ISSN: issncode
Released March 19, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
February Milk Production up 1.7 Percent
Milk production in the 23 major States during February totaled 15.1 billion
pounds, up 1.7 percent from February 2014. January revised production, at
16.5 billion pounds, was up 2.2 percent from January 2014. The January
revision represented an increase of 17 million pounds or 0.1 percent from
last month's preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,757 pounds for February,
8 pounds above February 2014. This is the highest production per cow for the
month of February since the 23 State series began in 2003. This comparison
is based upon all months of February being adjusted to 28 days.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.62 million
head, 106,000 head more than February 2014, and 2,000 head more than January
2015.
February Milk Production in the United States up 1.7 Percent
Milk production in the United States during February totaled 16.2 billion
pounds, up 1.7 percent from February 2014.
Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,736 pounds for February, 9
pounds above February 2014.
The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.31 million head,
100,000 head more than February 2014, and 3,000 head more than January 2015.
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 5,536 51,020
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 8,622 1,749 1,757 14,892 15,149 1.7
March .........: 8,530 1,957 16,690
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 9,309 1,876 1,897 17,284 17,658 2.2
February ......: 9,212 9,312 1,727 1,736 15,907 16,170 1.7
March .........: 9,223 1,933 17,829
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: February 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 1,965 1,990 377 388 2.9
California ......: 1,780 1,778 1,910 1,840 3,400 3,272 -3.8
Colorado ........: 140 145 1,885 1,960 264 284 7.6
Florida .........: 123 124 1,715 1,775 211 220 4.3
Idaho ...........: 567 580 1,820 1,805 1,032 1,047 1.5
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 1,765 354 371 4.8
Kansas ..........: 137 143 1,695 1,730 232 247 6.5
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 1,725 1,039 1,063 2.3
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 ...........: 447 470 1,745 1,730 780 813 4.2
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 1,276 1,665 1,730 2,115 2,207 4.3
:
23-State Total ..: 8,516 8,622 1,749 1,757 14,892 15,149 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: January 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 2,070 2,115 397 412 3.8
California ....: 1,781 1,779 2,035 1,985 3,624 3,531 -2.6
Colorado ......: 140 145 2,085 2,140 292 310 6.2
Florida .......: 123 124 1,810 1,875 223 233 4.5
Idaho .........: 566 580 2,005 1,990 1,135 1,154 1.7
Illinois ......: 95 95 1,675 1,725 159 164 3.1
Indiana .......: 178 181 1,810 1,890 322 342 6.2
Iowa ..........: 205 210 1,905 1,950 391 410 4.9
Kansas ........: 137 143 1,870 1,890 256 270 5.5
Michigan ......: 381 403 2,045 2,100 779 846 8.6
:
Minnesota .....: 460 460 1,690 1,745 777 803 3.3
New Mexico ....: 323 323 2,110 2,070 682 669 -1.9
New York ......: 615 616 1,845 1,905 1,135 1,173 3.3
Ohio ..........: 267 268 1,700 1,750 454 469 3.3
Oregon ........: 124 125 1,735 1,720 215 215 -
Pennsylvania ..: 531 530 1,700 1,755 903 930 3.0
South Dakota ..: 95 100 1,820 1,880 173 188 8.7
Texas .........: 445 470 1,925 1,905 857 895 4.4
Utah ..........: 95 96 1,840 1,950 175 187 6.9
Vermont .......: 132 132 1,690 1,710 223 226 1.3
:
Virginia ......: 93 93 1,650 1,650 153 153 -
Washington ....: 268 277 2,025 2,000 543 554 2.0
Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,275 1,825 1,890 2,318 2,410 4.0
:
23-State Total : 8,516 8,620 1,901 1,919 16,186 16,544 2.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 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 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 in the table
below. 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 the 23 State milk production
estimates over the past 24 months 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 15.1 billion pounds by more than 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out
of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.4 percent.
Reliability of Monthly Milk Production Estimates
[Based on data for the past 24 months]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate
: square error : confidence : : : : :
: : level :-------------------------------------------------------------
Item : : : : : : Months
: : : : : :-------------------------------
: : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: percent percent -------- 1,000 ------- ----- number -----
:
:
Milk production ..............: 0.2 0.4 27 0 89 16 6
:
All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.1 5 0 16 14 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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