442 2.3 Kansas ..........: 162 167 1,970 1,965 319 328 2.8 : Michigan ........: 425 428 2,255 2,300 958 984 2.7 Minnesota .......: 447 442 1,895 1,945 847 860 1.5 New Mexico ......: 326 326 2,130 2,015 694 657 -5.3 New York ........: 627 626 2,050 2,090 1,285 1,308 1.8 Ohio ............: 250 254 1,820 1,870 455 475 4.4 Oregon ..........: 124 123 1,805 1,790 224 220 -1.8 Pennsylvania ....: 485 482 1,715 1,795 832 865 4.0 South Dakota ....: 123 136 1,910 1,930 235 262 11.5 Texas ...........: 565 590 2,065 2,065 1,167 1,218 4.4 Utah ............: 97 97 2,010 2,010 195 195 - : Vermont .........: 126 122 1,810 1,770 228 216 -5.3 Virginia ........: 74 74 1,605 1,660 119 123 3.4 Washington ......: 281 279 2,120 2,105 596 587 -1.5 Wisconsin .......: 1,268 1,257 2,050 2,080 2,599 2,615 0.6 : 24-State Total ..: 8,785 8,829 1,997 2,016 17,542 17,800 1.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: June 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 .......: 194 197 1,960 1,980 380 390 2.6 California ....: 1,726 1,721 1,900 1,945 3,279 3,347 2.1 Colorado ......: 186 197 2,165 2,150 403 424 5.2 Florida .......: 115 111 1,730 1,675 199 186 -6.5 Georgia .......: 82 81 1,770 1,765 145 143 -1.4 Idaho .........: 621 640 2,115 2,105 1,313 1,347 2.6 Illinois ......: 84 83 1,750 1,795 147 149 1.4 Indiana .......: 179 178 1,940 1,985 347 353 1.7 Iowa ..........: 219 217 2,020 2,030 442 441 -0.2 Kansas ........: 162 167 1,940 1,920 314 321 2.2 : Michigan ......: 425 427 2,285 2,260 971 965 -0.6 Minnesota .....: 447 442 1,885 1,915 843 846 0.4 New Mexico ....: 324 327 2,130 1,980 690 647 -6.2 New York ......: 627 626 2,040 2,040 1,279 1,277 -0.2 Ohio ..........: 249 253 1,835 1,840 457 466 2.0 Oregon ........: 123 124 1,755 1,745 216 216 - Pennsylvania ..: 490 482 1,720 1,775 843 856 1.5 South Dakota ..: 123 136 1,885 1,895 232 258 11.2 Texas .........: 565 590 2,030 2,030 1,147 1,198 4.4 Utah ..........: 97 96 1,960 1,955 190 188 -1.1 : Vermont .......: 126 123 1,795 1,740 226 214 -5.3 Virginia ......: 74 74 1,645 1,700 122 126 3.3 Washington ....: 278 278 2,050 2,030 570 564 -1.1 Wisconsin .....: 1,268 1,257 2,040 2,040 2,587 2,564 -0.9 : 24-State Total : 8,784 8,827 1,974 1,981 17,342 17,486 0.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 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 0.4 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 0.4 34 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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