April 20, 2011
 

US milk output increases

US milk output in the top 23 milk-producing states amounted 15.8 billion pounds last month, rising 2.4% from the same month last year.

Across all 50 states, milk production was up 2.2%, according to the "Milk Production" report issued Tuesday (Apr 19) by the USDA.

It is the 14th month in a row that milk production has increased on a year-over-year basis.

The number of milk cows in the 23 states was 8.42 million, 93,000 head more than the same month a year earlier and 17,000 head more than February 2011.

Among the top 23 states, Colorado and Arizona showed the highest percentage increase in milk production at 8.6%. California, the nation's top milk-producing state, was up 3.1%. Missouri declined by 3.8%.