Da 1-1 (4-10) Milk Production Washington, D.C. Released April 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. March Milk Production up 0.9 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 15.4 billion pounds, up 0.9 percent from March 2009. February revised production at 13.7 billion pounds, was up 0.3 percent from February 2009. The February revision represented an increase of 17 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,846 pounds for March, 51 pounds above March 2009. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.32 million head, 162,000 head less than March 2009, but 1,000 head more than February 2010. January - March Milk Production down 0.1 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the January - March quarter totaled 47.3 billion pounds, down 0.1 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, 206,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production: By Quarter, United States, 2009-2010 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : From : : : : : : : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan-Mar : 9,295 9,089 5,097 5,208 47,374 47,331 -0.1 Apr-Jun : 9,262 5,278 48,888 Jul-Sep : 9,155 5,111 46,793 Oct-Dec : 9,090 5,090 46,265 : Annual : 9,201 20,576 189,320 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2009-2010 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : : : : : : : Change : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : from : : : : : : : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 8,506 8,315 1,752 1,784 14,902 14,831 -0.5 Feb : 8,486 8,319 1,605 1,642 13,624 13,660 0.3 Mar : 8,482 8,320 1,795 1,846 15,222 15,355 0.9 Apr : 8,480 1,760 14,922 May : 8,475 1,834 15,541 Jun : 8,434 1,749 14,754 Jul : 8,397 1,771 14,867 Aug : 8,372 1,745 14,606 Sep : 8,335 1,675 13,957 Oct : 8,316 1,720 14,306 Nov : 8,314 1,681 13,979 Dec : 8,311 1,761 14,632 : Annual : 8,409 20,848 175,312 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2010 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, 2009-2010 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk Per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : From : : : : : : : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds ---- Million Pounds Percent : Jan : 9,312 9,086 1,733 1,762 16,135 16,010 -0.8 Feb : 9,289 9,090 1,588 1,622 14,754 14,745 -0.1 Mar : 9,283 9,090 1,776 1,824 16,485 16,576 0.6 Apr : 9,282 1,740 16,148 May : 9,274 1,812 16,805 Jun : 9,230 1,726 15,935 Jul : 9,187 1,744 16,018 Aug : 9,159 1,718 15,737 Sep : 9,120 1,649 15,038 Oct : 9,096 1,695 15,420 Nov : 9,091 1,658 15,070 Dec : 9,082 1,737 15,775 : Annual : 9,201 20,576 189,320 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2010 revised. 2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 3/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, March 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 1/ : Milk Per Cow 2/ : Milk Production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : From : : : : : : : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 189 170 2,110 2,180 399 371 -7.0 CA : 1,821 1,758 1,925 1,980 3,505 3,481 -0.7 CO : 128 116 1,980 2,000 253 232 -8.3 FL : 117 113 1,760 1,700 206 192 -6.8 ID : 550 554 1,840 1,880 1,012 1,042 3.0 IL : 102 101 1,675 1,715 171 173 1.2 IN : 167 169 1,750 1,765 292 298 2.1 IA : 215 210 1,730 1,775 372 373 0.3 KS : 122 116 1,835 1,835 224 213 -4.9 MI : 355 356 1,895 1,975 673 703 4.5 MN : 468 470 1,640 1,695 768 797 3.8 MO : 108 101 1,320 1,295 143 131 -8.4 NM : 333 321 2,110 2,105 703 676 -3.8 NY : 623 610 1,700 1,740 1,059 1,061 0.2 OH : 277 268 1,610 1,680 446 450 0.9 OR : 114 115 1,710 1,740 195 200 2.6 PA : 550 540 1,670 1,730 919 934 1.6 TX : 430 410 1,850 1,890 796 775 -2.6 UT : 85 83 1,740 1,780 148 148 VT : 136 135 1,565 1,605 213 217 1.9 VA : 97 95 1,600 1,560 155 148 -4.5 WA : 239 249 1,950 2,020 466 503 7.9 WI : 1,256 1,260 1,675 1,775 2,104 2,237 6.3 : 23-State : Total : 8,482 8,320 1,795 1,846 15,222 15,355 0.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State, February 2009-2010 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk Cows 2/ : Milk per Cow 3/ : Milk Production 3/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : From : : : : : : : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head ---- Pounds --- Million Pounds Percent : AZ : 189 170 1,865 1,930 352 328 -6.8 CA : 1,825 1,760 1,720 1,755 3,139 3,089 -1.6 CO : 128 116 1,780 1,800 228 209 -8.3 FL : 117 113 1,540 1,595 180 180 ID : 549 554 1,640 1,690 900 936 4.0 IL : 102 101 1,510 1,530 154 155 0.6 IN : 167 169 1,560 1,560 261 264 1.1 IA : 215 213 1,550 1,575 333 335 0.6 KS : 124 116 1,655 1,645 205 191 -6.8 MI : 354 355 1,700 1,755 602 623 3.5 MN : 468 470 1,475 1,510 690 710 2.9 MO : 107 101 1,150 1,100 123 111 -9.8 NM : 333 318 1,880 1,870 626 595 -5.0 NY : 623 610 1,540 1,560 959 952 -0.7 OH : 277 270 1,430 1,490 396 402 1.5 OR : 114 114 1,520 1,570 173 179 3.5 PA : 551 541 1,490 1,520 821 822 0.1 TX : 430 410 1,650 1,640 710 672 -5.4 UT : 85 83 1,570 1,625 133 135 1.5 VT : 136 134 1,415 1,440 192 193 0.5 VA : 97 95 1,425 1,400 138 133 -3.6 WA : 240 246 1,750 1,825 420 449 6.9 WI : 1,255 1,260 1,505 1,585 1,889 1,997 5.7 : 23-State : Total : 8,486 8,319 1,605 1,642 13,624 13,660 0.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 2010 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, 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 41 37 -9.8 CA : 1,843 1,765 10,139 9,626 -5.1 CO : 130 116 738 659 -10.7 CT : 19.0 18.5 88 86 -2.3 DE : 6.5 6.0 26.0 24.0 -7.7 FL : 119 113 482 465 -3.5 GA : 75 76 325 321 -1.2 HI : 1.6 1.6 4.8 5.3 10.4 ID : 554 548 3,025 3,020 -0.2 IL : 102 101 463 472 1.9 IN : 167 169 815 837 2.7 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 14.0 61 59 -3.3 MI : 353 354 1,934 1,975 2.1 MN : 467 469 2,187 2,232 2.1 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 60 278 301 8.3 NV : 27 28 147 152 3.4 NH : 15.0 15.0 72 71 -1.4 NJ : 9.5 8.5 40 36 -10.0 NM : 334 317 1,938 1,905 -1.7 NY : 625 612 3,024 3,010 -0.5 NC : 46 44 213 208 -2.3 ND : 25 21 100 93 -7.0 OH : 277 274 1,241 1,269 2.3 OK : 63 57 261 239 -8.4 OR : 115 114 548 547 -0.2 PA : 548 539 2,555 2,574 0.7 RI : 1.1 1.1 4.9 4.6 -6.1 SC : 18.0 17.5 74 74 SD : 93 93 466 468 0.4 TN : 59 54 225 209 -7.1 TX : 429 412 2,121 2,154 1.6 UT : 85 83 443 439 -0.9 VT : 139 134 621 603 -2.9 VA : 97 95 421 423 0.5 WA : 245 241 1,385 1,386 0.1 WV : 12.0 10.0 44 38 -13.6 WI : 1,254 1,258 6,051 6,305 4.2 WY : 7.0 6.0 33.5 29.3 -12.5 : US 3/ : 9,331 9,090 46,735 46,265 -1.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jan-Mar Milk Cows 1/ : Jan-Mar Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------: From : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ----- ---- Million Pounds --- Percent : AL : 11.0 11.0 48 44 -8.3 AK : 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.5 AZ : 189 170 1,126 1,046 -7.1 AR : 13.5 13.0 43 41 -4.7 CA : 1,826 1,759 10,097 9,940 -1.6 CO : 128 116 731 665 -9.0 CT : 18.5 18.5 91 92 1.1 DE : 6.5 5.5 28.0 23.0 -17.9 FL : 117 113 582 553 -5.0 GA : 74 78 378 365 -3.4 HI : 1.5 1.9 5.3 6.3 18.9 ID : 551 553 2,915 3,003 3.0 IL : 102 101 489 491 0.4 IN : 167 169 836 846 1.2 IA : 215 212 1,071 1,079 0.7 KS : 124 116 654 611 -6.6 KY : 86 79 313 296 -5.4 LA : 24 20 83 67 -19.3 ME : 33 32 146 144 -1.4 MD : 56 53 260 248 -4.6 MA : 14.5 14.5 62 64 3.2 MI : 354 355 1,935 2,002 3.5 MN : 468 470 2,216 2,280 2.9 MS : 19.0 17.0 74 63 -14.9 MO : 108 101 403 366 -9.2 MT : 15.0 15.0 75 73 -2.7 NE : 61 59 294 295 0.3 NV : 28 28 152 151 -0.7 NH : 15.0 15.0 73 75 2.7 NJ : 9.5 8.5 43 37 -14.0 NM : 333 319 2,002 1,912 -4.5 NY : 623 610 3,060 3,050 -0.3 NC : 46 43 234 216 -7.7 ND : 25 21 98 94 -4.1 OH : 277 270 1,271 1,287 1.3 OK : 62 57 265 249 -6.0 OR : 114 114 558 571 2.3 PA : 550 541 2,637 2,638 RI : 1.1 1.1 5.0 4.9 -2.0 SC : 17.0 17.0 86 80 -7.0 SD : 94 93 460 466 1.3 TN : 58 53 244 222 -9.0 TX : 430 410 2,271 2,187 -3.7 UT : 85 83 427 430 0.7 VT : 136 134 617 622 0.8 VA : 97 95 443 427 -3.6 WA : 240 247 1,350 1,439 6.6 WV : 11.0 10.0 41 39 -4.9 WI : 1,255 1,260 6,057 6,401 5.7 WY : 5.0 6.0 23.3 28.6 22.7 : US 3/ : 9,295 9,089 47,374 47,331 -0.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.3 124 55 3 192 4 16 : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : All Milk : Cows : 0.3 0.6 50 24 0 52 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 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. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 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