ISSN: 1949-1557
Released April 21, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
March Milk Production up 1.1 Percent
Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 16.9 billion
pounds, up 1.1 percent from March 2014. February revised production at 15.1
billion pounds, was up 1.7 percent from February 2014. The February revision
represented a decrease of 10 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month’s
preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,959 pounds for March, 2
pounds above March 2014. This is the highest production per cow for the
month
of March since the 23 State series began in 2003.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.62 million
head, 86,000 head more than March 2014, but 4,000 head fewer than February
2015.
January – March Milk Production up 1.7 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the January – March quarter
totaled 51.9 billion pounds, up 1.7 percent from the January – March quarter
last year.
The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was
9.30 million head, 17,000 head more than the October – December 2014
quarter, and 88,000 head more than the same period last year.
Milk Cows and Production by Quarter – United States: 2014-2015 [May not add
due to rounding]
——————————
———–
: Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk
production 2/
:—————————–
Quarter : : : : : :
: Change
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015
: from
: : : : : :
: 2014
——————————
———–
: 1,000 Head —- Pounds —- Million Pounds
Percent
:
January-March …: 9,216 9,304 5,536 5,579 51,020 51,904
1.7
April-June ……: 9,253 5,717 52,897
July-September ..: 9,270 5,520 51,173
October-December : 9,287 5,487 50,956
:
Annual ……….: 9,257 22,258 206,046
——————————
———–
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Milk Cows and Production By Month – 23 Selected States: 2014-2015
——————————
——————————
: Milk cows1/ : Milk per cow2/ :
Milk production2/
:—————————–
—————————–
: : : : :
: : Change
Month : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 :
2014 : 2015 : from
: : : : :
: : 2014
:—————————–
—————————–
: 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds
million pounds million pounds percent
:
January …….: 8,516 8,620 1,901 1,919
16,186 16,544 2.2
February ……: 8,516 8,620 1,749 1,756
14,892 15,139 1.7
March ………: 8,530 8,616 1,957 1,959
16,690 16,877 1.1
April ………: 8,547 1,912
16,344
May ………..: 8,558 1,979
16,934
June ……….: 8,572 1,895
16,241
July ……….: 8,583 1,909
16,381
August ……..: 8,585 1,885
16,184
September …..: 8,593 1,806
15,519
October …….: 8,594 1,864
16,017
November ……: 8,598 1,806
15,527
December ……: 8,611 1,888
16,256
:
Annual ……..: 8,567 22,551
193,171
——————————
——————————
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Estimated Milk Cows and Production By Month – United States: 2014-2015
——————————
——————————
: Milk cows1/ : Milk per cow2/ :
Milk production2/
:—————————–
—————————–
: : : : :
: : Change
Month : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 :
2014 : 2015 : from
: : : : :
: : 2014
:—————————–
—————————–
: 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds
million pounds million pounds percent
:
January …….: 9,212 9,306 1,876 1,899
17,284 17,670 2.2
February ……: 9,212 9,306 1,727 1,739
15,907 16,184 1.7
March ………: 9,223 9,301 1,933 1,941
17,829 18,050 1.2
April ………: 9,240 1,892
17,480
May ………..: 9,252 1,956
18,094
June ……….: 9,267 1,869
17,323
July ……….: 9,268 1,881
17,435
August ……..: 9,268 1,858
17,224
September …..: 9,274 1,781
16,514
October …….: 9,277 1,840
17,071
November ……: 9,284 1,783
16,551
December ……: 9,299 1,864
17,334
:
Annual ……..: 9,257 22,258
206,046
——————————
——————————
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Milk Cows and Production – 23 Selected States: March 2014 and 2015 [May not
add due to rounding]
——————————
——————————
: Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/
: Milk production 2/
State
:—————————–
—————————–
: : : :
: : : Change
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015
: 2014 : 2015 : from
: : : :
: : : 2014
——————————
——————————
: 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds
million pounds million pounds percent
:
Arizona ………: 192 195 2,230 2,225
428 434 1.4
California ……: 1,781 1,779 2,140 2,080
3,811 3,700 -2.9
Colorado ……..: 141 145 2,100 2,165
296 314 6.1
Florida ………: 123 125 1,925 1,965
237 246 3.8
Idaho ………..: 570 580 2,030 2,020
1,157 1,172 1.3
Illinois ……..: 94 95 1,755 1,770
165 168 1.8
Indiana ………: 176 181 1,875 1,895
330 343 3.9
Iowa …………: 205 209 1,920 1,950
394 408 3.6
Kansas ……….: 138 144 1,895 1,945
262 280 6.9
Michigan ……..: 381 403 2,090 2,115
796 852 7.0
:
Minnesota …….: 459 460 1,700 1,770
780 814 4.4
New Mexico ……: 323 323 2,210 2,125
714 686 -3.9
New York ……..: 615 617 1,885 1,900
1,159 1,172 1.1
Ohio …………: 266 268 1,730 1,745
460 468 1.7
Oregon ……….: 125 125 1,800 1,775
225 222 -1.3
Pennsylvania ….: 531 530 1,750 1,775
929 941 1.3
South Dakota ….: 96 102 1,845 1,900
177 194 9.6
Texas ………..: 455 463 1,965 1,920
894 889 -0.6
Utah …………: 95 96 1,905 1,950
181 187 3.3
Vermont ………: 131 132 1,730 1,720
227 227 –
:
Virginia ……..: 93 92 1,680 1,710
156 157 0.6
Washington ……: 270 277 2,080 2,050
562 568 1.1
Wisconsin …….: 1,270 1,275 1,850 1,910
2,350 2,435 3.6
:
23-State Total ..: 8,530 8,616 1,957 1,959
16,690 16,877 1.1
——————————
——————————
– Represents zero.
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Milk Cows and Production – 23 Selected States: February 2014 and 2015 [May
not add due to rounding]
——————————
—————————–
: Milk cows1/ : Milk per cow2/ :
Milk production 2/
:—————————–
————–
: : : : :
: : Change
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014
: 2015 : from
: : : : :
: : 2014
:—————————–
————–
:1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million
pounds million pounds percent
:
Arizona …….: 192 195 1,965 1,990 377
388 2.9
California ….: 1,780 1,779 1,910 1,845 3,400
3,282 -3.5
Colorado ……: 140 145 1,885 1,970 264
286 8.3
Florida …….: 123 124 1,715 1,780 211
221 4.7
Idaho ………: 567 580 1,820 1,810 1,032
1,050 1.7
Illinois ……: 95 95 1,545 1,580 147
150 2.0
Indiana …….: 176 181 1,660 1,705 292
309 5.8
Iowa ……….: 205 210 1,725 1,755 354
369 4.2
Kansas ……..: 137 143 1,695 1,740 232
249 7.3
Michigan ……: 381 403 1,880 1,915 716
772 7.8
:
Minnesota …..: 460 460 1,530 1,595 704
734 4.3
New Mexico ….: 323 323 1,950 1,880 630
607 -3.7
New York ……: 615 616 1,690 1,715 1,039
1,056 1.6
Ohio ……….: 266 268 1,545 1,570 411
421 2.4
Oregon ……..: 124 125 1,595 1,590 198
199 0.5
Pennsylvania ..: 531 530 1,565 1,600 831
848 2.0
South Dakota ..: 95 101 1,650 1,700 157
172 9.6
Texas ………: 447 468 1,745 1,740 780
814 4.4
Utah ……….: 95 97 1,685 1,765 160
171 6.9
Vermont …….: 132 132 1,545 1,545 204
204 –
:
Virginia ……: 93 93 1,500 1,500 140
140 –
Washington ….: 269 277 1,850 1,840 498
510 2.4
Wisconsin …..: 1,270 1,275 1,665 1,715 2,115
2,187 3.4
:
23-State Total : 8,516 8,620 1,749 1,756 14,892
15,139 1.7
——————————
—————————–
– 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 October –
December 2013 and 2014 [May not add due to rounding]
——————————
————————
: October – December milk cows1/ : October – December
milk production2/
:—————————–
———
State : : : :
: Change
: : : :
: from
: 2013 : 2014 : 2013 :
2014 : 2013
——————————
————————
: 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds million
pounds percent
:
Alabama …….: 9.0 8.0 25.0
25.0 –
Alaska ……..: 0.3 0.3 0.8
0.9 12.5
Arizona …….: 190.0 194.0 1,089.0
1,155.0 6.1
Arkansas ……: 8.0 7.0 22.0
22.0 –
California ….: 1,780.0 1,780.0 10,086.0
10,259.0 1.7
Colorado ……: 138.0 145.0 843.0
907.0 7.6
Connecticut …: 18.0 19.0 90.0
95.0 5.6
Delaware ……: 4.7 4.9 22.7
24.3 7.0
Florida …….: 123.0 123.0 553.0
578.0 4.5
Georgia …….: 80.0 81.0 376.0
397.0 5.6
:
Hawaii ……..: 2.2 2.2 7.2
7.2 –
Idaho ………: 567.0 579.0 3,286.0
3,434.0 4.5
Illinois ……: 95.0 93.0 444.0
454.0 2.3
Indiana …….: 178.0 179.0 951.0
980.0 3.0
Iowa ……….: 206.0 208.0 1,127.0
1,175.0 4.3
Kansas ……..: 135.0 143.0 742.0
788.0 6.2
Kentucky ……: 69.0 62.0 254.0
248.0 -2.4
Louisiana …..: 15.0 14.0 46.0
47.0 2.2
Maine ………: 30.0 30.0 146.0
149.0 2.1
Maryland ……: 50.0 49.0 241.0
243.0 0.8
:
Massachusetts .: 12.0 12.5 54.0
55.0 1.9
Michigan ……: 380.0 399.0 2,261.0
2,438.0 7.8
Minnesota …..: 461.0 460.0 2,230.0
2,286.0 2.5
Mississippi …: 13.0 12.0 44.0
45.0 2.3
Missouri ……: 90.0 88.0 318.0
337.0 6.0
Montana …….: 14.0 14.0 75.0
74.0 -1.3
Nebraska ……: 53.0 54.0 285.0
304.0 6.7
Nevada ……..: 29.0 28.0 158.0
174.0 10.1
New Hampshire .: 13.5 14.0 67.0
69.0 3.0
New Jersey ….: 7.0 7.0 31.0
31.0 –
:
New Mexico ….: 322.0 323.0 1,955.0
1,965.0 0.5
New York ……: 611.0 615.0 3,298.0
3,428.0 3.9
North Carolina : 45.0 47.0 227.0
239.0 5.3
North Dakota ..: 17.0 16.0 80.0
79.0 -1.3
Ohio ……….: 268.0 267.0 1,322.0
1,341.0 1.4
Oklahoma ……: 45.0 40.0 177.0
170.0 -4.0
Oregon ……..: 123.0 124.0 616.0
616.0 –
Pennsylvania ..: 530.0 530.0 2,571.0
2,650.0 3.1
Rhode Island ..: 0.9 0.9 4.0
4.1 2.5
South Carolina : 15.5 15.0 63.0
61.0 -3.2
:
South Dakota ..: 95.0 98.0 511.0
541.0 5.9
Tennessee …..: 47.0 47.0 182.0
189.0 3.8
Texas ………: 440.0 470.0 2,381.0
2,576.0 8.2
Utah ……….: 95.0 96.0 520.0
550.0 5.8
Vermont …….: 132.0 132.0 639.0
662.0 3.6
Virginia ……: 94.0 92.0 432.0
440.0 1.9
Washington ….: 266.0 276.0 1,546.0
1,621.0 4.9
West Virginia .: 9.0 9.0 34.0
34.0 –
Wisconsin …..: 1,271.0 1,273.0 6,767.0
6,956.0 2.8
Wyoming …….: 6.0 6.0 31.0
32.0 3.2
:
United States .: 9,203.0 9,287.0 49,231.0
50,956.0 3.5
——————————
————————
– 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 January –
March 2014 and 2015 [May not add due to rounding]
——————————
———————–
: January – March milk cows1/ : January – March
milk production2/
:—————————–
——–
State : : : :
: Change
: : : :
: from
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014 :
2015 : 2014
——————————
———————–
: 1,000 head 1,000 head million pounds
million pounds percent
:
Alabama …….: 9.0 8.0 30.0
29.0 -3.3
Alaska ……..: 0.3 0.3 0.8
0.9 12.5
Arizona …….: 192.0 195.0 1,202.0
1,234.0 2.7
Arkansas ……: 7.5 7.0 24.0
24.0 –
California ….: 1,781.0 1,779.0 10,835.0
10,513.0 -3.0
Colorado ……: 140.0 145.0 852.0
910.0 6.8
Connecticut …: 19.0 19.0 96.0
98.0 2.1
Delaware ……: 4.7 4.9 24.5
25.5 4.1
Florida …….: 123.0 124.0 671.0
700.0 4.3
Georgia …….: 81.0 81.0 443.0
463.0 4.5
:
Hawaii ……..: 2.3 2.2 7.4
8.3 12.2
Idaho ………: 568.0 580.0 3,324.0
3,376.0 1.6
Illinois ……: 95.0 95.0 471.0
482.0 2.3
Indiana …….: 177.0 181.0 944.0
994.0 5.3
Iowa ……….: 205.0 210.0 1,139.0
1,187.0 4.2
Kansas ……..: 137.0 143.0 750.0
799.0 6.5
Kentucky ……: 64.0 62.0 257.0
273.0 6.2
Louisiana …..: 15.0 14.0 58.0
58.0 –
Maine ………: 30.0 30.0 145.0
144.0 -0.7
Maryland ……: 50.0 49.0 252.0
247.0 -2.0
:
Massachusetts .: 12.5 12.0 59.0
55.0 -6.8
Michigan ……: 381.0 403.0 2,291.0
2,470.0 7.8
Minnesota …..: 460.0 460.0 2,261.0
2,351.0 4.0
Mississippi …: 13.0 12.0 52.0
53.0 1.9
Missouri ……: 90.0 87.0 336.0
345.0 2.7
Montana …….: 14.0 14.0 75.0
74.0 -1.3
Nebraska ……: 53.0 55.0 292.0
311.0 6.5
Nevada ……..: 29.0 28.0 164.0
175.0 6.7
New Hampshire .: 14.0 14.0 71.0
71.0 –
New Jersey ….: 7.0 7.0 32.0
33.0 3.1
:
New Mexico ….: 323.0 323.0 2,026.0
1,962.0 -3.2
New York ……: 615.0 616.0 3,333.0
3,401.0 2.0
North Carolina : 45.0 47.0 245.0
257.0 4.9
North Dakota ..: 17.0 16.0 81.0
79.0 -2.5
Ohio ……….: 266.0 268.0 1,325.0
1,358.0 2.5
Oklahoma ……: 40.0 40.0 178.0
180.0 1.1
Oregon ……..: 124.0 125.0 638.0
636.0 -0.3
Pennsylvania ..: 531.0 530.0 2,663.0
2,719.0 2.1
Rhode Island ..: 0.9 0.9 4.2
4.1 -2.4
South Carolina : 16.0 15.0 71.0
72.0 1.4
:
South Dakota ..: 95.0 101.0 507.0
554.0 9.3
Tennessee …..: 46.0 46.0 188.0
196.0 4.3
Texas ………: 449.0 467.0 2,531.0
2,598.0 2.6
Utah ……….: 95.0 96.0 516.0
545.0 5.6
Vermont …….: 132.0 132.0 654.0
657.0 0.5
Virginia ……: 93.0 93.0 449.0
450.0 0.2
Washington ….: 269.0 277.0 1,603.0
1,632.0 1.8
West Virginia .: 9.0 9.0 35.0
36.0 2.9
Wisconsin …..: 1,270.0 1,275.0 6,783.0
7,032.0 3.7
Wyoming …….: 6.0 6.0 31.5
32.0 1.6
:
United States .: 9,216.0 9,304.0 51,020.0
51,904.0 1.7
——————————
———————–
– Represents zero.
1/ Excludes 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 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, milk per cow, and number of milk cows are
subject to revision the following month after initial publication for
monthly States or the following quarter for the quarterly States. Normally,
administrative data from Federal Market Orders, State Departments of
Agriculture, or other sources are the main basis for revisions. However,
administrative data for all States may not be available in time for these
revisions. 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out
of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate
of 9.30 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that
the difference will not exceed 0.1 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 51 2
141 17 3
:
All milk cows …………….: 0.1 0.1 5 0
13 14 4
——————————
——————————
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 [email protected].
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 …… (202) 720-3240
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
Evan Schulz – Sheep and Goats ……………. (202) 720-6147
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