Monthly Milk Production

Due to sequestration, this will be the last update until further notice.

Released March 19: February 2013 milk production in the 23 states for which USDA reports monthly was 14.6 billion pounds, down 3.4 percent from February 2012. January revised production at 15.9 billion pounds, was up 0.6 percent from January 2012. The January revision represented an increase of 6 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Change in 23 selected states when comparing February's milk production with a year ago:
Arizona down 6.8 percent; California down 8.0 percent
Colorado up 1.6 percent; Florida down 3.8 percent
Idaho down 4.2 percent; Illinois down 1.8 percent
Indiana down 0.7 percent; Iowa down 2.2 percent
Kansas up 3.7 percent; Michigan up 0.6 percent
Minnesota down 1.0 percent; Missouri down 4.4 percent
New Mexico down 3.9 percent; New York down 2.0 percent
Ohio down 0.9 percent; Oregon down 2.0 percent
Pennsylvania down 1.9 percent; Texas down 5.4 percent
Utah down 6.5 percent; Vermont down 1.5 percent
Virginia down 5.5 percent; Washington down 3.6 percent
Wisconsin up 0.3 percent

Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,722 pounds for February, 58 pounds below last year.

The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.5 million head. This is 13,000 head less than February 2012, and 2,000 head more than January 2013.

Note: The annual production of milk for the U.S. during 2012 was 200 billion pounds, 2.1 percent above 2011. Revisions to 2011 production decreased the annual total 81 million pounds. Revised 2012 production was up 40 million pounds from last month's publication. Production per cow averaged 21,697 pounds for 2012, 361 pounds above 2011. The average number of milk cows in the U.S. last year was 9.23 million head, up 0.4 percent from 2011. The average number of milk cows was revised up 2,000 head for 2012.

Milk production data for 23 states from USDA is released around the 18th of the month following the month for which the information applies. At the same time the current production figures are released, updated data for the previous month's milk production is released. This graph reflects the updated information.

The 23 states for which the USDA reports milk production are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.