Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released July 21, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). June Milk Production up 0.5 Percent Milk production in the 24 major States during June totaled 17.4 billion pounds, up 0.5 percent from June 2019. May revised production, at 18.0 billion pounds, was down 0.5 percent from May 2019. The May revision represented an increase of 93 million pounds or 0.5 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,974 pounds for June, unchanged from June 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.83 million head, 43,000 head more than June 2019, but 9,000 head less than May 2020. April-June Milk Production up 0.4 Percent Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 55.9 billion pounds, up 0.4 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.36 million head, 12,000 head less than the January - March quarter, but 31,000 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 9,374 5,823 5,988 54,423 56,130 3.1 April-June ......: 9,331 9,362 5,971 5,975 55,716 55,938 0.4 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 1,974 17,342 17,427 0.5 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 17,890 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 1,958 18,225 18,308 0.5 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: June 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 .........: 194 197 1,960 1,965 380 387 1.8 California ......: 1,726 1,721 1,900 1,925 3,279 3,313 1.0 Colorado ........: 186 197 2,165 2,155 403 425 5.5 Florida .........: 115 111 1,730 1,685 199 187 -6.0 Georgia .........: 82 81 1,770 1,765 145 143 -1.4 Idaho ...........: 621 644 2,115 2,110 1,313 1,359 3.5 Illinois ........: 84 82 1,750 1,800 147 148 0.7 Indiana .........: 179 176 1,940 1,960 347 345 -0.6 Iowa ............: 219 217 2,020 2,020 442 438 -0.9 Kansas ..........: 162 167 1,940 1,930 314 322 2.5 : Michigan ........: 425 427 2,285 2,260 971 965 -0.6 Minnesota .......: 447 442 1,885 1,880 843 831 -1.4 New Mexico ......: 324 327 2,130 1,980 690 647 -6.2 New York ........: 627 626 2,040 2,050 1,279 1,283 0.3 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 ....: 123 135 1,885 1,885 232 254 9.5 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 2,030 2,587 2,552 -1.4 : 24-State Total ..: 8,784 8,827 1,974 1,974 17,342 17,427 0.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: May 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 .......: 195 197 2,125 2,120 414 418 1.0 California ....: 1,726 1,722 2,060 2,070 3,556 3,565 0.3 Colorado ......: 185 196 2,220 2,220 411 435 5.8 Florida .......: 115 113 1,850 1,770 213 200 -6.1 Georgia .......: 83 82 1,870 1,855 155 152 -1.9 Idaho .........: 620 644 2,170 2,170 1,345 1,397 3.9 Illinois ......: 84 82 1,860 1,870 156 153 -1.9 Indiana .......: 179 176 2,030 2,030 363 357 -1.7 Iowa ..........: 219 217 2,100 2,095 460 455 -1.1 Kansas ........: 162 168 2,020 1,975 327 332 1.5 : Michigan ......: 425 428 2,350 2,310 999 989 -1.0 Minnesota .....: 448 443 1,925 1,930 862 855 -0.8 New Mexico ....: 324 328 2,215 2,030 718 666 -7.2 New York ......: 627 626 2,110 2,075 1,323 1,299 -1.8 Ohio ..........: 248 253 1,910 1,880 474 476 0.4 Oregon ........: 122 124 1,835 1,805 224 224 - Pennsylvania ..: 493 483 1,810 1,815 892 877 -1.7 South Dakota ..: 123 134 1,920 1,940 236 260 10.2 Texas .........: 565 590 2,120 2,070 1,198 1,221 1.9 Utah ..........: 98 96 2,010 1,980 197 190 -3.6 : Vermont .......: 126 123 1,855 1,780 234 219 -6.4 Virginia ......: 76 75 1,750 1,770 133 133 - Washington ....: 278 279 2,115 2,105 588 587 -0.2 Wisconsin .....: 1,269 1,257 2,095 2,060 2,659 2,589 -2.6 : 24-State Total : 8,790 8,836 2,063 2,043 18,137 18,049 -0.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised 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 14.0 -26.3 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 202.0 196.0 1,264.0 1,264.0 - Arkansas .......: 5.5 5.0 18.0 18.0 - California .....: 1,727.0 1,723.0 10,291.0 10,582.0 2.8 Colorado .......: 181.0 193.0 1,160.0 1,253.0 8.0 Connecticut ....: 19.5 19.5 109.0 114.0 4.6 Delaware .......: 4.5 3.8 21.6 19.0 -12.0 Florida ........: 116.0 116.0 625.0 639.0 2.2 Georgia ........: 82.0 82.0 472.0 476.0 0.8 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 618.0 646.0 3,737.0 4,000.0 7.0 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 1,343.0 1.1 Kansas .........: 163.0 169.0 934.0 1,014.0 8.6 Kentucky .......: 52.0 49.0 253.0 250.0 -1.2 Louisiana ......: 11.0 10.0 40.0 39.0 -2.5 Maine ..........: 29.0 27.0 155.0 151.0 -2.6 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 2,887.0 3.1 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 59.0 355.0 367.0 3.4 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 3,830.0 3.4 North Carolina .: 43.0 41.0 236.0 239.0 1.3 North Dakota ...: 14.5 14.5 80.0 80.0 - Ohio ...........: 252.0 253.0 1,343.0 1,395.0 3.9 Oklahoma .......: 41.0 42.0 190.0 200.0 5.3 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 ...: 124.0 129.0 688.0 740.0 7.6 Tennessee ......: 33.0 31.0 150.0 145.0 -3.3 Texas ..........: 553.0 587.0 3,372.0 3,714.0 10.1 Utah ...........: 99.0 97.0 558.0 554.0 -0.7 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 7,630.0 0.6 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 9,374.0 54,423.0 56,130.0 3.1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 April - June 2019 and 2020 [May not add due to rounding] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April - June milk cows 1/ : April - June 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 3.5 17.0 12.0 -29.4 Alaska .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Arizona ........: 196.0 197.0 1,217.0 1,228.0 0.9 Arkansas .......: 5.5 5.0 19.0 18.0 -5.3 California .....: 1,726.0 1,722.0 10,330.0 10,382.0 0.5 Colorado .......: 184.0 196.0 1,206.0 1,279.0 6.1 Connecticut ....: 19.5 19.0 108.0 109.0 0.9 Delaware .......: 4.2 3.8 19.2 18.7 -2.6 Florida ........: 115.0 113.0 619.0 595.0 -3.9 Georgia ........: 83.0 82.0 457.0 449.0 -1.8 : Hawaii .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) Idaho ..........: 620.0 645.0 3,937.0 4,108.0 4.3 Illinois .......: 84.0 82.0 455.0 454.0 -0.2 Indiana ........: 179.0 176.0 1,061.0 1,052.0 -0.8 Iowa ...........: 219.0 218.0 1,344.0 1,340.0 -0.3 Kansas .........: 162.0 168.0 961.0 987.0 2.7 Kentucky .......: 51.0 48.0 252.0 251.0 -0.4 Louisiana ......: 10.5 10.0 37.0 37.0 - Maine ..........: 30.0 27.0 162.0 152.0 -6.2 Maryland .......: 43.0 42.0 217.0 223.0 2.8 : Massachusetts ..: 10.5 10.0 49.0 50.0 2.0 Michigan .......: 425.0 428.0 2,920.0 2,919.0 - Minnesota ......: 448.0 443.0 2,527.0 2,509.0 -0.7 Mississippi ....: 8.5 8.5 34.0 36.0 5.9 Missouri .......: 79.0 76.0 303.0 301.0 -0.7 Montana ........: 11.5 11.5 65.0 64.0 -1.5 Nebraska .......: 58.0 59.0 354.0 362.0 2.3 Nevada .........: 33.0 31.0 195.0 190.0 -2.6 New Hampshire ..: 11.5 11.0 62.0 60.0 -3.2 New Jersey .....: 4.8 4.7 26.0 25.0 -3.8 : New Mexico .....: 323.0 328.0 2,103.0 2,006.0 -4.6 New York .......: 627.0 626.0 3,869.0 3,862.0 -0.2 North Carolina .: 43.0 41.0 236.0 233.0 -1.3 North Dakota ...: 14.5 14.5 83.0 82.0 -1.2 Ohio ...........: 249.0 253.0 1,389.0 1,408.0 1.4 Oklahoma .......: 42.0 42.0 192.0 194.0 1.0 Oregon .........: 122.0 124.0 655.0 657.0 0.3 Pennsylvania ...: 493.0 483.0 2,604.0 2,616.0 0.5 Rhode Island ...: 0.7 0.5 2.7 2.6 -3.7 South Carolina .: 12.0 10.5 55.0 52.0 -5.5 : South Dakota ...: 123.0 134.0 694.0 761.0 9.7 Tennessee ......: 32.0 30.0 145.0 141.0 -2.8 Texas ..........: 564.0 590.0 3,520.0 3,652.0 3.8 Utah ...........: 98.0 96.0 576.0 563.0 -2.3 Vermont ........: 126.0 123.0 687.0 656.0 -4.5 Virginia .......: 75.0 75.0 386.0 391.0 1.3 Washington .....: 278.0 279.0 1,722.0 1,719.0 -0.2 West Virginia ..: 6.0 6.0 23.0 23.0 - Wisconsin ......: 1,269.0 1,258.0 7,784.0 7,661.0 -1.6 Wyoming ........: 6.0 7.5 36.5 46.5 27.4 : Other States 3/ : 1.0 0.9 0.9 1.3 44.4 : United States ..: 9,331.0 9,362.0 55,716.0 55,938.0 0.4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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 55.9 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 51 3 184 12 8 : All milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 8 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 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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