Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released January 23, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). December Milk Production up 2.7 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 15.4 billion pounds, up 2.7 percent from December 2010. November revised production at 14.7 billion pounds, was up 2.2 percent from November 2010. The November revision represented an increase of 3 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,818 pounds for December, 27 pounds above December 2010. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.49 million head, 99,000 head more than December 2010, and 12,000 head more than November 2011. October - December Milk Production up 2.3 Percent Milk production in the U.S. during the October - December quarter totaled 48.7 billion pounds, up 2.3 percent from the October - December quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.22 million head, 86,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2010-2011 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : from : : : : : : : 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -- 1,000 head -- ----- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,093 9,165 5,212 5,283 47,392 48,421 2.2 April-June ......: 9,119 9,198 5,462 5,483 49,809 50,432 1.3 July-September ..: 9,126 9,208 5,267 5,290 48,070 48,713 1.3 October-December : 9,130 9,216 5,208 5,279 47,548 48,650 2.3 : Annual ..........: 9,117 9,197 21,149 21,335 192,819 196,216 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, 2010-2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : : : : : : : Change : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : from : : : : : : : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January ..: 8,319 8,404 1,784 1,810 14,839 15,213 2.5 February .: 8,323 8,405 1,642 1,664 13,670 13,987 2.3 March ....: 8,329 8,426 1,848 1,870 15,389 15,757 2.4 April ....: 8,337 8,435 1,825 1,834 15,213 15,471 1.7 May ......: 8,347 8,451 1,893 1,901 15,804 16,063 1.6 June .....: 8,356 8,460 1,817 1,819 15,186 15,389 1.3 July .....: 8,375 8,468 1,829 1,819 15,316 15,400 0.5 August ...: 8,369 8,471 1,792 1,812 14,998 15,347 2.3 September : 8,371 8,473 1,730 1,741 14,481 14,750 1.9 October ..: 8,372 8,481 1,767 1,788 14,796 15,162 2.5 November .: 8,373 8,474 1,722 1,739 14,421 14,739 2.2 December .: 8,387 8,486 1,791 1,818 15,025 15,425 2.7 : Annual ...: 8,355 8,453 21,440 21,614 179,138 182,703 2.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2010-2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : from : : : : : : : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January ..: 9,089 9,158 1,763 1,789 16,020 16,385 2.3 February .: 9,092 9,158 1,623 1,645 14,758 15,065 2.1 March ....: 9,099 9,178 1,826 1,849 16,614 16,971 2.1 April ....: 9,108 9,185 1,802 1,812 16,416 16,643 1.4 May ......: 9,119 9,200 1,869 1,877 17,040 17,266 1.3 June .....: 9,129 9,208 1,791 1,794 16,353 16,523 1.0 July .....: 9,135 9,207 1,799 1,791 16,436 16,488 0.3 August ...: 9,123 9,209 1,764 1,784 16,094 16,432 2.1 September : 9,121 9,209 1,704 1,715 15,540 15,793 1.6 October ..: 9,123 9,217 1,743 1,765 15,900 16,272 2.3 November .: 9,125 9,209 1,698 1,718 15,498 15,819 2.1 December .: 9,141 9,221 1,767 1,796 16,150 16,559 2.5 : Annual ...: 9,117 9,197 21,149 21,335 192,819 196,216 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 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :---------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : from : : : : : : : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds --- million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 184 191 1,970 1,965 362 375 3.6 California ....: 1,749 1,779 1,925 1,965 3,367 3,496 3.8 Colorado ......: 123 131 1,985 1,955 244 256 4.9 Florida .......: 114 120 1,660 1,600 189 192 1.6 Idaho .........: 574 581 1,870 1,910 1,073 1,110 3.4 Illinois ......: 98 99 1,640 1,690 161 167 3.7 Indiana .......: 171 174 1,685 1,760 288 306 6.3 Iowa ..........: 207 203 1,775 1,850 367 376 2.5 Kansas ........: 122 123 1,805 1,780 220 219 -0.5 Michigan ......: 361 370 1,920 1,950 693 722 4.2 : Minnesota .....: 470 465 1,605 1,635 754 760 0.8 Missouri ......: 95 93 1,230 1,240 117 115 -1.7 New Mexico ....: 321 334 2,065 2,025 663 676 2.0 New York ......: 611 610 1,750 1,755 1,069 1,071 0.2 Ohio ..........: 270 270 1,610 1,625 435 439 0.9 Oregon ........: 121 123 1,660 1,650 201 203 1.0 Pennsylvania ..: 543 539 1,640 1,650 891 889 -0.2 Texas .........: 420 435 1,845 1,855 775 807 4.1 Utah ..........: 86 89 1,780 1,800 153 160 4.6 Vermont .......: 135 133 1,575 1,595 213 212 -0.5 : Virginia ......: 95 96 1,510 1,530 143 147 2.8 Washington ....: 252 263 1,945 1,950 490 513 4.7 Wisconsin .....: 1,265 1,265 1,705 1,750 2,157 2,214 2.6 : 23-State Total : 8,387 8,486 1,791 1,818 15,025 15,425 2.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: November 2010 and 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : from : : : : : : : 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -- 1,000 head -- ---- pounds --- million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 183 192 1,835 1,855 336 356 6.0 California ....: 1,751 1,778 1,865 1,880 3,266 3,343 2.4 Colorado ......: 122 131 1,920 1,870 234 245 4.7 Florida .......: 114 120 1,465 1,460 167 175 4.8 Idaho .........: 572 579 1,830 1,840 1,047 1,065 1.7 Illinois ......: 98 98 1,550 1,580 152 155 2.0 Indiana .......: 170 172 1,650 1,680 281 289 2.8 Iowa ..........: 204 200 1,700 1,765 347 353 1.7 Kansas ........: 121 123 1,730 1,725 209 212 1.4 Michigan ......: 360 369 1,840 1,865 662 688 3.9 : Minnesota .....: 470 465 1,525 1,520 717 707 -1.4 Missouri ......: 96 94 1,180 1,190 113 112 -0.9 New Mexico ....: 319 333 1,985 2,020 633 673 6.3 New York ......: 611 610 1,680 1,680 1,026 1,025 -0.1 Ohio ..........: 270 269 1,560 1,560 421 420 -0.2 Oregon ........: 121 122 1,610 1,615 195 197 1.0 Pennsylvania ..: 542 538 1,600 1,580 867 850 -2.0 Texas .........: 415 435 1,750 1,810 726 787 8.4 Utah ..........: 85 88 1,720 1,740 146 153 4.8 Vermont .......: 136 134 1,485 1,510 202 202 : Virginia ......: 95 96 1,465 1,440 139 138 -0.7 Washington ....: 253 263 1,870 1,880 473 494 4.4 Wisconsin .....: 1,265 1,265 1,630 1,660 2,062 2,100 1.8 : 23-State Total : 8,373 8,474 1,722 1,739 14,421 14,739 2.2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised July-September 2010 and 2011 [May not add due to rounding] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : July-September milk cows 1/ : July-September milk production 2/ : Change State :---------------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------- 1,000 head ------- ------ million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 11.0 10.0 34.0 30.0 -11.8 Alaska .............: 0.6 0.5 2.1 1.7 -19.0 Arizona ............: 180.0 187.0 972.0 1,023.0 5.2 Arkansas ...........: 12.0 11.5 35.0 32.0 -8.6 California .........: 1,753.0 1,777.0 10,096.0 10,351.0 2.5 Colorado ...........: 120.0 129.0 724.0 766.0 5.8 Connecticut ........: 19.0 18.5 89.0 88.0 -1.1 Delaware ...........: 5.0 5.0 21.0 21.4 1.9 Florida ............: 114.0 119.0 470.0 503.0 7.0 Georgia ............: 77.0 77.0 315.0 333.0 5.7 : Hawaii .............: 1.9 1.9 6.6 6.8 3.0 Idaho ..............: 570.0 582.0 3,365.0 3,491.0 3.7 Illinois ...........: 100.0 98.0 454.0 451.0 -0.7 Indiana ............: 169.0 171.0 842.0 856.0 1.7 Iowa ...............: 207.0 199.0 1,062.0 1,043.0 -1.8 Kansas .............: 120.0 124.0 622.0 648.0 4.2 Kentucky ...........: 78.0 75.0 270.0 257.0 -4.8 Louisiana ..........: 19.0 18.0 49.0 48.0 -2.0 Maine ..............: 32.0 32.0 148.0 150.0 1.4 Maryland ...........: 53.0 52.0 241.0 230.0 -4.6 : Massachusetts ......: 13.5 12.0 60.0 53.0 -11.7 Michigan ...........: 359.0 368.0 2,104.0 2,123.0 0.9 Minnesota ..........: 470.0 471.0 2,256.0 2,167.0 -3.9 Mississippi ........: 16.0 14.0 47.0 43.0 -8.5 Missouri ...........: 99.0 95.0 343.0 317.0 -7.6 Montana ............: 14.0 14.0 72.0 74.0 2.8 Nebraska ...........: 58.0 57.0 290.0 288.0 -0.7 Nevada .............: 28.0 29.0 158.0 167.0 5.7 New Hampshire ......: 15.0 14.0 73.0 69.0 -5.5 New Jersey .........: 7.5 7.5 34.0 33.0 -2.9 : New Mexico .........: 320.0 330.0 1,969.0 2,045.0 3.9 New York ...........: 611.0 610.0 3,224.0 3,218.0 -0.2 North Carolina .....: 44.0 45.0 206.0 213.0 3.4 North Dakota .......: 21.0 19.0 98.0 85.0 -13.3 Ohio ...............: 270.0 267.0 1,299.0 1,260.0 -3.0 Oklahoma ...........: 54.0 52.0 224.0 215.0 -4.0 Oregon .............: 121.0 123.0 618.0 641.0 3.7 Pennsylvania .......: 541.0 539.0 2,679.0 2,618.0 -2.3 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 1.1 4.9 4.8 -2.0 South Carolina .....: 16.0 16.0 60.0 60.0 : South Dakota .......: 91.0 90.0 473.0 461.0 -2.5 Tennessee ..........: 52.0 49.0 194.0 182.0 -6.2 Texas ..............: 415.0 435.0 2,143.0 2,353.0 9.8 Utah ...............: 85.0 88.0 464.0 476.0 2.6 Vermont ............: 136.0 134.0 628.0 629.0 0.2 Virginia ...........: 95.0 96.0 419.0 413.0 -1.4 Washington .........: 252.0 265.0 1,510.0 1,601.0 6.0 West Virginia ......: 10.0 10.0 39.0 39.0 Wisconsin ..........: 1,263.0 1,264.0 6,532.0 6,504.0 -0.4 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 31.4 31.2 -0.6 : United States ......: 9,126.0 9,208.0 48,070.0 48,713.0 1.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary October-December 2010 and 2011 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October-December milk cows 1/ :October-December milk production 2/: Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- 1,000 head ------ ----- million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 11.0 10.0 35.0 32.0 -8.6 Alaska .............: 0.5 0.5 1.6 1.7 6.3 Arizona ............: 183.0 192.0 1,032.0 1,089.0 5.5 Arkansas ...........: 12.0 11.5 35.0 34.0 -2.9 California .........: 1,751.0 1,778.0 9,979.0 10,262.0 2.8 Colorado ...........: 122.0 131.0 719.0 757.0 5.3 Connecticut ........: 19.0 18.5 89.0 88.0 -1.1 Delaware ...........: 5.0 5.0 21.0 22.0 4.8 Florida ............: 114.0 120.0 508.0 529.0 4.1 Georgia ............: 78.0 78.0 329.0 354.0 7.6 : Hawaii .............: 1.9 1.9 6.3 6.4 1.6 Idaho ..............: 573.0 580.0 3,224.0 3,296.0 2.2 Illinois ...........: 98.0 98.0 466.0 479.0 2.8 Indiana ............: 170.0 172.0 851.0 887.0 4.2 Iowa ...............: 205.0 201.0 1,066.0 1,088.0 2.1 Kansas .............: 121.0 123.0 641.0 651.0 1.6 Kentucky ...........: 77.0 75.0 276.0 274.0 -0.7 Louisiana ..........: 19.0 18.0 53.0 54.0 1.9 Maine ..............: 32.0 32.0 145.0 149.0 2.8 Maryland ...........: 53.0 52.0 244.0 236.0 -3.3 : Massachusetts ......: 13.5 12.0 57.0 52.0 -8.8 Michigan ...........: 360.0 369.0 2,044.0 2,120.0 3.7 Minnesota ..........: 470.0 467.0 2,204.0 2,192.0 -0.5 Mississippi ........: 16.0 14.0 50.0 47.0 -6.0 Missouri ...........: 96.0 94.0 344.0 339.0 -1.5 Montana ............: 14.0 14.0 70.0 73.0 4.3 Nebraska ...........: 58.0 57.0 288.0 296.0 2.8 Nevada .............: 28.0 29.0 157.0 161.0 2.5 New Hampshire ......: 15.0 14.0 72.0 68.0 -5.6 New Jersey .........: 7.5 7.5 33.0 32.0 -3.0 : New Mexico .........: 319.0 333.0 1,949.0 2,046.0 5.0 New York ...........: 611.0 610.0 3,149.0 3,148.0 North Carolina .....: 44.0 45.0 211.0 225.0 6.6 North Dakota .......: 20.0 18.0 93.0 81.0 -12.9 Ohio ...............: 270.0 269.0 1,288.0 1,288.0 Oklahoma ...........: 54.0 52.0 234.0 227.0 -3.0 Oregon .............: 121.0 122.0 600.0 608.0 1.3 Pennsylvania .......: 542.0 538.0 2,645.0 2,611.0 -1.3 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 1.1 4.8 4.8 South Carolina .....: 16.0 16.0 66.0 69.0 4.5 : South Dakota .......: 90.0 89.0 463.0 469.0 1.3 Tennessee ..........: 51.0 50.0 202.0 200.0 -1.0 Texas ..............: 417.0 435.0 2,238.0 2,407.0 7.6 Utah ...............: 85.0 88.0 451.0 470.0 4.2 Vermont ............: 136.0 134.0 622.0 623.0 0.2 Virginia ...........: 95.0 96.0 421.0 424.0 0.7 Washington .........: 253.0 264.0 1,458.0 1,530.0 4.9 West Virginia ......: 10.0 10.0 39.0 38.0 -2.6 Wisconsin ..........: 1,265.0 1,265.0 6,343.0 6,482.0 2.2 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 30.9 30.0 -2.9 : United States ......: 9,130.0 9,216.0 47,548.0 48,650.0 2.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Statistical Methodology 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 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 9.22 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 36 0 95 13 6 : All milk cows ................: 0.3 0.5 19 0 52 16 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Travis Averill - Cattle, Cattle on Feed....... (202) 720-3040 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs, Goats ........... (202) 720-3106 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Everett Olbert - Dairy Products Prices........ (202) 720-4751 Lorie Warren - Dairy Products, Sheep ......... (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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