Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released October 19, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). September Milk Production up 3.6 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during September totaled 14.5 billion pounds, up 3.6 percent from September 2009. August revised production at 15.0 billion pounds, was up 2.7 percent from August 2009. The August revision represented a decrease of 18 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,729 pounds for September, 54 pounds above September 2009. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.37 million head, 31,000 head more than September 2009, and 4,000 head more than August 2010. July - September Milk Production up 2.7 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the July - September quarter totaled 48.1 billion pounds, up 2.7 percent from the July - September quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.12 million head, 32,000 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 5,461 48,888 49,753 1.8 July-September ..: 9,155 9,123 5,111 5,269 46,793 48,071 2.7 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 8,352 1,749 1,817 14,754 15,177 2.9 July .....: 8,397 8,370 1,771 1,830 14,867 15,316 3.0 August ...: 8,372 8,362 1,745 1,794 14,606 15,001 2.7 September : 8,335 8,366 1,675 1,729 13,957 14,466 3.6 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 9,100 1,740 1,802 16,148 16,394 1.5 May ......: 9,274 9,109 1,812 1,868 16,805 17,015 1.2 June .....: 9,230 9,124 1,726 1,791 15,935 16,344 2.6 July .....: 9,187 9,134 1,744 1,800 16,018 16,441 2.6 August ...: 9,159 9,118 1,718 1,766 15,737 16,102 2.3 September : 9,120 9,116 1,649 1,703 15,038 15,528 3.3 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: September 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 .......: 167 182 1,690 1,750 282 319 13.1 California ....: 1,769 1,747 1,735 1,885 3,069 3,293 7.3 Colorado ......: 117 122 1,880 1,945 220 237 7.7 Florida .......: 114 113 1,180 1,180 135 133 -1.5 Idaho .........: 546 571 1,850 1,910 1,010 1,091 8.0 Illinois ......: 102 99 1,480 1,485 151 147 -2.6 Indiana .......: 168 169 1,620 1,645 272 278 2.2 Iowa ..........: 215 205 1,630 1,670 350 342 -2.3 Kansas ........: 114 121 1,675 1,685 191 204 6.8 Michigan ......: 355 359 1,835 1,860 651 668 2.6 : Minnesota .....: 469 470 1,545 1,520 725 714 -1.5 Missouri ......: 105 98 1,110 1,125 117 110 -6.0 New Mexico ....: 318 318 1,980 2,015 630 641 1.7 New York ......: 617 611 1,620 1,695 1,000 1,036 3.6 Ohio ..........: 278 270 1,500 1,550 417 419 0.5 Oregon ........: 114 119 1,595 1,640 182 195 7.1 Pennsylvania ..: 542 542 1,560 1,600 846 867 2.5 Texas .........: 416 415 1,660 1,695 691 703 1.7 Utah ..........: 83 85 1,760 1,770 146 150 2.7 Vermont .......: 134 139 1,485 1,455 199 202 1.5 : Virginia ......: 96 95 1,405 1,430 135 136 0.7 Washington ....: 238 252 1,915 1,940 456 489 7.2 Wisconsin .....: 1,258 1,264 1,655 1,655 2,082 2,092 0.5 : 23-State Total : 8,335 8,366 1,675 1,729 13,957 14,466 3.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: August 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 .......: 171 180 1,790 1,765 306 318 3.9 California ....: 1,782 1,746 1,820 1,950 3,243 3,405 5.0 Colorado ......: 123 120 1,950 2,025 240 243 1.3 Florida .......: 114 114 1,325 1,325 151 151 Idaho .........: 548 571 1,940 2,000 1,063 1,142 7.4 Illinois ......: 102 99 1,530 1,495 156 148 -5.1 Indiana .......: 167 169 1,670 1,695 279 286 2.5 Iowa ..........: 215 207 1,700 1,720 366 356 -2.7 Kansas ........: 117 120 1,745 1,725 204 207 1.5 Michigan ......: 355 359 1,910 1,935 678 695 2.5 : Minnesota .....: 469 470 1,620 1,595 760 750 -1.3 Missouri ......: 106 99 1,180 1,150 125 114 -8.8 New Mexico ....: 320 318 2,000 2,040 640 649 1.4 New York ......: 618 611 1,690 1,790 1,044 1,094 4.8 Ohio ..........: 278 270 1,570 1,610 436 435 -0.2 Oregon ........: 114 119 1,650 1,715 188 204 8.5 Pennsylvania ..: 545 541 1,610 1,670 877 903 3.0 Texas .........: 420 415 1,680 1,695 706 703 -0.4 Utah ..........: 83 85 1,835 1,830 152 156 2.6 Vermont .......: 135 139 1,520 1,545 205 215 4.9 : Virginia ......: 96 95 1,450 1,475 139 140 0.7 Washington ....: 237 252 1,995 2,015 473 508 7.4 Wisconsin .....: 1,257 1,263 1,730 1,725 2,175 2,179 0.2 : 23-State Total : 8,372 8,362 1,745 1,794 14,606 15,001 2.7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 44 -2.2 Alaska .............: 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.9 26.7 Arizona ............: 183 173 1,105 1,096 -0.8 Arkansas ...........: 13.0 12.5 46 42 -8.7 California .........: 1,813 1,750 10,228 10,371 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 ............: 117 115 577 581 0.7 Georgia ............: 75 80 378 382 1.1 : Hawaii .............: 1.5 1.9 5.5 6.3 14.5 Idaho ..............: 551 559 3,080 3,187 3.5 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 2,372 3.0 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 3,280 1.5 North Carolina .....: 46 44 235 229 -2.6 North Dakota .......: 23 21 98 97 -1.0 Ohio ...............: 278 269 1,346 1,361 1.1 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 78 -9.3 : South Dakota .......: 95 93 483 482 -0.2 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 49,753 1.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 July-September, 2009-2010 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : July-September Milk Cows 1/ : July-September Milk Production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- 1,000 head ------ ----- million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 11.0 11.0 35 32 -8.6 Alaska .............: 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.1 40.0 Arizona ............: 170 180 896 972 8.5 Arkansas ...........: 13.0 12.0 38 35 -7.9 California .........: 1,780 1,747 9,561 10,098 5.6 Colorado ...........: 121 120 704 724 2.8 Connecticut ........: 18.5 19.0 86 89 3.5 Delaware ...........: 5.5 5.0 23.0 21.0 -8.7 Florida ............: 114 114 453 460 1.5 Georgia ............: 75 77 318 311 -2.2 : Hawaii .............: 1.5 1.9 5.2 6.6 26.9 Idaho ..............: 548 570 3,135 3,371 7.5 Illinois ...........: 102 100 468 454 -3.0 Indiana ............: 168 169 841 860 2.3 Iowa ...............: 215 207 1,090 1,070 -1.8 Kansas .............: 116 120 598 622 4.0 Kentucky ...........: 83 78 280 280 Louisiana ..........: 22 19 56 49 -12.5 Maine ..............: 33 32 152 148 -2.6 Maryland ...........: 55 53 238 239 0.4 : Massachusetts ......: 14.0 14.0 61 60 -1.6 Michigan ...........: 355 359 2,021 2,074 2.6 Minnesota ..........: 469 470 2,268 2,251 -0.7 Mississippi ........: 17.5 16.0 51 47 -7.8 Missouri ...........: 106 99 371 343 -7.5 Montana ............: 15.0 14.0 75 72 -4.0 Nebraska ...........: 61 58 302 290 -4.0 Nevada .............: 28 28 153 158 3.3 New Hampshire ......: 15.0 15.5 73 73 New Jersey .........: 9.0 7.5 40 34 -15.0 : New Mexico .........: 320 320 1,928 1,969 2.1 New York ...........: 619 611 3,121 3,224 3.3 North Carolina .....: 45 44 207 206 -0.5 North Dakota .......: 22 21 96 98 2.1 Ohio ...............: 278 270 1,306 1,310 0.3 Oklahoma ...........: 58 55 238 233 -2.1 Oregon .............: 114 119 563 602 6.9 Pennsylvania .......: 544 541 2,617 2,679 2.4 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 1.1 4.8 5.0 4.2 South Carolina .....: 17.5 16.0 73 62 -15.1 : South Dakota .......: 95 91 481 473 -1.7 Tennessee ..........: 55 52 210 193 -8.1 Texas ..............: 420 415 2,116 2,143 1.3 Utah ...............: 83 85 451 463 2.7 Vermont ............: 135 139 616 628 1.9 Virginia ...........: 96 95 419 419 Washington .........: 238 252 1,411 1,509 6.9 West Virginia ......: 11.0 10.0 41 40 -2.4 Wisconsin ..........: 1,257 1,263 6,476 6,538 1.0 Wyoming ............: 5.0 6.0 24.2 31.4 29.8 : United States ......: 9,155 9,123 46,793 48,071 2.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 data for the past 20 quarters] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Quarters : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent -------- 1,000 ------- ----- number ----- : : Milk production ..............: 0.1 0.2 43 3 97 16 4 : All milk cows ................: 0.3 0.6 24 0 52 16 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Lorie Warren - 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. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Receive NASS Updates" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or (703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377- 8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.