Da 1-1 (4-09) Milk Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 17, 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. March Milk Production down 0.2 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 15.2 billion pounds, down 0.2 percent from March 2008. February revised production at 13.6 billion pounds, was down 2.7 percent from February 2008. The February revision represented a decrease of 23 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,788 pounds for March, 6 pounds below March 2008. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.48 million head, 15,000 head more than March 2008, but 4,000 head less than February 2009. January - March Milk Production down 0.6 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the January - March quarter totaled 47.3 billion pounds, down 0.6 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.30 million head, 11,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production: By Quarter, United States, 2008-2009 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : From : : : : : : : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan-Mar : 9,286 9,297 5,127 5,088 47,610 47,304 -0.6 Apr-Jun : 9,315 5,236 48,774 Jul-Sep : 9,330 5,025 46,881 Oct-Dec : 9,330 5,008 46,727 : Annual : 9,315 20,396 189,992 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2008-2009 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : : : : : : : Change : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : from : : : : : : : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 8,445 8,504 1,747 1,753 14,750 14,907 1.1 Feb : 8,457 8,486 1,656 1,606 14,007 13,627 -2.7 Mar : 8,467 8,482 1,794 1,788 15,191 15,164 -0.2 Apr : 8,482 1,757 14,901 May : 8,496 1,819 15,451 Jun : 8,500 1,736 14,760 Jul : 8,515 1,744 14,848 Aug : 8,515 1,718 14,626 Sep : 8,510 1,650 14,041 Oct : 8,512 1,700 14,469 Nov : 8,519 1,654 14,089 Dec : 8,519 1,729 14,728 : Annual : 8,495 20,704 175,861 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2009 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, 2008-2009 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : From : : : : : : : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 9,276 9,314 1,722 1,732 15,976 16,135 1.0 Feb : 9,287 9,291 1,634 1,588 15,176 14,753 -2.8 Mar : 9,295 9,287 1,771 1,768 16,458 16,416 -0.3 Apr : 9,307 1,733 16,125 May : 9,318 1,793 16,707 Jun : 9,321 1,710 15,942 Jul : 9,335 1,713 15,995 Aug : 9,331 1,689 15,757 Sep : 9,323 1,623 15,129 Oct : 9,324 1,675 15,615 Nov : 9,333 1,630 15,212 Dec : 9,334 1,703 15,900 : Annual : 9,315 20,396 189,992 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2009 revised. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, March 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 1/ : Milk Per Cow 2/ : Milk Production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : From : : : : : : : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 186 190 2,190 2,090 407 397 -2.5 CA : 1,842 1,822 1,975 1,920 3,638 3,498 -3.8 CO : 126 128 1,945 1,980 245 253 3.3 FL : 120 116 1,655 1,680 199 195 -2.0 ID : 540 549 1,885 1,810 1,018 994 -2.4 IL : 102 102 1,640 1,675 167 171 2.4 IN : 166 167 1,700 1,750 282 292 3.5 IA : 216 215 1,730 1,730 374 372 -0.5 KS : 115 122 1,790 1,820 206 222 7.8 MI : 345 354 1,870 1,890 645 669 3.7 MN : 463 468 1,630 1,645 755 770 2.0 MO : 110 108 1,300 1,320 143 143 NM : 340 333 1,990 2,110 677 703 3.8 NY : 626 623 1,690 1,670 1,058 1,040 -1.7 OH : 280 277 1,560 1,590 437 440 0.7 OR : 114 114 1,700 1,695 194 193 -0.5 PA : 549 550 1,680 1,670 922 919 -0.3 TX : 408 430 1,800 1,850 734 796 8.4 UT : 85 85 1,720 1,720 146 146 VT : 140 137 1,590 1,555 223 213 -4.5 VA : 98 97 1,590 1,590 156 154 -1.3 WA : 245 239 1,990 1,960 488 468 -4.1 WI : 1,251 1,256 1,660 1,685 2,077 2,116 1.9 : 23-State : Total : 8,467 8,482 1,794 1,788 15,191 15,164 -0.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, February 2008-2009 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : From : : : : : : : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 185 189 1,960 1,870 363 353 -2.8 CA : 1,840 1,825 1,810 1,720 3,330 3,139 -5.7 CO : 126 128 1,800 1,780 227 228 0.4 FL : 120 117 1,530 1,540 184 180 -2.2 ID : 537 549 1,750 1,640 940 900 -4.3 IL : 102 102 1,515 1,510 155 154 -0.6 IN : 167 167 1,600 1,560 267 261 -2.2 IA : 216 215 1,600 1,550 346 333 -3.8 KS : 115 124 1,645 1,655 189 205 8.5 MI : 344 354 1,760 1,695 605 600 -0.8 MN : 463 468 1,520 1,475 704 690 -2.0 MO : 110 107 1,170 1,150 129 123 -4.7 NM : 340 333 1,785 1,880 607 626 3.1 NY : 626 623 1,590 1,540 995 959 -3.6 OH : 280 277 1,445 1,445 405 400 -1.2 OR : 114 114 1,580 1,520 180 173 -3.9 PA : 551 551 1,540 1,490 849 821 -3.3 TX : 404 430 1,635 1,650 661 710 7.4 UT : 85 85 1,590 1,570 135 133 -1.5 VT : 140 136 1,500 1,415 210 192 -8.6 VA : 98 97 1,470 1,425 144 138 -4.2 WA : 244 240 1,850 1,750 451 420 -6.9 WI : 1,250 1,255 1,545 1,505 1,931 1,889 -2.2 : 23-State : Total : 8,457 8,486 1,656 1,606 14,007 13,627 -2.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2009 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, 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 : 185 188 1,035 1,063 2.7 AR : 17.0 14.0 50 43 -14.0 CA : 1,830 1,843 10,186 10,139 -0.5 CO : 123 130 699 738 5.6 CT : 19.0 19.0 88 88 DE : 6.5 6.5 27.0 26.0 -3.7 FL : 120 119 458 482 5.2 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 : 113 121 561 624 11.2 KY : 88 87 297 291 -2.0 LA : 27 25 76 68 -10.5 ME : 33 33 147 148 0.7 MD : 57 56 255 249 -2.4 MA : 14.5 14.5 62 61 -1.6 MI : 343 353 1,912 1,934 1.2 MN : 463 467 2,135 2,187 2.4 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 27 141 147 4.3 NH : 15.0 15.0 72 72 NJ : 10.0 10.0 41 38 -7.3 NM : 331 334 1,840 1,938 5.3 NY : 626 625 3,020 3,024 0.1 NC : 48 46 221 213 -3.6 ND : 27 25 106 100 -5.7 OH : 275 277 1,222 1,241 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 4.9 8.9 SC : 18.0 17.0 75 71 -5.3 SD : 86 93 413 466 12.8 TN : 61 59 233 225 -3.4 TX : 397 429 1,877 2,121 13.0 UT : 85 85 435 443 1.8 VT : 140 139 632 621 -1.7 VA : 100 97 429 421 -1.9 WA : 243 245 1,387 1,385 -0.1 WV : 12.0 12.0 45 44 -2.2 WI : 1,249 1,254 5,934 6,051 2.0 WY : 7.0 7.0 34.7 33.5 -3.5 : US 3/ : 9,236 9,330 46,042 46,727 1.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jan-Mar Milk Cows 1/ : Jan-Mar Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 12.0 12.0 53 52 -1.9 AK : 0.6 0.6 2.1 1.5 -28.6 AZ : 185 189 1,144 1,124 -1.7 AR : 16.5 13.5 54 45 -16.7 CA : 1,840 1,826 10,460 10,087 -3.6 CO : 126 128 709 731 3.1 CT : 19.0 19.0 93 91 -2.2 DE : 6.5 6.5 30.0 28.0 -6.7 FL : 120 117 569 571 0.4 GA : 77 76 361 376 4.2 HI : 2.0 1.5 4.7 5.3 12.8 ID : 537 551 2,957 2,897 -2.0 IL : 102 102 488 489 0.2 IN : 167 167 835 836 0.1 IA : 216 215 1,083 1,071 -1.1 KS : 115 124 593 652 9.9 KY : 91 86 323 313 -3.1 LA : 27 24 95 84 -11.6 ME : 33 33 147 146 -0.7 MD : 57 56 271 260 -4.1 MA : 15.0 14.0 64 59 -7.8 MI : 344 354 1,907 1,933 1.4 MN : 463 468 2,204 2,221 0.8 MS : 21 19 86 74 -14.0 MO : 110 108 407 403 -1.0 MT : 17.0 15.0 76 75 -1.3 NE : 57 60 265 284 7.2 NV : 27 27 138 146 5.8 NH : 15.0 15.0 76 73 -3.9 NJ : 10.0 10.0 44 43 -2.3 NM : 339 333 1,922 2,002 4.2 NY : 626 623 3,092 3,041 -1.6 NC : 48 46 239 230 -3.8 ND : 26 25 107 98 -8.4 OH : 279 277 1,270 1,272 0.2 OK : 66 62 277 265 -4.3 OR : 114 114 566 556 -1.8 PA : 551 550 2,671 2,637 -1.3 RI : 1.1 1.1 4.8 4.8 SC : 18.0 17.0 90 84 -6.7 SD : 87 94 426 460 8.0 TN : 61 58 256 244 -4.7 TX : 405 430 2,072 2,271 9.6 UT : 85 85 425 425 VT : 140 137 655 616 -6.0 VA : 98 97 451 442 -2.0 WA : 244 240 1,416 1,352 -4.5 WV : 12.0 11.0 46 41 -10.9 WI : 1,250 1,255 6,052 6,069 0.3 WY : 7.0 5.0 33.6 23.3 -30.7 : US 3/ : 9,286 9,297 47,610 47,304 -0.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.3 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 9.30 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.6 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 0.3 145 63 3 192 4 16 : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : All Milk : Cows : 0.3 0.6 52 25 1 53 1 19 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sherry Bertramsen - 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. For free access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. 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