Milk Production ISSN: 1949-1557 Released January 23, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). December Milk Production up 1.7 Percent Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 15.7 billion pounds, up 1.7 percent from December 2011. November revised production at 14.9 billion pounds, was up 1.3 percent from November 2011. The November revision represented an increase of 31 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,848 pounds for December, 30 pounds above December 2011. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.49 million head, 5,000 head more than December 2011, and 16,000 head more than November 2012. October - December Milk Production up 0.9 Percent Milk production in the United States during the October - December quarter totaled 49.1 billion pounds, up 0.9 percent from the October - December quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.20 million head, 17,000 head less than the same period last year. Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2011-2012 [Totals 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 5,562 50,448 51,484 2.1 July-September ..: 9,200 9,214 5,292 5,284 48,684 48,690 - October-December : 9,216 9,199 5,279 5,337 48,654 49,093 0.9 : Annual ..........: 9,194 9,231 21,345 21,697 196,245 200,284 2.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 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 15,545 1.1 July .....: 8,459 8,499 1,820 1,823 15,395 15,496 0.7 August ...: 8,463 8,496 1,813 1,805 15,342 15,339 - September : 8,466 8,473 1,742 1,729 14,744 14,651 -0.6 October ..: 8,475 8,464 1,790 1,792 15,170 15,166 - November .: 8,475 8,474 1,739 1,762 14,742 14,929 1.3 December .: 8,485 8,490 1,818 1,848 15,426 15,693 1.7 : Annual ...: 8,449 8,499 21,627 21,958 182,734 186,624 2.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 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 9,239 1,796 1,805 16,518 16,672 0.9 July .....: 9,198 9,226 1,792 1,798 16,479 16,588 0.7 August ...: 9,200 9,221 1,785 1,781 16,422 16,419 - September : 9,201 9,196 1,715 1,705 15,783 15,683 -0.6 October ..: 9,212 9,186 1,767 1,770 16,278 16,260 -0.1 November .: 9,213 9,197 1,717 1,741 15,820 16,008 1.2 December .: 9,223 9,213 1,795 1,826 16,556 16,825 1.6 : Annual ...: 9,194 9,231 21,345 21,697 196,245 200,284 2.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: December 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 .......: 191 185 1,970 2,025 376 375 -0.3 California ....: 1,779 1,779 1,965 1,920 3,496 3,416 -2.3 Colorado ......: 131 135 1,955 2,015 256 272 6.3 Florida .......: 120 122 1,630 1,610 196 196 - Idaho .........: 580 580 1,910 1,930 1,108 1,119 1.0 Illinois ......: 99 100 1,680 1,690 166 169 1.8 Indiana .......: 174 174 1,740 1,820 303 317 4.6 Iowa ..........: 203 205 1,850 1,890 376 387 2.9 Kansas ........: 123 131 1,780 1,840 219 241 10.0 Michigan ......: 370 377 1,950 2,020 722 762 5.5 : Minnesota .....: 465 465 1,620 1,690 753 786 4.4 Missouri ......: 93 93 1,240 1,230 115 114 -0.9 New Mexico ....: 334 321 2,025 2,100 676 674 -0.3 New York ......: 610 610 1,755 1,830 1,071 1,116 4.2 Ohio ..........: 270 270 1,625 1,690 439 456 3.9 Oregon ........: 123 123 1,660 1,660 204 204 - Pennsylvania ..: 539 534 1,650 1,685 889 900 1.2 Texas .........: 435 433 1,860 1,855 809 803 -0.7 Utah ..........: 89 90 1,800 1,810 160 163 1.9 Vermont .......: 133 134 1,595 1,630 212 218 2.8 : Virginia ......: 96 95 1,530 1,545 147 147 - Washington ....: 263 264 1,950 1,950 513 515 0.4 Wisconsin .....: 1,265 1,270 1,755 1,845 2,220 2,343 5.5 : 23-State Total : 8,485 8,490 1,818 1,848 15,426 15,693 1.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 1/ Includes dry cows; excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves. Milk Cows and Production - 23 Selected States: November 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 .......: 192 180 1,855 1,940 356 349 -2.0 California ....: 1,778 1,780 1,880 1,835 3,343 3,266 -2.3 Colorado ......: 131 135 1,870 1,935 245 261 6.5 Florida .......: 120 122 1,460 1,460 175 178 1.7 Idaho .........: 579 578 1,840 1,890 1,065 1,092 2.5 Illinois ......: 98 100 1,580 1,580 155 158 1.9 Indiana .......: 173 173 1,670 1,730 289 299 3.5 Iowa ..........: 200 205 1,765 1,790 353 367 4.0 Kansas ........: 123 128 1,725 1,770 212 227 7.1 Michigan ......: 369 375 1,865 1,915 688 718 4.4 : Minnesota .....: 465 465 1,520 1,590 707 739 4.5 Missouri ......: 94 93 1,190 1,180 112 110 -1.8 New Mexico ....: 333 323 2,020 2,000 673 646 -4.0 New York ......: 610 610 1,680 1,735 1,025 1,058 3.2 Ohio ..........: 269 270 1,560 1,625 420 439 4.5 Oregon ........: 122 123 1,615 1,600 197 197 - Pennsylvania ..: 538 533 1,580 1,600 850 853 0.4 Texas .........: 435 430 1,815 1,770 790 761 -3.7 Utah ..........: 88 89 1,740 1,750 153 156 2.0 Vermont .......: 134 134 1,510 1,545 202 207 2.5 : Virginia ......: 96 95 1,440 1,445 138 137 -0.7 Washington ....: 263 262 1,880 1,880 494 493 -0.2 Wisconsin .....: 1,265 1,271 1,660 1,745 2,100 2,218 5.6 : 23-State Total : 8,475 8,474 1,739 1,762 14,742 14,929 1.3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 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 2011 and 2012 [May not add due to rounding] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : July-September milk cows 1/ : July-September milk production 2/ : Change State :---------------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------- 1,000 head ------- ------ million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 10.0 9.5 30.0 28.0 -6.7 Alaska .............: 0.5 0.4 1.7 1.4 -17.6 Arizona ............: 187.0 183.0 1,024.0 996.0 -2.7 Arkansas ...........: 11.0 10.0 30.0 28.0 -6.7 California .........: 1,774.0 1,782.0 10,349.0 9,989.0 -3.5 Colorado ...........: 129.0 134.0 766.0 812.0 6.0 Connecticut ........: 18.5 18.0 88.0 86.0 -2.3 Delaware ...........: 5.0 5.0 21.7 22.0 1.4 Florida ............: 119.0 123.0 503.0 514.0 2.2 Georgia ............: 78.0 80.0 330.0 335.0 1.5 : Hawaii .............: 1.9 2.0 6.8 7.0 2.9 Idaho ..............: 582.0 579.0 3,491.0 3,505.0 0.4 Illinois ...........: 98.0 100.0 449.0 460.0 2.4 Indiana ............: 172.0 175.0 865.0 886.0 2.4 Iowa ...............: 199.0 202.0 1,045.0 1,058.0 1.2 Kansas .............: 123.0 125.0 641.0 666.0 3.9 Kentucky ...........: 75.0 73.0 245.0 253.0 3.3 Louisiana ..........: 18.0 17.0 48.0 45.0 -6.3 Maine ..............: 32.0 32.0 150.0 152.0 1.3 Maryland ...........: 52.0 51.0 230.0 235.0 2.2 : Massachusetts ......: 12.0 12.0 53.0 53.0 - Michigan ...........: 366.0 375.0 2,108.0 2,194.0 4.1 Minnesota ..........: 467.0 465.0 2,163.0 2,209.0 2.1 Mississippi ........: 14.0 14.0 43.0 43.0 - Missouri ...........: 95.0 94.0 317.0 318.0 0.3 Montana ............: 14.0 14.0 74.0 75.0 1.4 Nebraska ...........: 57.0 56.0 288.0 289.0 0.3 Nevada .............: 29.0 28.0 171.0 161.0 -5.8 New Hampshire ......: 14.0 13.5 69.0 67.0 -2.9 New Jersey .........: 7.5 7.0 33.0 32.0 -3.0 : New Mexico .........: 330.0 327.0 2,045.0 1,976.0 -3.4 New York ...........: 610.0 610.0 3,218.0 3,278.0 1.9 North Carolina .....: 45.0 46.0 213.0 218.0 2.3 North Dakota .......: 19.0 18.0 85.0 86.0 1.2 Ohio ...............: 267.0 270.0 1,260.0 1,282.0 1.7 Oklahoma ...........: 52.0 47.0 215.0 188.0 -12.6 Oregon .............: 123.0 123.0 641.0 637.0 -0.6 Pennsylvania .......: 539.0 534.0 2,618.0 2,567.0 -1.9 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 0.9 4.9 4.3 -12.2 South Carolina .....: 16.0 15.0 60.0 57.0 -5.0 : South Dakota .......: 90.0 92.0 461.0 485.0 5.2 Tennessee ..........: 49.0 49.0 182.0 182.0 - Texas ..............: 435.0 437.0 2,353.0 2,282.0 -3.0 Utah ...............: 88.0 89.0 478.0 491.0 2.7 Vermont ............: 134.0 133.0 629.0 638.0 1.4 Virginia ...........: 96.0 96.0 413.0 406.0 -1.7 Washington .........: 265.0 261.0 1,601.0 1,554.0 -2.9 West Virginia ......: 10.0 10.0 39.0 39.0 - Wisconsin ..........: 1,264.0 1,271.0 6,504.0 6,768.0 4.1 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 31.2 31.8 1.9 : United States ......: 9,200.0 9,214.0 48,684.0 48,690.0 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. 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 2011 and 2012 [May not add due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : October-December milk cows 1/ :October-December milk production 2/: Change State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------: from : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------- 1,000 head ------ ----- million pounds ----- percent : Alabama ............: 10.0 9.0 32.0 29.0 -9.4 Alaska .............: 0.5 0.4 1.7 1.2 -29.4 Arizona ............: 192.0 182.0 1,090.0 1,066.0 -2.2 Arkansas ...........: 11.0 9.5 33.0 29.0 -12.1 California .........: 1,778.0 1,779.0 10,267.0 9,989.0 -2.7 Colorado ...........: 131.0 135.0 757.0 804.0 6.2 Connecticut ........: 18.5 18.0 88.0 86.0 -2.3 Delaware ...........: 5.0 4.7 22.0 22.0 - Florida ............: 120.0 122.0 533.0 534.0 0.2 Georgia ............: 78.0 80.0 358.0 355.0 -0.8 : Hawaii .............: 1.9 2.1 6.4 6.6 3.1 Idaho ..............: 580.0 578.0 3,294.0 3,348.0 1.6 Illinois ...........: 98.0 100.0 478.0 485.0 1.5 Indiana ............: 173.0 173.0 890.0 919.0 3.3 Iowa ...............: 201.0 204.0 1,088.0 1,118.0 2.8 Kansas .............: 123.0 128.0 648.0 696.0 7.4 Kentucky ...........: 75.0 73.0 261.0 268.0 2.7 Louisiana ..........: 18.0 16.0 54.0 49.0 -9.3 Maine ..............: 32.0 32.0 149.0 150.0 0.7 Maryland ...........: 52.0 51.0 236.0 238.0 0.8 : Massachusetts ......: 12.0 12.5 52.0 55.0 5.8 Michigan ...........: 369.0 375.0 2,120.0 2,209.0 4.2 Minnesota ..........: 465.0 465.0 2,185.0 2,271.0 3.9 Mississippi ........: 14.0 14.0 47.0 46.0 -2.1 Missouri ...........: 94.0 93.0 339.0 334.0 -1.5 Montana ............: 14.0 14.0 73.0 74.0 1.4 Nebraska ...........: 57.0 55.0 294.0 296.0 0.7 Nevada .............: 29.0 29.0 163.0 160.0 -1.8 New Hampshire ......: 14.0 13.5 68.0 65.0 -4.4 New Jersey .........: 7.5 7.0 32.0 31.0 -3.1 : New Mexico .........: 333.0 323.0 2,046.0 1,976.0 -3.4 New York ...........: 610.0 610.0 3,148.0 3,257.0 3.5 North Carolina .....: 45.0 46.0 225.0 226.0 0.4 North Dakota .......: 18.0 18.0 83.0 86.0 3.6 Ohio ...............: 269.0 270.0 1,288.0 1,341.0 4.1 Oklahoma ...........: 52.0 46.0 227.0 201.0 -11.5 Oregon .............: 122.0 123.0 609.0 608.0 -0.2 Pennsylvania .......: 538.0 533.0 2,611.0 2,622.0 0.4 Rhode Island .......: 1.1 0.9 4.8 4.1 -14.6 South Carolina .....: 16.0 15.5 69.0 65.0 -5.8 : South Dakota .......: 90.0 92.0 469.0 501.0 6.8 Tennessee ..........: 50.0 49.0 200.0 191.0 -4.5 Texas ..............: 435.0 431.0 2,412.0 2,336.0 -3.2 Utah ...............: 88.0 89.0 470.0 478.0 1.7 Vermont ............: 134.0 134.0 623.0 637.0 2.2 Virginia ...........: 96.0 95.0 424.0 423.0 -0.2 Washington .........: 264.0 262.0 1,530.0 1,520.0 -0.7 West Virginia ......: 10.0 10.0 38.0 38.0 - Wisconsin ..........: 1,265.0 1,271.0 6,488.0 6,817.0 5.1 Wyoming ............: 6.0 6.0 30.0 32.0 6.7 : United States ......: 9,216.0 9,199.0 48,654.0 49,093.0 0.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 9.20 million head by more than 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.4 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 37 0 96 17 2 : All milk cows ................: 0.2 0.4 14 0 52 12 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 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - 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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