Da 1-1 (4-06) Milk Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 18, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Milk Production" call Charmaine Wilson at 202-690-2168, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. March Milk Production Up 5.5 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 14.6 billion pounds, up 5.5 percent from March 2005. February revised production, at 13.0 billion pounds, was up 5.9 percent from February 2005. The February revision represented a decrease of 7 million pounds from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,773 pounds for March, 66 pounds above March 2005. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.22 million head, 124,000 head more than March 2005, and 17,000 head more than February 2006. January- March Milk Production Up 5.0 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the January - March quarter totaled 45.5 billion pounds, up 5.0 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.09 million head, 91,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production: By Quarter, United States, 2005-2006 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : From : : : : : : : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan-Mar : 9,002 9,093 4,816 5,006 43,350 45,521 5.0 Apr-Jun : 9,041 5,069 45,831 Jul-Sep : 9,060 4,871 44,134 Oct-Dec : 9,060 4,821 43,674 : Annual : 9,041 19,576 176,989 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ May not add due to rounding. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By Month, 23 Selected States, 2005-2006 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : : : : : : : Change : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : from : : : : : : : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 8,087 8,195 1,643 1,710 13,287 14,014 5.5 Feb : 8,084 8,206 1,522 1,587 12,301 13,022 5.9 Mar : 8,099 8,223 1,707 1,773 13,825 14,579 5.5 Apr : 8,117 1,690 13,717 May : 8,131 1,760 14,311 Jun : 8,138 1,690 13,755 Jul : 8,151 1,683 13,715 Aug : 8,162 1,671 13,640 Sep : 8,167 1,599 13,057 Oct : 8,168 1,637 13,373 Nov : 8,167 1,592 13,002 Dec : 8,179 1,663 13,599 : Annual : 8,138 19,857 161,582 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2006 revised. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production: By Month, United States, 2005-2006 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : From : : : : : : : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 9,000 9,078 1,624 1,689 14,614 15,329 4.9 Feb : 8,996 9,090 1,504 1,567 13,530 14,244 5.3 Mar : 9,009 9,111 1,688 1,750 15,206 15,948 4.9 Apr : 9,030 1,666 15,047 May : 9,042 1,735 15,697 Jun : 9,050 1,668 15,087 Jul : 9,053 1,656 14,978 Aug : 9,060 1,643 14,896 Sep : 9,066 1,572 14,260 Oct : 9,060 1,613 14,611 Nov : 9,056 1,569 14,205 Dec : 9,063 1,639 14,858 : Annual : 9,041 19,576 176,989 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2005 revised. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, March 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 1/ : Milk Per Cow 2/ : Milk Production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : From : : : : : : : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 164 166 2,080 2,170 341 360 5.6 CA : 1,744 1,785 1,850 1,920 3,226 3,427 6.2 CO : 102 107 1,925 1,980 196 212 8.2 FL : 139 133 1,640 1,600 228 213 -6.6 ID : 441 475 1,880 1,880 829 893 7.7 IL : 105 104 1,670 1,720 175 179 2.3 IN : 156 163 1,700 1,775 265 289 9.1 IA : 191 200 1,795 1,810 343 362 5.5 KS : 110 111 1,810 1,840 199 204 2.5 KY : 107 101 1,140 1,220 122 123 0.8 MI : 309 315 1,825 1,900 564 599 6.2 MN : 455 450 1,570 1,630 714 734 2.8 MO : 119 115 1,400 1,500 167 173 3.6 NM : 322 347 1,790 1,910 576 663 15.1 NY : 648 649 1,570 1,630 1,017 1,058 4.0 OH : 268 273 1,520 1,550 407 423 3.9 OR : 121 121 1,640 1,610 198 195 -1.5 PA : 560 555 1,600 1,700 896 944 5.4 TX : 318 328 1,795 2,000 571 656 14.9 VT : 143 143 1,595 1,610 228 230 0.9 VA : 105 103 1,495 1,560 157 161 2.5 WA : 239 238 2,020 1,980 483 471 -2.5 WI : 1,233 1,241 1,560 1,620 1,923 2,010 4.5 : 23-State : Total : 8,099 8,223 1,707 1,773 13,825 14,579 5.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, February 2005-2006 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : From : : : : : : : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 164 166 1,840 1,930 302 320 6.0 CA : 1,742 1,782 1,635 1,705 2,848 3,038 6.7 CO : 100 106 1,720 1,795 172 190 10.5 FL : 139 134 1,475 1,420 205 190 -7.3 ID : 437 473 1,680 1,670 734 790 7.6 IL : 105 104 1,500 1,540 158 160 1.3 IN : 155 162 1,600 1,575 248 255 2.8 IA : 190 200 1,615 1,630 307 326 6.2 KS : 109 111 1,575 1,650 172 183 6.4 KY : 110 101 1,000 1,080 110 109 -0.9 MI : 308 314 1,660 1,725 511 542 6.1 MN : 455 450 1,405 1,470 639 662 3.6 MO : 117 114 1,230 1,320 144 150 4.2 NM : 320 344 1,560 1,700 499 585 17.2 NY : 650 649 1,415 1,485 920 964 4.8 OH : 267 273 1,370 1,390 366 379 3.6 OR : 120 121 1,460 1,410 175 171 -2.3 PA : 560 555 1,420 1,550 795 860 8.2 TX : 317 325 1,560 1,755 495 570 15.2 VT : 143 143 1,430 1,450 204 207 1.5 VA : 105 103 1,345 1,410 141 145 2.8 WA : 237 236 1,805 1,790 428 422 -1.4 WI : 1,234 1,240 1,400 1,455 1,728 1,804 4.4 : 23-State : Total : 8,084 8,206 1,522 1,587 12,301 13,022 5.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2005 and 2006 revised. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State and United States, Revised October-December, 2004-2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Oct-Dec Milk Cows 1/ : Oct-Dec Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 17 15 56 50 -10.7 AK : 1.2 0.9 3.4 2.7 -20.6 AZ : 167 162 910 914 0.4 AR : 23 21 72 67 -6.9 CA : 1,741 1,769 9,130 9,383 2.8 CO : 103 105 553 587 6.1 CT : 20 20 95 92 -3.2 DE : 7.5 7.1 31.5 29.8 -5.4 FL : 137 135 531 503 -5.3 GA : 84 79 334 327 -2.1 HI : 5.8 5.1 17.4 15.5 -10.9 ID : 434 471 2,310 2,586 11.9 IL : 106 104 474 474 IN : 154 157 753 791 5.0 IA : 190 199 947 1,006 6.2 KS : 112 112 544 565 3.9 KY : 109 102 340 325 -4.4 LA : 36 32 108 93 -13.9 ME : 33 32 148 142 -4.1 MD : 73 71 285 281 -1.4 MA : 17 16 73 69 -5.5 MI : 306 312 1,567 1,672 6.7 MN : 460 447 1,974 1,999 1.3 MS : 26 24 86 82 -4.7 MO : 120 114 445 449 0.9 MT : 18 19 87 93 6.9 NE : 61 60 262 267 1.9 NV : 25 26 128 140 9.4 NH : 16 16 74 74 NJ : 12 12 47 46 -2.1 NM : 322 337 1,617 1,773 9.6 NY : 651 649 2,843 2,974 4.6 NC : 55 53 242 231 -4.5 ND : 33 33 127 132 3.9 OH : 266 271 1,131 1,158 2.4 OK : 75 75 297 293 -1.3 OR : 120 121 556 547 -1.6 PA : 564 557 2,466 2,579 4.6 RI : 1.1 1.0 4.5 4.4 -2.2 SC : 18 17 69 69 SD : 80 81 338 358 5.9 TN : 73 69 270 257 -4.8 TX : 320 322 1,432 1,594 11.3 UT : 89 85 397 413 4.0 VT : 144 142 632 642 1.6 VA : 104 105 428 438 2.3 WA : 235 240 1,324 1,363 2.9 WV : 13 13 48 49 2.1 WI : 1,237 1,238 5,418 5,652 4.3 WY : 4.4 6.2 16.3 22.9 40.5 : US 3/ : 9,019 9,060 42,041 43,674 3.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. 3/ May not add due to rounding. Milk Cows and Production: By State and United States, Preliminary January-March, 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jan-Mar Milk Cows 1/ : Jan-Mar Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 16 14 64 61 -4.7 AK : 1.2 0.8 3.6 2.4 -33.3 AZ : 164 166 969 1,016 4.9 AR : 23 21 77 71 -7.8 CA : 1,742 1,781 9,152 9,706 6.1 CO : 101 106 554 607 9.6 CT : 20 20 99 97 -2.0 DE : 7.5 7.2 34.0 33.1 -2.6 FL : 139 134 643 602 -6.4 GA : 83 78 379 379 HI : 5.7 4.5 17.7 15.2 -14.1 ID : 438 474 2,361 2,549 8.0 IL : 105 104 503 509 1.2 IN : 155 162 767 821 7.0 IA : 190 200 983 1,041 5.9 KS : 109 111 560 586 4.6 KY : 109 101 352 348 -1.1 LA : 36 33 128 119 -7.0 ME : 33 31 147 140 -4.8 MD : 73 70 299 292 -2.3 MA : 17 16 73 72 -1.4 MI : 308 314 1,621 1,728 6.6 MN : 457 448 2,048 2,110 3.0 MS : 26 23 109 97 -11.0 MO : 118 114 468 487 4.1 MT : 18 19 89 93 4.5 NE : 60 60 268 277 3.4 NV : 25 27 128 140 9.4 NH : 16 16 75 77 2.7 NJ : 12 12 49 48 -2.0 NM : 320 344 1,620 1,879 16.0 NY : 649 650 2,935 3,060 4.3 NC : 55 52 260 249 -4.2 ND : 33 33 128 131 2.3 OH : 267 273 1,163 1,209 4.0 OK : 75 75 311 304 -2.3 OR : 120 121 561 551 -1.8 PA : 561 556 2,560 2,723 6.4 RI : 1.0 1.0 4.6 4.6 SC : 18 17 81 76 -6.2 SD : 81 81 350 364 4.0 TN : 72 69 295 284 -3.7 TX : 318 326 1,592 1,826 14.7 UT : 88 85 404 404 VT : 143 143 655 663 1.2 VA : 105 103 452 462 2.2 WA : 237 237 1,372 1,353 -1.4 WV : 13 13 48 50 4.2 WI : 1,234 1,240 5,522 5,779 4.7 WY : 4.4 6.8 15.8 25.8 63.3 : US 3/ : 9,002 9,093 43,350 45,521 5.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. 3/ May not add due to rounding. Reliability Statement 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, rather than conduct a monthly or quarterly survey, 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 and July Cattle Surveys. Estimation Procedures: State 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, rate per cow, and number of cows are subject to revision the following month for monthly States or the following quarter for the quarterly States. Normally, Federal Market Order sales are the main basis for revisions. However, data for all orders are not available in time for this revision. 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 cow inventory estimates over the past 10 January - March quarters is 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final January - March estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 9.09 million head by more than 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.3 percent. Reliability of January-March Milk Estimates 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Difference Between : Quarters : Root : 90% : First and Latest :--------------- : Mean : Confidence : Estimates : First : First Item :Square : Level :-------------------------: Above : Below : Error : :Average:Smallest:Largest :Latest :Latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent ------- Million Pounds ------ Number : Milk : Production : 0.4 0.7 319 135 10 375 5 5 : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : All Milk : Cows : 0.2 0.3 27 12 2 35 5 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on records for the past 10 January-March quarters. Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Information Contacts Dan Kerestes, Chief Livestock Branch(202) 720-3570 William Weaver, Head, Livestock Section (202) 720-3570 Bruce Boess - Hogs and Pigs(202) 720-3106 Shawn Clark - Dairy Products(202) 690-3236 Scott Hollis - Sheep , Lambs, Wool and Mohair(202) 720-4751 Mike Miller - Cattle(202) 720-3040 Katy Paulsen - Livestock Slaughter(515) 284-4340 Ann Summa - Milk and Milk Cows(202) 720-3278 Charmaine Wilson - Dairy Products Prices(202) 690-2168 ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 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