April 25, 2014

US milk production up slightly in March

In March 2014, milk production in the 23 major dairy US states was at 16.7 billion pounds, up 1.1% over March 2013, while total cow numbers were up 1,000 head from February, with production per cow 209 pounds above February.

This is according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Production in those states increased 1.8 billion pounds from February with an additional 1,000 cows and 209 pounds more milk per cow.

Cow numbers and milk per cow data for March 2013 were not collected due to sequestration.

Fifteen of the 23 major states posted year-over-year increases in milk production in March, including a 3.7% increase in California, the top milk-production state at 3.8 billion pounds, and a 1.7% increase in Idaho, the fourth highest producer at 1.15 billion pounds.

Wisconsin, the second top producer, was down 1.6% year over year at 2.4 billion pounds. New York, the third highest producer, posted no change at 1.16 billion pounds.

In March, Washington's milk production was at 560 million pounds, up 3.5% year over year. Oregon's production in March was at 225 million, up 4.2%.

In the first quarter, milk production in the 23 states was at 51 billion pounds, up 1.0% year over year, but a harsh winter and forage-quality issues in the Midwest took their toll.

Preliminary year-over-year production for January through March was down 2.1% in Wisconsin, 3.2% in Minnesota, 3.3% in Ohio, 2.9% in Iowa, and 3.2% in Illinois. Year-over year production in the first three months of 2014 was also down 0.8% in New Mexico.

In the first quarter, California milk production was up 4.4% year-over-year, and Idaho was up 2.3%. Washington production was up 3.5%, and Oregon was up 4.1%.