Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released April 19, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March Milk Production Up 4.3 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 16.5 billion pounds, up 4.3 percent from March 2011. February revised production at 15.1 billion pounds, was up 8.2 percent from February 2011. The February revision represented a decrease of 13 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Adjusting February production for the additional day due to leap year causes February revised production to be up 4.5 percent on a per day basis. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,931 pounds for March, 59 pounds above March 2011. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.52 million head, 94,000 head more than March 2011, and 9,000 head more than February 2012. January - March Milk Production Up 5.2 Percent Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 51.0 billion pounds, up 5.2 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.25 million head, 86,000 head more than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2011-2012 [May not add due to rounding] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quarter : : : : : : : Change : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : from : : : : : : : 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -- 1,000 head -- ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January-March ...: 9,168 9,254 5,286 5,511 48,459 50,995 5.2 April-June ......: 9,191 5,489 50,448 July-September ..: 9,200 5,292 48,684 October-December : 9,216 5,279 48,654 : Annual ..........: 9,194 21,345 196,245 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production: By Month, 23 Selected States, 2011-2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : : : : : : : Change : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : from : : : : : : : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January ..: 8,405 8,502 1,811 1,859 15,219 15,806 3.9 February .: 8,408 8,510 1,665 1,780 13,997 15,149 8.2 March ....: 8,425 8,519 1,872 1,931 15,773 16,452 4.3 April ....: 8,431 1,835 15,475 May ......: 8,447 1,902 16,069 June .....: 8,450 1,820 15,382 July .....: 8,459 1,820 15,395 August ...: 8,463 1,813 15,342 September : 8,466 1,742 14,744 October ..: 8,475 1,790 15,170 November .: 8,475 1,739 14,742 December .: 8,485 1,818 15,426 : Annual ...: 8,449 21,627 182,734 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2011-2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Change Month : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : from : : : : : : : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds ---- million pounds percent : January ..: 9,160 9,242 1,790 1,840 16,393 17,001 3.7 February .: 9,163 9,254 1,645 1,761 15,077 16,297 8.1 March ....: 9,180 9,266 1,851 1,910 16,989 17,697 4.2 April ....: 9,182 1,814 16,652 May ......: 9,194 1,879 17,278 June .....: 9,196 1,796 16,518 July .....: 9,198 1,792 16,479 August ...: 9,200 1,785 16,422 September : 9,201 1,715 15,783 October ..: 9,212 1,767 16,278 November .: 9,213 1,717 15,820 December .: 9,223 1,795 16,556 : Annual ...: 9,194 21,345 196,245 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: March 2011 and 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :---------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : from : : : : : : : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head ---- pounds --- million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 187 194 2,180 2,240 408 435 6.6 California ....: 1,760 1,785 2,040 2,135 3,590 3,811 6.2 Colorado ......: 125 132 2,015 2,045 252 270 7.1 Florida .......: 119 122 1,865 1,830 222 223 0.5 Idaho .........: 576 580 1,880 1,930 1,083 1,119 3.3 Illinois ......: 98 100 1,715 1,770 168 177 5.4 Indiana .......: 172 176 1,795 1,845 309 325 5.2 Iowa ..........: 209 204 1,825 1,900 381 388 1.8 Kansas ........: 122 123 1,830 1,870 223 230 3.1 Michigan ......: 364 375 1,985 2,070 723 776 7.3 : Minnesota .....: 469 465 1,660 1,710 779 795 2.1 Missouri ......: 94 93 1,365 1,395 128 130 1.6 New Mexico ....: 325 336 2,150 2,190 699 736 5.3 New York ......: 610 610 1,810 1,865 1,104 1,138 3.1 Ohio ..........: 269 270 1,660 1,710 447 462 3.4 Oregon ........: 119 123 1,750 1,750 208 215 3.4 Pennsylvania ..: 543 540 1,710 1,710 929 923 -0.6 Texas .........: 426 439 1,945 1,995 829 876 5.7 Utah ..........: 87 91 1,770 1,825 154 166 7.8 Vermont .......: 135 133 1,635 1,660 221 221 : Virginia ......: 96 96 1,615 1,645 155 158 1.9 Washington ....: 254 263 2,025 2,040 514 537 4.5 Wisconsin .....: 1,266 1,269 1,775 1,845 2,247 2,341 4.2 : 23-State Total : 8,425 8,519 1,872 1,931 15,773 16,452 4.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: February 2011 and 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : : : : : Change : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : from : : : : : : : 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -- 1,000 head -- ---- pounds --- million pounds percent : Arizona .......: 185 192 1,915 2,060 354 396 11.9 California ....: 1,756 1,784 1,800 1,965 3,161 3,506 10.9 Colorado ......: 123 133 1,795 1,865 221 248 12.2 Florida .......: 118 122 1,690 1,720 199 210 5.5 Idaho .........: 573 580 1,690 1,800 968 1,044 7.9 Illinois ......: 98 100 1,530 1,630 150 163 8.7 Indiana .......: 171 175 1,585 1,700 271 298 10.0 Iowa ..........: 208 205 1,630 1,755 339 360 6.2 Kansas ........: 122 123 1,615 1,725 197 212 7.6 Michigan ......: 364 374 1,790 1,910 652 714 9.5 : Minnesota .....: 470 465 1,485 1,580 698 735 5.3 Missouri ......: 95 93 1,140 1,215 108 113 4.6 New Mexico ....: 324 335 1,890 1,985 612 665 8.7 New York ......: 610 610 1,620 1,730 988 1,055 6.8 Ohio ..........: 271 270 1,500 1,570 407 424 4.2 Oregon ........: 119 123 1,555 1,600 185 197 6.5 Pennsylvania ..: 543 541 1,510 1,570 820 849 3.5 Texas .........: 425 436 1,720 1,835 731 800 9.4 Utah ..........: 86 91 1,590 1,690 137 154 12.4 Vermont .......: 135 133 1,465 1,535 198 204 3.0 : Virginia ......: 95 96 1,440 1,510 137 145 5.8 Washington ....: 251 263 1,820 1,895 457 498 9.0 Wisconsin .....: 1,266 1,266 1,585 1,705 2,007 2,159 7.6 : 23-State Total : 8,408 8,510 1,665 1,780 13,997 15,149 8.2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised 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 1,090.0 5.6 Arkansas ...........: 12.0 11.0 35.0 33.0 -5.7 California .........: 1,751.0 1,778.0 9,979.0 10,267.0 2.9 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 ............: 114.0 120.0 508.0 533.0 4.9 Georgia ............: 78.0 78.0 329.0 358.0 8.8 : Hawaii .............: 2.0 1.9 6.2 6.4 3.2 Idaho ..............: 573.0 580.0 3,224.0 3,294.0 2.2 Illinois ...........: 98.0 98.0 466.0 478.0 2.6 Indiana ............: 171.0 173.0 849.0 890.0 4.8 Iowa ...............: 206.0 201.0 1,071.0 1,088.0 1.6 Kansas .............: 121.0 123.0 638.0 648.0 1.6 Kentucky ...........: 77.0 75.0 276.0 261.0 -5.4 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 2,050.0 2,120.0 3.4 Minnesota ..........: 470.0 465.0 2,204.0 2,185.0 -0.9 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 57.0 288.0 294.0 2.1 Nevada .............: 28.0 29.0 161.0 163.0 1.2 New Hampshire ......: 15.0 14.0 71.0 68.0 -4.2 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 45.0 213.0 225.0 5.6 North Dakota .......: 20.0 18.0 93.0 83.0 -10.8 Ohio ...............: 270.0 269.0 1,288.0 1,288.0 Oklahoma ...........: 54.0 52.0 234.0 227.0 -3.0 Oregon .............: 121.0 122.0 600.0 609.0 1.5 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 90.0 463.0 469.0 1.3 Tennessee ..........: 51.0 50.0 202.0 200.0 -1.0 Texas ..............: 417.0 435.0 2,238.0 2,412.0 7.8 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 6,488.0 2.3 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 30.9 30.0 -2.9 : United States ......: 9,132.0 9,216.0 47,559.0 48,654.0 2.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary January-March 2011 and 2012 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : January-March milk cows 1/ : January-March milk production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- 1,000 head ------ ----- million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 11.0 10.0 43.0 39.0 -9.3 Alaska .............: 0.6 0.5 1.8 1.7 -5.6 Arizona ............: 186.0 192.0 1,135.0 1,230.0 8.4 Arkansas ...........: 12.0 11.0 39.0 38.0 -2.6 California .........: 1,756.0 1,784.0 10,141.0 10,934.0 7.8 Colorado ...........: 124.0 133.0 716.0 780.0 8.9 Connecticut ........: 18.5 18.5 92.0 93.0 1.1 Delaware ...........: 5.0 5.0 24.3 25.0 2.9 Florida ............: 118.0 122.0 627.0 650.0 3.7 Georgia ............: 80.0 80.0 380.0 406.0 6.8 : Hawaii .............: 1.9 1.9 6.9 7.2 4.3 Idaho ..............: 574.0 580.0 3,117.0 3,279.0 5.2 Illinois ...........: 98.0 100.0 481.0 511.0 6.2 Indiana ............: 172.0 175.0 874.0 934.0 6.9 Iowa ...............: 209.0 205.0 1,093.0 1,130.0 3.4 Kansas .............: 122.0 123.0 638.0 663.0 3.9 Kentucky ...........: 76.0 75.0 285.0 296.0 3.9 Louisiana ..........: 19.0 18.0 69.0 70.0 1.4 Maine ..............: 32.0 32.0 147.0 151.0 2.7 Maryland ...........: 53.0 52.0 253.0 255.0 0.8 : Massachusetts ......: 13.5 12.0 57.0 55.0 -3.5 Michigan ...........: 364.0 374.0 2,086.0 2,227.0 6.8 Minnesota ..........: 470.0 465.0 2,243.0 2,302.0 2.6 Mississippi ........: 15.0 14.5 59.0 58.0 -1.7 Missouri ...........: 95.0 93.0 354.0 361.0 2.0 Montana ............: 14.0 14.0 69.0 74.0 7.2 Nebraska ...........: 57.0 56.0 290.0 295.0 1.7 Nevada .............: 29.0 29.0 160.0 162.0 1.3 New Hampshire ......: 15.0 14.0 75.0 71.0 -5.3 New Jersey .........: 8.0 7.5 35.0 35.0 : New Mexico .........: 324.0 335.0 1,991.0 2,086.0 4.8 New York ...........: 610.0 610.0 3,175.0 3,291.0 3.7 North Carolina .....: 45.0 45.0 230.0 249.0 8.3 North Dakota .......: 20.0 18.0 88.0 84.0 -4.5 Ohio ...............: 270.0 270.0 1,291.0 1,329.0 2.9 Oklahoma ...........: 54.0 52.0 241.0 251.0 4.1 Oregon .............: 119.0 123.0 595.0 619.0 4.0 Pennsylvania .......: 543.0 540.0 2,640.0 2,668.0 1.1 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 1.1 4.8 4.9 2.1 South Carolina .....: 16.0 16.0 75.0 80.0 6.7 : South Dakota .......: 91.0 92.0 460.0 492.0 7.0 Tennessee ..........: 50.0 52.0 216.0 225.0 4.2 Texas ..............: 425.0 437.0 2,357.0 2,503.0 6.2 Utah ...............: 87.0 91.0 442.0 484.0 9.5 Vermont ............: 135.0 133.0 636.0 641.0 0.8 Virginia ...........: 95.0 96.0 439.0 454.0 3.4 Washington .........: 252.0 263.0 1,469.0 1,560.0 6.2 West Virginia ......: 10.0 10.0 39.0 40.0 2.6 Wisconsin ..........: 1,266.0 1,267.0 6,449.0 6,771.0 5.0 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 30.4 29.8 -2.0 : United States ......: 9,168.0 9,254.0 48,459.0 50,995.0 5.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 9.25 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 0 96 16 3 : All milk cows ................: 0.3 0.5 19 0 52 15 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 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 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. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Follow NASS" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. 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