Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released January 19, 2011, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). December Milk Production up 2.8 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 15.0 billion pounds, up 2.8 percent from December 2009. November revised production at 14.4 billion pounds, was up 3.1 percent from November 2009. The November revision represented an increase of 8 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,794 pounds for December, 33 pounds above December 2009. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.39 million head, 74,000 head more than December 2009, and 15,000 head more than November 2010. October - December Milk Production up 2.8 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the October - December quarter totaled 47.5 billion pounds, up 2.8 percent from the October - December quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.13 million head, 36,000 head more 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 9,122 5,111 5,271 46,793 48,078 2.7 October-December : 9,090 9,126 5,090 5,210 46,265 47,543 2.8 : Annual ..........: 9,201 9,113 20,576 21,148 189,320 192,726 1.8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 8,368 1,675 1,729 13,957 14,472 3.7 October ..: 8,316 8,371 1,720 1,766 14,306 14,784 3.3 November .: 8,314 8,370 1,681 1,723 13,979 14,419 3.1 December .: 8,311 8,385 1,761 1,794 14,632 15,042 2.8 : Annual ...: 8,409 8,350 20,848 21,442 175,312 179,039 2.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 9,131 1,744 1,801 16,018 16,442 2.6 August ...: 9,159 9,117 1,718 1,766 15,737 16,102 2.3 September : 9,120 9,118 1,649 1,704 15,038 15,534 3.3 October ..: 9,096 9,121 1,695 1,742 15,420 15,885 3.0 November .: 9,091 9,120 1,658 1,699 15,070 15,494 2.8 December .: 9,082 9,136 1,737 1,769 15,775 16,164 2.5 : Annual ...: 9,201 9,113 20,576 21,148 189,320 192,726 1.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: December 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 .......: 167 184 2,005 1,970 335 362 8.1 California ....: 1,762 1,748 1,865 1,930 3,286 3,374 2.7 Colorado ......: 116 123 1,900 1,985 220 244 10.9 Florida .......: 112 114 1,535 1,580 172 180 4.7 Idaho .........: 550 574 1,850 1,860 1,018 1,068 4.9 Illinois ......: 101 98 1,600 1,640 162 161 -0.6 Indiana .......: 169 171 1,675 1,695 283 290 2.5 Iowa ..........: 215 207 1,750 1,775 376 367 -2.4 Kansas ........: 115 122 1,785 1,805 205 220 7.3 Michigan ......: 354 361 1,910 1,920 676 693 2.5 : Minnesota .....: 470 470 1,630 1,630 766 766 Missouri ......: 103 95 1,230 1,230 127 117 -7.9 New Mexico ....: 318 321 2,015 2,065 641 663 3.4 New York ......: 610 611 1,675 1,750 1,022 1,069 4.6 Ohio ..........: 272 270 1,580 1,620 430 437 1.6 Oregon ........: 114 121 1,625 1,650 185 200 8.1 Pennsylvania ..: 539 542 1,620 1,640 873 889 1.8 Texas .........: 411 420 1,795 1,845 738 775 5.0 Utah ..........: 82 86 1,795 1,780 147 153 4.1 Vermont .......: 134 135 1,545 1,585 207 214 3.4 : Virginia ......: 95 95 1,525 1,545 145 147 1.4 Washington ....: 243 252 1,940 1,945 471 490 4.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,259 1,265 1,705 1,710 2,147 2,163 0.7 : 23-State Total : 8,311 8,385 1,761 1,794 14,632 15,042 2.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: November 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 .......: 168 183 1,840 1,835 309 336 8.7 California ....: 1,765 1,750 1,775 1,870 3,133 3,273 4.5 Colorado ......: 116 122 1,860 1,920 216 234 8.3 Florida .......: 113 114 1,360 1,465 154 167 8.4 Idaho .........: 548 572 1,790 1,830 981 1,047 6.7 Illinois ......: 101 98 1,510 1,550 153 152 -0.7 Indiana .......: 169 169 1,610 1,640 272 277 1.8 Iowa ..........: 215 204 1,670 1,700 359 347 -3.3 Kansas ........: 113 121 1,725 1,730 195 209 7.2 Michigan ......: 354 360 1,805 1,830 639 659 3.1 : Minnesota .....: 469 470 1,545 1,525 725 717 -1.1 Missouri ......: 105 96 1,170 1,180 123 113 -8.1 New Mexico ....: 317 319 1,970 1,985 624 633 1.4 New York ......: 611 611 1,605 1,680 981 1,026 4.6 Ohio ..........: 274 270 1,510 1,560 414 421 1.7 Oregon ........: 114 121 1,560 1,600 178 194 9.0 Pennsylvania ..: 538 541 1,560 1,600 839 866 3.2 Texas .........: 413 415 1,710 1,750 706 726 2.8 Utah ..........: 83 85 1,740 1,720 144 146 1.4 Vermont .......: 134 136 1,460 1,485 196 202 3.1 : Virginia ......: 95 95 1,455 1,465 138 139 0.7 Washington ....: 241 253 1,865 1,870 449 473 5.3 Wisconsin .....: 1,258 1,265 1,630 1,630 2,051 2,062 0.5 : 23-State Total : 8,314 8,370 1,681 1,723 13,979 14,419 3.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 34 -2.9 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 ............: 114 114 453 468 3.3 Georgia ............: 75 77 318 311 -2.2 : Hawaii .............: 1.5 1.9 5.2 6.6 26.9 Idaho ..............: 548 570 3,135 3,365 7.3 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 19.0 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 2,256 -0.5 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 15.0 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 .............: 114 119 563 606 7.6 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 60 -17.8 : South Dakota .......: 95 91 481 473 -1.7 Tennessee ..........: 55 52 210 194 -7.6 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 1,510 7.0 West Virginia ......: 11.0 10.0 41 40 -2.4 Wisconsin ..........: 1,257 1,263 6,476 6,532 0.9 Wyoming ............: 5.0 6.0 24.2 31.4 29.8 : United States ......: 9,155 9,122 46,793 48,078 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, Preliminary October-December, 2009-2010 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October-December Milk Cows 1/ :October-December Milk Production 2/: Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- 1,000 head ------ ----- million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 11.0 11.0 36 35 -2.8 Alaska .............: 0.6 0.5 1.5 1.6 6.7 Arizona ............: 167 183 949 1,032 8.7 Arkansas ...........: 13.0 12.0 37 35 -5.4 California .........: 1,765 1,749 9,626 9,988 3.8 Colorado ...........: 116 122 659 719 9.1 Connecticut ........: 18.5 19.0 86 89 3.5 Delaware ...........: 6.0 5.0 24.0 21.0 -12.5 Florida ............: 113 114 465 498 7.1 Georgia ............: 76 77 321 326 1.6 : Hawaii .............: 1.6 1.9 5.3 6.3 18.9 Idaho ..............: 548 573 3,020 3,219 6.6 Illinois ...........: 101 98 472 466 -1.3 Indiana ............: 169 170 837 853 1.9 Iowa ...............: 215 205 1,098 1,066 -2.9 Kansas .............: 113 121 596 641 7.6 Kentucky ...........: 81 77 279 276 -1.1 Louisiana ..........: 21 19.0 58 53 -8.6 Maine ..............: 33 32 146 145 -0.7 Maryland ...........: 54 53 244 246 0.8 : Massachusetts ......: 14.0 13.5 59 57 -3.4 Michigan ...........: 354 360 1,975 2,034 3.0 Minnesota ..........: 469 470 2,232 2,214 -0.8 Mississippi ........: 17.0 16.0 55 50 -9.1 Missouri ...........: 104 96 373 344 -7.8 Montana ............: 15.0 14.0 73 69 -5.5 Nebraska ...........: 60 58 301 288 -4.3 Nevada .............: 28 28 152 157 3.3 New Hampshire ......: 15.0 15.0 71 72 1.4 New Jersey .........: 8.5 7.5 36 33 -8.3 : New Mexico .........: 317 319 1,905 1,949 2.3 New York ...........: 612 611 3,010 3,149 4.6 North Carolina .....: 44 44 208 211 1.4 North Dakota .......: 21 20 93 93 Ohio ...............: 274 270 1,269 1,290 1.7 Oklahoma ...........: 57 54 239 228 -4.6 Oregon .............: 114 121 547 597 9.1 Pennsylvania .......: 539 541 2,574 2,642 2.6 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 1.1 4.6 5.0 8.7 South Carolina .....: 17.5 16.0 74 66 -10.8 : South Dakota .......: 93 90 468 463 -1.1 Tennessee ..........: 54 51 209 202 -3.3 Texas ..............: 412 417 2,154 2,238 3.9 Utah ...............: 83 85 439 451 2.7 Vermont ............: 134 136 603 623 3.3 Virginia ...........: 95 95 423 425 0.5 Washington .........: 241 253 1,386 1,458 5.2 West Virginia ......: 10.0 10.0 38 39 2.6 Wisconsin ..........: 1,258 1,265 6,305 6,349 0.7 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 29.3 31.4 7.2 : United States ......: 9,090 9,126 46,265 47,543 2.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 9.14 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.5 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 39 3 95 16 4 : All milk cows ................: 0.3 0.5 23 0 52 15 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices ........... (202) 690-2168 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats ............. (202) 720-4751 Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 Lorie Warren - Dairy Products ................ (202) 690-3236 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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