Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released July 19, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). June Milk Production Up 1.0 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during June totaled 15.5 billion pounds, up 1.0 percent from June 2011. May revised production at 16.4 billion pounds, was up 1.9 percent from May 2011. The May revision represented a decrease of 22 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,827 pounds for June, 7 pounds above June 2011. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.51 million head, 57,000 head more than June 2011, and 14,000 head less than May 2012. April - June Milk Production Up 2.0 Percent Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 51.5 billion pounds, up 2.0 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.26 million head, 66,000 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 5,513 48,459 51,017 5.3 April-June ......: 9,191 9,257 5,489 5,561 50,448 51,482 2.0 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 8,521 1,872 1,930 15,773 16,447 4.3 April ....: 8,431 8,527 1,835 1,879 15,475 16,021 3.5 May ......: 8,447 8,521 1,902 1,923 16,069 16,382 1.9 June .....: 8,450 8,507 1,820 1,827 15,382 15,543 1.0 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 1,841 16,393 17,011 3.8 February .: 9,163 9,254 1,645 1,762 15,077 16,305 8.1 March ....: 9,180 9,267 1,851 1,910 16,989 17,701 4.2 April ....: 9,182 9,271 1,814 1,857 16,652 17,220 3.4 May ......: 9,194 9,260 1,879 1,900 17,278 17,592 1.8 June .....: 9,196 9,241 1,796 1,804 16,518 16,670 0.9 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: June 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 .......: 186 188 1,980 2,010 368 378 2.7 California ....: 1,769 1,783 1,985 1,975 3,511 3,521 0.3 Colorado ......: 127 133 1,990 2,010 253 267 5.5 Florida .......: 119 123 1,630 1,660 194 204 5.2 Idaho .........: 578 578 1,960 1,990 1,133 1,150 1.5 Illinois ......: 98 100 1,600 1,610 157 161 2.5 Indiana .......: 171 176 1,715 1,745 293 307 4.8 Iowa ..........: 204 205 1,775 1,740 362 357 -1.4 Kansas ........: 123 124 1,765 1,790 217 222 2.3 Michigan ......: 364 376 1,960 1,965 713 739 3.6 : Minnesota .....: 468 465 1,610 1,615 753 751 -0.3 Missouri ......: 96 94 1,210 1,265 116 119 2.6 New Mexico ....: 328 332 2,100 2,035 689 676 -1.9 New York ......: 610 610 1,770 1,795 1,080 1,095 1.4 Ohio ..........: 266 270 1,575 1,630 419 440 5.0 Oregon ........: 122 123 1,730 1,730 211 213 0.9 Pennsylvania ..: 542 535 1,620 1,610 878 861 -1.9 Texas .........: 434 440 1,850 1,785 803 785 -2.2 Utah ..........: 88 90 1,770 1,825 156 164 5.1 Vermont .......: 134 133 1,580 1,610 212 214 0.9 : Virginia ......: 96 96 1,450 1,450 139 139 Washington ....: 262 262 2,000 2,000 524 524 Wisconsin .....: 1,265 1,271 1,740 1,775 2,201 2,256 2.5 : 23-State Total : 8,450 8,507 1,820 1,827 15,382 15,543 1.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: May 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 .......: 186 194 2,140 2,155 398 418 5.0 California ....: 1,767 1,782 2,080 2,100 3,675 3,742 1.8 Colorado ......: 126 132 2,040 2,105 257 278 8.2 Florida .......: 119 123 1,725 1,770 205 218 6.3 Idaho .........: 578 578 1,980 2,020 1,144 1,168 2.1 Illinois ......: 98 100 1,700 1,720 167 172 3.0 Indiana .......: 171 176 1,825 1,855 312 326 4.5 Iowa ..........: 208 206 1,860 1,855 387 382 -1.3 Kansas ........: 122 124 1,855 1,895 226 235 4.0 Michigan ......: 364 375 2,040 2,050 743 769 3.5 : Minnesota .....: 468 465 1,680 1,670 786 777 -1.1 Missouri ......: 96 94 1,360 1,390 131 131 New Mexico ....: 327 336 2,180 2,150 713 722 1.3 New York ......: 610 610 1,845 1,890 1,125 1,153 2.5 Ohio ..........: 268 271 1,680 1,730 450 469 4.2 Oregon ........: 121 123 1,790 1,810 217 223 2.8 Pennsylvania ..: 543 536 1,730 1,715 939 919 -2.1 Texas .........: 430 440 1,955 1,925 841 847 0.7 Utah ..........: 87 91 1,810 1,865 157 170 8.3 Vermont .......: 135 133 1,655 1,675 223 223 : Virginia ......: 96 96 1,585 1,575 152 151 -0.7 Washington ....: 261 265 2,055 2,075 536 550 2.6 Wisconsin .....: 1,266 1,271 1,805 1,840 2,285 2,339 2.4 : 23-State Total : 8,447 8,521 1,902 1,923 16,069 16,382 1.9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Revised 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 10,925.0 7.7 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 ............: 118.0 122.0 627.0 655.0 4.5 Georgia ............: 80.0 80.0 380.0 420.0 10.5 : Hawaii .............: 1.9 1.9 6.9 7.2 4.3 Idaho ..............: 574.0 580.0 3,117.0 3,285.0 5.4 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 .............: 122.0 123.0 638.0 665.0 4.2 Kentucky ...........: 76.0 75.0 285.0 305.0 7.0 Louisiana ..........: 19.0 18.0 69.0 68.0 -1.4 Maine ..............: 32.0 33.0 147.0 153.0 4.1 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 2,300.0 2.5 Mississippi ........: 15.0 14.5 59.0 58.0 -1.7 Missouri ...........: 95.0 93.0 354.0 366.0 3.4 Montana ............: 14.0 14.0 69.0 74.0 7.2 Nebraska ...........: 57.0 56.0 290.0 300.0 3.4 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 85.0 -3.4 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 81.0 8.0 : South Dakota .......: 91.0 92.0 460.0 492.0 7.0 Tennessee ..........: 50.0 51.0 216.0 222.0 2.8 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 6,759.0 4.8 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 30.4 29.8 -2.0 : United States ......: 9,168.0 9,254.0 48,459.0 51,017.0 5.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - States and United States: Preliminary April-June 2011 and 2012 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : April-June milk cows 1/ : April-June milk production 2/ : Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- 1,000 head ------ ----- million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 11.0 10.0 40.0 37.0 -7.5 Alaska .............: 0.5 0.4 1.7 1.4 -17.6 Arizona ............: 186.0 192.0 1,163.0 1,214.0 4.4 Arkansas ...........: 12.0 10.5 40.0 36.0 -10.0 California .........: 1,767.0 1,783.0 10,705.0 10,895.0 1.8 Colorado ...........: 126.0 132.0 760.0 813.0 7.0 Connecticut ........: 18.5 18.5 93.0 93.0 Delaware ...........: 5.0 5.0 23.5 24.8 5.5 Florida ............: 119.0 123.0 606.0 643.0 6.1 Georgia ............: 80.0 80.0 382.0 398.0 4.2 : Hawaii .............: 1.9 2.0 7.3 7.6 4.1 Idaho ..............: 577.0 578.0 3,354.0 3,422.0 2.0 Illinois ...........: 98.0 100.0 489.0 506.0 3.5 Indiana ............: 171.0 176.0 910.0 955.0 4.9 Iowa ...............: 207.0 206.0 1,121.0 1,123.0 0.2 Kansas .............: 122.0 124.0 663.0 689.0 3.9 Kentucky ...........: 77.0 74.0 296.0 292.0 -1.4 Louisiana ..........: 18.0 18.0 61.0 60.0 -1.6 Maine ..............: 32.0 33.0 152.0 158.0 3.9 Maryland ...........: 52.0 51.0 251.0 252.0 0.4 : Massachusetts ......: 13.0 12.0 58.0 56.0 -3.4 Michigan ...........: 363.0 376.0 2,164.0 2,260.0 4.4 Minnesota ..........: 468.0 465.0 2,299.0 2,298.0 Mississippi ........: 14.0 14.0 55.0 53.0 -3.6 Missouri ...........: 96.0 94.0 378.0 386.0 2.1 Montana ............: 14.0 14.0 72.0 76.0 5.6 Nebraska ...........: 57.0 56.0 301.0 299.0 -0.7 Nevada .............: 29.0 29.0 170.0 168.0 -1.2 New Hampshire ......: 14.5 14.0 74.0 72.0 -2.7 New Jersey .........: 8.0 7.0 36.0 33.0 -8.3 : New Mexico .........: 327.0 335.0 2,095.0 2,116.0 1.0 New York ...........: 610.0 610.0 3,285.0 3,367.0 2.5 North Carolina .....: 45.0 46.0 234.0 245.0 4.7 North Dakota .......: 19.0 18.0 88.0 86.0 -2.3 Ohio ...............: 267.0 271.0 1,303.0 1,371.0 5.2 Oklahoma ...........: 53.0 50.0 244.0 232.0 -4.9 Oregon .............: 121.0 123.0 634.0 648.0 2.2 Pennsylvania .......: 543.0 536.0 2,735.0 2,689.0 -1.7 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 1.1 5.2 5.0 -3.8 South Carolina .....: 16.0 15.5 74.0 74.0 : South Dakota .......: 92.0 93.0 480.0 497.0 3.5 Tennessee ..........: 49.0 50.0 212.0 208.0 -1.9 Texas ..............: 430.0 440.0 2,460.0 2,475.0 0.6 Utah ...............: 87.0 91.0 464.0 497.0 7.1 Vermont ............: 135.0 133.0 650.0 653.0 0.5 Virginia ...........: 96.0 96.0 443.0 443.0 Washington .........: 260.0 264.0 1,569.0 1,602.0 2.1 West Virginia ......: 10.0 10.0 40.0 41.0 2.5 Wisconsin ..........: 1,266.0 1,271.0 6,676.0 6,881.0 3.1 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 31.5 31.3 -0.6 : United States ......: 9,191.0 9,257.0 50,448.0 51,482.0 2.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 9.26 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 96 16 3 : All milk cows ................: 0.3 0.5 18 0 52 14 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 .................. (202) 720-3106 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Vacant - Sheep and Goats ..................... (202) 720-4751 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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