Da 1-1 (1-10) Milk Production Washington, D.C. Released January 19, 2010, 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 down 0.8 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 14.6 billion pounds, down 0.8 percent from December 2008. November revised production at 14.0 billion pounds, was down 0.8 percent from November 2008. The November revision represented an increase of 24 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,758 pounds for December, 29 pounds above December 2008. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.31 million head, 206,000 head less than December 2008, and unchanged from November 2009. October - December Milk Production down 1.0 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the October - December quarter totaled 46.2 billion pounds, down 1.0 percent from the October - December quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.09 million head, 243,000 head less 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 9,295 5,127 5,096 47,610 47,363 -0.5 Apr-Jun : 9,315 9,260 5,236 5,278 48,774 48,874 0.2 Jul-Sep : 9,330 9,159 5,025 5,108 46,881 46,782 -0.2 Oct-Dec : 9,330 9,087 5,008 5,089 46,727 46,240 -1.0 : Annual : 9,315 9,200 20,396 20,572 189,992 189,259 -0.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 8,481 1,794 1,794 15,191 15,211 0.1 Apr : 8,482 8,481 1,757 1,759 14,901 14,916 0.1 May : 8,496 8,473 1,819 1,833 15,451 15,529 0.5 Jun : 8,500 8,434 1,736 1,752 14,760 14,775 0.1 Jul : 8,515 8,400 1,744 1,767 14,848 14,845 Aug : 8,515 8,374 1,718 1,746 14,626 14,617 -0.1 Sep : 8,510 8,338 1,650 1,675 14,041 13,965 -0.5 Oct : 8,512 8,316 1,700 1,720 14,469 14,301 -1.2 Nov : 8,519 8,313 1,654 1,682 14,089 13,979 -0.8 Dec : 8,519 8,313 1,729 1,758 14,728 14,614 -0.8 : Annual : 8,495 8,409 20,704 20,845 175,861 175,286 -0.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 9,312 1,722 1,733 15,976 16,138 1.0 Feb : 9,287 9,289 1,634 1,589 15,176 14,756 -2.8 Mar : 9,295 9,283 1,771 1,774 16,458 16,469 0.1 Apr : 9,307 9,282 1,733 1,738 16,125 16,135 0.1 May : 9,318 9,270 1,793 1,811 16,707 16,785 0.5 Jun : 9,321 9,228 1,710 1,729 15,942 15,954 0.1 Jul : 9,335 9,191 1,713 1,740 15,995 15,991 Aug : 9,331 9,162 1,689 1,719 15,757 15,746 -0.1 Sep : 9,323 9,123 1,623 1,649 15,129 15,045 -0.6 Oct : 9,324 9,094 1,675 1,695 15,615 15,414 -1.3 Nov : 9,333 9,085 1,630 1,659 15,212 15,070 -0.9 Dec : 9,334 9,082 1,703 1,735 15,900 15,756 -0.9 : Annual : 9,315 9,200 20,396 20,572 189,992 189,259 -0.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2009 revised. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, December 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 : 190 168 1,980 1,995 376 335 -10.9 CA : 1,840 1,764 1,870 1,860 3,441 3,281 -4.6 CO : 130 116 1,940 1,930 252 224 -11.1 FL : 118 112 1,520 1,565 179 175 -2.2 ID : 554 550 1,820 1,840 1,008 1,012 0.4 IL : 102 101 1,580 1,600 161 162 0.6 IN : 167 169 1,650 1,660 276 281 1.8 IA : 215 215 1,690 1,750 363 376 3.6 KS : 124 115 1,740 1,785 216 205 -5.1 MI : 354 354 1,850 1,895 655 671 2.4 MN : 467 469 1,605 1,650 750 774 3.2 MO : 109 103 1,270 1,230 138 127 -8.0 NM : 335 318 1,975 2,015 662 641 -3.2 NY : 625 610 1,640 1,675 1,025 1,022 -0.3 OH : 276 272 1,510 1,550 417 422 1.2 OR : 115 114 1,590 1,625 183 185 1.1 PA : 548 538 1,580 1,620 866 872 0.7 TX : 430 411 1,715 1,795 737 738 0.1 UT : 85 83 1,765 1,765 150 146 -2.7 VT : 139 134 1,525 1,545 212 207 -2.4 VA : 97 95 1,495 1,525 145 145 WA : 244 243 1,900 1,945 464 473 1.9 WI : 1,255 1,259 1,635 1,700 2,052 2,140 4.3 : 23-State : Total : 8,519 8,313 1,729 1,758 14,728 14,614 -0.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, November 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 : 188 168 1,840 1,840 346 309 -10.7 CA : 1,845 1,765 1,795 1,775 3,312 3,133 -5.4 CO : 130 116 1,845 1,880 240 218 -9.2 FL : 119 113 1,320 1,360 157 154 -1.9 ID : 554 548 1,770 1,790 981 981 IL : 102 101 1,470 1,510 150 153 2.0 IN : 167 169 1,580 1,620 264 274 3.8 IA : 215 215 1,630 1,670 350 359 2.6 KS : 121 113 1,695 1,725 205 195 -4.9 MI : 353 354 1,780 1,810 628 641 2.1 MN : 467 469 1,525 1,545 712 725 1.8 MO : 110 105 1,175 1,170 129 123 -4.7 NM : 334 317 1,900 1,970 635 624 -1.7 NY : 624 611 1,580 1,595 986 975 -1.1 OH : 277 274 1,460 1,510 404 414 2.5 OR : 115 114 1,555 1,560 179 178 -0.6 PA : 548 537 1,510 1,560 827 838 1.3 TX : 430 413 1,600 1,710 688 706 2.6 UT : 85 83 1,685 1,740 143 144 0.7 VT : 139 134 1,455 1,470 202 197 -2.5 VA : 97 95 1,410 1,455 137 138 0.7 WA : 245 241 1,840 1,865 451 449 -0.4 WI : 1,254 1,258 1,565 1,630 1,963 2,051 4.5 : 23-State : Total : 8,519 8,313 1,654 1,682 14,089 13,979 -0.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 July-September, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jul-Sep Milk Cows 1/ : Jul-Sep Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 12.0 11.0 38 35 -7.9 AK : 0.6 0.6 1.7 1.5 -11.8 AZ : 185 170 977 896 -8.3 AR : 14.5 13.0 44 38 -13.6 CA : 1,846 1,781 10,089 9,563 -5.2 CO : 130 122 744 716 -3.8 CT : 19.0 18.0 88 86 -2.3 DE : 6.5 5.5 25.0 23.0 -8.0 FL : 120 114 453 453 GA : 75 77 305 319 4.6 HI : 1.6 1.5 4.4 5.2 18.2 ID : 555 548 3,219 3,135 -2.6 IL : 102 102 448 468 4.5 IN : 166 168 797 836 4.9 IA : 215 215 1,064 1,090 2.4 KS : 117 116 597 598 0.2 KY : 88 83 272 280 2.9 LA : 26 22 66 56 -15.2 ME : 33 33 154 152 -1.3 MD : 56 55 242 238 -1.7 MA : 14.5 13.0 63 57 -9.5 MI : 352 357 1,954 2,038 4.3 MN : 465 469 2,163 2,268 4.9 MS : 20.0 17.5 62 51 -17.7 MO : 111 106 376 371 -1.3 MT : 17.0 15.0 80 75 -6.3 NE : 59 61 272 306 12.5 NV : 27 27 140 147 5.0 NH : 15.0 15.0 74 73 -1.4 NJ : 10.0 9.0 39 38 -2.6 NM : 338 320 1,956 1,928 -1.4 NY : 626 619 3,111 3,117 0.2 NC : 46 45 207 207 ND : 26 22 104 95 -8.7 OH : 280 278 1,267 1,307 3.2 OK : 63 58 261 238 -8.8 OR : 115 114 564 563 -0.2 PA : 547 544 2,599 2,617 0.7 RI : 1.1 1.1 5.0 4.8 -4.0 SC : 18.0 17.5 70 73 4.3 SD : 91 95 458 481 5.0 TN : 58 55 212 210 -0.9 TX : 424 420 2,050 2,116 3.2 UT : 85 83 458 451 -1.5 VT : 140 135 641 616 -3.9 VA : 97 96 407 419 2.9 WA : 245 238 1,444 1,411 -2.3 WV : 12.0 11.0 45 41 -8.9 WI : 1,252 1,257 6,137 6,450 5.1 WY : 7.0 5.0 34.1 24.2 -29.0 : US 3/ : 9,330 9,159 46,881 46,782 -0.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Oct-Dec Milk Cows 1/ : Oct-Dec Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 12.0 11.0 42 36 -14.3 AK : 0.6 0.6 1.6 1.5 -6.3 AZ : 188 167 1,063 949 -10.7 AR : 14.0 13.0 43 37 -14.0 CA : 1,843 1,765 10,139 9,621 -5.1 CO : 130 116 738 666 -9.8 CT : 19.0 18.0 88 86 -2.3 DE : 6.5 6.0 26.0 24.0 -7.7 FL : 119 113 482 468 -2.9 GA : 75 76 325 321 -1.2 HI : 1.6 1.6 4.8 5.3 10.4 ID : 554 548 3,025 3,014 -0.4 IL : 102 101 463 472 1.9 IN : 167 169 810 837 3.3 IA : 215 215 1,076 1,098 2.0 KS : 121 113 624 596 -4.5 KY : 87 81 291 279 -4.1 LA : 25 21 68 58 -14.7 ME : 33 33 148 146 -1.4 MD : 56 54 249 244 -2.0 MA : 14.5 13.0 61 56 -8.2 MI : 353 354 1,934 1,972 2.0 MN : 467 469 2,187 2,240 2.4 MS : 19.0 17.0 63 55 -12.7 MO : 110 104 397 373 -6.0 MT : 16.0 15.0 77 73 -5.2 NE : 59 60 278 305 9.7 NV : 27 28 147 152 3.4 NH : 15.0 15.0 72 71 -1.4 NJ : 10.0 8.5 38 35 -7.9 NM : 334 317 1,938 1,905 -1.7 NY : 625 612 3,024 2,998 -0.9 NC : 46 44 213 208 -2.3 ND : 25 21 100 92 -8.0 OH : 277 274 1,241 1,261 1.6 OK : 63 57 261 239 -8.4 OR : 115 114 548 547 -0.2 PA : 548 538 2,555 2,572 0.7 RI : 1.1 1.1 4.9 4.7 -4.1 SC : 17.0 17.5 71 74 4.2 SD : 93 93 466 468 0.4 TN : 59 54 225 208 -7.6 TX : 429 412 2,121 2,154 1.6 UT : 85 83 443 438 -1.1 VT : 139 134 621 604 -2.7 VA : 97 95 421 423 0.5 WA : 245 241 1,385 1,388 0.2 WV : 12.0 10.0 44 38 -13.6 WI : 1,254 1,258 6,051 6,298 4.1 WY : 7.0 6.0 33.5 29.3 -12.5 : US 3/ : 9,330 9,087 46,727 46,240 -1.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 9.09 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 0.3 130 59 3 192 4 16 : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : All Milk : Cows : 0.3 0.6 50 24 0 53 2 17 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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