Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released July 19, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). June Milk Production up 2.7 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during June totaled 15.2 billion pounds, up 2.7 percent from June 2009. May revised production at 15.8 billion pounds, was up 1.5 percent from May 2009. The May revision represented an increase of 40 million pounds or 0.3 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,816 pounds for June, 67 pounds above June 2009. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.35 million head, 87,000 head less than June 2009, but 10,000 head more than May 2010. April - June Milk Production up 1.7 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the April - June quarter totaled 49.7 billion pounds, up 1.7 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.11 million head, 151,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2009-2010 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : from : : : : : : : 2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -- 1,000 head -- ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,295 9,091 5,097 5,209 47,374 47,352 April-June ......: 9,262 9,111 5,278 5,458 48,888 49,724 1.7 July-September ..: 9,155 5,111 46,793 October-December : 9,090 5,090 46,265 : Annual ..........: 9,201 20,576 189,320 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production by Month - 23 Selected States: 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : : : : : : : Change : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : from : : : : : : : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January ..: 8,506 8,315 1,752 1,784 14,902 14,831 -0.5 February .: 8,486 8,319 1,605 1,642 13,624 13,660 0.3 March ....: 8,482 8,322 1,795 1,846 15,222 15,364 0.9 April ....: 8,480 8,328 1,760 1,824 14,922 15,192 1.8 May ......: 8,475 8,337 1,834 1,893 15,541 15,781 1.5 June .....: 8,434 8,347 1,749 1,816 14,754 15,154 2.7 July .....: 8,397 1,771 14,867 August ...: 8,372 1,745 14,606 September : 8,335 1,675 13,957 October ..: 8,316 1,720 14,306 November .: 8,314 1,681 13,979 December .: 8,311 1,761 14,632 : Annual ...: 8,409 20,848 175,312 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : from : : : : : : : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January ..: 9,312 9,087 1,733 1,763 16,135 16,016 -0.7 February .: 9,289 9,091 1,588 1,622 14,754 14,749 March ....: 9,283 9,094 1,776 1,824 16,485 16,587 0.6 April ....: 9,282 9,101 1,740 1,801 16,148 16,389 1.5 May ......: 9,274 9,111 1,812 1,867 16,805 17,011 1.2 June .....: 9,230 9,122 1,726 1,790 15,935 16,324 2.4 July .....: 9,187 1,744 16,018 August ...: 9,159 1,718 15,737 September : 9,120 1,649 15,038 October ..: 9,096 1,695 15,420 November .: 9,091 1,658 15,070 December .: 9,082 1,737 15,775 : Annual ...: 9,201 20,576 189,320 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: June 2009 and 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 : Arizona .......: 176 174 1,940 2,045 341 356 4.4 California ....: 1,804 1,751 1,820 1,940 3,283 3,397 3.5 Colorado ......: 126 117 1,940 2,025 244 237 -2.9 Florida .......: 116 115 1,535 1,565 178 180 1.1 Idaho .........: 549 559 1,880 1,910 1,032 1,068 3.5 Illinois ......: 102 101 1,570 1,615 160 163 1.9 Indiana .......: 168 170 1,685 1,735 283 295 4.2 Iowa ..........: 215 212 1,710 1,760 368 373 1.4 Kansas ........: 118 118 1,735 1,755 205 207 1.0 Michigan ......: 357 359 1,890 1,970 675 707 4.7 : Minnesota .....: 469 470 1,630 1,660 764 780 2.1 Missouri ......: 109 100 1,195 1,230 130 123 -5.4 New Mexico ....: 327 325 2,050 2,080 670 676 0.9 New York ......: 623 610 1,700 1,740 1,059 1,061 0.2 Ohio ..........: 278 270 1,590 1,690 442 456 3.2 Oregon ........: 114 116 1,675 1,715 191 199 4.2 Pennsylvania ..: 545 541 1,630 1,660 888 898 1.1 Texas .........: 428 410 1,710 1,775 732 728 -0.5 Utah ..........: 83 85 1,785 1,810 148 154 4.1 Vermont .......: 135 137 1,550 1,555 209 213 1.9 : Virginia ......: 96 95 1,500 1,515 144 144 Washington ....: 239 250 1,970 1,970 471 493 4.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,257 1,262 1,700 1,780 2,137 2,246 5.1 : 23-State Total : 8,434 8,347 1,749 1,816 14,754 15,154 2.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: May 2009 and 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 : Arizona .......: 184 172 2,055 2,170 378 373 -1.3 California ....: 1,815 1,750 1,935 2,025 3,512 3,544 0.9 Colorado ......: 128 117 2,000 2,050 256 240 -6.3 Florida .......: 117 115 1,700 1,700 199 196 -1.5 Idaho .........: 553 559 1,910 1,940 1,056 1,084 2.7 Illinois ......: 102 101 1,670 1,720 170 174 2.4 Indiana .......: 168 169 1,785 1,815 300 307 2.3 Iowa ..........: 215 212 1,785 1,820 384 386 0.5 Kansas ........: 121 116 1,835 1,860 222 216 -2.7 Michigan ......: 357 358 1,955 2,035 698 729 4.4 : Minnesota .....: 469 470 1,680 1,725 788 811 2.9 Missouri ......: 110 101 1,330 1,340 146 135 -7.5 New Mexico ....: 332 324 2,145 2,160 712 700 -1.7 New York ......: 623 610 1,820 1,850 1,134 1,129 -0.4 Ohio ..........: 278 269 1,670 1,750 464 471 1.5 Oregon ........: 114 115 1,735 1,770 198 204 3.0 Pennsylvania ..: 547 541 1,710 1,750 935 947 1.3 Texas .........: 430 410 1,835 1,880 789 771 -2.3 Utah ..........: 84 85 1,805 1,850 152 157 3.3 Vermont .......: 136 137 1,595 1,625 217 223 2.8 : Virginia ......: 96 95 1,615 1,640 155 156 0.6 Washington ....: 240 250 2,015 2,030 484 508 5.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,256 1,261 1,745 1,840 2,192 2,320 5.8 : 23-State Total : 8,475 8,337 1,834 1,893 15,541 15,781 1.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State and United States, Revised January-March, 2009-2010 [May not add due to rounding] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : January-March Milk Cows 1/ : January-March Milk Production 2/ : Change State :---------------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------- 1,000 head ------- ------ million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 11.0 11.0 48 44 -8.3 Alaska .............: 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.5 Arizona ............: 189 170 1,126 1,046 -7.1 Arkansas ...........: 13.5 13.0 43 41 -4.7 California .........: 1,826 1,759 10,097 9,938 -1.6 Colorado ...........: 128 116 731 665 -9.0 Connecticut ........: 18.5 18.5 91 92 1.1 Delaware ...........: 6.5 5.5 28.0 23.0 -17.9 Florida ............: 117 113 582 567 -2.6 Georgia ............: 74 79 378 371 -1.9 : Hawaii .............: 1.5 1.9 5.3 6.1 15.1 Idaho ..............: 551 553 2,915 3,003 3.0 Illinois ...........: 102 101 489 491 0.4 Indiana ............: 167 169 836 846 1.2 Iowa ...............: 215 212 1,071 1,079 0.7 Kansas .............: 124 116 654 609 -6.9 Kentucky ...........: 86 79 313 296 -5.4 Louisiana ..........: 24 20 83 67 -19.3 Maine ..............: 33 32 146 144 -1.4 Maryland ...........: 56 54 260 257 -1.2 : Massachusetts ......: 14.5 14.5 62 64 3.2 Michigan ...........: 354 355 1,935 2,002 3.5 Minnesota ..........: 468 470 2,216 2,270 2.4 Mississippi ........: 19.0 17.0 74 63 -14.9 Missouri ...........: 108 101 403 366 -9.2 Montana ............: 15.0 14.0 75 73 -2.7 Nebraska ...........: 61 59 294 290 -1.4 Nevada .............: 28 28 152 151 -0.7 New Hampshire ......: 15.0 15.0 73 75 2.7 New Jersey .........: 9.5 8.5 43 37 -14.0 : New Mexico .........: 333 319 2,002 1,912 -4.5 New York ...........: 623 610 3,060 3,060 North Carolina .....: 46 43 234 216 -7.7 North Dakota .......: 25 21 98 94 -4.1 Ohio ...............: 277 270 1,271 1,287 1.3 Oklahoma ...........: 62 57 265 249 -6.0 Oregon .............: 114 114 558 572 2.5 Pennsylvania .......: 550 541 2,637 2,640 0.1 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 1.1 5.0 4.9 -2.0 South Carolina .....: 17.0 17.0 86 82 -4.7 : South Dakota .......: 94 93 460 466 1.3 Tennessee ..........: 58 53 244 222 -9.0 Texas ..............: 430 410 2,271 2,187 -3.7 Utah ...............: 85 83 427 432 1.2 Vermont ............: 136 135 617 622 0.8 Virginia ...........: 97 95 443 428 -3.4 Washington .........: 240 247 1,350 1,439 6.6 West Virginia ......: 11.0 10.0 41 39 -4.9 Wisconsin ..........: 1,255 1,260 6,057 6,394 5.6 Wyoming ............: 5.0 6.0 23.3 28.6 22.7 : United States ......: 9,295 9,091 47,374 47,352 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By State and United States, Preliminary April-June, 2009-2010 [May not add due to rounding] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April-June Milk Cows 1/ : April-June Milk Production 2/ : Change State :---------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 head ----- ---- million pounds ---- percent : Alabama .........: 11.0 11.0 45 43 -4.4 Alaska ..........: 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.9 26.7 Arizona .........: 183 172 1,105 1,096 -0.8 Arkansas ........: 13.0 13.0 46 43 -6.5 California ......: 1,813 1,751 10,228 10,373 1.4 Colorado ........: 127 117 746 708 -5.1 Connecticut .....: 18.5 19.0 92 96 4.3 Delaware ........: 6.0 5.5 27.0 24.0 -11.1 Florida .........: 117 115 577 577 Georgia .........: 75 80 378 382 1.1 : Hawaii ..........: 1.5 1.9 5.5 6.3 14.5 Idaho ...........: 551 558 3,080 3,182 3.3 Illinois ........: 102 101 496 506 2.0 Indiana .........: 168 169 869 897 3.2 Iowa ............: 215 212 1,120 1,130 0.9 Kansas ..........: 120 117 640 632 -1.3 Kentucky ........: 84 79 320 315 -1.6 Louisiana .......: 23 20 76 66 -13.2 Maine ...........: 33 32 152 150 -1.3 Maryland ........: 56 54 262 259 -1.1 : Massachusetts ...: 14.5 14.5 64 65 1.6 Michigan ........: 357 358 2,037 2,134 4.8 Minnesota .......: 469 470 2,303 2,367 2.8 Mississippi .....: 18.5 17.0 70 63 -10.0 Missouri ........: 110 101 421 392 -6.9 Montana .........: 15.0 14.0 76 75 -1.3 Nebraska ........: 62 58 306 300 -2.0 Nevada ..........: 28 28 154 154 New Hampshire ...: 15.0 15.5 76 78 2.6 New Jersey ......: 9.0 8.0 42 36 -14.3 : New Mexico ......: 330 324 2,069 2,051 -0.9 New York ........: 623 610 3,233 3,261 0.9 North Carolina ..: 46 44 235 224 -4.7 North Dakota ....: 23 21 98 97 -1.0 Ohio ............: 278 269 1,346 1,369 1.7 Oklahoma ........: 60 57 260 252 -3.1 Oregon ..........: 114 115 580 601 3.6 Pennsylvania ....: 547 541 2,723 2,770 1.7 Rhode Island ....: 1.1 1.1 5.2 5.2 South Carolina ..: 17.5 16.5 86 79 -8.1 : South Dakota ....: 95 93 483 480 -0.6 Tennessee .......: 56 53 246 232 -5.7 Texas ...........: 429 410 2,299 2,260 -1.7 Utah ............: 84 85 446 461 3.4 Vermont .........: 136 137 633 650 2.7 Virginia ........: 96 95 451 451 Washington ......: 239 250 1,414 1,493 5.6 West Virginia ...: 11.0 10.0 42 41 -2.4 Wisconsin .......: 1,256 1,261 6,401 6,766 5.7 Wyoming .........: 5.0 6.0 22.9 29.5 28.8 : United States ...: 9,262 9,111 48,888 49,724 1.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. 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 9.12 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 [Based on the U.S. total for the past 20 quarters] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : 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 ......: 0.1 0.3 124 52 3 192 4 16 : percent ---------- 1,000 head ---------- number : : All milk cows ........: 0.3 0.6 50 24 0 52 2 17 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov 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 NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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