Da 1-1 (1-09) Milk Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released January 16, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Milk Production" call Mike Miller at 202-720-3278, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. December Milk Production up 1.5 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 14.6 billion pounds, up 1.5 percent from December 2007. November revised production at 14.0 billion pounds, was up 1.3 percent November 2007. The November revision represented a decrease of 11 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,726 pounds for December, 8 pounds above December 2007. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.48 million head, 90,000 head more than December 2007, and 7,000 head more than November 2008. October - December Milk Production up 1.4 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the October - December quarter totaled 46.6 billion pounds, up 1.4 percent from the October - December quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.28 million head, 85,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production: By Quarter, United States, 2007-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : From : : : : : : : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan-Mar : 9,138 9,249 5,040 5,140 46,058 47,541 3.2 Apr-Jun : 9,138 9,274 5,189 5,249 47,419 48,683 2.7 Jul-Sep : 9,159 9,278 5,034 5,048 46,110 46,835 1.6 Oct-Dec : 9,198 9,283 5,003 5,024 46,015 46,640 1.4 : Annual : 9,158 9,271 20,267 20,462 185,602 189,699 2.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2007-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : : : : : : : Change : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : from : : : : : : : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 8,284 8,413 1,726 1,746 14,302 14,688 2.7 Feb : 8,286 8,427 1,584 1,654 13,125 13,942 6.2 Mar : 8,295 8,436 1,783 1,794 14,787 15,134 2.3 Apr : 8,292 8,448 1,745 1,757 14,470 14,839 2.6 May : 8,298 8,459 1,791 1,818 14,860 15,375 3.5 Jun : 8,302 8,460 1,712 1,735 14,216 14,678 3.2 Jul : 8,322 8,470 1,742 1,743 14,500 14,762 1.8 Aug : 8,330 8,467 1,719 1,720 14,323 14,563 1.7 Sep : 8,341 8,459 1,645 1,651 13,718 13,963 1.8 Oct : 8,355 8,462 1,697 1,701 14,176 14,398 1.6 Nov : 8,369 8,472 1,654 1,655 13,843 14,021 1.3 Dec : 8,389 8,479 1,718 1,726 14,414 14,633 1.5 : Annual : 8,322 8,454 20,516 20,700 170,734 174,996 2.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2008 previous month 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, 2007-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : From : : : : : : : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 9,135 9,239 1,708 1,727 15,605 15,952 2.2 Feb : 9,136 9,251 1,567 1,637 14,321 15,145 5.8 Mar : 9,142 9,258 1,765 1,776 16,132 16,444 1.9 Apr : 9,132 9,268 1,726 1,737 15,763 16,098 2.1 May : 9,138 9,277 1,771 1,797 16,180 16,671 3.0 Jun : 9,144 9,277 1,692 1,715 15,476 15,914 2.8 Jul : 9,153 9,285 1,717 1,720 15,714 15,970 1.6 Aug : 9,159 9,279 1,695 1,698 15,525 15,757 1.5 Sep : 9,166 9,269 1,622 1,630 14,871 15,108 1.6 Oct : 9,181 9,272 1,674 1,682 15,370 15,595 1.5 Nov : 9,196 9,284 1,633 1,636 15,013 15,191 1.2 Dec : 9,217 9,292 1,696 1,706 15,632 15,854 1.4 : Annual : 9,158 9,271 20,267 20,462 185,602 189,699 2.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2008 revised. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, December 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 1/ : Milk Per Cow 2/ : Milk Production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : From : : : : : : : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 185 188 1,925 2,000 356 376 5.6 CA : 1,835 1,844 1,885 1,860 3,459 3,430 -0.8 CO : 120 130 1,965 1,940 236 252 6.8 FL : 124 118 1,360 1,490 169 176 4.1 ID : 530 554 1,870 1,820 991 1,008 1.7 IL : 103 102 1,580 1,580 163 161 -1.2 IN : 166 167 1,705 1,650 283 276 -2.5 IA : 215 215 1,665 1,690 358 363 1.4 KS : 109 121 1,650 1,785 180 216 20.0 KY : 90 87 1,145 1,180 103 103 MI : 344 353 1,895 1,820 652 642 -1.5 MN : 463 465 1,580 1,610 732 749 2.3 MO : 110 109 1,210 1,270 133 138 3.8 NM : 339 334 1,835 1,975 622 660 6.1 NY : 626 625 1,620 1,620 1,014 1,013 -0.1 OH : 278 276 1,500 1,510 417 417 OR : 115 115 1,515 1,590 174 183 5.2 PA : 550 548 1,620 1,580 891 866 -2.8 TX : 355 393 1,825 1,875 648 737 13.7 VT : 140 139 1,545 1,525 216 212 -1.9 VA : 99 97 1,495 1,495 148 145 -2.0 WA : 243 244 1,930 1,900 469 464 -1.1 WI : 1,250 1,255 1,600 1,630 2,000 2,046 2.3 : 23-State : Total : 8,389 8,479 1,718 1,726 14,414 14,633 1.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, November 2007-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : From : : : : : : : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 185 187 1,830 1,850 339 346 2.1 CA : 1,830 1,843 1,810 1,795 3,312 3,308 -0.1 CO : 120 130 1,900 1,845 228 240 5.3 FL : 125 119 1,200 1,320 150 157 4.7 ID : 525 554 1,810 1,770 950 981 3.3 IL : 103 102 1,470 1,470 151 150 -0.7 IN : 166 167 1,650 1,580 274 264 -3.6 IA : 215 215 1,590 1,630 342 350 2.3 KS : 108 118 1,640 1,720 177 203 14.7 KY : 88 87 1,100 1,100 97 96 -1.0 MI : 343 352 1,825 1,755 626 618 -1.3 MN : 463 465 1,500 1,530 695 711 2.3 MO : 109 110 1,190 1,175 130 129 -0.8 NM : 337 333 1,780 1,900 600 633 5.5 NY : 626 624 1,575 1,580 986 986 OH : 277 278 1,430 1,450 396 403 1.8 OR : 115 115 1,490 1,560 171 179 4.7 PA : 550 548 1,580 1,510 869 827 -4.8 TX : 351 390 1,760 1,765 618 688 11.3 VT : 140 139 1,465 1,445 205 201 -2.0 VA : 100 97 1,400 1,410 140 137 -2.1 WA : 244 245 1,850 1,840 451 451 WI : 1,249 1,254 1,550 1,565 1,936 1,963 1.4 : 23-State : Total : 8,369 8,472 1,654 1,655 13,843 14,021 1.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2008 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 July-September, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jul-Sep Milk Cows 1/ : Jul-Sep Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 13.0 12.0 40 38 -5.0 AK : 0.6 0.6 2.5 1.7 -32.0 AZ : 181 184 968 977 0.9 AR : 17.0 14.5 49 44 -10.2 CA : 1,819 1,843 10,158 10,090 -0.7 CO : 119 130 702 744 6.0 CT : 19.0 19.0 89 88 -1.1 DE : 6.5 6.5 26.0 25.0 -3.8 FL : 126 120 472 454 -3.8 GA : 77 75 312 305 -2.2 HI : 2.6 1.6 7.4 4.4 -40.5 ID : 519 555 3,020 3,219 6.6 IL : 103 102 460 448 -2.6 IN : 166 166 832 797 -4.2 IA : 215 215 1,059 1,064 0.5 KS : 108 113 526 592 12.5 KY : 88 88 285 272 -4.6 LA : 28 26 71 67 -5.6 ME : 33 33 151 154 2.0 MD : 57 56 249 242 -2.8 MA : 14.5 14.5 63 64 1.6 MI : 338 349 1,919 1,922 0.2 MN : 463 465 2,137 2,163 1.2 MS : 21 20 68 62 -8.8 MO : 109 111 386 376 -2.6 MT : 17.0 17.0 82 80 -2.4 NE : 58 59 260 272 4.6 NV : 27 27 138 142 2.9 NH : 14.5 15.0 72 73 1.4 NJ : 10.0 10.0 41 39 -4.9 NM : 335 337 1,846 1,960 6.2 NY : 626 626 3,041 3,111 2.3 NC : 47 46 216 207 -4.2 ND : 28 27 108 104 -3.7 OH : 276 280 1,223 1,263 3.3 OK : 68 63 282 261 -7.4 OR : 114 114 559 562 0.5 PA : 550 547 2,625 2,599 -1.0 RI : 1.1 1.1 4.6 4.9 6.5 SC : 18.0 18.0 71 70 -1.4 SD : 85 91 410 458 11.7 TN : 62 58 224 212 -5.4 TX : 348 384 1,751 2,048 17.0 UT : 85 85 448 447 -0.2 VT : 139 140 635 641 0.9 VA : 100 97 419 407 -2.9 WA : 239 245 1,409 1,442 2.3 WV : 13.0 12.0 49 45 -8.2 WI : 1,248 1,252 6,109 6,137 0.5 WY : 7.0 7.0 35.0 36.6 4.6 : US 3/ : 9,159 9,278 46,110 46,835 1.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 October-December, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Oct-Dec Milk Cows 1/ : Oct-Dec Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 13.0 12.0 45 42 -6.7 AK : 0.6 0.6 1.8 1.6 -11.1 AZ : 185 187 1,035 1,063 2.7 AR : 17.0 14.0 50 43 -14.0 CA : 1,830 1,842 10,186 10,124 -0.6 CO : 120 130 696 738 6.0 CT : 19.0 19.0 88 88 DE : 6.5 6.5 27.0 26.0 -3.7 FL : 125 119 459 479 4.4 GA : 77 75 318 325 2.2 HI : 2.5 1.6 6.3 4.8 -23.8 ID : 526 554 2,922 3,025 3.5 IL : 103 102 467 463 -0.9 IN : 166 167 837 810 -3.2 IA : 215 215 1,050 1,076 2.5 KS : 108 118 535 622 16.3 KY : 88 87 297 295 -0.7 LA : 27 25 76 69 -9.2 ME : 33 33 147 149 1.4 MD : 57 56 255 247 -3.1 MA : 14.5 14.5 62 62 MI : 343 352 1,912 1,897 -0.8 MN : 463 465 2,135 2,183 2.2 MS : 21 19 72 63 -12.5 MO : 109 110 393 397 1.0 MT : 17.0 16.0 80 77 -3.8 NE : 57 59 261 278 6.5 NV : 27 27 138 147 6.5 NH : 14.0 15.0 72 72 NJ : 10.0 10.0 41 38 -7.3 NM : 338 334 1,844 1,934 4.9 NY : 626 625 3,020 3,012 -0.3 NC : 48 45 221 209 -5.4 ND : 28 26 106 99 -6.6 OH : 277 277 1,220 1,240 1.6 OK : 67 63 271 261 -3.7 OR : 115 115 521 548 5.2 PA : 550 548 2,647 2,555 -3.5 RI : 1.1 1.1 4.5 4.8 6.7 SC : 18.0 17.0 75 71 -5.3 SD : 86 93 413 466 12.8 TN : 61 59 233 225 -3.4 TX : 352 390 1,875 2,120 13.1 UT : 85 85 435 440 1.1 VT : 140 139 632 620 -1.9 VA : 100 97 429 421 -1.9 WA : 243 245 1,387 1,385 -0.1 WV : 13.0 12.0 49 44 -10.2 WI : 1,249 1,254 5,934 6,045 1.9 WY : 7.0 7.0 34.7 36.0 3.7 : US 3/ : 9,198 9,283 46,015 46,640 1.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 9.28 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent. Reliability of Quarterly Milk Production 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 : 0.2 0.4 177 69 0 228 7 12 : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : All Milk : Cows : 0.1 0.1 11 5 0 14 5 12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on the U.S. total for the past 20 quarters. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch.............................(202) 720-3570 Livestock Section Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section.............................(202) 690-2424 Jim Collom - Dairy Products...............................(202) 690-3236 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices........................(202) 690-2168 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed..................(202) 720-3040 Benita Hodge - Livestock Slaughter........................(515) 284-4340 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats..........................(202) 720-4751 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows...............(202) 720-3278 Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs...............................(202) 720-3106 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. 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